Us again

Hi folks, haven't managed on in a few days. Really busy and been unwell but just a wee catch up on our nico. He's doing okay! The messing in the house has all but stopped, much better on the lead, no more chewing! However still mouthing and when we tell him off ( for anything) he barks at us and tries to jump on us. We generally put him back on the floor and try and ignore him until he is behaving then give praise and attention but sometimes he's having to get time outs coz he just can't seem to calm himself down. I don't want to be using time outs as regularly as we have been ( well last night anyway) any ideas on how to calm him down without him interpreting it as play?

I hope you're feeling better now Kellie! Good to hear that you are finding Nico easier to handle.

He's still only young (think 15 year-old teenage human boy for comparison!  ) so do expect some excited behaviour now and again! He'll just have so much energy and doesn't know how to cope with it all.

At Nico's age he can probably handle all the exercise you can give him,
but if he is getting enough exercise morning noon and night, and still barks and jumps up (particularly in the evenings, as I have found with Kuchar) then it may be he just needs a little extra, particularly in the form of one-to-one interaction which doesn't always happen in outdoor walks. Playing tugger with a rope, chucking balls or empty plastic bottles around (with encouraging noises) all help him to get rid of that last little annoying bit of energy before bedtime, and also reinforce the "you're my best friend and I am yours" feeling between you.

Lynda has it spot on. Great advice.

Hope you're feeling better?

Think you have hit the nail on the head, although he's getting loads of running around time every day and his training / mental stimulation with toys etc when he's out for his walks we aren't  just playing with him, he probably thinks indoors is the place to play with us........... Oh god, how obvious  thanks Lynda x