Hello everyone!
My name is Angela and I got Vlad when he was 12 weeks old. He has ALWAYS been a hand full. We did take him to puppy class when we first got him but, other than that, he's not had any other training. I work from home so he is with me all day. I do gate the kitchen so he can only stay in the kitchen with me. The door to the back yard stays open so he can roam/play, etc.
He is driving me absolutely insane. He has me crying some days because he is so destructive and hyper.
He does get walked every day and played with in the yard. He also plays with my sister's boxer a few days a week.
What is his bad behavior, you ask? Anything and everything. He's in the trash probably 20 times a day, which sits right behind me and he KNOWS he's not allowed in it but will do it anyway. He barks at anything that moves.... A leaf, a bird, anything. If he can get his mouth on anything that he's not supposed to, he will. He jumps and nips at other family members when they walk into the kitchen. My biggest problem is that I have 3 grand daughters, ages 6,3 and 7 months. He get's so excited when they first walk in that there is NO WAY they can be around him for awhile, until he calms down. When they do come into his space he plays with them inappropriately. Jumping, nipping... We watch them all very closely and stay right with them to make sure he doesn't accidentally hurt them.
The bottom line is that I say no a million times a day. I'm sure he thinks it's his name.... When he get's really bad I crate him. Mostly when he is displaying these behaviors I will tell him no and make him sit, which is a VERY TRYING exercise for him. He will try to walk away many times during this but I will just re-inforce the sit and keep him beside me.
My family just says "He's still a puppy. He'll grow out of it." But, I'm not so sure. He truly drives me up the wall.
Any advice on what I need to do? Is this just "puppy" behavior?
I'm so glad I've found this group. I'm sure I'll have many other questions throughout this GS journey! lol
My name is Angela and I got Vlad when he was 12 weeks old. He has ALWAYS been a hand full. We did take him to puppy class when we first got him but, other than that, he's not had any other training. I work from home so he is with me all day. I do gate the kitchen so he can only stay in the kitchen with me. The door to the back yard stays open so he can roam/play, etc.
He is driving me absolutely insane. He has me crying some days because he is so destructive and hyper.
He does get walked every day and played with in the yard. He also plays with my sister's boxer a few days a week.
What is his bad behavior, you ask? Anything and everything. He's in the trash probably 20 times a day, which sits right behind me and he KNOWS he's not allowed in it but will do it anyway. He barks at anything that moves.... A leaf, a bird, anything. If he can get his mouth on anything that he's not supposed to, he will. He jumps and nips at other family members when they walk into the kitchen. My biggest problem is that I have 3 grand daughters, ages 6,3 and 7 months. He get's so excited when they first walk in that there is NO WAY they can be around him for awhile, until he calms down. When they do come into his space he plays with them inappropriately. Jumping, nipping... We watch them all very closely and stay right with them to make sure he doesn't accidentally hurt them.
The bottom line is that I say no a million times a day. I'm sure he thinks it's his name.... When he get's really bad I crate him. Mostly when he is displaying these behaviors I will tell him no and make him sit, which is a VERY TRYING exercise for him. He will try to walk away many times during this but I will just re-inforce the sit and keep him beside me.
My family just says "He's still a puppy. He'll grow out of it." But, I'm not so sure. He truly drives me up the wall.
Any advice on what I need to do? Is this just "puppy" behavior?
I'm so glad I've found this group. I'm sure I'll have many other questions throughout this GS journey! lol