ARGGGHHHHH!

Jasmine, at the moment, is being an absolute tyrant, and I'm not sure what I am doing wrong!!! The last few days she seems to just have gone into terror mode. She is nearly 21 weeks (5 months almost). Im getting really upset about her behaviour at home, and she even reduced me to tears the other evening:-(

Just a bit of info on her routine, the other half takes her out for 20-25 mins run to the field around 8-8.30am. She has fetch games with her Kong squeaker which she LOVES, and home again. Then another walk with me, very similar to morning walk, maybe 30 mins max. Again off lead and fetch games. And then last one round the block at 10pm for around 15 mins round the roads. She is fed Fish4dogs Superior Puppy at mo, mixed with raw egg/nature diet/raw mince, and is soaked. She has this twice a day (she dropped lunchtime feed herself as she just wouldn't touch it).

She has time in and out of her crate in the day, and has run of hallway and kitchen when my 2 year old twins are home from childcare. I am in majority of the time, as I work from home, but pop in and out for errands etc here and there. I do bite size training sessions with her in the day. She is sitting, down, stay, leave etc etc. All very good. I would just also like to add she is an ANGEL out on walks. The training is really paying off and she is a pleasure to take out.

The problem is, at home, she has reverted to constant nipping of feet and ankles, particularly my 7 year old. She is relentless with him at the moment. When we ignore her, be stern, give her time out, it works for a few minutes, then back to the same. She growls and grumbles at me when I tell her off, barks at us constantly when we are sat down in the front room, tries to bite our feet whilst we are on the sofa, and getting cross with her just makes her worse, but time out isn't working either. My son is being very good 'yelping' and turning away when she goes for his feet, but this just makes her more excitable! She is waking the girls up now with her constant barking when she is in the front room with us. Also, she keeps chasing her tail lately, which i try and distract her from, but again, only works for a bit. Im at a loss!! She is very much loved here, and has lots of attention. What can I do that I'm not already doing??? Help!!!!!

A very frustrated, Katey x

Awww Katey  

They can be so frustrating but it sounds like you doing all the right things so I would just keep at it, patience and consistency! She is approaching the teen years so will be pushing boundaries

All the barking and biting of your feet sounds like attention seeking by her. The tail chasing should be discouraged, distract her with a toy if you can as this can lead to other more serious behavioural problems later in life for her.

Has she started teething yet ? does she have some chew toys or a stag bar, this may help to rid the frustration for her.

Just keep up what your do katey she'll get there and your not on your own I remember crying too

I've cried in frustration many times with Bruno who is the same age. He is starting to push his luck too sometimes which can be annoying especially when you know you've done everything right. Keep at it and it'll get better!

Thank you girls for your support. I guess I just need to know this is all pretty normal behaviour! I can see how brilliant she is going to be when she matures. She has such a lovely nature in many ways.

Kathy, she has rope chew toys, a stag bar, a nylabone (she's not keen on this, fussy madam lol). So a good selection really.

Also, she has the occasional pig ear strip. Are these ok??

I avoid pigs ears because they're very fatty.

I can tell Bruno is going to be lovely too but we just have to get past the puppy stages! It'll get worse before it gets better because soon they'll be teenagers but we'll come out the other side with lovely well balanced happy dogs and life will be good again!

I hope!

Rosie3 wrote:I've cried in frustration many times with Bruno who is the same age. He is starting to push his luck too sometimes which can be annoying especially when you know you've done everything right. Keep at it and it'll get better!

Thanks Rosie! It's such hard work at the moment. Thank god for places like this where we can come for some support! Really need a group hug at the. Moment
My other half is always working, so the pressure is on me. But then again, she's my dog, so I get the say in having the most cuddles lol!

Rosie3 wrote:I avoid pigs ears because they're very fatty.

I can tell Bruno is going to be lovely too but we just have to get past the puppy stages! It'll get worse before it gets better because soon they'll be teenagers but we'll come out the other side with lovely well balanced happy dogs and life will be good again!

I hope!

Ok, thanks for the advice. God WORSE! Lol!!

Jasminesmum wrote:

Rosie3 wrote:I've cried in frustration many times with Bruno who is the same age. He is starting to push his luck too sometimes which can be annoying especially when you know you've done everything right. Keep at it and it'll get better!

Thanks Rosie! It's such hard work at the moment. Thank god for places like this where we can come for some support! Really need a group hug at the. Moment
My other half is always working, so the pressure is on me. But then again, she's my dog, so I get the say in having the most cuddles lol!

My OH works 9-6 too so I'm with Bru all day too. Sounds like we're in a similar situation but I don't have kids! OH doesn't quite understand how frustrating it can be and how much hard work it is too. I think he thinks I sit and play and cuddle the dog all day... As if!

I'm sending big hugs! We'll get through it together, you can always come and rant on here. Trust me I get it!

My sister was telling me about one of her friends who had a newborn when she lived in a block of flats, and a woman in the next block over had a newborn as well. She used to look out the window and see the lights on in the other lady's flat at 3am and feel comforted that she wasn't the only person going through it. Turns out the other lady would do the exact same, and they'd even leave their lights on for each other even if they were asleep so the other wouldn't feel alone.

I'm your 3am light in the next block of flats! And always here to listen to a rant and understand what you're feeling.

Awwwww Rosie, thank you. That means an awful lot. I would send a hug smiley, but i have an apple and they don't work on here for some reason!

Puppies are nearly as difficult as children anyway. The only blessing with dogs is it doesn't last as long! x