Lively puppy?!

[HJT40]

Hi, last year I adopted a 4 month old lab x puppy from a rescue home. He had been rescued from Ireland, so we don't know what his first 4 months were like. To say that he loves us is an understatement! He hates being parted from me and my daughter and will spend as much time as he can by us, on us or just watching us and we love him! He is still a bit of a rascal and will take socks, his bed and shoes and run round with them, we have tried everything, even a kong with treats in. His biggest problem is that he is an escape artist and we can't let him off his lead because he would run and not come back (which he has done!). When visitors come he does jump up, not in an aggresive way and not bad enough to knock anyone over, but my brother then puts him in his cage and shuts him in, asking why we still have him, because he is so naughty. Any suggestions?

[annavc]

I don't know much about training puppies so my suggestion would be take him to puppy training classes - they have them all over the place and I'm sure they'll help him and also help you to know how to curb his behaviour. Just try searching on Google for them or talk to your vet - he might be able to recommend one.

He sounds adorable!

[winny]

to stop the jumping up get your guests to completely ignore the dog when they walk in. I know this is hard but by fussing him they are simply encouraging bad behaviour as they are rewarding him jumping up. If he does jump up they should put their hand down and push him away gently withouy eye contact or speaking. This way he will calm down and realize that he gets fuss when all 4 feet are on the floor. If he gets excited again repeat the ignoring. It is simple manners and by ignoring the habit and staying calm he will realize if he is calm people fuss him if he is not then they wont.
I had to to this with an older gsd and a lab puppy as my mum is unsteady on her feet and my gran in 4 foot tall so jumping up was dangerous let alone annoying.
It works a treat and with other troubles with him remember they respond to quiet firm and consistent. Treat him when he is good and handle him firmly and quetly when he is not and no eye contact. He will soon raelize what gets a treat and what gets the cold shoulder. It is hard to start cus he will try every trick in the book to gain attention but be firm with yourself at 4 months if you go right now he will be great.
Tell your brother cages are not punishments at such a young age and should be used to control him as a last resort again he will realize what gets him locked up and what doesnt. But there are other steps first before the cage as you do not want him to refise to go in it out of fear.

He is not naughty he is a puppy who simply needs teaching some manners and learn what is acceptable behaviour. Does your brother have children???

Sorry to ramble hope it was some use

[HJT40]

Thank you both. I know my pup is not naughty, he is just a little monkey who loves people! He is now nearly a year and I had hoped he would have calmed down a bit after being neutered, but it was only a little bit, Since I have been little we have had so many dogs and not one of them has had to go to dog training, I guess this little tyke may be the exception.

My brother has a little boy, who is now worried about the dog because his dad "puts him away" as soon as they arrive. Strange really as we were brought up with Great Danes, perhaps its my brother who needs sorting out - hee hee! :-)

[winny]

My husband asked the vet when our lab x would calm down and he said labs usually calm down about 10 mins before they die!!!!
Training might be a good idea but they tend to behave perfectly when you are there as both mine did but once they get home they revert back as they are no longer in the "classroom" which can be a false enviroment.
A good book in The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell she is great.

[leelapops]

He sounds adorable! How do you let your brother punish your dog? If anyone had the gall to come into my house and not even consult me before disciplining Jack, my Collie, they wouldn't come round again. He has a nerve.

Winny is totally right. I have to ignore Jack, and ask all visitors etc. to do so as well. As soon as he is calm, or goes and lies down, I/they can then greet him and fuss him. It didn't take long for the time between me getting home and him calming down to reduce, as he learnt quickly that calmness=attention.

Fortunately we are quite robust, but we still try and discourage his jumping up. Again, ignore him till he calms. It is SO hard-Jack used to demolish the house when we left him, so when i return to see evrything in its place I just want to praise him to bits! But a dog's mind doesn't work like a human's; if you want to assert that you are pack leader then you must act in a dominant way.

Jack and I were very attached, so we have huge separation anxiety problems with him now. This is why I know how important the ignoring and the dominance assertion is! It helps to spend small periods of time not engaging with your dog, so he understands that sometimes he can't be the centre of attention. Also, try not letting him be the one to initiate play/cuddles.

I hope this helps, he sounds so special. Don't let your brother worry your nephew; he clearly just isn't sympathetic.

Lisa :) x