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Adolescent dog tips!

10 replies

heatseeker14 · 27/09/2020 14:18

Hello, I’m looking for tips on how to get through the adolescent phase! Our dog is now 14 months old and is testing the boundaries. I’d like to know if I’m tackling the behaviour in the right sort of way.

  1. Recall, as to be expected, is very intermittent. If he meets another dog that is bouncy and keen to play, I can’t recall him even with high value treats. I’ve put him back on his long lead for the time being, but I end up holding the lead all the time. If I don’t, he will run off at top speed when he spots another dog. He has also increased the collapsing on his tummy in the hope the other dog will come to say hello. Sometimes I can get him to come to me and reward him if he does, but as soon as he has scoffed his treat he runs back towards the other dog. The majority of the time I can’t move him from his collapsed position. It’s great that he is confident, but it also makes him hard work at the moment. I love to see him play with other dogs. It’s a shame that I can’t trust him not to run off with them! I’m starting to think he will end up on lead all of the time.
  1. He has started barking and running around the perimeter of our garden every time he is let out. The opening of the door triggers it. It’s a higher pitched bark than his normal one. Is he just checking his territory? I’ve started to give him a treat if he sits quietly by the door and again if he makes it outside without an outburst. I don’t want him to annoy the neighbours.
  1. He collapses on the floor and submits pretty much every time he meets a dog. Will he grow out of this?

Please share your tips and positive stories with me. 🙂

OP posts:
Speckledhen617 · 27/09/2020 16:26

Well I've got no positive stories but I'm watching this thread with interest as our 12 month old is pushing me to my limits. If you saw me out with him you'd think he’d never had a days training in his life!

A little tip which has helped us is that if we open the back door to let him out he shoots out like a rocket, barking and lapping the fence. We've got a sliding door so we open it a crack, let him peep out then open it a bit more so just his heads out before we let the rest of him follow. It seems to take the wind out of his sails and makes him less barky.

Recall is an absolute disaster. I've spent months trying to get it back and I've reached the point now where I need a break from it so hes on his long lead. Hes a nightmare on it as he's strong and runs to the end of it then stops with a jolt. Long line is no better. He walks nicely along pavements but anywhere sniffy and he's far too excited.

RunningFromInsanity · 27/09/2020 19:41

Is the garden barking just an initial barky lap? Could you take him out on a lead, walk him around the garden and then let him off?
Just to break the habit.

heatseeker14 · 28/09/2020 09:09

I’m glad I’m not the only one with a crazy perimeter checking hound, @Speckledhen617! Unfortunately, we don’t have sliding doors to the garden. If I try to open the door slowly, he just runs at it. 🙄😄 I started to worry that I’d trap his head in the door. A treat seems to get his focus, but I don’t want him thinking he will get a treat every time he goes out!
@RunningFromInsanity, I did try taking him out of the door on lead and taking him back in if he started barking. This worked until I let him off then he started barking. 🙄 Perhaps I need to keep him on a long line in the garden so I can reel him back in...
Sometimes he looks at me then starts barking. I think that’s an attention thing. I need to find him something to do to wear his brain out more. He whizzes through dog puzzles, treat balls, lickimats and snuffle mats. He loves a game of find it, but he is far too bloody quick at finding the object.

OP posts:
StillMedusa · 28/09/2020 11:31

Mine's 16m and an arse!
Horrible barking if anyone comes to the door, and where she used to lie down and wait for another dog to play..she now lies down.,then does a growly fly past which terrifies other dogs ( if I haven't got her on the lead quickly enough) She used to play nicely but now it feels like she's trying to scare them, so we only go off lead if we are alone!

I'm meeting with a behaviourist tomorrow to try and work on this, so will report back !!!
In other ways she is much better.. sits, waits etc really nicely, but she has attitude!

PollyRoulson · 28/09/2020 13:20

Got to love the teenage stage Grin

Basically as I say many many times control and management is the best way to go. Try not to let them practice the behaviour that is nnot appropriate. Up the focus games on you. This will depend on the dog you also want to keep arousal lowish and not too high for too long.

So tuggy games may be great for some dogs but too much for others.

I can not push enought the benefits of sniffing and seeking games.

You may need to up the reinforcements/treats during this time but this is fine this time will pass (honest!)

If your dog is chasing and playing with dogs and losing all recall prevent this from happening but limiting the opportunities for this to happen. Walk in quieter areas, have meet and greet walks on the lead only.

Perimeter chasing is very rewarding for the dog the longer it goes on for the harder it will be to stop it. I would prevent him from going out in the garden on his own. All activities in the garden needs to based around you, so games and scatter feeding is your secret weapon here. Scatter food in the middle of the garden and let him search.

Increase his training on sit with a release command. Do this away from the door and over praise and reward when he will sit for a few seconds. Then add this to being by an inside door etc, then eventually add to the outside door.

In teenage years it is good to have a settle on a mat as this gives the dog and you a chance just to chill.

heatseeker what breed is you dog?

Sarahlou63 · 28/09/2020 13:24

Move out for 3 months. Come back when he's calmed down.

heatseeker14 · 28/09/2020 16:40

@Sarahlou63 😂😂😂
@StillMedusa, teen dogs are such a pain. Did anything happen that made her change her behaviour around other dogs? The closest ddog has got to telling another dog off is showing his teeth briefly when a dog kept trying to hump him.
@PollyRoulson, thanks for your tips. I was worried about going backwards with giving out too many treats. I will increase the sniffy games as you suggest. I’m going to keep back all of his dried food for tricks and games.

He does really like a game of tug and doesn’t get too silly with it. I think I’m going to treat him to a tug toy with a ball attached. Maybe that will help to keep his focus on me. I have started to avoid the main dog walking field near me. It’s like a dog paradise to him, but unfortunately, it all gets a bit much over there and he loses his head!

OP posts:
StillMedusa · 28/09/2020 23:09

heatseeker14 We aren't entirely sure what the trigger was, but suspect it was a bad sequence of events. She hurt her leg in July, playing with another dog..crashed into each other, and couldn't go on walks for two weeks, then her best friend was away being neutered..then she came into season, and somehow at the end of it, she was no longer 'play with me' but now 'get away from me' Sad She doesn't even play with her friend any more.. ignores him and sometimes grumbles at him . We are giving her quiet walks away from other dogs as much as possible and treating if we see another dog (to make positive associations) but I'm sad as she was previously such a social dog.
I'm hoping the behaviourist can help us a bit... if he can talk to me over the barking!!!!

heatseeker14 · 29/09/2020 16:11

That’s such a shame @StillMedusa. Perhaps she associates the pain of hurting her leg with other dogs now. Are you seeing a behaviourist soon?

OP posts:
Paranoidmarvin · 29/09/2020 16:38

@Sarahlou63 can I use that logic on my teenager son as well. No one told me that was an option ShockGrin

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