Oh my heavens! Is there some sort of switch that is flipped around the 9 month mark that turns my well trained boy into a running, jumping, recall ignoring, garbage eating demon?! Edsel has literally just lost his mind. After what seemed to be a very well managed month in Oklahoma which included much improved lead walking and progress at class we returned to our Indiana home and he has run wild since. Everytime he's let out he makes a dash for the neighbors and goes completely deaf. I have spent tons of time working our recall over and over the past 2 days but it's not that he doesn't understand, just chooses to ignore. Any ideas? Help!
Re: 9 months and crazy!! Oh dear I'm not the one to give advice on this as Simba's recall is shaky at best....so will send you sympathy instead. It could be that he's unsettled from the switch in locations?
Re: 9 months and crazy!! It could be the change in location that has him sooooo excited, or that he has hit the teenage stage Unfortunately it probably means going back to basics with everything!
Re: 9 months and crazy!! [quote author=lorilou61 link=topic=8726.msg123544#msg123544 date=1415841168] Oh my heavens! Is there some sort of switch that is flipped around the 9 month mark that turns my well trained boy into a running, jumping, recall ignoring, garbage eating demon?! [/quote] Yes. [quote author=lorilou61 link=topic=8726.msg123544#msg123544 date=1415841168] I have spent tons of time working our recall over and over the past 2 days but it's not that he doesn't understand, just chooses to ignore. [/quote] I don't think that they choose to ignore, exactly. I think it's more like when they are growing up, the world becomes more exciting. Their humans are not the sun, moon and stars anymore, and so you just don't have the focus and attention that it's easy to get from a much younger dog and is almost a default in a small puppy that is looking to its grown up for reassurance. I think it's like the distractions have just all got bigger. So if you look at it like that, you've got to repeat the training, and proofing, around distractions (eg just about anything) that you were once able to cope with. Best of luck with it, it's a tough time but everyone gets through it.
Re: 9 months and crazy!! It was at nine months that I started using tinned salmon for Tatze for recall - very expensive, but worth it!! She's fine with dried sprats now (18 months) but the salmon as a jackpot saw us through the teenage years.
Re: 9 months and crazy!! going through this now with Kenzi (10months), sometimes it's because she's so distracted she simply doesn't hear me, sometimes she definitely chooses to ignore. I've had her look at me when I've called, I call again and she thinks about it then gives me a look that says "nah the treat's not worth it, see ya". I'm just going back to basics, trying to make her sit and do a little bit of training before she goes for a sniff and also hoping it doesn't last too long
Re: 9 months and crazy!! [quote author=Boogie link=topic=8726.msg123564#msg123564 date=1415865807] It was at nine months that I started using tinned salmon for Tatze for recall - very expensive, but worth it!! [/quote] OK, this is a strange question, maybe, but how did you stop it falling apart? Do you empty the tin into your treat bag and give pinches of it at a time? I'm interested in the logistics for when mine get to that stage.
Re: 9 months and crazy!! [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=8726.msg123646#msg123646 date=1415884368] [quote author=Boogie link=topic=8726.msg123564#msg123564 date=1415865807] It was at nine months that I started using tinned salmon for Tatze for recall - very expensive, but worth it!! [/quote] OK, this is a strange question, maybe, but how did you stop it falling apart? Do you empty the tin into your treat bag and give pinches of it at a time? I'm interested in the logistics for when mine get to that stage. [/quote] I have some small, lidded containers which fit in my treat bag - I put them in a small plastic bag. When she got the jackpot she got to eat the lot out of the container I'm not allowed to give Gypsy any human food, so I am not sure what her super duper jackpot will be!
Re: 9 months and crazy!! [quote author=lorilou61 link=topic=8726.msg123544#msg123544 date=1415841168] Is there some sort of switch that is flipped around the 9 month mark that turns my well trained boy into a running, jumping, recall ignoring, garbage eating demon?! [/quote] Yes. I have no advice to offer, only lots of sympathy. At the age of 10 months Pongo went completely deaf over the course of a week. He is marginally improving now (11 months) but still more likely to ignore than respond. Big sigh. :-[
Re: 9 months and crazy!! Thanks all! Nice to know it's normal and not some type of puppy psychosis. I've started upping the treat value and doing tons of recall on walks. Will just work on keeping his mind occupied and body tired! Lol! And wait!
