Problems with crazy puppy

JoMichelle · 01-26-2012, 04:48 PM

Hi folks

I'm having a few problems with my 10 week old puppy Winter. The main one is her toilet training which I've posted in another thread.

I'm also having problems regarding her behaviour. She has around 2 times of the day, morning and ALL evening, where she goes bat s*** crazy. I know all puppies do this, but it's getting out of control and my patience is wearing thin, as much as I hate to admit it

She does the usual puppy stuff, hanging on our clothes, snapping at any part of us she can every time we move, or even when we don't. I can't play with her as she constantly lunges at me. I seem to be forever telling her no, yelping and ignoring her. She doesn't bite hard as I've used a can of coins or a spray bottle up until now, but it's getting worse, and fast. The coins and spray just get her more excited than ever. She runs around the room so fast her feet barely touch the floor. Last night she crashed into the wall so hard she hurt her leg and was crying and limping. She was okay after a lie down and a hug and seems fine still today. So I am also worried about her hurting herself.

I think I am not tiring her out enough. She can't go out yet as she's not completed her vaccinations. We were doing really well with clicker training and she loved it. But now she gets over excited and just wants to bite everything, and doesn't listen. I can only do the training with her when she is tired, and that is rarely. She only sleep properly when she's in her crate at night and for an hour usually during the afternoon, as I don't like locking her in it very often.

I think we need to get back to basics. How can I tire her out so that she doesn't go so crazy in the house? Any advice is appreciated x

SamanthaBrynn · 01-26-2012, 04:52 PM

What do you have access to? We let Callie in our back yard where there were no other animals before she completed her shots. (I know, probably not the smartest idea) we walked her, supervised her, rolled her the ball (which she showed no interest in until recently). Sometimes we just let her be out on our back deck that was screened in because she loved to watch the birds or leaves blowing. I also always mention the food cube. Challanging her mind is good too.

kiya · 01-26-2012, 04:53 PM

She's still a baby, you can't expect much right now. My trainer always says "you don't want your puppy to think his/her name is NO". Take the deep breath stuff a stuffy toy in her mouth and smile, you have a long ways to go! Unfortunately patience is an absolute must with a puppy.

JoMichelle · 01-26-2012, 05:25 PM

Thanks for your replies.

She has one of those food balls which she loves and we use often. I have let her in my garden before, and she loved it.

The problem is I'm in the UK and it gets dark around 5pm here. Her crazy time is after that and I wouldn't feel comfortable letting her out when I can't see her. My garden is pretty big and there is a place at the back where she may be able to squeeze through a gap. I usually stand there to make sure she doesn't and have someone coming to fix it next week, but I still wouldn't like her to be out when I can't see her, being so young.

Rua · 01-26-2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoMichelle

....I think I am not tiring her out enough....I think we need to get back to basics. How can I tire her out so that she doesn't go so crazy in the house? Any advice is appreciated x

Even negative attention is positive attention for a puppy of this age! The coin can thing will just make things worse because even though you are annoyed at her and trying show it, she just sees it as "Weeeee! I'm getting loads of loud attention!"

As you are very well aware by now, GSD's are very very bitey at this age. This is still an ongoing battle between me and my girl too. I found a time out room to be helpful when she gets too sharky/bitey. The bathroom or some other really boring room is great. Pup gets too bitey...you say "NO BITE" and firmly place her in the boring room and close the door...leave her for 20-30 seconds before letting her out. This usually calms them down a bit because they hate being put away from all the action.

As regards ways to wear your pup out. I saw on a different thread you posted that you do a school run. Is there any chance she could come with you? My girl has her massive burst of energy in the morning and evening too and I take her on our school run and walk part of the way. The walk each way really helps wear her out a bit. If I can't take her, I do a session of fetch in the garden instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoMichelle

The problem is I'm in the UK and it gets dark around 5pm here. Her crazy time is after that and I wouldn't feel comfortable letting her out when I can't see her. My garden is pretty big and there is a place at the back where she may be able to squeeze through a gap. I usually stand there to make sure she doesn't and have someone coming to fix it next week, but I still wouldn't like her to be out when I can't see her, being so young.

I'm in Ireland....these long nights are a pain, aren't they? So I've invested in heaps of different toys for indoors to keep Juno entertained and occupied. Stuffed Kongs, stuffed animals, and lots of squeaky toys that I can throw around the room for her and wear her out in the evening are all great to have on hand.

**Castlemaid** · 01-26-2012, 05:44 PM

More than learning "NO" (for which she is still too young to understand anyways, as others have said), what your puppy needs is appropriate outlets for her energy and need to play.

Take her out on a line, and get her to chase you. Get her to chase a rag. Make a flirt pole, pups love it! If she is busy playing with you, she won't be looking for places to squeeze out under the fence.

Here is a cute video I found on You Tube of puppies being exercised with a flirt pole: You can easily make a similar one for Winter.

GSD Puppies Playing With Flirt Pole - YouTube

Rua · 01-26-2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castlemaid

Take her out on a line, and get her to chase you. Get her to chase a rag. Make a flirt pole, pups love it! If she is busy playing with you, she won't be looking for places to squeeze out under the fence.

Here is a cute video I found on You Tube of puppies being exercised with a flirt pole: You can easily make a similar one for Winter.

That is so cool! I've never seen a flirt pole before for dogs. What does that kid have on the end of his? I gotta make one of these!

