Adolescence is making my dog a bastard!

[Alwaysgrey]

8 months old and it seems he’s turned deaf. He’s on a long lead now as he seems to think every dog he sees is a long lost relative. Jumping like a crazy loon with treats and exciting toys doesn’t seem to work and even at home he gives me a cursory glance and is off on his way. I could cheerfully send him to doggy boarding school.

Photo of our furry little shite!! Butter wouldn't melt!

This is the evil toad. We’ve tried really encouraging a love of toys. Even when the kids are super hyper and getting him excited when out he’d rather play with other dogs. He’s what I’d call a bit of a ditz. In that his impulse control isn’t brilliant when out. He’s great at home apart from when he sees a cat which he must bark at and doesn’t want to come in. It’s just when he’s out he makes a total knob of himself.

Hello can I join in? Our 7mo poodle cross is an absolute knob at the moment and he’s driving me demented!! He got a bit growly and snappy so is not currently allowed up on the sofa. What this means in practice is that I’m up and down and up and down getting him off the fucking sofa. He waits till I’ve sat down again and then gets up He won’t stop humping everything in sight and he’s now wise to any attempt to shut him in the kitchen for a bit of respite and just darts round me. I’ve taken to hurling a bit of chicken to the other side of the island and running for it. I’ve got a 2 year old as well and between the pair of them I’m just half dead! And on a bloody walk the shitbag is like a fucking wild salmon attached to a lead if he sees anyone. He likes to stand on his back legs and look out the front window and bark at passing dogs/people/leaves/the wind/the dark/nothing at all as well

Badger, at our puppy class we were told not to encourage/allow looking out the window and woofing. It is a very natural and understandable behaviour, the dog thinks passers by are intruders and is defending you! But obviously it is annoying. Put something in the way so he can’t see out/jump out? Have you got somewhere safe to let him off the lead? Maybe he needs to be more exhausted, physically and mentally. Frozen kongs, kongs they need to punch to get treats out of, find things to keep him busy.

@BadgertheBodger mine is just like that on a lead. An absolute knob. I’m trying to get him to sit when he sees another dog and he does some of the time but others he’s like an utter idiot. The puppy stage is meant to be tough but no one mentions the teenage years.

No I know we do try to keep him away from the window but if he’s in the living room that’s what he’s up to! If we go in the back room he’s straight up on the sofa and hanging off the back of it barking at the back garden. I don’t know why I bother to sit down at all tbh

Mine is 2.5 years and still a dick when off the lead. In fact a fellow whippet owner even called him a dick today. To be fair she called her own dog a dick as well

Good thing he’s gorgeous.

It's important that your dog learns and practices the foundations at home first.
If your dog isn't able to engage with you and walk calmly on a lead at home, in your front garden, then there's no chance of them doing this in a highly distracting environment.

I recommend using portions of your dogs meals to teach the basics at home first.
•walking calmly on a lead around the house, walking calmly around the outside of the house, walking in a loop from the back garden to the front garden, calmly exiting the garden onto the street and so on.

I strongly advise working with a professional trainer who can get you on the right track. Please choose a trainer carefully as not all trainers are qualified. The following organisations allow you to search for qualified trainers in your area:

•Institute of Modern Dog Trainers
www.imdt.uk.com/find-a-qualified-imdt-trainer

•Association of Professional Dog Trainers
UK - www.apdt.co.uk/
US & other - apdt.com/

•Certified Council for Professional Dog Trainers - www.ccpdt.org/

•International Alliance of Animal Behaviour Consultants - iaabc.org/consultants

•Pet Professional Guild - www.petprofessionalguild.com/Find-a-Member

The 'Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy book' is definately worth a read too! (Currently on sale for £4)

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1788701607/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8&qid&sr

Are you me?! My girl is 7 month old, back on the long line of shame cos recall has gone to be gone to shit, her toilet training has gone to shit...she’s basically flicking me the Vs every time I give a command! Back to basics & it’s exhausting! When does this phase end??

Sounds like it’s an age thing. We’re working on recall with a whistle which is actually better but he’s still a total shit on a lead when he sees another dog. Sniffing, paws up the works even when the other dog barks at him he’s not deterred. I’m starting to think he’s a bit dim (as much as I love him). I don’t have another dog either to borrow either to walk him by to get him used to it. Also likes to pull on a lead to. I feel much better when he’s on a long line and he gets freedom and I get a stress free walk. Except when we see another dog of course.