uncontrollable behavior
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| Ahhhhh, the puppy months, when an OES's body becomes mature, while their brain is stuck in toddler mode.....usually in the "Terrible Twos". Sounds like your dog might need to expend some physical AND mental energy. Have you done any formal obedience training with your pup? It's a good way to wear them out altogether. For Oscar, we used mostly positive reinforcement to reward good behavior (lots of nummy treats and "good boy"), and ignored the inappropriate behavior. If we needed to intervene (like you would with the humping), we did it calmly and consistently, so as not to add to the level of general tension, and tried to redirect the behavior to something postive. For example, when Oscar was pulling our rug apart loop by loop, we removed him from the rug and gave him a Buster Ball (a toy that releases treats when the dog rolls it around), or spent a little time playing with him. If he went back to the rug, we did it all over again. It's really, really difficult not to get frustrated, but we found that the more upset we got, the crazier he got. He definitely fed off our tension. When I found myself getting more and more irritated, I took a deep breath and brought everything down a notch. (For a hearing dog, that means speaking in a calm manner. Oscar is deaf, so that meant no wild hand gestures.  )Oscar is almost 7 years old now, so I don't have any recent experience with the puppy stage. This is what my aged brain recalls , so hopefully others with more recent experience will chime in.Laurie and Oscar |
| What Laurie said is right. This is a phase and is very hard to live with. Ahhhh, thanks for reminding me why I don't want another puppy. If you haven't done so already, get him into training classes. This is a brain drainer and that is as important as the physical energy. Bordom is a terrible thing. One thing I remember being told is that people "get rid" of dogs between the age of six months and a year because of uncontrollable behavior. Get him into a class and remember "this too shall pass". |
Oh I feel for you because I am just getting through this stage.  I am starting to see little changes, Howie is almost a year old and he is now able to sit still for 20 minutes at a time.Right from when we brought Howie home at 2 months old we knew we had a smart, very active, dominant dog living with us. It is our job, because we welcomed him into our home, to make him the best possible dog we can. Giving up is not an option for us- a couple of days in the 9 months we were close though. We found that we need to let Howie run free with other dogs for at least 30 minutes once a day and 2 walks on leash. While typing this, I have had to get up 3 times and give Howie activities to do. It is constant busy work that keeps him calmer, like an empty water bottle with few kibble, so now he is tossing it around. I also gave him a big empty box with a few toys inside, he was pushing that around for a while. I have yet to feed him just 2 meals a day. Each morning I scoop his 4 cups of food into a big baggy. Throughout the day & evening he is given his food in ways he has to work for it. While he is 'working' I can get things done - like prepare our supper! It is a lot of work and requires energy. Some days I wish I could just sit on the couch and relax...but then I look at my wonderful active boy and know that there will many years of snuggling on the couch together once we get through these wild months. We have a list on our fridge of all the good things Howie does now. It seems silly, but when I have reached the end of my rope with him, I read through the list and remember that he used to chew our arms, and bark constantly and, and, and, the list goes on. This way I can see how far he has come and I know there is hope. I sound dramatic but with some of Howie's behavior it was really terrible. He would come running full speed at me and jump as high as my shoulders and throw himself into me and bite my clothes all at the same time. I would be flat on the floor with ripped clothing, a sore back, and hopping mad.  So I really do understand your frustration with Charlie.I am sure Charlie is a wonderful pup, despite his crazy ways, hang in there, you too will see the changes and in the end you will get a great dog. It really is worth the work to have a fabulous ADULT sheepie!  Keep us posted on Charlie's progress. peg and howie |
| Oh yes, it is a phase they all go through. Running a muck best describes it! Our female sheepie was a maniac! I was about to pull my hair out! What I ended up doing was going to petsmart and buying interactive toys. Games for the most part. You put treats in them and it keeps them busy for at least 20 minutes. lol I know that's not long but it's something. Ha! I did lots of training during that time. More so myself than her! Drank lots of wine and learned to laugh a lot more! Hang in there..Keep him busy and laugh a lot! It will pass. |
| Meet Izzy. 3-6 months: World's best behaved and cutest puppy. Almost perfectly housebroken upon arrival. Walked BEAUTIFULLY on a leash. Picked up sit, lay, and paw like a champ. We were the envy of the neighboorhood. 6 months: She gets spayed...still cute, a little more exhuberant and curious, but lovely.  7-10 months: Why is she barking back at me? Is she peeing on the floor?!? IS SHE PEEING ON MY BED?!?!?!?!  10 months-present (13 months): WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DOG? WHO IS THIS DEMON? WHY IS SHE RIPPING UP $100 CHECKS AND TAKING MY SOCKS AND ATTACKING MY HUSBAND?!?! ...We've had personal trainers, group classes, smart toys, antlers, walks, walks, walks, and I still find myself reaching for the wine. BUT in the moments where she is sweet, or LISTENING, there is nothing better. No matter how crazy she is, she is also crazy about us and I don't let myself forget that. For me, her worst behavior was 11-12 months, and slowly she's starting to have more calm moments. We are by no means there yet - and I've probably just jinxed myself- but I see small improvements every day. If nothing else, I often threaten Izzy that she's becoming a rug...she'll still be soft and snuggly but easier to keep clean  |
Yep......to all of the above. I got to the point on rare ocassions that I thought of getting a large box, poking a few holes in it, shoving Chauncey in the box, driving to the breeder, ringing the bell and running like h***.  Hang in there it does get better. Chauncey is now 5 and there are days ( really seconds ) that I miss the puppy stage.  |
Yes, yes and yes to all the "demon puppy" stories!  Winnie was SO smart - and a terrible terrible puppy. Her behavior was so bad, we also thought about returning her.What helped us most was the formalized training that made her use her brain for things other than testing US. That and I found a wonderful doggy day care where I could park her a couple of times a week for a half or full day. The day care saved my sanity (and probably saved her). Now, at 2 years+ she is a sweet, loving dog who minds us (most of the time).  So, patience, training, consistency, and yes, a little wine, will help get through these tough times. The rewards are awesome!  |
| Oh yes on all of the above! We have no idea how old Murphy was when we adopted him - he was an SPCA rescue... but we believe he was still in the puppy stages. The story that was posted about running full speed and plowing into the owner WHILE biting could best describe our first few months. We've been Murphy's parents for over a year now and the behavior has mellow greatly (for all except my husband ... who Murphy still thinks is his living chew toy). We're trying to break him from biting guests (body count is about 6) and barking at other dogs (which is a frantic, high-pitch bark that continues until the other dog leaves or is out of eye sight). In month 1 or 2 we too were reconsidering our choice and questioning our sanity, but there's just something about Sheepies that make you love them no matter what terrors they are. I'm glad we stuck it out. I love this dog like no other. All the rest is just... well... the way it is. He's family. |
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