My puppy has now mastered jumping over the stair gate which I knew would happen as she's getting a big girl now! Several shredded toilet rolls later I simply made the gate higher to prevent it happening again. Problem solved or so I thought until later on when I took her for a walk. I then got chatting to another dog owner and told him about this and her other antics, chewing, digging holes and destroying everything she can get her paws on. I was told I'm being too soft and should train her not to do this before her behavior gets out of hand. I've never had a dog before and I'm feeling deflated by the comment. I thought she was just being a typical lab pup!
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? Relax. Your puppy is absolutely being a typical Lab pup They are all like that (or almost all...I once had one that wasn't, but I think he was one of three on the whole planet!). Your puppy is not out of hand, just a Labrador!! Training does present a solution to a lot of exuberant behaviours (jumping up etc) and can also relieve any excess energy that might be contributing. Physically preventing access to valuable parts of the garden, furniture and food is often the best approach though, rather than trying to stop digging or chewing things via training. Providing lots of toys that are legal to chew can help. They do get better as they get older (as long as general training and a positive, happy relationship is maintained).
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? An 8 month Lab is a wonder to behold when it comes to destruction. We acquired our pooch when he was a little older than that and had no idea what we were in to. Training definitely helps to teach your pup to use his mind and develop some self control, but even so, as Rachael says, sometimes the best offence is a good defense, so preventing access to temptation will do a long way to get you through this stage of your pup's life.
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? Hello Mols,oh if I had a £1 for everytime a helpful member of the public has given me advice on how to sort my dog out I'd be a rich woman indeed! You've got a totally normal 8 month old...full of energy,mischief and curiosity.We dealt with a lot of things using Rachael's suggestion,things were just kept out of Dexters reach and his free range to roam was gradually extended as he got older and more trustworthy....it's a lot easier to not let them practice bad habits in the first place than it is to train them out.Dexter is 2.5 years old now ,every single morning as I lurch to the bathroom pre morning walk he follows me and 'just for old times sake' removes the toilet roll from the holder ;D the difference now to 8 months old when he used to gleefully ribbon it ,is he will drop it when I ask him! Best wishes Angela
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? She is just being a typical Lab pup! Put Vicks Vapour Rub on anything you don't want chewing while you are out - it puts them off completely.
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? Your problem is that you have an adolescent Labrador. It is a truly awful time. They forget everything you have ever taught them and are an explosion of energy with nowhere to go and no control over their actions. They have selective deafness (cannot hear a command, but can hear a food noise) and when they are having a "red mist" moment they are quite beyond it. Last year, when Molly was at the stage she was a nightmare on the lead. She would snatch at it with her teeth and pull me around like a toy. If there was a lamp post or fence handy I'd hang on for dear life. She would throw herself around on the end of the lead, or jump up and paw me which was no fun at all as I was wearing shorts and t shirts in the summer. I wondered if I would be able to keep her. I didn't think I would be able to manage her on wet and slippery pavements. I longed for dark evenings so I could walk her under the cover of darkness. I varied our walks so she wouldn't acquire a reputation. It was hell on four paws. Not surprisingly it is the period when many Labs go to Rescue. Luckily I had the Forum and learnt that it is just something they go through and I hadn't got a 'wrong un'. It was at it's absolute worst when she was 10 months. Again I was lucky, my trainer had warned me "10 months is the worst time. Adult body, puppy brain". Sometime during her 10th month it stopped. I cannot tell you how good that was. So hang in there. Keep up the training and it will all come good in the end.
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? [quote author=Dexter link=topic=10185.msg149327#msg149327 date=1426313199] oh if I had a £1 for everytime a helpful member of the public has given me advice on how to sort my dog out I'd be a rich woman indeed! [/quote] Hee Hee....I think new dog owners have a label on their forehead "I'm a new dog owner, and feeling a bit uncertain, so come tell me how I've got it all wrong and your dog is perfect". I certainly did!
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? It's not just new dog owners who get told whet they should be doing. I actually got advice from an owner with a wee dog running around both my dogs ankles, who had no lead for his dog. He then commented I had my hands full. Both mine were on a lead and we were next to a busy road. It has taken me years to take what anyone tells me with a pinch of salt. I have been training Cupar he's 10 months. Recently I've noticed a difference in him and how silly he gets. So Cupars training is now going back to basics. Tina at what age did Molly grow up?
