Our 15 year old black lab died last September & she was the most wonderful dog anyone could imagine. From puppy to pensioner she was so loveable & well mannered. For a few months we didn't even think about getting another dog until we realised we really missed the companionship. So early 2018 we started searching reputable & licensed breeders & ended up seeing some 3 week old goldador puppies in February. We put a deposit on one & picked her up in late April (8 weeks old). She was fine in the car on the way to her new home, very calm & sleepy, but as soon as we got home all hell broke loose. She just started to rip everything she was given to pieces, including her bed. It was like she was possessed by some demonic force. We quickly realised that this dog needed to be crated for her & our furnitures good. She is nine months old now & we are really starting to think that she may have canine hyperkinesis (ADHD in Humans). She never seems to relax/sleep during the day & constantly whines to go out, even after walks. She doesn't seem to be content with her copious amount of chew toys on offer & would rather chew shoes rather that Kongs. Taking her for walks isn't exactly an exhilarating experience either !...constant pulling, over excited, wanting to jump up when seeing another dog or person. No treat, even the smelliest of cheese, will distract her from trying to greet strangers & other dogs in the most ill-mannered way possible...by jumping at them & clawing there arms etc. It's like everyone she sees, she wants to move in with ! She pulls so hard that we have to use a harness, which she doesn't like being put on her. But on the collar, she pulls so hard that she constantly chokes herself. When at training classes at the 'Dogs Trust', the trainers couldn't really get her full attention & questioned what food we were feeding her, as she didn't seem to respond to commands like all the other dogs in the class did. That's another thing....Food. We realised from a young age, & by the feaces that she used to produce, that she must have some kind of food intolerence. Turns out, after a lengthy process of food ellimination, she is intolerent to rice !. So after a few different foods, we settled with 'Akela' fish, which is grain free. She has been on this for about 4 months now & even though she now produces good solid stools, she is still mad & frantic. It's is now getting to the point where me & my wife are seriously thinking about giving this dog up. We love her so much, but her constant bad behaviour is pushing us to breaking point. I really don't want to give up on this dog, because she really is the most friendly dog you will ever meet, but also the most stubborn to train.....maybe she'll mature with age, or maybe she'll always have a screw loose ?
Hello and welcome...I am no expert but she does sound bouncy but many are at this age. Unless I really let my Meg have a good run off the lead at this age she would be like this. I had to stick to lessons being the worst in the class for a year before she started to settle. I think a lot of the behaviours you describe are typical for a dog of this age pulling, wanting to meet everyone. It’s a difficult time and a time when many dogs do get rehomed. Are you still at classes ? If not find a good one and stick with it, it takes a bucket of patience and hard work to get the calm dog you want.
Hi @Jocab, Many things at issue here. But until you get some calmness I don't expect you will get much of a gain on the other fronts. Relaxation. Have you taught your dog to relax? There is a possibility that you have inadvertently taught him that if he plays up, he gets rewarded with a kong. Or if he whines he gets to go out. You may have been reinforcing the precise behaviour that you do not want. Instead sit down with the dog, do not make eye contact with the dog. When he is calm, give him a treat. If he tries to initiate play, just ignore him. It may take a while for the dog to learn that calmness gets activity from you. Same thing on the walks. If he pulls, you stop. If need be put the lead behind your body so that you can resist the pulling. Only proceed when he turns to initiate eye contact with you and stops the pulling. If he turns towards you, give him a treat when he is at your side. If you are attaching the lead to the loop on the back of the harness, then you are allowing the dog to lean into the harness. Attach the lead to the front loop. One dog trainer here, @Jo Laurens advocates Perfect Fit. I don't have any direct experience with the brand. It is very expensive in Australia. I don't know what part of the UK you reside. If you inform us, one of the locals on this site might be able to recommend a trainer/organisation better suited to you and you dog.
Your dog just sounds like a very typical puppy for either a labrador or a golden retriever. Comparing her to your previous 15yo dog, is not going to do you or her any good - she's not that dog - she is instead far more typical... Please stop even thinking things such as how well-mannered and 'perfect' your previous dog was and how much of a devil this one is - splitting like this, is really not going to do your current dog any good at all. Your current dog is very normal and typical and does not have ADHD(!) - take it from me, as someone who works with bazillions of adolescent dogs of many breeds. She is not 'stubborn', she does not 'have a screw loose' and she is not displaying 'bad behaviour'. Please stop pathologising her and locating the problem with *her*, in the process. Any dog is trainable and take it from me - having seen endless human and dog training relationships - the limitations are 95% of the time, with the human and not the dog... If you are struggling to get her focus around other dogs, then you really need to be thinking about food motivation. Are you training with her meals at home? Is she getting any food for free, ever? It sounds like you are just giving her meals in a bowl... Dogs (and people) don't value things much, if they get them for free - whatever the thing is. For something to be 'free' communicates something of its worth to whoever is getting it. If you want your dog to value food and to behave as if it something she really wants to earn from you, then you need to be teaching her that it is a valuable thing. That means: Training (in the house) with all her meals and stopping the training if at any point she walks off or loses interest. You should be working on all the material you've covered in class, at home with her. If she can do it fine at home - you do the training and you look for new and more things to work on and train. You also start to *daily* cut up treats and work outside your house on the pavement or in places where she is able to focus and gradually increase the distraction levels of what you're doing. You haven't mentioned what sort of exercise she is getting or whether she is being let off leash to run, as an active dog of her type would need? (With a 10m long line on, whilst you are training recalls.) If she is not getting sufficient exercise, it would explain in a nutshell all of the behaviours you've described...
I'm no expert like the two posters above me, but I do have an 8.5 month old and I can confirm that their energy levels do increase at this age. They are all different, but I dont think what you are experiencing is particularly abnormal. Over excitement is pretty typical of this age and is something we are also trying to work on as my dog goes a bit crazy when he sees other dogs or people acknowledge him in any way... My dog is much more on the go now, and we try to give him at least 2 outings a day, as well as training, scentwork and engaged play with us. Food is all either used for training, scentwork or in food dispensing toys. This seems to result in a dog who (mostly) naps happily in between bursts of activity. It can be difficult at times, but apparently it does get easier, so hang in there.
Thanks for all your opinions & advice, both positive & negative. Although we've been dog owners all our lives & realise that all dogs are different & have different personalities (like people), this dog is the most challenging yet & has the most dominant personality that I have ever known in a dog. More training & perserverance will hopefully prevail
Dogs don't have 'dominant personalities': https://petprofessionalguild.com/DominanceTheoryPositionStatement https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_12/features/Alpha-Dogs_20416-1.html https://drsophiayin.com/philosophy/dominance/ You simply need to learn how to motivate and engage your dog. This is something which any good dog trainer will be able to show you, so it would be best to attend force-free training classes in your area.
