Teen dog thread

[Unluckycat1]

Is there any appetite for a thread for owners of adolescent dogs? I think at 11 months Unluckypup has outgrown the puppy thread, but I'd love to keep chatting with others as she's my first dog and I don't know what I'm doing sometimes, or if things will get better.

Inspired by today's battle to get her back on the lead 😫

Her recall vanished at around nine months. But there's a decent fenced field nearby so all good. She's probably part saluki so needs a hard run most days. Although she wasn't (outside of the house) responding to her name or 'come' anymore, I would make myself interesting by being quite active, having treats, and she would check in with me often, and most of the time get a treat for her trouble, and eventually I'd pop her back on the lead to go.

Except today she would not come close. She seemed to want me to chase her and was dancing about just out of reach. She was also chasing every single car that went past as if possessed, which is new. I managed to eventually trick her by putting a YouTube video of squeaky ball sounds on my phone, hiding my phone in a bush, and grabbing her when she was investigating, but I doubt that'll work twice. She did the same to my partner the other day and it took him an hour and a half to get her back. So I guess no off-lead time now, until...who knows??

Anyone been through this and reached the well-behaved other side? Anyone want to pour a glass of wine with me because they're going through similar? Feel free to share any hardships or successes or tips 🙏(and photos!)

Unluckypup squirrel watching (a sudden increase in prey drive is another moan altogether)

We have a 9 month old golden retriever who has most definitely entered her teenage stage over the past few weeks 😩
No advice, just sympathy!!

Like your pup, her recall has entirely vanished. Took her to the beach yesterday to let her off lead as usual except this time it was an absolute nightmare. Usually she’s quite good at coming back to us when asked however this time her ears must have been painted on! She adores other dogs and just will not leave them alone. Thankfully we have an amazing dog park near us or else there’s no way I’d be letting her off again anytime soon

She’s so easily overstimulated and turns into a jumping, biting mess. We’ve had to stop walking her on the main road near our house as too many cars or people turns a nice stroll into disaster. She’s ripped my teen DD’s lovely coat this week from jumping up and biting during walks because of this…

If I didn’t have a trainer telling me that this will all pass I think I’d have lost my sanity by now! She’s never been an easy puppy but things have gone from bad to worse lately…

Thanks for the reply @MaloneMeadow Sorry you're going though similar, but it does feel a relief to not be alone. Unluckypup also loves other dogs, which is why even before this heightened stage of terrible recall I mostly had to have her on a lead. Last time we went to the beach she was honestly the only on-lead dog I could see and I felt sad for her, but all the other dogs were being so good and I knew she'd be off like a flash wanting to play with them all.

She also jumps and bites when over stimulated. In fact she did it earlier when we were walking back from the fiasco in the field. The only thing I've found that works is holding onto her collar above her neck. She looks miserable when I do it (though I'm not yanking her or anything cruel) but it does seem to reset her behaviour a bit.

Youre definitely doing the right thing keeping her on the lead if shes over friendly with other dogs. Have you got a long line? If she loves a ball use that to teach recall

I do have a 10m long line but the speed she can reach in 10 meters coupled with her weight makes it dangerous for both of us. I have considered maybe getting a shorter one, say 5ms. It wouldn't help with letting her run, but I guess it would still have value as a training tool, so I think I'll give it a go, thanks.

I've considered using a ball as well, she does love them. A different poster on here shared a study about how bad games of fetch are for dogs joints and so I rarely take them out, but if it comes down to no off-lead time at all or off-lead playing fetch time, the ball games might win.

I have a rampaging 11 month old who I haven’t let off lead, unless in an enclosed area. She loves dogs so much that I don’t think I’d get her back!
I was told about leaving a lead on her when running free, so I could put a foot on it if the dog dodges your hand reaching out. Haven’t tried this in the wild though!

Ooh that's a good idea @VelvetandLace our previous lead had a loop for your hand at the end and I worried she'd break a leg getting it caught when running so always took it off, but I recently got a halti lead which unclips flat.

We've all mentioned our pups loving other dogs — hopefully that means it's an age thing and they'll calm down socially eventually 🙏

Yes, I have a half lead I use, where I chopped it off at a point where it had been ragged to a thread.

Our pup is 9 months and started not coming back so I use a long lead. But she is mad on her throw Kongs so I use them and ensure to include a training session. So far this is working well. I understand what you say about the joints but as long as its not mad twisting and jumping it is not something I would worry about.

Is there a gate? Some of the dogs I look after don't want to go back on the lead at the end of a walk but if there's a gate they will always come and stop at the gate as (I assume) they want to go through and don't want you going through without them. Honestly I think gates are magic!

@Unluckycat1 i know what you mean re a big dog and running to the end of a longline. Mine is 35kg so i cant hold it but he's good enpugh that i can just let him trail it on fields and i can stand on it when i want him back.

Re balls - yes i understand joint issues but imo you cant focus on that. If its your dogs biggest reward, use it to your advantage and let your dog live their life and enjoy themself. As long as youre not throwing all walk every walk i think youre fine. Also maybe try intermittent other toys ie tug for recall

Thanks all, yes I think I need to get better equipped on walks, balls and tuggy toys for sure, and I'll cut the handle off the long line for stamping purposes. The feeling of helplessness and not knowing how to get her back was awful.

@itsmyp4rty there is a gate. I didn't go over to it because my partner said he tried that and although she followed, she still jumped back before he could get her. But something to try if nothing else works 😬

Going for a walk with pup is like a military op. Long lead over shoulder, rucksack with kongs, tugs, etc, harness on pup with double lead, waterproofs and cap on, poo bags for bins. Exhausted before I start! I agree that it's a good idea to change things about. Our trainer showed me how to attach the Kong to her short lead and use this as a tug, play toy, keeping pup close but very interested. I do this in between throws on long lead so she gets used to being close. Then using the Kong on the lead use that to do some basic training. Mixing it up keeps them interested in us and ensures some training is always happening. By the time I get home, I need a good strong coffee and a rest! Pup happily settles too
( usually)!

