I must have a terrible memory because I don't remember my pup biting excessively or being particularly difficult. But he is five years old and my memory is probably a sieve! I do however remember he was impossible at bedtime. I discovered that if I played a Find It game he calmed down massively and went to sleep easily. I'd make him wait outside the bedroom (he knew "wait") while I hid his toy. Then I'd say "Find It!!" and he'd excitedly look for his toy. It exhausted him. He played this about 5-10 times after which he was totally calm. I also placed his food all over the kitchen and made him find it. In those days I fed him kibble (he now eats raw meaty bones and meat) and it was easy to place a few pieces under a chair, others on the stairs, on a shelf, in a row on the floor, etc. He had to wait on his bed - while watching me place the kibble - and then given the cue Find your food! he'd start his treasure hunt. Also had a very exhausting effect. I still play that game now but with treats. I do remember being very exhausted in the first few months though - up in the night for taking him to wee, and all the playing with him. He needed a lot of interaction, although I accepted it all, didn't know any different! Oh, and he far preferred plastic bottles to crunch and make lots of noise with and tearing apart cardboard boxes than any fancy dog toy. And no, he did not want to play with his toys alone; he wanted to play with me, which is totally understandable - Labs are very social animals.
Thanks everyone so much. I am really learning a lot. I am really trying to enjoy my puppy. Something I didn't do as much with my current retiring service dog. He was an IMPOSSIBLE puppy. My husband said if anyone else would have owned him they would have drowned him early on. I persevered and kept on training him for 2 1/2 years. Unfortunately he was from a bad breeder (she lied to me) and ended up with two horrible genetic diseases which is why he is retiring early. He is still a handful but is IS and Italian Greyhound. Most impossible breed ever! If I can make it though dealing with Peregrine then I can make it through Kestrel. She is such a lovely pup, other than the tantrums and biting. I am definitely tired with the constant activity and getting up multiple times a night. My pain levels are skyrocketing but I will keep going. I want her to work out and become a lovely adult service dog. I do want to work more on 'engagement' and 'games' than simple obedience. I want her to LOVE training. Anyone have some good engagement exercises and puppy games they could share.... Kestrel is on kibble right now but by next Wednesday I am switching her to prey model raw. My current SD is on raw. Kestrel was having a few digestive issues the first couple weeks to once she gets back some of her good gut bacteria I want to switch her as well. Maybe that will help with the biting? She will have plenty to chew... Are there any good service dog posts that I could find about people starting with pups and training their way through? I REALLY appreciate all the help you guys are giving me. It is really putting my mind at ease that I have a normal pup and if I just keep up the slow and steady pace of training and playing that she will grow up to be a nice dog someday. I know she will be easier to train than an Italian Greyhound, that is for SURE!
I couldn't agree more. Hi, @Chanda , my Cassie who is now 12months was an unbelievable crocopup Cassie was exactly like this. Around 6-7 months this started to change tough, and now as long as she gets her training and 2 excursions a day, no matter of what length, she's pretty much settled come the evening.
Hi, Harley isn't a service dog, but is very gentle around me and understands when I'm having a bad day (spinal injuries). When she was little my OH and daughter would play rough with her, then she would snuggle with me. When Harley would bite when she was little, I would cross my arms and turn away from her. It took a few weeks, but did eventually work. Now, aged 3.5 years, she happily snuggles up with me on the sofa and won't play tug with me or be rough. She loves her walks and doesn't stop when we are out, but at home she is generally chilled. It's taken a lot of work and I've made mistakes, but consistency is one of the things that really helped us. Stick to a method you want to use and get other people to do the same and they soon get the message.
For such a young puppy, I'd be working just on her looking at you at this stage. When Luna was the same age (now 5 months), I'd work on her giving me eye contact, even if I had food in my hand, or on the floor. She could have the food once she looked me in the eye. Clicker training is brilliant for this, if you're familiar. Now, when we go out, I am constantly looking for engagement. So, I'll click for her looking at me, and toss a treat away. When she reorients to me, she gets another click and the treat tossed away again. It's a really good way of getting her paying attention all the time. When she's "free", I also C&T for any glance in my direction - although, to be fair with this puppy, when there are no distractions, I struggle to have her do anything but be engaged with me. I think lots of this is because of her breeding, but I've also worked on it from the get-go. I have her ignoring other people about 80% of the time - dogs are a work in progress
Yes, thank you. My 'look' cue is coming along really nicely. I will continue to work on this nonstop forever. Her looking at me is not only a huge help for my disabilities but also great for anything disatracting. I SO appreciate everyone's help and advice and suggestions. It is really helping. It is saving me from going to the dark place where I think everything is a disaster! Things are looking brighter. We have had a good day today. I think I did just too many minutes of heel training next to my chair. She was kinda 'done'. I need to start keeping this much shorter. For lunch I took her to the park in my neighborhood on a long line to try and practice some recalls. She was so not into it. I had to give up. She didn't want treats. We went to sit by the kids play ground instead and she got to watch some kids playing and I hand fed her kibble. Then we sat on the front lawn to watch the world go by. She had fun mowing the grass and spitting it out! I let her and my IG play in the back yard for a long time after that and now she is asleep in my lap!!!!
