PLEASE Tell me it Gets Better

It often feels like one step forward, two steps back. Loki has finally learned some bite inhibition, he hasn't broken my skin in ages now, he is noticeably softer in his biting, and more responsive if you tell him no. However...yesterday he was just absolutely wild. Acting crazy in his cage to the point where he just peed in his cage. I don't think he needed to go out, it felt like he was either marking his territory (which he never really does, and not at all in the house) or...as some kind of plea for attention. Then when I let him out of the cage, he was constantly diving onto the couch, and no amount of "off" will get him to move, you have to carry him off. And of course, the biting. His biting is softer, but that isn't much of a comfort when he's getting carried away with himself and constantly biting. It got to the point where I actually just had to leave the room because I was getting angry with him. Then I felt guilty for being angry because even when he was biting me, you should've seen his face; when I'd tell him "no," he'd stop for a moment and start whining because he really wanted to play. It's not his fault . I made it up to him later by taking him out for a nice long walk when he was calm though

But yeah, it was just very frustrating. I don't know if it was a random wild moment or he's entering the teenage phase (though, I think this is way too early?), but tell me I'm not the only one with a puppy that gets so out of control like that. What should I do when he gets like that? I couldn't put him back in the cage, because he would've just been acting wild there, and it was raining a lot outside so I couldn't put him outside. I just had to let him sit near me and light-heartedly attack me for like 20 minutes :\

It does get better and I think most of us have been there. He is a bit too young for the teenage phase he's just being a puppy I'm afraid. I've never used a crate as a punishment though. I want them to associate the crate with a safe place and go in willingly.

How many exercise sessions is he getting every day and what are you feeding him? Either of these could be contributing to the problem.

When Suki gets an energy burst we will play a game of tug with her, give her a stuffed animal she can destroy or a 10-15 reward based training session.

He's getting more than enough exercise I'm sure, he has two or three walks a day, including a run around in the field. He is eating Wainwright's though, and I heard that they changed their recipe, so I was worried it might be that, but I don't know. Maybe he's just pushing his luck or getting extra-hyperactive? Hard to say.

I don't really like playing tug-of-war with him when he's hyperactive, because it tends to lead to him biting, jumping or pulling at clothes, but I'll definitely have to look at redirecting his energy to something less destructive.

Sounds like he may be testing the boudaries, keep going with the training or even up it a bit. Give him more mental stimulation if you can ,make up some games to play, hide toys around the home for him to find, use an old egg box to hide treats in which he has to work out how to open the box (I put a small piece of selotape on the box so it's a little bit more difficult to open).

How long are you out on walks with him when you go ? He may need a bit longer.

Have a read through this thread, some of it may be useful:

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t23338-games-to-get-your-dog-thinking

Oh the joy of puppies Does he usually go to his crate willingly? And never had any anxieties of being enclosed before? With risk of repeating others, I think it's best to just direct his energy into something positive like training, I even play hide and seek around the house to wear mine out, helps with recall training too The staffy enthusiasm is what makes them so easy to train and work with (in some aspects!!)!

When Biscuit's been for a massive walk, she'll have a wild 10 minutes when we get home and will run around like a lunatic, I usually end the exercise session with a short 10 minute training session to get her mentally tired as well as physically.

I'm glad to hear its not just Percy that does that after a walk he comes in and goes crazy, gets every toy out, runs in and out of every room on and off every sofa, bed etc crazy fool....I've found if after we get home I sit outside with him for about 5 mins and give him a cuddle and lots of calming talk it seems to help a bit x

All of the bull breeds tend to have moments when their energy levels just explode! They'll often tear around the house, bouncing off furniture/walls/doors for about 5 minutes & then calm down. Just think yourself lucky you don't have an EBT (nearly 30 kilos) doing it, or Ella's American Bulldog (over 40 kilos, I believe!) doing it!

Seriously, try redirecting the energy. Get a good, strong tug toy & give him a really good game of tug (try to make sure you win at least 50% of the time).

I would imagine he's mid-teething now? That could also be adding to the stress/energy levels.

But in answer to your heading.........Yes, it does get better!

Could he be over tired/stimulated. Maggie tends to bite and be crazy when she really needs to chill out - it's almost like she doesn't know how. My last Staffie, Archie was the same. If you were getting wound up he may have been picking up on your energy. Have you tried ignoring him (hard I know when he has your hand in his mouth!!) and then treating him the minute he calms down, or just simply stroking him?? I threaten Maggie with a song, she soon calms down!! Don't lose heart, it sounds like he's really improving with his bite inhibition so stay positive and enjoy the good bits. Good Luck

Puppies Sometimes you put your head in your hands and ask 'What have I done!" It DOES get better. Mind you it takes a lot of clam patience, lots of love and plenty of hard work.