We"ll join!
Sunpup is also too old for puppy thread! He's nearly 15 months.
@Unluckycat1 the way I get Sunpup back on the lead is using the collar grab. This is from Steve Mann easy peasy books. Basically every single time he wants me to throw the ball he has to sit, and I say "collar" and touch his collar. Then he gets the ball thrown ( or occasionally his lead back on) it's been a godsend because he's definitely bright and naughty enough to learn to skip out of reach of his lead going on!
I think you start off by touching collar when they're chilled, and treat, and repeat a million times saying collar. And then take it on the road. Or field!

We may well have outgrown this teen thread already but I'm joining anyway! Our pup is two and three quarters. She is a lab goldie cross. I think we are mostly through the naughty teenage stage though she does have her moments. She is mostly an absolute joy so do hang on in there with the training if you are just entering the teenage years. It's generally several steps forwards then a few back again.

I have no dogs now, lost them both in the last 2 yrs, one was particularly hard work as a pup. We often reminisce about the time I sat in the boot of my car in tears waiting for her a couple of feet away from me. That was just one of many times I struggled with her, one of the things that helped was putting the lead on at different times of the walk so it wasn't always at the end of the walk.

We’ll join a teen dog thread!!!

SBpup is 8 months now but missed out on nearly 5 months worth of socialisation, habituation and training as he was a rescue, seized at 4 months old and then had to wait for his jabs.

He’s doing so well considering his start and has settled into a routine of basic training, Flyball foundations and canine conditioning but we can definitely tell we’re hitting the adolescent stage! Apart from Tuesday when he decided he wanted to offer off lead heel work, fantastic recall and amazing waits while in the horse arena (all completely led by him). Young dogs are a law to themselves

@Sunflowers098 that is genius, thank you! Collar training begins tomorrow!

Welcome everyone, please share pictures of your lovely dogs if you're happy to 😄

@Thatwouldbeme I'm so sorry you lost both of your dogs in a relatively short time. I can absolutely picture the scene with you sat in the boot. A human is no match for a young agile dog that thinks 'no thanks!'

@TheSecretaryBird SBpup sounds a delight, and you never know, he might not regress too much as he goes through the terrible teens 🤞

@Floramac agreed it's like a military operation!
Poo bags, training lead, slip lead ( for heel work) harness for the car, treat bag with treats and a pouch of cat food for Jackpot treat if he does something brilliant, whistle, ball for playing with and also bribery to come back to me when he's run off to play with another dog, spare ball in case he loses the first one, squeaker for if he absolutely won't come back and looks like he's annoying / about to fight another dog.
It's ridiculous really but being prepared gives me a (false) sense of being in control 🤣🤣

Oh i meant to reply to you @Floramac please tell me more about the kong on the lead, is it just a regular kong that you put treats in? I know the brand sells toys as well.

@Sunflowers098 you've reminded me that I really ought to try whistle training. (If it isn't too late). Also, cat food?? Is this a known high value treat or just something sunpup has developed a taste for?

@Unluckycat1 it's a KONG Classic w/Rope Lg, I have two. When doing the tug play train, I clip one end of the double ended lead on the end of the rope. Works really well.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B072QRRVT7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I’m here with you!
7 month old golden retriever. She’s stunningly beautiful but bloody hell she’s a nightmare. She demand barks for everything, steals food constantly, chews everything and basically bullies my poor lab retriever.

she gets over stimulated SOOOO easily. One minute she’s a delight and the next minute she’s a biting destroyer of the universe.

recall is still pretty good but loose lead walking has utterly vanished.

she’s also developed resource guarding towards other dogs. I’ve got a behaviourist coming over next week just to check what I’m doing is right cos I honestly don’t remember it being this hard!!

Definitely interested in joining! will write more later

@Unluckycat1 I'm pretty sure it was mentioned in Pippa Mattinson total recall book. I take a pouch with the top cut off and a clip to stop it ending up everywhere and Sunpup absolutely loves it! It's about having a Jack pot treat. I think at one point Pippa advises to take hot roast chicken if you have a problem recall!!

Welcome @Housenightmare and @garlicandsapphires I appreciate the picture of your gorgeous girl @Housenightmare and have to admit, I'm slightly reassured to see so many goldie owners on the thread as they just come across as the easiest more placid dogs, so if even they go through the terrible teens perhaps there's hope for my mutt!

@Sunflowers098 thanks, I'm going to stock up!
@Floramac I'll try one of those too!

Basically I'm now willing to try anything (providing not cruel), as we had yet another bad experience. Once a week Unluckypup plays in an enclosed field with her brother, and they run like the wind and bitey face and wrestle the full hour, so getting them back on the lead has always been easy as they're shattered. Until today. She clocked her brother going on the lead and that was it, dancing about, not coming close. Me walking through the gate with him and leaving her didn't work. Treats didn't work. Her brother's owner trying instead of me didn't work. Premium squeaky ball didn't work. Her brother's tuggy toy didn't work. Obviously basic commands didn't work.

We were now past our time with someone else waiting, and I placed the ball in a hedge for her to get. Nope, she realised it was in deep and what would happen while searching about (a game she adores in the garden!). So I put it in front of the hedge and knew I had one shot as she ran in to get it, and thank god I caught her.

So I guess no more play time for the foreseeable :( I'm going to try absolutely everything suggested but I feel like it won't be an easy fix.