Puppy Training Q's.

PieForPi

Hi all,

I recently got a new puppy, a golden retriever, and brought him home last week. He's almost 9 weeks old.

So far everything has been going very well; his housetraining is going great with only two accidents in the week, he now sits and lies on command, he has slept soundly every night in his crate and hasn't soiled it once, walking extremely well on the leash in the garden etc.

I am having a few issues though which I'm having difficulties with though which is why I'm posting:

1: He seems to be impossible to settle down with. He'll sit in the kitchen quietly by himself, but if you try to have him sit with you infront of the tv he'll start mouthing, getting excited or start mouthing/biting the furniture. It doesn't matter when you try to get him with you either, he could have been played with for hours and be sleepy but then as soon as you try to settle him with you he gets full of energy again.

I've tried using a leash but he just lies on his back and chews at it, I've tried crating him with us in by the tv and he just goes mad. Although his handling is coming on very well, if you sit him on your lap and hold him he just starts mouthing or trying to get away.

How can I approach this?

2: When we go out to the garden, he's going to the toilet relatively quickly which is great but after this, if you try to play with him or train out there he runs off and sits pulling the grass up. He'll continue pulling the grass up despite food being offered, excitement being made elsewhere etc. to try and get him away from it. I don't really care about the state of the garden but I obviously don't want to lose his attention to such a degree every time we try to spend time outside.

and finally

3: He won't stop mouthing/biting/pulling at people's clothes and the furniture. If you try to guide him to a chewtoy, he ignores it and goes back to trying to pull your clothes again, chewing on the carpet etc.

As I said, I believe it's going very well but when it comes to the grass and his inability to settle down, I find myself getting quite frustrated. I understand that a pup his age won't have much of an attention span, so perhaps I'm just asking too much? He's a very good little lad in general so I feel unbelievably guilty when I get frustrated with him and end up ending the play session/training session and leaving him in his area (the kitchen) while I cool down.

He'll be going to classes as soon as possible anyway but I was considering getting a 1-on-1 class with a trainer in Dog Training Ireland in Ballycoolin in a week or so. I'd appreciate any other suggestions too.

FYI I've read both of Ian Dunbar's puppy books, watched his dvd and also watched Cesar Milan's "Raising the perfect puppy" which was actually very good considering I'd low expectations from his earlier work, but I really don't want to go down the route of poking/gently tapping the dog to get its attention if possible.

Thanks guys

tk123

He sounds like a normal mad puppy tbh! My GR was the same For mouthing the only thing that worked for us was putting him out. TBH he's just a baby and from your post you seem to be doing great so far so maybe save the money from a one to one session and take him to puppy socialisation where they cover the basics anyways? Getting his attention will come in time so try not to get frustrated - you could maybe try teaching him the look command but everything is still new and exciting to him so don't expect to get his focus around distractions for a while yet! Any pics of him?

PieForPi

Hi tk,

Good suggestion, Positive Dog Training Dublin is just up the road from me and do a social hour on Saturdays, I believe, so I think I'll agree and just bring him up to then. I notice his attention shot up earlier, outside also, when I used a bit of cheese instead of his usual kibble/nuts when training, so it appears that the way to his mind could be through his belly

Pic:

tk123

Ah gorgeous!! Yeah definitely thru the belly for retrievers! Be careful with the cheese thou because too much might give him the runs.

gregers85

The puppy is only a baby! its important to remember this! dont worry about it losing focus on you most pups are like this at that age, very excitable and want to play with everything in site! the focus will come with age!! All my dogs liked to play with the legs of my trousers rather then toys too at that age, I have always found it just to be a phase and when they get older grow out of it! When they get a bit older I usually encourage with a raw-hide bone rather then a rubber/plastic toy gives them some flavour to chew on I do obedience trials with one of mine and the number one rule for me is - If you get frustrated stop what your doing immediately and walk away! Approach it later in a cool calmer state of mind! Hope this helps

PieForPi

Thanks guys