As I sit here watching Ziggy, fast asleep and looking cute after another manic puppy session, I can't help wondering how I'm going to cope with him when he's a naughty teenager! Occasional his bites hurt and once he drew blood. What's it going to be like when his teeth and jaws are bigger and stronger? At the moment if he's having mad crocodile time I can pick him up and put him into his puppy play pen for a 'time out' but he's already managed to climb out! What will I did when he's bigger? I love him so much already but I'm worried that I won't be able to cope with him when he's a terrible teen and I want to be prepared - as much as possible!
I'm going to go out on a limb and say I don't really remember Stanley hitting the horrible teenage years. He was a devil dog puppy but after about 6 months he hasn't been that bad. I never felt as though he lost his training and he didn't start biting again or anything. He's nearly 16 months now and can still be a bit over excitable and cheeky sometimes and I just pop him in his crate still with a kong to calm down. Generally - he's just a daft little comedian that I love having around
Only once? Seriously he will have stopped biting by the time he's into adolescence and he might not be a terrible teenager. I can remember three occasions when Molly was naughty enough for me to feel really stressed ( of course I might just have blocked the rest from my memory...) but it certainly wasn't a daily struggle.
My thought precisely! I lost count of the number of times Luna drew blood! Even Willow, who I considered to be not really a bitey pup at all left us with numerous red welts down our arms. If it's only been once, your pup is a saint With all three of my puppies, I noticed how they became more interested in the environment as adolescents, but looking at it rationally and taking a step back in your training means it doesn't have to be as frustrating as all that. Luna does still "bite" on occasion, at nine months, but it's just a cheeky thing when she's over-excited. She has no power in her jaws at all and it doesn't hurt or bother me enough to do anything about it.
I found the most frustrating part of Harley hitting adolescence was her recall went to pieces - I had to go back to basics and it was really frustrating, but in hindsight, her adolescence wasn't too bad!
I think don't worry about it, just deal with what ever comes along as your puppy develops and come here for support and advice, and fun, when needed. I have had some issues with Cassie lately, which I have documented on other threads. I have learnt to manage them and alongside the hooligan behaviour is also developing a more gentle and affectionate side to her nature, she's 15 months and full of fun.
At 17 months old Bailey no longer bites (apart from nibbles the OH when they are wrestling), his recall had to be restarted from scratch when he hit 9 months old - not 100% yet but high 80% now and he is more chilled generally. As they get older the challenges change - while I still remember the crocopup stage thanks to the scars on my arms they are gradually fading - I now have a cheeky, loveable, friendly, chilled out companion that I absolutely adore and would never be without him now.
