Toby deserves better.
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| Toby is still a baby and yes they are a handful at that age. You really do need to take him to training classes. No 1 it wears them out, it helps the hyper excitement, it socialises them to many different situations and they learn and you learn too. You really do need to go as he is only 7 months old and he is also coming into the silly teenage years and growing and getting bigger, so control on him is a must now before he gets bigger.
They mellow with age usually around 2 so it does get better, but toby really needs to learn now how to behave appropriately before he is a large out of control dog.  |
| You have typical 7 month old sheepie. He will calm down quite a bit, but
it may not be for a while. My Zeke is 19 months and is only now starting to have longer calm spells. It sounds to me like your SO has a great idea about obedience training. It does help with the basics like coming when called. It will also help you change some things you have been doing that you might not realize aren't really helping. I say sign up for a class. At the very least you gain a little more control. Sheepies really tend to behave better if they can be with their people, so if the dog is alone outside for extended periods (you didn't really say) avoiding that may help him behave better. I'm not sure why you'd want him to be smaller. As far as bathing, give him a really good towel off before you let him out of the tub, put a leash on him and give him a good long walk while he dries. I am guessing you haven't gone through the coat change yet at 7 months. Unless you plan to keep him in a puppy cut, he is going to need lots of brushing or he will get matted. Puppy cut or stripping the undercoat are great options. Walking your dog might solve some of the problems too. A tired dog is a generally a good dog. It will also give one on one time and help the dog recognize you as leader. Maybe the carrying on in the yard is just pent up energy? Shellie |
| First of all, let me say Toby is a typical 7 month old sheepie puppy. And you are really a typical 'mom' to a 7 month old sheepie puppy: overwhelmed and frustrated. It's like having a much more mobile hyper child who speaks a different language. AND you have a toddler. Of course, you're overwhelmed.
Obedience classes will help--you'll get some more tools, some motivation, some support. Toby will also benefit. Walks are a great idea. Make time. I'm fairly lax about bathing my dogs unless they are really dirty--only a couple of times a year when they're older and not into all the stuff puppies get into. Note: I do NOT show my dogs. If I did, the limited bathing would not work at all. What I have done in colder, wet weather (we live in Minnesota) when my dogs have gotten muddy feet is to take them to the basement (mudroom if that's what you have) and made them stand, one foot at a time in a basin of water while the mud got washed out. No, they didn't like it and no, neither did I, but it was too cold to do a full bath, besides which I would have had to take them muddy to the bath--not a good option. After all feet were dried, I rubbed them with a towel (or 5) and lived with a less than pristine house. Fortunately, I'm a lax housekeeper. |
| thanks for the advice everyone,
we don't leave Toby outside or alone ever for more than a couple hours, and that's only because we have a toddler who of course needs constant supervision, and thats hard to do when you have a hyper large dog in a 900 sq. foot house. I don't really want Toby to be smaller,  We obviously knew he would be large, it's just that that's part of the frustration. I think we'll look into classes at our local pet store. Any more advice is appreciated. |
| I forgot to mention that he goes for a long walk every night with my husband. So it's not that he's not getting enough excercise. |
That's wonderful  I don't think you will regret it at all. You get out of a sheepie what you put into them and yes he will get mellower when mature. They are a Peter Pan breed till they grow brains. LOL. 
A good trained sheepie can either be a couch potato or fit into an active lifestyle, which every way you want them to be with good training
They were originally bred to work all day (herd) so they do have boundless engery and need an outlet there and thrive on that and being around a family too. Easy trainable and even though they act clownish they are smart and knowing at the same time too so they do learn fast
Be consitant with him and do obedience and I am sure you will have a great big loveable well behaved, goofball to love. My children have grown up with sheepies right from birth so early basic training is a must, especially as you need to make sure he does not get over ethusiastic with play with the kids and send them flying with jumping up or not putting the brakes on in time.  Yes that has happened to my kids when young, few bruisers on there backsides from playing and charging around with puppers.
Best wishes too and look forward to hearing how he progresses |
| Definitely find a training center and enroll in classes. They will help you learn to work with your energetic pup, and give you tools to make life easier. Both of you should go to the classes -one training, the other observing. I have a training school, and I strongly encourage family members to come to class and observe. It helps immensely if the humans are all on the same page!
