How to deal with teenage behaviour

[mynameisnotmichaelcaine]

Hi all,

My puppy is eight months old. I have just come out of Covid isolation and her recall has regressed. She does come back but takes her time about it, whereas before it was instant. I can still successfully call her back from other dogs and clip her back on her lead, but it's definitely not as easy to do that as it was before.

She is much more vocal in the house. She has started to chew things again that she has ignored for several months.

I don't know how much of this is a reaction to the change in routine or just the fact that she is an adolescent, but I would really appreciate any tips on how to deal with it.

So far I am:
giving her the occasional very high value treat for a recall
Putting her back on a long line in the park and playing lots of "find it" games
Ignoring barking and treating for calm behaviour

She's a working cocker spaniel so she is bright and has a lot of energy. She gets at least two good runs through the forest every day. This is why I am so keen to fix the recall, as she just doesn't enjoy an on-lead walk as much. Is it just a case of being consistent and persistent with her training until she comes out of the other side?

Lots of persistence (and wine!) and treat her every single time she comes back to you, not just occasionally. She needs to be convinced that coming back to you is always worth it.

Treats don't have to be food btw - it could be a ball or a tug or tons of praise, but she needs to get a reward for coming back to you or she won't bother.

It's hard but they do come out of the other side eventually

@icedcoffees Thank you. Sorry, I've realised what I've written is unclear - I always treat her for coming back, but I've started to occasionally give her some hotdog sausage or squeezy cheese instead of a normal treat.

Has she had her season yet? Hormones can play a part, they usually calm down again after.

No, but her breeder said her mum didn't have a season until she was nearly two so I'm not expecting it any time particularly soon.

[quote mynameisnotmichaelcaine]@icedcoffees Thank you. Sorry, I've realised what I've written is unclear - I always treat her for coming back, but I've started to occasionally give her some hotdog sausage or squeezy cheese instead of a normal treat.[/quote]
Personally I would be doing high-value treats every single time for now - you only need to give them tiny amounts, but they need to see the treat as something that's worth recalling for.

Mine will do anything for sprats but if I tried to get him back with a bit of dried kibble he would wander off in disgust

@icedcoffees I'm doing a roast chicken for Sunday lunch so I'll take some bits from that out for this afternoon's walk. 🙂