Young Newf Troubles

[brutuswalk]

Hello Newfie Friends out there is cyberland. I am hoping that some of you can help me. I have a six month old Newfie. He is very intelligent. I think he loves us very much. I know I love him very much. But we seem to be coming to logger heads. He is in obedience classes but has some unusual, for me, characteristics. He will back up, bark at me, and jump forward as if in attack. Then he doesn't want you to get a hold of him. He runs away. He is also very mouthy which we have been trying to deal with under the advice of our trainer who said to put him in his crate when he does that. We also try to play with him in the backyard but he seems to want to run around, jump up on us and get a mouthful of our clothing and rip it up. I am at my wits end myself. I need to know if this is normal for an adolescent Newfie as my half newfie Brutus never displayed one ounce of dominance or aggression. I got him when he was a year or so old and he had been dropped off at the local dog pound. He was a real angle and I must admit I was not at all ready for the behavior I am getting out of my puppy. Please could someone let me know if this is normal male puppy stuff and if he will outgrow it? Should I sign him up for obedience boot camp? I don't seem to be making much of a mark on his bad behavior with the techniques I'm using and I've read at least five dog training books so far. So confusing!!! Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

I think it is normal, I had my issues with Snuffles at a young age and probably till he was 3 to 4 off and on.
http://www.newf.net/Forums/showthread.php?t=48980

This one response worked good for me, though I only shot it in his mouth.
http://www.newf.net/Forums/showpost.php?p=153326&postcount=8

 

[wrknnwf]

Unfortunately it's perfectly normal for either gender at this age. Some of it will pass, but that's not a good reason not to work on it right away.

There are tons of threads here on Newfies biting, body slamming and roughhousing, so give it a search (search function is on banner above).

I DO NOT recommend boot camp. Especially for a pup. You can fix this if you're consistent.

We probably ought to have some stickies on this problem since it's often the first post that newcomers make.

 

[R Taft]

There is lots of repeat info I posted quite a few lengthy ones myself........All I will tell you in a short version....keep up the training, sometimes you need to find a different trainer. i never really think it is dominace and aggression, just inappropriate behaviour. They need to know what is allowed and what we accept. And thirdly i get the bad ones at home from Rescue and they can be helped with lots of positive reinforcement training.....I also use the Jan Fennel and Tony Knight (google) way of managing dogs it is kind, but firm. More a ignore the bad and give good leadership. Work with my pack of three Rescues and two dogs from pup. See if you can find some of the old posts, or come on again and we may have to repost

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Normal, very normal! Keep on with your basics and play with him. They are not young forever and time flies to fast, so don't get frustrated find games and fun that works best.

p.s. It's not aggression, it's being a teenager! They love to work, and they are sponges, use that to your advantage and teach tricks and make them work, like taking out the trash, getting the mail. A tired newf is a happy newf p.s.s I always played hide and seek in the yard, they loved that game.

 

[shellyk]

Now, I'm worried! Is a six month old considered an adolescent or teenager? I thought our 23 month old rescue was a teenager and would grow out of some of his more obnoxious behaviors. This guy is a barker. He barks at our other dogs when he is excited and wants them to run so he can chase them. I got Turid Rugass's book Barking and it has helped me to identify the different types of barking and she is very clear about what NOT to do. I have been back over it a couple of times and what TO DO is less clear to me.

 

[R Taft]

It is because like some people some dogs are more expressive......Harry is also a barker. it has got less since i found out the causes and instead of telling him off, I go outside to look and i just say "thank you" calmly or if it is in play, I remove myself and the other dogs and leave him on his own. When he goes quiet we come out again..it does help if your other dogs listen well. His barking has reduced a lot and now when he barks it seems to be for a specific reason. be it stranger danger or I want in or out. The worst thing you can do is become reactive (angry/Yelling) as that adds exitement..so we check if there is a reason, ignore if there is not anything to see, after looking and showing him we are OK with whatever. And in play we remove ourselves quietly and leave him alone..Especially the play one has lessened, because he hates being left by himself and it was not rewarding anymore....barking can give of an adreanline rush and thus be self rewarding...Intitially he barked more at us leaving, but it was ignored and as soon as he stopped we all came back.....Again this can be done a few times (sometimes lots of times) in a row. My Katy helps a lot....she hated the up and down and in and out. So when he barked she told him off in her language LOL, so that was quite cool to watch.....Now she just stares at him...... If he has his worried bark, I will Yawn and lick lips at him and say "it's all OK" it often slows his worry down..harry has a huge amount of worry and fear and that is why we need to know why they are barking. You cannot negative punishe (removing yourself) or positive punish (should not anyway) for fear........Hence we only remove ourselves when he is play barking, for fear we support....Reading Turid's other info you will "get" this and it works, just never overnight. More like a few months to a year LOL

 

[shellyk]

Ronnie,

Thanks for your input. We will definitely try some of your tips and some more Turid books. I need to find the one that might deal with excessive licking. That is one of his other behaviors that we need to work on. He doesn't lick himself. He licks us. Sometimes it's hard to get dressed in the morning. I have even caught him licking our other Newf and the cat but they don't seem to mind.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Sorry, I didn't read how old and that's not what I consider teenager, but nevertheless still a stage that that pup is going threw. Have you tried to teach whisper or inside voice? Zeke was horrible with barking and spitting in my face that's why I taught him to whisper, it's come in handy in many situations.

 

[lmfoltyn]

Normal behavior...just not acceptable behavior...I think we have all gone through it...and remember newfies aren't mature until the age of 3...we noticed a HUGE difference in Jake at the age of 3...night and day...

 

[Puppypeoplenj]

Normal behavior...just not acceptable behavior...I think we have all gone through it...and remember newfies aren't mature until the age of 3...we noticed a HUGE difference in Jake at the age of 3...night and day...

3? You mean 2 right? Right?! I'm definitely looking forward to maturity and calmness with my 18 month old. His night-time zoomies have transformed into night-time naughtiness and it's rough.

 

[lmfoltyn]

3? You mean 2 right? Right?! I'm definitely looking forward to maturity and calmness with my 18 month old. His night-time zoomies have transformed into night-time naughtiness and it's rough.

No, I meant 3! LOL...Jake was CRAZY...zoomies were just nuts...inside and out...he knocked me down once in the back yard and I thought I would have to lay there all day before I could get up...so yes, maybe other newfs are totally mature at 2 which I doubt but it took Jake till he was 3!

 

[wrknnwf]

No, I meant 3! LOL...Jake was CRAZY...zoomies were just nuts...inside and out...he knocked me down once in the back yard and I thought I would have to lay there all day before I could get up...so yes, maybe other newfs are totally mature at 2 which I doubt but it took Jake till he was 3!

Actually, I would have said 4, but definitely after 3.

Don't worry, though. It's all worth it and you will forget all about those horrid early years, just about the time you decide to get another puppy. Has happened to the all of us.

 

[brutuswalk]

Thank you for all the help with my baby boy. It has surely lightened the mood around the house to know that it is normal behavior and not something he's doing. Training and patience I think may be the answer here. He is awfully hardheaded though. He is so precious most of the time though. So cute!!!!