Hello all!
So my male puppy, Kobe, turned 4 months old last week. As a birthday present to him (haha) we attended our 1st puppy obedience class. Don't get me wrong. I love my dog! He is very smart, however, he absolutely showed his tail at class! He WOULD NOT stop barking at the other puppies during class! The trainer had to get a microphone so she could be heard over his barking. She tried to use him as an example of how to distract a puppy when they are exhibiting bad behavior by squirting him with a water bottle. He opened his mouth and caught the water spray. She then gave me a bottle of a water and vinegar solution to spray in front of his nose. He didn't like the smell, but it only shut him up for about 2 minutes, then he was back to barking at the other dogs. I wouldn't say he was exhibiting aggressive behavior, but he did lunge at a couple of other dogs. He's a big puppy at 46 pounds, so this could be intimidating to other owners and their dogs. He never showed his teeth or attempted to bite the other puppies. He was just a nuisance and distraction to the whole class. Another owner commented on how aggressive my puppy was (again I didn't see aggression). After the class, the trainer suggested I get a prong collar for him. I've never had to use one on a 4 month old puppy. Is he too young for this? He just became fully vaccinated last week, so I have not allowed him around many dogs. I am guessing it could be a lack of socialization? Any advice on what I can do to curb the barking so he is not such a distraction? Is a prong collar the way to go at this young of an age?
So my male puppy, Kobe, turned 4 months old last week. As a birthday present to him (haha) we attended our 1st puppy obedience class. Don't get me wrong. I love my dog! He is very smart, however, he absolutely showed his tail at class! He WOULD NOT stop barking at the other puppies during class! The trainer had to get a microphone so she could be heard over his barking. She tried to use him as an example of how to distract a puppy when they are exhibiting bad behavior by squirting him with a water bottle. He opened his mouth and caught the water spray. She then gave me a bottle of a water and vinegar solution to spray in front of his nose. He didn't like the smell, but it only shut him up for about 2 minutes, then he was back to barking at the other dogs. I wouldn't say he was exhibiting aggressive behavior, but he did lunge at a couple of other dogs. He's a big puppy at 46 pounds, so this could be intimidating to other owners and their dogs. He never showed his teeth or attempted to bite the other puppies. He was just a nuisance and distraction to the whole class. Another owner commented on how aggressive my puppy was (again I didn't see aggression). After the class, the trainer suggested I get a prong collar for him. I've never had to use one on a 4 month old puppy. Is he too young for this? He just became fully vaccinated last week, so I have not allowed him around many dogs. I am guessing it could be a lack of socialization? Any advice on what I can do to curb the barking so he is not such a distraction? Is a prong collar the way to go at this young of an age?