Out Of Control Puppy

[GootySapphire]

I have about had it up to my tip top guys...I have tried so many things with my Great Dane Thor to get him to listen but he is just SOOOOOOOOOOO stubborn. I am seriously in the mood to explode right now. I tell him sit, he sits for about 12 seconds...then hes back moving around...Lay down...10 seconds and hes back moving around. He gets into the garbage...when I or my girlfriend are in the kitchen we tell the dogs out...and they just sit there and stare at us right outside the kitchen and dont do anything...like uh PLAY like most dogs do. He had been peeing on our couch several times..until we got this plastic thing you put on your carpet but the underside has sharp plastic spikes on it...so we put it on the couch spikes facing up...doesnt get on the couch anymore. He peed on our bed when we werent in the bedroom and the door was open last weekend AND the weekend before. Tonight after we watched a movie, he jumped up on the couch and it made me so mad i yelled GET DOWN....GET DOWN...still nothing.... I SAID GET DOWN THOR...then he runs and pees all over the carpet cuz he got nervous...and just pees all over the place...I am at the point where I feel like givin up...nothing I have done...works. He is 8 months old. Can ANYONE help me...please I love him a lot and dont ever want to get rid of him, but I want him to behave and act like a normal dog...he needs to learn to play and not follow me everywhere I go...please anyone.:wall: :evil:

 

[Varden]

Take him to a class for training dogs. Not only will it teach him to behave, but it will teach YOU how to train him so he'll pay attention to you. Petsmart has a training program that might help. Or you can look it up in the phone book.

 

[Kasha]

Training is a good idea.

The peeing thing..I had the same problem with my big boy. The vet told me that with big dogs, their little bodies grow so fast and sometimes their bladders don't grow quite as fast.
It took me about a year to completely potty train Koa (Rott/Koonhound who is 135lbs) My other dog trained after 4 months of age. Not Koa though. He would pee if he got nervous, excited, or if he put pressure on his bladder. One time he was trying to climb on the bed and had his front legs on it and was leaning into it and I hear this water noise and about the same moment his eyes got really big. Poor guy he had no clue he had to pee until that moment.
It was hard not to strangle him. I thought for sure he would never housetrain, but he finally got it. At 2, he still has the occasional accident but I think that is more that he forgets he has to go when he is outside.
Another thing, when they do something like get on the couch you can squirt them with water. They really dislike that. Pretty soon all you have to do is shake the water bottle and they listen.
Good luck Gooty, and just breathe babe...he will grow up soon enough.

 

[Vys]

Regarding training, good luck :/ Eventually, things will change.

As for not following you around and playing on its own; from what I've seen that's easier if they have someone else to play with, like a cat, or an Odin..

 

[ErikH]

Sounds to me like he's bored. Definitely go for the obedience classes, and I would also recomend a long walk once per day if you can manage it, to tire him out some.

 

[becca81]

I did obedience instruction for PetSmart for a few years back in early college. I do recommend finding him a program like that. They have puppy classes for any dog under 1year that are relatively cheap.

I tell him sit, he sits for about 12 seconds...then hes back moving around

Heh, you told him to sit. He sat. You didn't tell him to stay.

...Lay down...10 seconds and hes back moving around.

Again, he did what you told him to do. He layed down. If you've trained him to lay down, you also have to train him to stay, which can often take a lot longer. The command should be first sit or lay, then "stay."

 

[Varden]

Again, he did what you told him to do. He layed down. If you've trained him to lay down, you also have to train him to stay, which can often take a lot longer. The command should be first sit or lay, then "stay."

And you can't expect an 8 month old puppy to be able to sit and stay for long periods of time. You may be tired, but he's a puppy. That's like telling a human 2-year old to sit and stay. See how long they can hold themselves immobile.

 

[mindlessvw]

I always follow the policy that puppies are like children. Can you tell a three year old to sit and stay for an extended period of time and expect them to stay...HECK NO! Patience is the only way to get through all this...and i do second the training. Also, try running him around. Like a dog park or something. Burn off some of that energy

 

[GailC]

He needs lots and lots of exercise. A breed like a great dane has alot of energy and if they don't have an outlet for it they will be naughy. Do you have the discovery channel? if so then watch the dog whisper, it will help you to train him.

 

[GootySapphire]

Take him to a class for training dogs. Not only will it teach him to behave, but it will teach YOU how to train him so he'll pay attention to you. Petsmart has a training program that might help. Or you can look it up in the phone book.

Yeah I just bookmarked a place near by that does training...6 weeks 1 hour a day on Saturdays for 90 bucks. They train on all sorts of aspects..they have video clips of some of the dogs who went through there and its pretty good.

 

[GootySapphire]

Training is a good idea.

