Honestly could use some help-advice

[jocoyn]

Beau is everything I ever wanted and MORE
But where did they put the off switch.

Seriously AM I doing enough with him or do I need to figure out more to do and any suggestions?

Beau at 13 weeks

Much more of a handful than the West German Working Line Puppy (Cyra) I raised 9 years ago. I have never made a claim to be an experienced puppy raiser. The cadaver dog training, I feel comfortable with but puppy raising is a heck of a lot - particularly since he will be a working dog.

Much is going good:
-No issues with housebreaking
-Learning to be dog neutral and is doing very well at that
-A lot of socialization with different people. Learning to sit for a treat.
-About 3 field trips a week to different environments to expose him to everything
-Starting scent impriting.
-He does settle well in his crate (for up to about 2 hours)
-I am seeing a ton of drive and no nerve issues. Everything thing is a new adventure to him.

Typical Work day: (down time is in 42" crate in my office with chew things-I will expand to my whole office area when I dont have to watch his every move - or put him in outside pen still not complete) - Weekends are a lot more.

6am-throws with scent tubes with cadaver odor. We are at the point where I go outside the privacy fence with him and throw it into the yard so he can't mark its landing. He finds, retrieves and then I do some two ball type throws with the tubes, then another trip outside the fence. The scenario will constantly change and get more complex until he is hunting without throws.

630 am -throwing balls for Grim - just excercise but he is also chasing. I may consider stopping this (For Beau). No issues with Grim if Beau does get the ball first (rarely) It is big and he waits for Beau to put it down. Hmmmm is that too much on his joints? It is on dirt and no jumping twisting etc. About 10-15 minutes hard running. I set up yard so it is straight out running, not a lot of twisty turns (this was from last week but Beau is getting faster now)--It is probably the only time Beau comes in and flops in his crate wore out.-This video was last week. This week he is following on Grim's heels.

Grim and beau - YouTube

700 am - Beau is up now Grim and Cyra get their time then I help with getting my mother out of Bed etc and get ready for work.

800am-Doggie Breakfast in the crate

1000 am- Short walk (about .75 mile with Beau in the neighborhood. More scent throws)- He is actually doing quite well on the lead. Learning not to pull or lag and learning "leave it"

1230 pm-Grim, Beau and I take about a 30-45 minute offlead walk in the woods behind the house. Beau gets lunch and is back in crate

300 pm - Take out Beau and do some marker training, tugging, walking around the yard. A few more scent throws.

500 pm - Short outside time before dinner walking around the yard with the dogs. Then some play time with Beau. Usually throw balls for Grim and Cyra, tug with Beau.

700 pm - Bring Beau upstairs for house manners - Doing some marker training being with family about an hour - During house time he is constantly on the move and being a little alligator Most of that entire hour is either focused training or redirection from some infraction. I pretty much am constantly on the move. I have scruffed him for going after electrical cords. It is 100% focus on my part.

830 pm - time out back with me, husband and the other dogs. Unstructured (no dog play with each other on purpose but there is interaction) - Then in for dinner, another bathroom trip and bedtime. His crate is not in our bedroom. I think he needs some time "away" from me so it is in another room.

The tough:

-He is the cosummate gator and I was expecting that and am just doing redirection, grimacing but not reacting to the bites and making the toy much more interesting.
-He is into everything; by the time you pick up one thing, he has gotten into something else and it is absolutely nonstop. I would like to have him out in my office with chew toys more but right now he thinks nothing of climbing on bookshelves, pulling out books, grabbing electrical, etc etc. So we hope to get there.

Suggestions:

Am I doing enough? I am working to find time with an 8 hour work day and have Grim to maintain for HIS scentwork (not to mention mom in the wheelchair and, oh yes, a husband of 30 years who deserves some time.

Good ways to wear him out more and not injure his joints (obviously the scentwork is a great mental challenge and we will do marker training just to stimulate his mind. He has done the target stick for two days and is getting it)

Really good puzzle toys? Suggestions?

Ok, off switch. Well, what to look for at 13 weeks-I hope he has one - eeek-He does settle in the crate and transports very well no spinning or whacko stuff - At 700 at night though I am in for a wild ride. He is great as long as you don't try to sit down but the idea of laying still for petting. Nah. Not there. Trying to particularly have good manners there though and keep the wild stuff outside (However....there is the issue of redirection to account for.....he will bite everything, everything )

[JKlatsky]

He's very young. Mine didn't get into petting or being still in the house until they were much older and to be honest, consequently in the house they got a lot of crate or pen time so I didn't have to keep them constantly entertained and watched. Lots of outside time with puppies. To me it sounds like you're doing plenty. He just has to start to learn.

[robinhuerta]

Shoot....your day just made me tired.....move over puppy...zzzzzzzz

[BlackthornGSD]

I really like the ex-pen set up for a puppy in my work-at-home office. I can put a rotation of toys in there and it's more room for playing and feels more open than a crate, but it keeps my shelves and cables and shoes, etc., safe from puppy teeth.

I think one thing that isn't ideal is that his "in the house" time comes right after a 2 hr down period. Is there any way you could have the in-house time following a walk instead of right after a 2 hour break?

[RocketDog]

Blackthorn has a good point. And I feel your pain, mine is 16 weeks old, and the last two days has attempted to start grabbing my pant legs on walks, after being almost perfect the last 3 weeks.

They are exhausting, aren't they?? What about some raw bones? Lately I can get a good 45 mins of peace with those.

I guess they just have to grow up more... anyhow, I feel for you.

[KZoppa]

that looks like a good schedule but i agree that it might help to rearrange his down time and his house time so they dont come one right after the other. To me thats asking for a hyped up puppy into everything and chewing on everything. I wish you luck!!! That schedule makes me tired just reading it!

[KZoppa]

oh and puzzle toys might help work his little mind some in the house during family time.

[jocoyn]

I appreciate the suggestions. I do know it will get better once he is trustworthy in the house because then he can be in loose like my other dogs. (Or even outside while I am home without too much fear of destructive mayhem)

I think an x-pen is in order. Right now he is small enough he can play in the crate with toys (and he usually gets craziest when I am on a conference call hehehe)

It also makes sense to figure out a way to wear him out a little just before bringing him upstairs. I was already planning on some puzzle toys .. but I can try that suggestion tonight of taking him out and doing some activity with him.

I am figuring that I will be able to scale back some but figure it will get harder before it gets easier as his activity level will probably rocket in his teen-time.

[jocoyn]

nnnnnnngh....pheh!

Rain today and it looks like for the next several days. We need it but ick. Mud and towels.....and its a cool rain too. Thank you LLBean for the great raincoat.

[MaggieRoseLee]

Sounds like you have one of these! May want to try the x-pen in the house as recommended...

So You Think You Want a High Drive Puppy - YouTube

So You Think You Want a High Drive Puppy - YouTube