Stewie_the_Frenchie Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Well, well, well. Here I was for the last few weeks, reading about everyone's puppy problems, smugly thinking "ha! Turtle isn't going to go through the defiant, selective deafness, stage that I'm hearing about at 5 months +." Well, serve me up my words as an entree, main, and dessert. Turtle is 5months and 2 weeks, and on the weekend turned into psycho dog from hell! It was almost overnight. He is starting to not listen when he is told to sit or lie down, he tears through the house like a bat out of hell, he waits for me to make eye contact with him and then climbs up onto the couch (not allowed), etc, etc. For over a month, he has come out of the stage where he was still learning what to do, and what not to do. He would do what he was told, and he would play nicely. Ah, what a pleasant month that was! His new teeth are also coming through now, so he is starting to bite and mouth again...argh!!!! Any advice? I have read the thread pinned at the top, and realise I probably just have to remain firm and be patient...any idea how long this lasts for???? I can see myself going a little nuts :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkyTansy Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Ahhh don't you just love it?!! There is no way to know how long it will last... just remember to remain calm, firm and consistent throughout and do NOT give into anything as that is the cue they are waiting for... they will most certainly keep trying. Hang in there!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 bruddy teenagers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I am so getting the at the moment also newfnewf Often any command I give, sit, drop etc, is met with a look like "you wish lady" Hurry up and grow out of it already :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 At least you've recognised where your newf's behaviour is springing from, NN. So you've got a little headstart on him . Through this 'time' be very clear on the boundaries and guidelines you've set and be firm about insisting they be observed. He's testing you out and each time you 'give a little' he'll recognise that as a 'softness/weakness' in you. Stand firm and be consistent (but fair). As to how long? I could ask, how long is a piece of string ............................ but certainly through the tenuous period of adolescence where every inch given will give your dog mileage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinGus Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Welcome to the world of adolescent dogs, newnewf!! I've been told with my dog, it could last anywhere from 18mo to 2yrs!!!!!!!!! Like you Amypie, I'm getting the "Yeah, what for?" look whenever a command is issued. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloebear Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Holly is 5 1/2 months old, no longer likes to come when called, sits down and you can just see her thinking "in your dreams" , she has started riping my washing off clothes line - great game of tug a war on a grand scale......can't wait untill she is two. She is off to get needles this afternoon and desexed next week, that should slow her down for a couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Erny, if the dog won't obey the command, ie 'sit', what do you do? Do you physically put them into a sit or ignore them or what? Would appreciate your answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Time Puppy Owner Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I totally empathise! Mine is going through two stages at once - • Selective deafness? (5-9 Months) It's no surprise to see puppies pretend not to hear your known commands at this age. It's at this age we introduce more formal training including consequences for disobedience. Dogs often chew & destroy things that have your scent on them at this point too, many pups are dumped before 9 months... why? Because they now have strength, they getting bigger, faster & less reactive to a simple "no"… By now they have either been taught to walk on a loose leash or pull on the leash.. • Second Fear Period (8 - 16 Months) As puppies become what is called gangly, long legs due to growth spurts, they seem to become a little weaker in nerve than previously noted. It's strange sounds, new sights that often spook a dog more easily than just a week ago... It's at this time we need to be good leaders, when your dog baulks at a stairway, keep walking at full pace to show your pup all is ok. Coddling him when he shows fear will re enforce that fear & you will have to work to get over it later. Not only does he not listen but I think he may be a little frightened of me as well - or I think to aptly describe it, is he totally suss of my motives *grrrr* (He has a skin irration at the moment from mozzie/sand fly bites that got him before I started him on permoxin, which he also hates *sigh*) I just wish I could rationalise with him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewie_the_Frenchie Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 It's very reassuring that others are in the same boat...however, no less frustrating! I am sitting here at work wondering what on earth he is up to at home. Oh god, I feel like I'm back at square one again! Thank you erny, that advice is very helpful, I will try and keep and cool head. WinGus - 18m to 2y oh my... I have to laugh, other wise I think I will cry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 FTPO, I think I have the same problem as you. As I read that quote it does sound like Kyzer is entering a fear period as well. On walks he has been freezing up at the strangest things, cars, box trailers on lawns, sprinklers (turned off) all of these things he has seen before and had no issues with Also I call and call for him to come to me (at home) and he just sits down and looks at me. It is very annoying . (Sorry for the thread hijack newfnewf :p) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloebear Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I love my puppy very much, but she differently hasn't made life easy...........hope she grows into a wonderfull dog and lives a very very very long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Erny, if the dog won't obey the command, ie 'sit', what do you do? Do you physically put them into a sit or ignore them or what? It does come down to personal preference to training methods and what works or doesn't. For example, "positive only" trainers might apply (simply put) the "you don't sit, you don't receive reward" (ie Negative Punishment) method. And this might work for some dogs who do care about the reward offered. In the early phase of teaching, I often use the "compulsion" method (which, before people's imaginations run off, is not about having a big wrestling match with your dog ..... it's about gently but firmly placing them in the position required). This is errorless training but also does maintain a consistency in this early teaching period so that they learn (eg) "sit" does mean "sit" .... and nothing else. It also opens up the window of opportunity for your dog to be rewarded for having completed the "sit". Sometimes though, I might use the negative punishment in between times if it just happens that I am not in a position to apply the other. Beyond that .... well, there are different methods for different dogs and much depends on what suits your dog as well as what suits your lifestyle, what you want to achieve from your dog and its training and so on and so forth. In earlier days I did used to have a preferred method - this is commonly known as "avoidance training" and admittedly it does work for many people/dog combo's. But now I admit that I use and apply with more frequency different combination/styles of training, depending on not only dog and dog handler, but also on how the dog is progressing in its training at the time and whether there are hurdles we need to get beyond. I guess this has derived the more and more I am doing private one-on-one lessons as it gives me more opportunity to adapt according to the person and dog I'm working with at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Thanks Erny, that helped a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumbles Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 One of my dogs is 13yrs old and he still has selective deafness :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eileen Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Not wanting to hijack your thread either, but I totally empathise. Especially with the "in you dreams" look. How can a puppy make that face so well? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger_bluez Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 (edited) I can feel your pain. My little angel will be turned 5 months tomorrow and she is no angel anymore. Before she will happily sit next to me, will come and sit everytime i give commands. But not anymore. And she grows so quick. almost time to get her desexed. I can't wait for her to turn 1 year old. Edited November 19, 2007 by Tiger_bluez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I can't wait for her to turn 1 year old. How come? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I can't wait for her to turn 1 year old. How come? Mine has just hit a year old, and for the first time is giving me 'the look'. I think she has hit adolescence (she's a big dog) and a second fear period all at the same time. She decided to be terrified of a teenager with a football on the weekend, before that wouldn't have care at all, and for the first time completely ignored a recall, just a flick of the ear showed she heard but all the other body language said 'when I'M ready, sucker.' Guess it had to happen sooner or later, but just to suggest that the 1 year old mark isn't magic! Guess it serves me right for feeling like I'd escaped that stage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I can feel your pain. My little angel will be turned 5 months tomorrow and she is no angel anymore. Before she will happily sit next to me, will come and sit everytime i give commands. But not anymore. And she grows so quick. almost time to get her desexed.I can't wait for her to turn 1 year old. LOL Tiger, my puppy is a year old now and she is still an evil little bugger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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