The peeing thing..I had the same problem with my big boy. The vet told me that with big dogs, their little bodies grow so fast and sometimes their bladders don't grow quite as fast.
It took me about a year to completely potty train Koa (Rott/Koonhound who is 135lbs) My other dog trained after 4 months of age. Not Koa though. He would pee if he got nervous, excited, or if he put pressure on his bladder. One time he was trying to climb on the bed and had his front legs on it and was leaning into it and I hear this water noise and about the same moment his eyes got really big. Poor guy he had no clue he had to pee until that moment.
It was hard not to strangle him. I thought for sure he would never housetrain, but he finally got it. At 2, he still has the occasional accident but I think that is more that he forgets he has to go when he is outside.
Another thing, when they do something like get on the couch you can squirt them with water. They really dislike that. Pretty soon all you have to do is shake the water bottle and they listen.
Good luck Gooty, and just breathe babe...he will grow up soon enough.

Yeah see Thor is the same way with the nervous peeing thing. My parents have a Boston Terrier who Thor adores and when we go to see them, i tell my parents to meet us OUTside the house first..and sure enough when he sees my parents and lucy he starts peeing haha. It seems like the only two places he like to pee are the bed and the couch....other than that its excited or nervous pees. He is neutered by the way. I know big dogs take a lot longer to mature...just wasnt sure if at 8 months he should still be this out of control. Ive dont the water bottle thing...but that does nothing for him, it becomes a game for him after a while. Le sigh. Hehe. I hope training will help this big lug.

 

[GootySapphire]

Regarding training, good luck :/ Eventually, things will change.

As for not following you around and playing on its own; from what I've seen that's easier if they have someone else to play with, like a cat, or an Odin..

We have a cat, and a miniature chihuahua for him to play with...they are more interested in following our every foot step.

 

[GootySapphire]

Sounds to me like he's bored. Definitely go for the obedience classes, and I would also recomend a long walk once per day if you can manage it, to tire him out some.

Yeah I havent been taking him for walks as much as I should do to work. Which is no excuse, I need to get back on the saddle and take him out every day.

 

[GootySapphire]

I did obedience instruction for PetSmart for a few years back in early college. I do recommend finding him a program like that. They have puppy classes for any dog under 1year that are relatively cheap.



Heh, you told him to sit. He sat. You didn't tell him to stay.


Again, he did what you told him to do. He layed down. If you've trained him to lay down, you also have to train him to stay, which can often take a lot longer. The command should be first sit or lay, then "stay."

No...I told him to stay after both commands...but yes he is a puppy which doesnt help. I just wish hed be a little bit more of a listener.

 

[GootySapphire]

And you can't expect an 8 month old puppy to be able to sit and stay for long periods of time. You may be tired, but he's a puppy. That's like telling a human 2-year old to sit and stay. See how long they can hold themselves immobile.

I see lots of young puppies who obey their masters commands as far as sit and stay or lay down and stay...

 

[GootySapphire]

He needs lots and lots of exercise. A breed like a great dane has alot of energy and if they don't have an outlet for it they will be naughy. Do you have the discovery channel? if so then watch the dog whisper, it will help you to train him.

I dont believe in the dog whisperer :/

 

[GootySapphire]

Another thing he does I forgot to mention...is if he gets put in the kennel for being bad on a time out..he whines SO LOUD and non stop its ridiculous. I know youre supposed to ignore it, and not let them out til they stop whining because then they learn that you will give in every time they whine. But man its ridiculous lol.

 

[mindlessvw]

i am sure he does wine...i see children throw the biggest fits when put in time out. And the dog whisperer may be a total moron on some things but he really does know his dogs...several ideas i have gotten from him have worked wonders...one reoccuring theme is exercise...its really just a matter of being able to put forth the time, energy, and effort for not only a puppy but a great dane puppy. They require alot...needless to say...

 

[Socrates]

Jon,

Sure he'll whine and cry and whimper when you put him in time out. Do you know of any 3 year olds that are being punished and remain quiet?

He's a BIG baby. Please don't let his jumbo size fool you. He's a puppy - and will remain as such for a while longer.

Puppy Kindergarten is your best bet right now. Thor will probably thrive in the company of many other dogs and being asked to do certain things. Danes thrive to please their owners, but you have to work with them. They're quite head strong, and will quickly know what they can and cannot get away with.

About him peeing on your bed is mind-boggling to me though. I have no clue why he'd prefer to pee on an upright object when it would be much easier to let it all out on the floor/carpet. Is he possibly trying to "punish" you for something?

Dogs are so much smarter than we give them credit for, and it wouldn't surprise me if Thor wasn't trying to get "even" with you for something. Oh, and about him wetting all over the place when he feels he's being reprimanded. If you scold him while he's doing that, it'll only make things worse. He can't help it. He's showing submission in the worse sense by wetting "himself" - literally.

I wish you the best of luck with him - patience, love, guidance and proper training will pay off.

---
Wendy
---

 

[bonesmama]

You mentioned you haven't been walking him because you don't have the time-- how much time do you spend on training every day? Because if you're cutting his time down, it''s gonna take longer for him to learn- and that's not his fault! Also, how often do you let him out to pee? I've housebroken puppies in no time by taking close notice of things like when they drink, and let them out to pee after a while- also, if someone's coming over, I let the pup out right before the company is due to arrive, and it usually stops the excitement pee from happening in the house. Taking him to class is probably your best bet- good training for both of you! Good luck with him!