RocketDog · 01-26-2012, 05:50 PM

I live on the north side of a mountain and right now, even though it's dark at 5pm everywhere, it's dark sooner here because we're in a hollow. Can you find a stable, well-adjusted adult dog who can play with the pup a bit during the day? It really helps tire them out and gives them a biting outlet.

**Castlemaid** · 01-26-2012, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rua

That is so cool! I've never seen a flirt pole before for dogs. What does that kid have on the end of his? I gotta make one of these!

To me it looks like a stuffed tube sock.

Some people will tie a soft toy, or a tuggy toy, or a rag to the end. It can be anything your dog will want to chase and catch.

JoMichelle · 01-26-2012, 05:58 PM

I'd love to take her on the school run, but it is a 2.5ish mile round trip and I've been advised that will be too far for her for quite a while.

I saw the flirtpole somewhere before, but I read the GSD puppies shouldn't be encouraged to jump and thought this would encourage it. But I'll look into making one, thank you

She has the biggest toy collection of any dog I've ever seen. She has Kong toys, teddies, squeeky things, chews, those nylabone things, treat balls. You name it lol. Nothing seems to tire her out though. I'm constantly throwing balls for her, playing tug, hide and seek. The only thing that seems to tire her out is running around the garden. I think I'm going to have to do it with a lead and a torch in the evenings as that's the worst time.

My next door neighbour has what seems like a very friendly dog. I don't know her well though. Perhaps I should speak to her about introducing them

Yes I hate hate hate these dark nights. I can't wait until spring, summer and autumn!

01-26-2012, 04:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
JoMichelle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 200	Problems with crazy puppy Hi folks I'm having a few problems with my 10 week old puppy Winter. The main one is her toilet training which I've posted in another thread. I'm also having problems regarding her behaviour. She has around 2 times of the day, morning and ALL evening, where she goes bat s*** crazy. I know all puppies do this, but it's getting out of control and my patience is wearing thin, as much as I hate to admit it She does the usual puppy stuff, hanging on our clothes, snapping at any part of us she can every time we move, or even when we don't. I can't play with her as she constantly lunges at me. I seem to be forever telling her no, yelping and ignoring her. She doesn't bite hard as I've used a can of coins or a spray bottle up until now, but it's getting worse, and fast. The coins and spray just get her more excited than ever. She runs around the room so fast her feet barely touch the floor. Last night she crashed into the wall so hard she hurt her leg and was crying and limping. She was okay after a lie down and a hug and seems fine still today. So I am also worried about her hurting herself. I think I am not tiring her out enough. She can't go out yet as she's not completed her vaccinations. We were doing really well with clicker training and she loved it. But now she gets over excited and just wants to bite everything, and doesn't listen. I can only do the training with her when she is tired, and that is rarely. She only sleep properly when she's in her crate at night and for an hour usually during the afternoon, as I don't like locking her in it very often. I think we need to get back to basics. How can I tire her out so that she doesn't go so crazy in the house? Any advice is appreciated x

01-26-2012, 04:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
SamanthaBrynn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 298	What do you have access to? We let Callie in our back yard where there were no other animals before she completed her shots. (I know, probably not the smartest idea) we walked her, supervised her, rolled her the ball (which she showed no interest in until recently). Sometimes we just let her be out on our back deck that was screened in because she loved to watch the birds or leaves blowing. I also always mention the food cube. Challanging her mind is good too. __________________ Samantha Callie (GSD) Born May 24, 2011 Casper (Mix) 7 years My goal is to someday be the person my dogs think I am.

01-26-2012, 04:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
kiya Elite Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,913	She's still a baby, you can't expect much right now. My trainer always says "you don't want your puppy to think his/her name is NO". Take the deep breath stuff a stuffy toy in her mouth and smile, you have a long ways to go! Unfortunately patience is an absolute must with a puppy. __________________ Carolyn Apache - Shiloh Shepherd 12/15/02 Kiya - Shiloh Shepherd 5/15/04 Lakota - WGSD 1/13/10

01-26-2012, 05:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
JoMichelle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 200	Thanks for your replies. She has one of those food balls which she loves and we use often. I have let her in my garden before, and she loved it. The problem is I'm in the UK and it gets dark around 5pm here. Her crazy time is after that and I wouldn't feel comfortable letting her out when I can't see her. My garden is pretty big and there is a place at the back where she may be able to squeeze through a gap. I usually stand there to make sure she doesn't and have someone coming to fix it next week, but I still wouldn't like her to be out when I can't see her, being so young.

01-26-2012, 05:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,270	I live on the north side of a mountain and right now, even though it's dark at 5pm everywhere, it's dark sooner here because we're in a hollow. Can you find a stable, well-adjusted adult dog who can play with the pup a bit during the day? It really helps tire them out and gives them a biting outlet.

01-26-2012, 05:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
JoMichelle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 200	I'd love to take her on the school run, but it is a 2.5ish mile round trip and I've been advised that will be too far for her for quite a while. I saw the flirtpole somewhere before, but I read the GSD puppies shouldn't be encouraged to jump and thought this would encourage it. But I'll look into making one, thank you She has the biggest toy collection of any dog I've ever seen. She has Kong toys, teddies, squeeky things, chews, those nylabone things, treat balls. You name it lol. Nothing seems to tire her out though. I'm constantly throwing balls for her, playing tug, hide and seek. The only thing that seems to tire her out is running around the garden. I think I'm going to have to do it with a lead and a torch in the evenings as that's the worst time. My next door neighbour has what seems like a very friendly dog. I don't know her well though. Perhaps I should speak to her about introducing them Yes I hate hate hate these dark nights. I can't wait until spring, summer and autumn!

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