Gsp Behavioural Problems / Exercise!

[wuffles]

I have an 8 month old Aussie so I know where you are coming from with the endless energy

Other posters have given good advice that I would agree with. Lots of training! Do the basics, but also fine tune everything... getting them to do a 5 second stay won't tire them out but 2 minute stay with distractions will. Maybe get a long line and work heaps on recall. I did a lot of this at the local oval (even at 6am when it was very dark, at least at that time we were the only ones there). Once you get a good recall going it is a lot easier to get them out and about to stretch their legs.

The most tired I ever see my girl is after an hour of obedience training at the dog club, then 30 minutes hanging out and running with the other dogs afterwards.

Edited August 13, 2010 by wuffles

[Keyarna]

Thanks again guys, I really appreciate your input and suggestions!

I will make his mealtimes more goal orientated from now on, I do have a kong aswell but he seems to get bored of this pretty quickly. I have ordered another sort of toy that works on the same principal of batting it around for the food to fall out, hopefully it gets here next week! I will also try hiding his food, I don't think would be a good idea in the backyard though, he is already a bit of a digger and I think he would overdo it trying to find food that might not be there.

We do have a very large enclosed verandah so I will try and find some good places to hide it there. I've also contacted our local obedience club again (I tried emailing a month ago but never got a reply), hopefully he can start his training first thing next month when the beginners course starts again!

Does anyone know of any clubs or such that do Tracking around Gladstone? Or do any of you live around here and might be interested in some playdates?

PS. He is also entire, so I know this can't be helping things any but I am determined to do anything I can do avoid having to neuter him, he is a show dog and we do show him every now and then. Surprisingly he is well behaved enough at shows!

Edited August 13, 2010 by Keyarna

[Keyarna]

Here is the culprit!

[Pepper and Jax]

That last pic of him is hilarous. Good luck!

[Aidan]

Looking good! If you want to run him dragging a long line use a harness, it keeps the line out of their way and less chance of injury. I also recommend a proper tracking line, less chance of injury to both of you. Grabbing anything else can really cause a nasty burn. Don't ask me how I know this.

[Keyarna]

We do have a proper long line now, that was while we were just waiting for it to arrive. I did get a nasty burn on the back of my leg though from the new one. ><

[raineth]

aww isn't he beautiful!

actually giving a dog who likes to dog a sandpit can actually be a good way of managing their digging.

You can encourage them to dig in the sand pit, and then when they feel the urge they can do it in the sand pit rather than your lawn or in amongst your plants.

just thougt I'd let you know!

My dane liked to dig and so i encouraged him to dig in one area of mulch. attached the word "dig" to the behaviour.

Then when I needed a hole dig for planting - he would dig it for me

and if you don't believe me this was taken when he was about 7 months old:

[aussielover]

He is just so cute!

raineth your dane is gorgeous, it was a bit scary how quickly he dug that massive hole though! None of my dogs have been diggers, clover was terrible at digging, very slow and uncooridinated lol.

[Erny]

Spending mental energy is far more tiring than spending physical energy. Training; tricks; socialisation (ie to the world and all the things it has in it - the list would be endless). And of course, be your dog's leader .......... from your DOG's point of view . There is just sooooo much you can do .

Edited August 13, 2010 by Erny

[raineth]

He is just so cute!

raineth your dane is gorgeous, it was a bit scary how quickly he dug that massive hole though! None of my dogs have been diggers, clover was terrible at digging, very slow and uncooridinated lol.

thanks

but aussielover, it was the only thing he did with skill and co-ordination

yeah, it would have taken me ages to dig that hole! I was very appreciative

[TangerineDream]

raineth is right - they need to learn about 'downtime' and you need to demand it at least once a day - the dog you describe sounded like it was Tango when he was the same age.....whinging (yes, he still does, and even shouts and swears if he's in his crate and I leave the house). He's always been by himself from 6am - 7pm at night (if not longer depending on job demands) - and got used to it....because I get home so late, walking at night is not something I want to do, so I always did obedience and tricks with Tango inside at night when I got home, and retrieving, seekback, find, sit and downstays on lead, scent discrimination...I made it into a routine....he's now 5 and the most delightful animal asleep in front of the heater atm. The dog you are describing sounds like a perfectly normal male GSP...

re the mouthing and grabbing....GPS's do that when they are young - they grow out of it...I helped Tango control his grabbing urges by squealing in a very high pitched tone 'owwwww' when he did it and stopping dead and staring at him - if he launched again I turned my back on him silently and stood still.

re roadwork...they aren't mature and their long bones can be damaged by asking them to walk or run too far til 18 months (don't let them jump much till then either)

re patience....GSP's are cunning critters and far too intelligent for their own good....you have to out-think and outwait them in everything - you are being tested and that will continue for a while but it is so worth the wait...you'll look back in a couple of years and know that it was all worth it and you'll be ready to do it again.......