Consistancy is the most important thing I can stress. Don't allow a behavior one time, then correct your pup the next time. We live on a farm, and have plenty of dirt and other "stuff" for a pup to get into! Unfortunately we also have lots of carpet in our house. Our pup Chewie is our 3rd OES. He is 5 mos old. We wash off his feet in a pail of warm water. Put in a foot, wash it off, squeeze his leg/foot to get most of the water out, then towel dry. I can do all his feet/lower legs in a few minutes, using one small towel. I usually do his face too. He is expected to behave, and for the most part, he does. They learn a routine pretty quick if you are consistant with it. I also bathe Chewie in the tub. I use about 6 inches of water. Let all the water out before you take Toby out. Then you can squeeze lots of water out of him before he gets out of the tub. I put 2 layers of towel on the floor, and dry with a 3rd one. No soggy pup running around - he gets pretty dry 1st, then he can go out of the bathroom. This is where training classes will help - giving you tools to work with in everyday life. Obedience classes will help you establish yourself as the leader in your house, not the puppy. We also have kids, big ones now, but had twins 1st, then the next one when the twins were 3yrs. old. We always had multiple dogs too, throughout raising our family. It is possible to get through the puppy and childhood years! If it will make life easier and less stressful, get a haircut for Toby. Then you will be able to enjoy him more. It will always grow out again! Good luck with Toby! |
| Definitely enroll in obedience classes. He's not being stubborn. He has to learn the behaviors that you want. He won't know to come unless he's been taught. Once you teach him I think you will be amazed at how smart he is and what is currently frustration will turn into pure joy.
I think it's amazing you can get a Sheepie into the bathtub. Since mine are so big I use the shower. So first off, close the door of the bathroom. Then take all of your dirty towels that you haven't washed yet and lay them on the floor in front of the bathtub. Also have two fresh towels ready to go. After the bath, let out all of the water. Take your hand and go over him and at the paws squeeze out any excess water. Also squeeze by hand any particularly long areas of fur. After that take a fresh towel and dry him. Then use your next towel. Then let him out of the tub. It's amazing but they do get used to whatever you do to them if you do it LOVINGLY. Then put all the wet towels in the washing machine. Viola, no more wet house. Good luck. He will mellow out and you'll have the best friend ever. I know sometimes you just need to vent. Sure hope you get some time to post some pics. He'll be worth the frustration, trust me. |
Welcome to the forum 
I'm sure you will find classes helpful, and fun too. Do you crate train him at all? Sometimes when you just have to get things done around the house, like washing floors etc, it is really helpful to be able to crate them for that short time you need, and it can give you a break too. If he is crated in the room you spend most time in maybe he won't bark. |
| Welcome to the forum... you should really consider registering and become an "official" member of the community!
The forum software can helkp keep track of replies to your threads and there are a few other "hidden benefits" too. Good luck with the adjustments. Our dog goes for at least 2 long walks and 1 short walk every day. When he gets a little feisty, it's off to find some sort of a park for an offleash run/ If it all becomes too much for you, please PLEASE come back here to talk about it, we can help in SO many ways depending on the situation, even in re-homing your dog if the worst becomes necessary. |
| Welcome! Toby is giving me a glimpse of Bingley in 4 months . . .
Sounds like he would enjoy some structured obedience training with you. Another pro to training is that it gives you and Toby a time together that is completely undivided. Dogs like to have 'jobs' and this training can be one of those 'jobs'! Also, to make your life a little easier, there are shampoos out there that you can rub into a dirty coat and they do not need to be rinsed!!!! That should help with puddles. I wouldn't recommend using it all the time, but if he's really dirty and you need a quick fix, this is the ticket! Try Self Rinse Plus. You can get it from on-line retailers like Care A Lot and JB Wholesale if you can't find it at a regular pet market. It also comes with a 'plus whitener' for around his face! My breeder - who shows her dogs - told me it is quite a lifesaver and works very well. |
| I'm not sure there's more I can add, except........well...........I haven't washed my sheepdogs in........ages Do they get muddy? Oh yeah!
