Springer Pup Turned Rebel...

[04fox8 168]

These last few weeks my pup, 6 months old has turned to rat sh*t!

She was very good, walking along side us, came back when you whistled, just what she'd heard when going to feed her, throw a sock or a tennis ball, straight back, no worries.

These last few weeks, she's been ignoring EVERYTHING, runs the opposite way, just about the opposite of everything you ask her to do.

 

What's happened these last few weeks?

 

1 night last week, no problems, everything perfect. Today, I might have well been trying to get a goldfish to perform....

 

Nothing has changed (that I know of), so what's going on?

 

Cheers.

[BIGLURKS 874]

Some thing has changed you can't see it but you've writing it down its 6 month old

[slipper 116]

Same here glad its not just me my springer bitch was like that I was really worried but she is slowly starting to listen now at 9 months but still having off days where she will not listen so I have taken the advice I was given off here and have put her on a long lead untill recall is 100 percent, because I cant move on with the retrieving untill then

[DAVE P 100]

sounds like too much too young to me mate.

[04fox8 168]

Thanks folks,

I have been very conscious of trying not to do too much too young, but perhaps I have.

Maybe I am just expecting too much from her. She has been very good 'naturally' without any formal training as such, but now, just as we are about to start picking up the pace a bit, she has started to play up.

Really don't want to create any problems, as it'll be enough work training her without that!

 

Might just be down to her age or expecting / trying too much.

[the scudd 82]

let your pup have its puppyhood

[04fox8 168]

Will do.

I thought I had. Never 'trained' her yet, just the 'structured play'.

 

Sure she'll turn out fine (Hope so anyway), I was just curious why things had changed basically overnight.

 

Cheers.

[Mochastorm 68]

This is so familiar to me. I had a completely devoted ESS puppy, she fixed her gaze on me, and complied to all the simple commands. At six months old exactly it was as if she had a switch flicked. She became more wilful and would not always do as she was told. I have her at gundog classes, and was advised to be harder on her. I reinforced the commands and didn't give her an inch. When I sit and leave her, if she moves even a short distance, straight back to her reinforce the command and keep going until she complies. She is an outgoing bitch so being a bit tougher seems to be working. A more sensitive dog may not respond the same way. She's now 9 months old, very driven and dummy mad. I stay on top of her at all times and do some training every day. Nobody said it would be easy and I'm quite enjoying the challenge. Stick with it, it wil be worth it in the end.

[stroller 341]

could she be coming into season?

[bird 9,873]

could she be coming into season?

 

or her hormone's are kicking in (teenage ) thing smaller dogs start early as to bigger dogs, just keep on training her with few deep breaths .lol

[04fox8 168]

The coming into season option was mentioned by a friend, but I thought she was too young, but maybe no.

Had thought on the 'teenage' thing, but again, thought it was a little early.

 

We'll persevere as we are and see how it pans out.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

[Casso 1,261]

It's the same as the young from any animal species, dogs are no different in fact they are worse, they have a higher prey making drive than most

Drive is, when you break it down to its lowest point an Attraction, an emotional Attraction to whatever elements in its environment that fulfils its breed specific niche,

The higher the temperament(heart) the greater the drive to make contact,

 

All young are food driven until a certain point in there lives, it fills that emotional void but after that point every dog has a longing for a greater physical connection.

 

On a primary level there is little difference between Drive, prey making and sexuality they are all encompassed under the same heading which is also why old time dog trainers let a pup be a pup and knew that that the onset of sexuality in a pup brought a new found interest and a keener focus,

 

They didn't get hung up on training pups straight out of the crib , they're agenda was to Manage it , no commands no discipline no corrections just manage it and make sure it couldn't put itself into situations it is not emotionally ready for yet,

 

What you have is a pup with a new driven mindset, it's at a point where dog knowledge is needed from you , up until this point a pup will jump threw hoops for a crust of bread, may not recall now for a steak dinner,

Make your space accessible to the pup , no corrections for jumping up or similar, make your time together interesting ,long walks less instruction , let her form a group mind with you, been out together brings flow in the pups mind , flow brings connection , best of luck

[bell 3,598]

Wise words Grashopper

[04fox8 168]

Thanks folks,

Some food for thought there...

 

Cheers.