My 5-month-old puppy is very hyperactive when he wakes up in the morning; he jumps up at us, is nipping more and more, and really struggles to settle down.
Personally, I can handle it okay – I ignore him for a few minutes and give him a firm "no" when he jumps, and he's then alright – but it's much trickier for my partner and our daughter!
We take him out for about 30 to 60 minutes morning and evening, and otherwise he has the garden during the day... I also play with him or keep him occupied in the garden too.
What sort of approach should we be taking? (Especially in the morning when he's so restless)...
I imagine I'll be advised to walk him for longer, but we both work... plus, even after getting back from a walk, he's still wound up. I have to make him settle in his spot (his mat) to get him to calm down a bit.
I'm looking for some advice, especially from people who've had this same problem... I've signed up for puppy classes at a dog training club in September, so maybe that'll help...
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Ah, Lorna, I see Ookipa is off to a flying start: shitting on his lead – tick, done that too!
As for the rat, the cat is doing its job for the time being!
Mind you, I'm sure you'll all be jealous of my boy at the beach: we were running side by side along the shore, a wonderful moment in front of tourists admiring the lovely bond between human and dog, especially since Ookipa is very athletic (more so than me, at least)... a scene worthy of slow motion, and thankfully not caught on camera: the little monkey jumped up at me and used his teeth to untie the side of my bikini bottoms in record time!!! The left knot saved my blushes and only a bit of bum was on show... but I can tell you, the walk back was done at heel and strictly on the lead... lol
But don’t you worry, the fun never really ends ;-)
Even once they’re perfectly trained, your dog will still find ways to surprise you—whether it’s presenting you with a rotting rat or shitting all over their own lead. That’s all part of the joy of it 😎
Emma :-D
Oh, I didn't put the cat on the list! That's a whole other story – I actually had to catch the dog mid-air during our training session yesterday :-D
On the plus side, I’m quite proud to tell you that, provided there’s a treat involved, His Lordship is now happy to hop into the boot without being lifted... (I’ll keep quiet about what happens when there isn't a treat ;) )
Dogs aren't exactly easy at the start, but they quickly become pure joy!
Hey, I’m dealing with pretty much everything mentioned all at once! Including the sneaky sofa-hogging, chasing the cat, and refusing to get in the car... lol.
Ah, I remember the days when Gribus would jump all over me like a complete nutter and I had no idea what to do... Nostalgia, nostalgia... Nowadays, he only jumps up at strangers, especially if they’re carrying kids! :-D
I worked on it, like Emma mentioned, specifically for that issue of him going wild when people come home, and it’s much better now.
I don’t have a dog walker during the day, but Gribus gets out morning, noon, and night, and we do quite a lot: off-lead walks, cycling, training. You’ve got to let the dog burn off energy, but not too much—I’ve experienced the "too much" side of things and it’s actually worse.
We try to get as much free play with other dogs as possible, as Lorna and Docline suggested, but it’s not always easy.
He’s just over a year old now and he doesn’t jump up at us anymore, and only very rarely at anyone else.
Your dog is five months old; I don’t think there’s anything abnormal or worrying there, it’s just a matter of training and patience.
Best of luck, you’ll get there... mind you, after that it’ll be pulling on the lead, a recall that doesn’t work, pinching food, the dining table being more interesting than his bed at dinner time... :-D
Obviously, I can’t help but be—well, as usual—completely on the same page as Docline and lorna:
Socialisation and doggy playdates are a must: my puppy absolutely loves these moments. We’re lucky enough to have a few other dogs in our estate and we often bump into them in the pine woods: it’s pure chaos! Mind you, his doggy mates—the small and medium-sized ones—are starting to get a bit "put off" by my chunky pup’s size!
And I definitely agree about the little training exercises for your wife and daughter. We do a bit every day at home with my husband, and my son is starting to get into it too. It’s been a MASSIVE confidence boost for him, and he’s so proud of himself when the dog actually listens to him. Even my two little nieces have started joining in. Plus, it means everyone is using the same commands!
That said, don’t pin all your hopes on the training club... they aren't miracle workers and they aren't living with you 24/7. Personally, I’m still figuring out and fixing a lot of things myself, whether it’s through the great advice on this forum or some of the recommended books... it’s a bit of everything. Above all, you need loads of patience, because we’re about to hit the most challenging phase if I’m not mistaken! ;-)
Another tip: get your wife and daughter involved in the training exercises, even if it's just two or three basic commands and a minute of walking to heel, for example. Young dogs need a clear way of communicating with their humans, and very often when they can't seem to settle, it's because the dog doesn't know how to go about communicating. They then build up frustration which they express by getting overexcited, jumping up at people's faces, and nipping at feet, for instance.
For a while, and even a bit still today, my dog's behaviour was completely different with me than it was with my partner... simply because he didn't take the time to explain the rules to her and was accidentally rewarding bad behaviour :-)
Oxmosquito, a puppy in general and an Aussie in particular has a vital need for playtime
lots, and lots, and lots of it
What kind of walks are you taking him on?
Until he’s at least 18 months old, he needs to be meeting up with doggy pals regularly to have a proper blast off-lead, otherwise he’ll get depressed or start showing unwanted behaviours.
You’ve chosen a breed that’s full of beans
if it’s never playtime at your house, he’s going to be miserable
The solution: on the days you’re working, take him for at least half a day to a dog sitter who walks the dogs somewhere they can play freely off-lead
