Wild Puppy!!!

[ArcticDog]

Today was our first day back in dog classes (did show handeling today) in about a month. As soon as we drove up to the building Adak (9 month old male) started going nuts! He was so excited to be there that he was whineing and drooling and dancing and all the things a little guy can do and I was basically nonexistant. For the most part he is so easy to work with but over the last couple of months I am losing the battle to keep him under control around other people and dogs. He basically shuts me off and I don't know how to handle it. Up until now everyone commented on how well behaved he was now when friends come over to the house they ask if I can put him in his kennel. Help! I really need to get this under control. Is is his age? I know he is testing me...and has probably been winning. What are some tips to keep him under control around visitors. A down stay works for a second (with much whineing and wiggleing) but as soon as he breaks it it becomes harder and harder to get him back in it. Oh yeah, he does that wistle whine thing until the visitors leave.

I guess the bottom line is that I don't want to be a nag. I want to be effective! What works?

HELP!

[Greg_1111]

so many familiar situations on this forum, it's amazing. Mine still does that when around other people especially. The part about the "much whining and wiggling" lol, smae thing, she inches and slithers along the floor like I won't notice lol. They just want attention, and to be the centre of it. That beats having them snarly and aggressive I gues, but aometimes annoying I'll admit. I find that asking your friends or guests to help out by not encouraging it or even mildly rejecting the attention seeking helps a lot. They are definitely taking advantage of a situation where they have learned that you probably will be more lenient with them around others. At the park.or with other dogs, if they don't listen to your commands, you need to work with them more on obeying consistently. Having distractions around is a great environment to train them in, but you have to be prepared to enforce the commands in that setting. Every time you allow the pup to disobey a command, the more it will think it can do it . or at least it understands that it doesn't have to obey every time. It's a lot of work at first, but once it clicks, it's a huge releif, and allows you to go anywhere knowing that you can recall your dog from any potential problem situation

[ArcticDog]

It's almost like an "extinction burst" because I have told all of the visitors to my house to ignore him and not to pet him or play with him until he calms down. It seams to make him try that much harder to get their attention. He is very persistant. I see him do the same thing with other dogs. He gets too hyper with them and they grumble at him or try to just walk away and he pushes them even harder. I think I am just a push over in some situations and he knows it.

[Grendl]

I think part of what you are experiencing with your 9 month old male is puppy adolescence. He is testing you, your authority, your alpha position within the family pack. If he is intact, then hormones are also playing a part in his behavior. Training, consistent discipline and more training are the main things you can do to reduce this unacceptable conduct. Keep going to class and working with your boy, and in time, with patience, you will have a great companion. There are lots of threads on this Forum with young dog training tips. Good luck!