1 Year old EM is becoming a handful! suggestions ?

[Louies Mom]

Louie will be a year old this week, and he's definitely a teenager! He's become leash reactive - we're working with a trainer but but he is a handful. When he reacts, it's hard for me to handle him. He's now chasing cars. He's been in training since 10 weeks old but it's like he's forgotten everything he's learned. Any opinions on how an electric fence works with these guys? Think his behavior is a phase? It's challenging to say the least. He's been socialized from the get go, but now I won't go into pet stores - he reacts too much - scares people. He's such a lover, a sweet sweet gentle boy - but he has this "other side". Any thoughts, comments would be appreciated.

 

[Sadies Mom]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

An electric fence would not stop him to run through it if he wants to. This is the stage that he will test EVERYTHING!!!! Do not stop socializing him. Get a vest for his that says "In Training- do not pet" or something like that. That way people will stay away (most of them). What type of collar do you use? How much exercise does he get?

 

[Sadies Mom]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

Leerburg | Cape Vest

 

[musicdeb]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

Agree with Sadies Mom. Teenage years are very challenging. Continue with training. Consistency in training, LOTS of patience and no frustration is key during the teenage years. Your frustration will cause the pup to shut down and stop listening to you.

Teenage years lasts 2-6 months. Hang in there. You will be tested, you can pass the test.

Remember: consistency in training, LOTS of patience and no frustration.

 

[scooby56]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

Give him a good workout before you take him anywhere. A tired puppy is a good puppy. Won't solve the behavior completely but it will help.

 

[Louies Mom]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

I so agree, a tired puppy is a good puppy! He has lots of energy and plays alot! THANK YOU so much for the encouragement! Sometimes it overwhelming!! We train daily, but just for 10 - 15 minutes at a time, beyond that he's "checked out" we call it Pet stores aren't happen if we come in there He makes such a fuss and I admit I get stressed out.......not a good combination. So we sit on the side lines at dog parks etc and have oodles of treats! But it helps to know i'm not alone, and he will continue to mature!!! I appreciate it!!

 

[musicdeb]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

At 1 yr old, he should be training for 20-30 minutes unless he knows the command. 10-15 minutes of training are for young pups.

At 1 yr old, he's come into his true temperament.

 

[Hector]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

What kind of training are you doing daily? Do you do any focus or loose leash exercises? How does he act in pet stores? You need to apply all the training you've done to outside situations, that is called proofing the command.

 

[Louies Mom]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

Daily we go over all the basics we've learned. We're also in a "scrappers" class, where we are learning how to defuse or get out of situations. Right now we're working on conditioning and stress relief. It's amazing how the dogs can figure out what we want them to do without saying a word. Now if he sees another dog while he's on leash - he barks, pulls, lunges - I know he's not aggressive - but he sounds and acts up so much. He does great on loose leash when there are no other dogs around. He's already busted out of his collar after another dog...then charged up to him and stopped. Almost as if he's saying "Now what do I do?" I"m grateful the other dog didn't feel the need to defend himself. We'll keep taking him out - but I'm sure he knows I'm a bit stressed. I know my confidence will help, so we are both learning! Breath in..breath out

 

[Louies Mom]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

Sadie's mom, great idea on the vest. I will sew one and embroider that wording. It'll reduce his stress from everyone wanting to come up to him. Thank you!

 

[Smokeycat]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

Kryten managed to break both his leash and his collar on separate occasions about a month ago in his desire to go play with another dog. I ended up getting a prong collar for him and the difference was like night and day. He still wants to go to the other dog but now remembers that he has to behave (no pulling, lunging, barking, etc) or he doesn't get to even move towards them. After this month I almost think that the prong is more for my peace of mind than as a behavior correction tool. He's 21 months but has months of pent up energy that I think he wants to release all at once.

 

[Hector]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

Sadie's mom, great idea on the vest. I will sew one and embroider that wording. It'll reduce his stress from everyone wanting to come up to him. Thank you!

Here's a thread to some items you can get or sew yourself

Give me space vests and extras

 

[Louies Mom]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

Ive never used a prong collar, but if nothing else works of be willing to try it. Properly adjusted it won't cause pain, but will get his attention. I just feel assured to"fix" this quickly while I can still control him. Just love him so much, hard to see him stressed

 

[CeeCee]

Re: 1 Year old EM is becming a handful! suggestions ?

Oh my goodness - you are so not alone in this! We have all been there - some are there with you as we speak! With consistency and patience, it will get better! Today he may not be able to do pet stores, but continue to work with him and one day he may be able to.

I so agree, a tired puppy is a good puppy! He has lots of energy and plays alot! THANK YOU so much for the encouragement! Sometimes it overwhelming!! We train daily, but just for 10 - 15 minutes at a time, beyond that he's "checked out" we call it Pet stores aren't happen if we come in there He makes such a fuss and I admit I get stressed out.......not a good combination. So we sit on the side lines at dog parks etc and have oodles of treats! But it helps to know i'm not alone, and he will continue to mature!!! I appreciate it!!View attachment 35050

 

[rdryan]

The prong was a life saver for me and Xerxes. He was a dream on leash until he spotted another dog. I am not big enough or strong enough to stop him if he decides he is going. In the house or yard, he listens to verbal commands but strap on a leash and forget it. The prong was an immediate change.

 

[Penny1960]

My baby is 14 months and trying everything to . Working on the training daily new thing jumping on the sliding glass door. I just turn my back and wait for her to sit. Mind you this sometimes take time. She is testing me out to the limit.

 

[Louies Mom]

I so much appreciate knowing this is "normal". The other day someone said "your dog is vicious" I went home in tears. But he sounds terrible. If he weren't mine and I knew better, I'd be apprehensive to approach him!!! I have plenty of love and patience - I'll admit sometimes I get very frustrated - but I know he doesn't want to act up that way, so we'll continue to take baby steps. Verbal commands do nothing in the yard now, where they used to - now he turns a deaf ear. I'm grateful for this forum, very few others know the breed. One day at a time - I smile as he snores at my feet Thank you

 

[cinnamon roll]

My girls is 11.5 months and her ears are broken, apparently all the training we have done went thru one ear and out the other. lol I feel your pain

I called my breeder and told her that she sold me a defective dog.

 

[ParentsofVegas]

Vegas also developed selective hearing and also got
a little worse on reactivity as well at the year mark.
Putting so much time into the wedding planing during
that time didn't help matters as it cut into her training
outings. Now we are getting back on track with nilif
and her pretty yellow training vest.

 

[Louies Mom]

Congrats on your wedding! This winter darkness makes it harder to train as well. And as big as my guy is, he'd rather cuddle up to the fire in the living room then go outside But it limits it more to the weekends - getting out around other dogs. But we're working on it. Again, it means a lot to hear it's not out of the norm!