But I've learned the mud dries and falls off. You keep them in an area where the dirt can accumulate and be easily swept up. Then once dry take a soft bristle brush and brush out the dust from the dog. What about smelly dogs? Well, yeah, Glacier is getting a bit gamey but she's been sick lately and I'm sure that has a lot to do with "doggy smell". The others get brushed out well. Two pure sheepies get clipped back twice a year to I can really brush them well. You have a youngster, they won't die from dirt. Babies and doggies get dirty, houses get dirty, but none of it is more important than love and a good time with our dogs and kids. So what if you loose your Good Housekeeping medal.......I turned mine back in, it's more fun playing with babies and doggies. |
| We raised three children with three dogs in the house - ususally two Sheepies and a Golden. The dogs and kids learned to get along, in fact, I just don't remember any issues. (Getting old and the memory goes)
And my dogs are house dogs - out for walks, play or bathroom breaks, then back inside. They have always had a large room that they can hang out in when we leave for the day or need a break from them. But that would mostly be when company first arrives - they get so excited. After 15 minutes, they join us and have better manners. I bathe the dogs in the tub. They get in and out on their own - and they love their baths. I also give extra attention to squeezing the water out of their feet before they leave the bathroom. A favorite game is to run back and forth in front of the hairdryer. |
| Chancey just turn one on Sat.....where has the time gone. He has made remarkable strides but, is still a hand full at times ( worse when hubby at home ). I have avoided obiedience classes because he has never responded to food/treats, he couldn't care less. He has responded to the Ceasar methods and my practicing some of his theorys, however we do not have a trainer of that school in our area. We live in western Maryland and everyone here practices the reward method. We did have a 1/1 trainer come in when he was about 3 months old but she worked more with German shepards and was frustrated that he wouldn't respond to rewards ( she is a reconized instructor in our area, and recommened by our vet ). We just got back from 2 weeks vacation yesterday, Chauncey was with our vet, and today it seems as if he's forgotten everthing he's learned in the past year. The thing to remember is to cherish, and regret at the same time, is that they remain a puppy for a longer period than most dogs. I take him for what he is, try to change what I can, and love him for who he is.......Kathy |
| Welcome to the forum.
I don't give Remy very many bath's through the year...maybe 3. But she gets brushed. If she gets muddy, I wait a day and the mud falls off and a quick brush through and she looks clean again. I use a pen inside my kitchen, and an extra long gate between the doorways. I have also used her kennel for times when we have company, and it was safer for everyone if she was inside the kennel. She is way too hyper for other people's liking. Obedience classes can be alot of fun, and you will probably learn and enjoy it alot. I've done classes inside the pet store...and I've also done classes in a dog facility. Both have their faults and good things. Another great outlet is doggy daycare. They will have so much fun, and play with other dogs. Off leash parks is also an option to release pent up energy, and you can walk with baby in the stroller without a pulling dog. A walk in the evening is great, but they have ALOT of energy, so if possible take a few minutes and try a morning walk as well. I haven't tried an invisible fence, but we have a dog run to keep the dogs in one area if need be. Our house is also around 900 sq ft...and I came to realize one big dog is all we can have. But I too gave up the idea of a clean house. With two kids and the dog, the carpets were a disaster. So we removed them and went to a laminate flooring. It has been great, so much easier. I also find that dogs who dig are dogs that are bored. So giving them things to chew on will help. Stuff a Kong with kibble and fill the end with peanut butter. I also like holey treat balls and put food inside that for them to get out. Raw marrow bones....mine loves these but it makes a mess of the fur. I play a game of FIND IT, and throw dog biscuits like milk bones onto the patio/grass and then tell them to find it. They sniff around until every single one of found. 7 mth- 1 year is a very challenging time. In dog years your dealing with a teenager, that thinks it knows everything. It will test it's boundaries, and your limits....many dogs are given away at this stage. I hope it works out and you are able to get past this stage, so you can get to the enjoyable stage you dreamed of...but it takes time and patience to get there. Be consistent, and have fun with obedience classes...LOL it gets better. As for bathtime, put lots of towels down, try and squeeze out as much water as possible, let them shake it off in the bathroom...clean up and let them dry. Keep them in shorter coats for faster drying. With our puppy pen, we made it one long fence and this way I can manuever it however I need it to fit. You can attach it to wood with U shape nails, then srew it to the walls...makes it stronger...it has a door in it, and I have one I can step over. Then we take it everywhere, like camping. But you can set this up in an area in your kitchen where he can dry off. I found leaving it as it comes in the box too flimsy and they just flip it over and jump out. But being able to permantly fix it to something worked better for us. If this makes any sense at all. |
| Until I had the luxury of my basement in this home, bath time with my long time gone sheepies consisted of:
Hair trimmed in summer, but grown out for an Indiana winter coat. Used the bathtub and those towels that soak up water (can't think of name). I'd wipe them down with that towel, wring it out, redo a few times, then: Close shower curtain and tell them to "shake". I started teaching them that command as puppies while shaking their bodies somewhat, then letting go and they'd do it themselves. I'd praise them for "shaking". Yes, they knew how to sit and shake hands. Used the same word - shake, but they knew they difference. Saved a lot of water having to be wiped off the walls, and with that towel you can squeeze out almost all the excess water before they get out of the tub. |
| We taught Ollie shake too!! I washed, rinsed and then pulled the shower curtain closed. Then I told him shake. It was real easy to teach, I plan on doing the same for Chewie. |
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