Ah adolescents, you've arrived.

[Carriesue]

This is no new topic on the forum I know, I'm just venting a bit.

Ollie will be 6 months old next week and has recently started to really test me... I never really thought this day would happen because well, I'm delusional I guess. He was SO good before, he never even went through a landshark phase. But here we are...

Things he's doing:

He's a terrible puller on walks to where my shoulder and wrist will hurt. Part of the problem is training and the other is his "big bro" Sam. They are totally bonded and walking them together is awful because Ollie only cares about where Sam is(golden poodle). So for the next few months I'm no longer letting them spend so much time together while I work on becoming more interesting to Ollie.

Harassing our small dogs and cats. He's got some serious herding dogs in his pedigree and has a pretty high prey drive(he tried to grab one of my rabbits the other day)... He's not being aggressive or in the 'I want to eat you' drive with the dogs and cats but if they run he cannot resist the chase and a lot of it is obnoxious puppy too. We are working on it and I keep him on lead in the house but the drive, wow... Not sure if there are any herding clubs around me but he'd probably be stellar at it.

His recall is definitely not solid yet but now it's worse, he's been blowing me off a lot more. A few times when I'm calling him to come into the house with me from the backyard he'll run up to the deck, look me right in the eye then take off. This didn't used to be a problem so guess its time to start keeping him on the long lead in the yard too.

He's just figured out how to jump on the bed which is something I've been dreading. He keeps jumping up without permission and I know I've been terrible with this one and need to be much firmer, it's just when he jumps up and wants to cuddle I have a hard time resisting that super soft coat. Tonight I learned my lesson... I wanted some down time so I pointed to his crate and gave him the command to go in which has been 100% obeyed until tonight when instead when I gave him the command he darted away from me and jumped up onto the bed.

I DO NOT let him walk all over me(except for the bed thing), I do NILIF and mind games with him, he has had rules this whole time. We are starting more classes next week and are going to stay in them for the foreseeable future so I think we've got it together. Like I said I just needed to get it off my chest to people who 'get it'.

My little man is growing up *sniff*

A picture of the little brat

Daball by Carriesue82, on Flickr

[KZoppa]

step up the obedience and exercise and unless you can enforce a given command, don't issue it. If you give him a command, he needs to know you expect it obeyed immediately and on the first try. Otherwise he gets it in his head that you gave the command but it's just a suggestion.

At that age, I had to start tethering Shasta to me again because she thought she was hot stuff and didn't have to listen. Well... she wasnt exactly thrilled with having to move AND follow me everywhere I went. She remembered her manners pretty quick because she regained some freedom by doing as she was told. It lasted about a month before she was allowed to think for herself again so to speak.

[Lalaland]

Lol.. he sounds like Maya lately.. she´s 7 months..
my left arm is going to get stronger than my right arm... and my cat is dreading her right now -.-

[Carriesue]

Oh I definitely agree he needs more obedience and exercise! It's been a couple months since we were in a class and I really need more guidance and help to work through this stage with him.

He was probably more snotty today because he didn't get his usual walk, a super heavy rain and wind started this evening plus I was feeling a little under the weather.

These classes I'm going to be doing are on going not the typical 5-8 week classes and you work your way from basic to advanced but I plan to stay in them as long as we need. As far as the crate thing goes like I said he has always gone in when I've told him to, he LOVES his crate... Tonight was the first time where he completely blew me off about it, I didn't let him get away with it though. I corrected him, made him get down from the bed and put him into his crate with a chew.

[bigd3077]

Mine is the same age and she was getting a little naughty on walks. Started back up in training and wafer the second day, she is doing much better. He may be a little bored. Exersize physically and mentaly and he will be back to his old self.

[Carriesue]

Originally Posted by bigd3077

Mine is the same age and she was getting a little naughty on walks. Started back up in training and wafer the second day, she is doing much better. He may be a little bored. Exersize physically and mentaly and he will be back to his old self.

Thanks, you're probably right... I will add a few more training and flirt pole sessions to the day plus add another walk and we'll see if that helps along with the new classes.

[KZoppa]

I think the snotty phase is what I dread the most with my next pup. The landshark I can handle. The obnoxious pre-teen phase...no thanks!

[GoSailGo]

I'm dreading this phase. I bet it makes you very patient. Good thing he's really cute.

[elisabeth_00117]

You sound like you have a plan - just stick with it - even through the puppy dog eyes..

Isn't this breed fun?

[glinny]

But he is soooo cute. Good thing he doesn't live at my house because I'd let him do whatever he wants.