Re: 9 months and crazy!! I reckon if you can maintain what you have through the teenage months, and not go backwards too much, you are doing well.
Re: 9 months and crazy!! Nine months was the worst time. Everything I had taught her went out the window. She became a nightmare, jumping up at me, it looked like she was attacking me (though she never hurt me so I think she still had some control). I was honestly frightened. I had to be very careful where I walked her, because I could not risk her kicking off on a narrow pavement. She was hell on a lead, sometimes all I could do was hang on for dear life. I went back to square one with the training, which was soul destroying. Then one day it stopped. I don't honestly think it was my achievement, I think it was a stage she had to go through. I formed the opinion that it was a burst of energy with (whilst she was on the lead) nowhere to go. If she was off the lead she would just run round like a mad thing for a minute or so and either I didn't notice or it seemed funny. My trainer described it as "a puppy mind in a dog's body" Imthink that was pretty accurate. Huge sympathy from me. It will pass.
Re: 9 months and crazy!! [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=8726.msg123646#msg123646 date=1415884368] [quote author=Boogie link=topic=8726.msg123564#msg123564 date=1415865807] It was at nine months that I started using tinned salmon for Tatze for recall - very expensive, but worth it!! [/quote] OK, this is a strange question, maybe, but how did you stop it falling apart? Do you empty the tin into your treat bag and give pinches of it at a time? I'm interested in the logistics for when mine get to that stage. [/quote] I've just started taking sardines with me to reward Inca for particularly good recalls while we are out in the park. They are inexpensive and smelly so a bonus for both of us ! I have been putting them in a little Tupperware pot and then giving her a chunk at a time. Big chunk if it's a big recall .
Re: 9 months and crazy!! I went back to obedience classes at 10 months.....we were great in the house and places we knew with dogs we knew but I needed to work around distractions and I felt folks were getting a bit tired of me wanting to practice with them on their walks ...( in my opinion and experience the general public aren't as committed as Forum folk to the training lark ;D) I think excitement at new ( well sort of new) surroundings are the trigger for your problems here...follow the advice you've had by going back to basics with some high value treats ...it will come good ( says the owner that was sending her dog to the Pound this week because he couldn't remember his name at a training assessment ...joke joke joke Dexter!)
Re: 9 months and crazy!! We had a blip with recall about 3 or 4 weeks ago and since then I've concentrated on being much more entertaining on our walks, especially if we're going somewhere very familiar. I carry a bag of toys which Molly isn't allowed at home and frequently call her to me for a game - she loves retrieving ( though not balls strangely), tuggy games and chasing things on a string! I've found this has worked better than food rewards.
Re: 9 months and crazy!! Omg so much sympathy!! Amber is 8 months old and just finishing her first season which hasn't helped. She's a nightmare. She's jumping up and body slamming into me, biting, pulling on the lead, chewing/humping cushions and sometimes on a walk I genuinely have to wave my hand in front of her eyes to get her attention. I'm assuming recall will have suffered but she's been on lead due to her season so haven't tested for a while. Her other new charming trait is asking to go out just to bark and come back in. Naughty teenage labrador shaped demon!!
Re: 9 months and crazy!! Taking him off to daycare tomorrow in hopes of bringing home a tired pup! Several short walks today with lots of play and high value treats for recall. No running off to the neighbors but certainly not able to enjoy a leisurely stroll either. Happy to hear it's likely another stage in growing up and will pass some day. Until then, back to work!
Re: 9 months and crazy!! After joyfully stating bailey came when playing with other dogs! Yesterday came very reluctantly and at his own pace yesterday! 5 months ! And I was thinking oh goodness(actually more unprintable than that ) ! So having lots of sympathy and sighing!!! Hope things get better soon!
