Bad Puppies!!!

[Ti99er11]

WorkinDogz, did you NOT read my post? My puppies ARE trained and have been perfect angels until this past week! I did not say I'm throwing in the towel, I'm just fed up.If labs are notorious chewers then why did this just start, we've had for about 3 months now! They are in obedience school and are doing fine. I'm not asking for you to criticize me or the way I care for my dogs. They are having problems now and I asked for advice on how to change this.

Thank you!

[Karen J. Reece]

Has anything out of the ordinary happened in their routine that could be upsetting them? Even though they are trained and normally well behaved it would be best to put your CDs and shoes out of reach. That's what I try to do (sometimes what I think is out of reach is NOT!) Good luck. Sounds as if they are upset over something.

[Sammie]

I agree with WorkinDogz...you HAVE to crate train the dogs and you need to enroll in some basic obedience classes.

Responsible dog ownership starts with you...not the dogs. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif

[Ti99er11]

Nothing out of the ordinary has happened, at least nothing that I know about. Actually we have been taking them to see their "dog" friends more often recently then in the past just to make them happy. (We have to drive 30 min. to this other park to visit their friends).

I thought about crate training them, but hesitated because I thought they were ok. But, maybe we'll have to look into that now.

Thank you for your help

[WorkinDogz]

Well how about this....they are 5 and 6 months old...they are getting new TEETH and they are left unattended with a VARIETY of fun things to destroy. At this age they are NOT trained. They may be HOUSEtrained to not potty; but as far as obedience; they are JUST BEGINNING.

Oh and by the way....making them "outside dogs" IS THROWING IN THE TOWEL and yes I did read your post.

Advice was given (review crate training and puppy rearing posts) if you view that as "critizing you or the way you care for your dogs" then I don't know what to tell you!

Crate training isn't evil; it's necessary to keep dogs (and your valuables) SAFE from harm and from making owners frustrated to the point of even considering restricting them to being outside dogs.

As far as Labs go....they CHEW A LOT. Any and EVERY book about the breed will tell you that.

[Ti99er11]

WorkinDogz...I never said my dogs were fully trained. And in my last post I did say they ARE in obedience school, but since they are so young we barely started. My main concern is them going potty in the house now, after being so good these past couple of months. I can understand an accident here or there, but NOT everyday. They have gotten their teeth in already, their mouths are full of teeth that seem to be too big for them. And, I don't appreciate you assuming that I am giving up on them, if I was I would've never started this post, nor would I have asked for advice.

[Michael C.]

Yes, definately look into crate training them. Your dogs are still like kids, if left unsupervised, they will get into something. Do it for their safety and yours.

Mike

[Volunteer]

Crates are wonderful things. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

Your babies are just getting into the "chew on everything in sight" stage...and this will continue for some time yet.

I have a Golden Retriever that is now 7.5 yrs old. When he was 8 months old we decided that he would be OK to leave loose in the apt (we usually crated him) for 20 minutes while we ran to the store. WRONG!!! Upon our return we found every single couch cushion gnawed apart...the foam insides strewn all over the floor. He had a grand ole time...we had to spend several hundred dollars getting replacement cushions.
We crated him when we left the house from that point on....no exceptions! We stopped using the crate when he was three yrs old but only because we had borrowed it from a relative who needed it back.

By crating the dogs when you leave you will be doing your dogs a great service. Not only will you be protecting your possessions from their inquisitive teeth, but you will also be preventing them from accidentally swallowing something that could cause an obstruction in their GI tract (expensive to have removed), or get lodged in their throats (it would be heartbreaking to come home to find the results of that). Another added bonus to the crates is that dogs HATE to soil the area they are sitting in. Get crates that are just big enough for them to stand up and turn around. Pad the floor (I use a cheap dog bed or peice of lambswool) and make sure that they have LOTS of chew toys in there to keep them busy (no rawhides...large pieces can break off and get lodged in their throats.)

Dogs will be happy, you will be happy, and most important, dogs will be SAFE! http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

Good luck...

Deb

[MEDIC]

They need to be crate trained I would never leave a puppy under about 18 months in the house alone that is asking for trouble.

Larry

P.S
I would listen to what Workndogz has to say she can help you a lot. :O

[Ti99er11]

About crate training my puppies. How long can they be in the crate at one time? I'm gone for at least 5 hrs a day....is that too long?

Thank you

[Echowe]

Just try to think of them as humane babies. They could be at the 'terrible twos' stage. Puppies are funny. They could be perfect angel one minute and not the very next. Consider yourself lucky that they behaved so well for almost half a year. I think your best bet is to expect the worst from now on... http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif
You have just entered the beginning of the 'REAL'chewy stage. Both puppies should have most of their adult teeth if not all. It is time for the teeth to grow 'DEEP' into the bone.... There will be more mischief as their brains start to develop.... If they didn't think of it now, they will later, trust me. It takes 2 years for labs to mature...ummm...3-4 for male rotties! Be prepared. Confine them in a small area will do if you can't afford crates but couple crates is a small price compare to the sofa.... I have a 6.5 months female and the thought of you having two puppies makes me laugh. I can picture the two brain wheels running. My two year old male is still very puppy like. My house shakes when they play. You'll soon learn to laugh at every 'bad' thing the pups did and put away others thing fast. I only wished I put away my ocean kayak sooner!

[This message has been edited by Echowe (edited August 23, 2000).]

[2RottieMom]

When I got Gyspy, I did't have this rottweiler board. It took Gypsy chewing a hole in the wall for me to realize that crate training is the answer. I felt that crating a dog was mean. Well, it did wonders and I'm glad I did it. Gypsy is now almost 4 years old and she now has entire roam of the house while I am not there. She does not touch anything except her toys. I also have Dakota who will be 5 months old next week and he is crated while I am at work. The rest of the evening Dakota has limited roam of the house. All puppies chew and all puppies are curious but you are not there to correct them from chewing on things they are not suppose to chew on. That is why they are getting into everything. In my opinion leaving them alone to roam is very dangerous because they can get into things that might cause them serious harm.

[Michael C.]

You will hear different answers on how long you can leave them in the crate. AT 5 months, our dog had no problem staying in 5 hours. But I did make sure she went potty and had exercise before putting her in.

Mike

[Ethár]

5 hours IS absolutely on the edge my friend.

Can't you have a "dog-sitter" that comes to your house and take the dogs out???

It does need planning when having "babies" in the house.

I never leave my Ambrosius alone for more than four hours (and that is the most) without having someone coming and taking him for a walk.

...and I think you should listen to Workingdogz - after all he IS very sensed and good in all advice he gives.

[Michael C.]

I agree that 5 hours is on the edge. Maybe ours was a exception. WE had a major time schedule change immediately after we got our pup last August and did not have no options. Now she stays in her crate 3,4 or 5 hours during the week and zero on the weekend.

Where there is a will, there is a way. Maybe a friend or relative to let them out to potty for 1/2 hour or so?

Mike