Butthead Stage *Sigh*

[saraja87]

Milou is 36 weeks old, about 8.5 months, and is being a GIANT butthead. She's decided she doesn't want to eat her food and is tugging like crazy on her walks. She's even ignoring some commands she previously had down pat. I know it's just a stage but man is she being a pain in the butt!

For her food we're going with tough love, it hasn't changed and she has a great appetite for anything else but turns her nose up at her actual food. We had her walking on a flat collar, so we've switched her back to her head collar and ordered her a martingale. Attempts to get her back on her flat one result in tons of tugging. She was literally walking with her nose to my knee before this so its frustrating to have her take so many steps back!

She's sitting in her crate right now where she's been since she refused her breakfast again. She was also a pill in class, tugging and keeping her nose in the grass during her good citizen practice. I can't wait for this phase to be over!

[thowra]

Have a look at the dog listener, jan fennell's, ways of showing a dog leadership. It sounds your girl thinks its her responsibility to look after you, so as pack leader so she is trying to call the shots to keep you all safe. Pulling ona walk is leading the hunt to her. She shouldn't be punished for this, but communicated with in a language she understands that you and anyone you live with is higher in the pack. This will allow her to relax and follow your lead. Read the practical dog listener, or watch the dvd the dog listener - it has reduced shelter readmissions from 35% to 3% where it has been used. It is based upon an understanding of the rituals wolves use to communicate pack leadership.

Katy x

[thowra]

And the refusal of food is a way of guarding her power. alpha wolves are in charge of the food and she is trying to do that with you. Again, taking her responsibility away as leader will sort this out.

[onyx'girl]

Has she had a heat cycle yet? She may be coming into heat.

I personally don't like the phrase *butthead* or whatever else is used for these stages, dogs are maturing and we need to help them thru it to grow their minds right.

Refusing food is a way of guarding power? Really???
NOT a fan of the head collars, either. Engage her more so she is into you. Use food, tug or ball to reward her when she is showing focus on you and be generous with the rewards.

[Emoore]

Somebody loan me a dishrag, I need to clean up some of this drivel.

[mysweetkaos]

Not sure about the "power" comparisons with wolves. In my opinion, Sherman goes through stages as he is progressing, where I feel like he is backsliding, his focus is off......I start back at square one, before walks I get his favorite treats and put him in a sit, call his name, when he makes eye contact, I say yes and give him treat and alternate that with praise (due to lower calorie content of praise). After a few minutes I progress with the commands that normally signal the beginning of our walk. Come front, by (sp) sit while leashed....and then heel. I find however he starts out the walk plays a huge difference.
Onyxgirl had a point I have seen quite often before that girls going into heat will start to lose their appetite, so if she is unspayed that may be the case.
Another thought, what and how much do you feed? Sherman goes through phases, sometimes he barely makes a dent at one meal or both and other days seems like he is licking the bowl clean before I even get out of the room.

[saraja87]

Milou actually just came out of her heat, she started on October 23rd and had a loooong cycle. During that time she couldn't be walked 2-3 times a day like she had been, so we did a LOT of training and playing in the backyard. It seems it still wasn't enough stimulation since the break was long enough for her to forget her leash manners. We've had to go back to the beginning, teaching everything over again in a more stimulating environment than the backyard.

As suggested, we've been doing a lot of attention exercises with her, hiding treats behind my back in both hands and rewarding when she gives eye contact. I like the idea of using a toy instead too, since I don't want to spoil her appetite with tons of duck cookies. I will also try establishing more of a routine with her before walks, it seems like getting her in the right mindset to listen might help.

For her collar, the first puppy class we took would only allow head collars The obedience club we're training with now also encourages it, so while she has a flat collar and a prong, the head collar is what we've been using most lately. The martingale I just ordered her will probably be here in about 2 weeks.

We should probably reduce her food too, we've been giving her 12oz raw twice a day and she may no longer need that much since she's not a super young puppy anymore. She's a slow grower at only 45lbs. I think her refusal is definitely stubbornness though, if we mix in a little tuna she will wolf it down in seconds, but plain she refuses to even lick it

[doggiedad]

i don't believe in the butthead stage. i call it
the lack of training stage. i read "when your
dog isn't doing what you want you have to
stop and ask yourself what am i doing wrong". keep training
and she'll come around. may be your dog
doesn't like her food so sh'e not eating it.
i'm not sure putting her in her crate because
she won't eat is the right move.

[onyx'girl]

What are you feeding for raw? A pre-made? I would start offering some RMB's if you aren't already.
Dogs don't refuse food because they are stubborn. The eat out of enjoyment/food drive. If they don't like what is offered they will refuse it, has nothing to do with stubborn attitude. My dogs have huge food drive, today I offered some semi-thawed raw white fish. They refused to eat it, even though I know they are very hungry still. They don't like fish.

[saraja87]

We have a raw blend made by my friends GSD breeder. She has been eagerly eating the same blend since she was 3 months. I spoke to the breeder and the formula hasn't changed in this batch. She also gets fresh fish, chicken legs, turkey legs, beef neck bones, beef back ribs etc. IMO she's holding out because she wants something "better". She's learned that if she refuses to eat her first offered meal, my grandma who was in town might add something tasty to it or give her a chicken leg instead. Grandma has since gone back home. So yes, she may be wanting something more enjoyable and she now has to learn that's not gonna happen at every meal lol.