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? Molly grew up around 11 months. Didn't notice any improvement at 1 year (ever hopeful), but strangely at about 13 months. She really was at her worst just before it all stopped. I remember one day, she had about 5 episodes in about 200yards. As we were walking along the ring road there was nothing I could do but hang on for dear life as my lunatic Labrador threshed and whirled around at the the end of the lead. Oh, there was something I could do......feel like a complete pratt I may be wrong, but I think it is a stage they go through just like that awful Crocodog stage. I am confident that I did nothing to cause her to behave in the lunatic manner she did. I am also confident that when they are 'throwing a wobbly' they are beyond our reach, there is nothing you can do but hold on and wait for it to subside. I think if they 'throw a wobbly' at home and race round the house and garden like a loon we don't notice, in fact it is quite amusing as they dash round in circles until they apparently run out of steam. I think it is an expolosion of pure energy with nowhere to go. I never discovered a trigger, though I gave it LOTS of thought. I think it was worst in the early evening. It is what I call Molly's Mad time. When she was a very small puppy she would race round the house about 6.00pm. Even today, at approaching 18 months she gets naughty about 6.00pm and does things she doesn't do during the rest of the day. I take her out for a walk which solves the problem. Lots of people seem to walk their dogs about that time, I always thought they did it when they got I from work, but perhaps all dogs have a nutty time about 6.00 You will get through it. About a month ago a bloke that last September suggested I got a muzzle for her, told me I'd done well, that it looked like I'd got a different dog and he gave her a biscuit.
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? Tina thank you , it helps to know that I'm not the only person with a pup that misbehaves. Give me a human teenager any day.
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? You are not alone. Bouncer is 7 months & 22 days old as I write this ( http://www.calculator.net/age-calculator.html?today=07/20/2014&ageat=03/14/2015&x=60&y=11 ) I have now renamed him as Destructodog. I am just glad or the heads up reading this forum gave me about the teenage years, it let me forewarn my family.
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? La la la, I'm not listening! I've had a couple of warning signs that teenagedom is on its way, but I'm sure my little angels won't turn into the monsters you describe*. : : : *[size=8pt] (I'm pretty sure I said the same thing about crocopup)[/size]
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=10185.msg149517#msg149517 date=1426360539] *[size=8pt] (I'm pretty sure I said the same thing about crocopup)[/size] [/quote] Yes, you did ;p
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? La la la, I'm not listening! I've had a couple of warning signs that teenagedom is on its way, but I'm sure my little angels won't turn into the monsters you describe*. : : : * (I'm pretty sure I said the same thing about crocopup) Any day now. And you've got two.
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? My two (neutered) girls have decided humping each other is the thing to do : :
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? [quote author=Boogie link=topic=10185.msg149587#msg149587 date=1426408148] My two (neutered) girls have decided humping each other is the thing to do : : [/quote] Made me smile.
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? [quote author=Mollly link=topic=10185.msg149545#msg149545 date=1426369601] Any day now. And you've got two. [/quote] Shush, woman! ;D [quote author=Boogie link=topic=10185.msg149587#msg149587 date=1426408148] My two (neutered) girls have decided humping each other is the thing to do : : [/quote] I hope you've explained to Princess Gypsy that that is not ladylike behaviour!
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? As lab puppy's go Bailey has been pretty calm! 9 months started jumping at visitors, straining the leash to get to another dog (35kg) so no easy feat! As for recall when another dogs about ! He is excellent at a two fingered salute!!!! Other times a delight Thanks to this forum in waiting it out!
Re: Is my 8 month old puppy getting out of hand? I think Indy has started early he is 5 and a half months, is ok on his lead apart from when he sees another dog, person, bird, lamppost.... the list is endless actually. I've had to mesh off all my flowers and plants in the garden but he has now learnt to jump over it, my poor flowers are getting trampled. He barks at everyone for attention all the time and has become snappy again at the minute as I think some more of his teeth are coming through. Although we are trying very hard with his lead he still managed to send me flying the other day by tripping me up by cutting across me, talked about a bruised knee and fully embarrassed. I could have ran home after that. I'm hoping it will get better soon my partner is starting to get agitated that we have a bad dog, but sounds like I have a few months of craziness to manage. Anyone got any useful tips? Thanks x