I wrote these articles for the Dobermann site but the ideas are the same and have stood me and 2 male GSP's in good stead...and I'm still sane <g>

http://www.dobepac.com/reference/obedience/dogspeak1.htm - Who's the Boss?

http://www.dobepac.com/reference/obedience/dogspeak2.htm - How to be the Boss

http://www.dobepac.com/reference/obedience/chanel.htm - Why Dobes prefer Chanel

Tango btw was nicknamed "Mr Overenthusiastic" in the Victorian showring as he spent a huge proportion of the first 18 months in the ring off the ground.......you will survive...take deep breaths, slow your movements down and be vewy, vewy, patient...you will survive!!

PS: Tango is Heiderst Just Do A Tango...does Easton spin when he's excited?

Edited August 13, 2010 by TangerineDream

[Erny]

Looking good! If you want to run him dragging a long line use a harness, it keeps the line out of their way and less chance of injury. I also recommend a proper tracking line, less chance of injury to both of you. Grabbing anything else can really cause a nasty burn. Don't ask me how I know this.

I was about to suggest the same things. I know all too well about grabbing at cords on dogs causing injury - and not just burns. In my case, the cord sliced off the tip of a couple of fingers. Not my dog. Not my lead. And not even on my watch. Just made an emergency dash to stop the dog from running into the traffic.

I can't tell you in words how much pain that one simple thing caused me.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I put a knot in long line so I can stop dog by stepping on it. Though that can be bad for the dog.

Kong - put a bit of peanut butter paste in it. Takes ages to lick out... well you get five minutes of peace.

I agree about trying to train him to sit or drop instead of jumping. And fritz or metwurst (german preserved sausage) are great dog treats, cut into tiny pieces.

Definitely look up "crate games". He has to like and want to be in there. But as far as moving him goes - clip him on the lead first, and then drag him. Maybe use a horse lead with a limited slip collar... I also walk out the back door and shut it with dog on the other side if she is being really obnoxious. And then let her back in when she's quiet.

And we do a lot of TOT in order to get dinner. Has really improved her sit -stays.

[FionaC]

ah yes the pre-teen and teen GSP .... I have one here at the moment and one who's just been through it .... having 2 certainly makes a big difference!

the whinging - yup they do it, especially the boys ... both mine whinge, whine, croak, woo woo and are general noisy buggers sometimes but they know when to shut it off ... but we choose to think of it as music - I mean we also have an Oriental cat and they yowl and talk all the time - so we must like noisy animals - thankfully they don't bark much so its not annoying for neighbours

energy/exercise - everything that the others have said, get him into Obedience classes as soon as possible - free running will wear them out but only for a short time, they sleep in the car going home and by the time you're home they are ready to go at it again twice as hard .... the only thing that really wears my two out is mental and physical exercise at the same time - so an Obedience class where they have to think and move is guaranteed to have them snoring for a while when its over ....

do obedience training at home in short bursts ..... make it fun - his concentration will increase I promise

Easton is looking lovely and growing up so quickly - give him a cuddle from us ....

[GoldenWei]

awwww, I'm sorry you are having a hard time with little Easton. I have an 8 month old LH Wei, she can be very hyper when she gets in the mood, but she has her down times. She isn't nearly as bad as what my goldie was as a puppy. I wanted to hand him back after a week..... of course it was one of those what have I done moments

It really makes a difference having more than one dog. I'm not advocating you going out and getting another, but Willow has a lot of free play with Phoenix which tires her out. Having a large yard (3/4 of an acre) helps as well.

I agree with what others have said though, obedience is very good, I'd try tracking, and, if you can find a place that does puppy agility go for it. He's too young for forced jumping, but if they have one with really low jumps, as in hardly off the ground, he'd be really good at it. I take Phoenix to agility and the owners breed GSP's, their dogs are very good at it and they start teaching the basics to them at a very young age.