A tired Staffie is a good Staffie so anything you do to tire him out will have rewards.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, and also giving me the knowledge that it gets better

I haven't really timed how long his walks are, but each walk will be about an hour (including the run around time), and he gets two or three walks a day (some shorter than an hour). I read that he should be getting like 15-20 minutes of walking a day, so he's definitely getting enough physical exercise. Maybe it's a lack of mental stimulation; I've been recovering from a cold, so I haven't done as much training with him as I usually would. Although I'm getting back into it, so we'll see.

I'm not sure if he's teething to be honest; he hasn't lost any teeth yet from what I can see. He has been chewing things he's not meant to a bit more than he usually would, but that could just be because he's decided to be naughty for the hell of it

He's just done it again before. Not the biting (not much), but diving onto the couch and refusing to get off. What's a good way to get him out of this habit? Is carrying him off OK or will that not teach him anything? Should I show him a treat and tell him "off" and then reward him? At the moment he won't get off without force or bribery at all.

Oh, and I have tried ignoring him and praising him when he calms down. The downside to this is that I was in the middle of ignoring him when he decided to pull at my clothes, wreck my shoes and chew my hand, so...that takes a level of pain tolerance that I just don't have lol.

ANattyRat wrote:I haven't really timed how long his walks are, but each walk will be about an hour (including the run around time), and he gets two or three walks a day (some shorter than an hour). I read that he should be getting like 15-20 minutes of walking a day, so he's definitely getting enough physical exercise. Maybe it's a lack of mental stimulation; I've been recovering from a cold, so I haven't done as much training with him as I usually would. Although I'm getting back into it, so we'll see.

Ok, way too much exercise at his age! He should be getting about 15 - 20 minutes, 3 times a day, with some extra free running/play during those walks. Too much exercise will not only over-tire him but could well damage the growth plates & soft young tendons.

Try cutting down on the walks, and increasing play time/training at home.

ANattyRat wrote:I'm not sure if he's teething to be honest; he hasn't lost any teeth yet from what I can see. He has been chewing things he's not meant to a bit more than he usually would, but that could just be because he's decided to be naughty for the hell of it

Teething generally starts at about 4 months with sore gums, before the teeth actually start to come out. Try giving him a wetted frozen tea towel to chew, or a couple of frozen carrots or bananas to ease his gums.

ANattyRat wrote:He's just done it again before. Not the biting (not much), but diving onto the couch and refusing to get off. What's a good way to get him out of this habit? Is carrying him off OK or will that not teach him anything? Should I show him a treat and tell him "off" and then reward him? At the moment he won't get off without force or bribery at all.

If he gets on the couch & refuses to get off, just walk away & start to play with one of his toys yourself. Keep an eye on him & as soon as he jumps off to see what you're doing say "Get down" (or whatever words you use to get him off the sofa) and play with him on the floor. You'll have to be quick & say the words the second he starts to get off the sofa, though!

ANattyRat wrote:Oh, and I have tried ignoring him and praising him when he calms down. The downside to this is that I was in the middle of ignoring him when he decided to pull at my clothes, wreck my shoes and chew my hand, so...that takes a level of pain tolerance that I just don't have lol.

If he ignores you ignoring him (!) then don't say another word - pick him up & put him outside & shut the door. Leave him there for a couple of minutes & then try again!

Sorry, I don't think I explained the exercise thing properly, I don't mean the actual walks are an hour long. I take him to a field near my house most of the time, so the walk there and back isn't too long; the rest of the time is him running around in the field. Or do you mean that even including the running around and playing, it's too much for him?

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely have to try those suggestions and see how they get on. He's already getting too big for me to lift off the couch anyway

It could be too long. Is he the type of dog that will take several rests while he's running around? If not, you might need to restrict him a little - let him run around for, say, 5-10 minutes & then either take him home or make him sit quietly for a few minutes. If he'll sit quietly for a while, you could then maybe let him have a nother 5 minutes & then take him home?

It's like children, really, when they get overtired they can't settle & become quite fractious/hyperactive!

Caryll wrote:

It's like children, really, when they get overtired they can't settle & become quite fractious/hyperactive!

Jelly hasn't peed in her kennel or gone off like that, but she is definitely a handful in her own way like Caryll described above. If we keep her up too long or tire her out too much, she fusses, bites at her leash while barking which is a sign of frustration... I'm sure it will get better for you, but remember, from now until about 12 or so months, they can be absolute TERRORS. >

I remember thinking will it never end, but already Caley is much much calmer and she has totally stopped biting our clothes etc...she stills tried to gnaw on our hands but that is quite rare and she stops straight away. We used to put her in time out, which was our downstairs toilet, there was no windows in there and was really boring, it certainly worked she would come out with tail between her legs and just lay down

Now time out is rarely used. She does however still charge around like a nutter when we come back from our walks, I find them quite funny, I just sit back and watch and within 5 mins she dives next to one of us and sleeps..bless

Hang in there is really does get better and its so worth going through the training and being consistent when you see your dog responding to your commands so well..

I can't help as i don't use crates, i don't like them at all.

Dottie always had crazy time when she was over tired. I found stuffing a kong with yummy paste, treats, chicken etc.. and putting it in her crate usually distracted her and she would follow it in and would settle down with it and then fall alseep.
She particularly loves a small plastic bottle filled with some rattly treats in to rare and tear with and it is another good distraction from "naugthiness". She still has her crazytime, though, just less attacky if you know what I mean! I no longer have to spray my slippers with anti-chew spray,lol!

@Caryll, he does have quite a lot of breaks from his running. He only has a few mad runs, the rest of the time he's sniffing, walking or lightly running to and from me because we practice recall. The reason I started increasing his walks was actually because at night he wouldn't settle, he'd be so restless and want to play, so I assumed he still had a lot of pent up energy. I think I'll shorten his walks slightly though and see how that goes. Weird; they're hyperactive if they get too much exercise as well as too little exercise.

I have used plastic bottles with treats inside, as well as a ball that treats fall out of; I think I'll be putting them to good use again.

Well, the good news is that he actually responded to me telling him "off" this time, so it's some small progress

Thanks everyone, you've all been really helpful and given me a lot of reassurance as well as great advice

Glad to hear that im not the only one with a mad dog. Reckon she may be overtired as ive read somewhere that they get like that if overtired or overstimulated. Have to say though that my hubbie has renamed sbt's - staffordshire bull terrorists!!!

Julia

Maybe you should watch this:

It gets better

Now I suspect other members will disagree, but when Cal goes nuts, usually twice a day, we put her in her crate with her blanket and some chew toys and come back in 15 mins. Often she's sound asleep; if not, she's much calmer.

We don't ever use her crate as punishment, and we don't say no or get upset when she gets the "zoomies.". But to me it's like a toddler who needs a nap, or at least a mood changer. And she doesn't seem unwilling to go to her bed when we tell her to, still likes to go in when she's tired.

micheled wrote:We don't ever use her crate as punishment, and we don't say no or get upset when she gets the "zoomies.". But to me it's like a toddler who needs a nap, or at least a mood changer. And she doesn't seem unwilling to go to her bed when we tell her to, still likes to go in when she's tired.

Same here, I sometimes do put Loki into his cage with a Kong so that he's occupied but knows it's time to calm down, and he doesn't ever seem unwilling to go into his cage, but I try to avoid it because, though I don't see it as a punishment, I don't know whether or not it's any different in a dog's eyes.

And the person who posted the video, that was nice to see that there are wilder puppies out there but Loki isn't like this for hours or anything, it's only once or twice a day, so it's not too bad I guess, just kind of appeared out of nowhere.

I do wonder if he is overtired. I always assumed if he was too tired, he'd sleep more. Or show signs of it (his walking pace is faster than me, so I figured he'd slow down if he was getting too much exercise). I might try cutting down the length of his walks slightly and see if that makes a difference, but I think it's just a case of needing to redirect his energy into something less...painful/destructive.

Thanks everyone for all of your replies, it's really nice to have a place full of such helpful advice you're all awesome.

That was the aim of the video.
I have a doberman with this much drive, she is 14 months now and a working dog so it's not too bad for us or her. She has also calmed down a considerable amount from when she was that age.
So yes, it does get better.

We got our puppy Dusty thinking that she would get some guidance from our older dog Ellie but seems that you can teach an old dog new tricks as the old one has started chewing, running around like a loon and acting much more like a pup. It does get better, you just have to remember the times Loki was good and that makes the bad fade a little quicker. Sorry I have got no advice I am new to puppies too. Thought it would be quite easy, even after eight months research but no still pulling my hair out.

We got our puppy Dusty thinking that she would get some guidance from our older dog Ellie but seems that you can teach an old dog new tricks as the old one has started chewing, running around like a loon and acting much more like a pup. It does get better, you just have to remember the times Loki was good and that makes the bad fade a little quicker. Sorry I have got no advice I am new to puppies too. Thought it would be quite easy, even after eight months research but no still pulling my hair out.