[Stephanieee<3]

Hello. My name is Stephanie, and I have a golden English Lab named Cooper. Hes 7 monthes old and 50lbs He has several problems. The first, He enjoys to rip up the screen, but we dont see him doing it so we cant say NO! then and , there. Second He digs. and digs, and digs. Thrid, He jumps on you but not so much in the day, but in the night. (Which is REALLY bad when its jsut rained.) Fourth, we have another smaller Shih Tzu thats 4 years old and named Leo. Hes 18lbs. Now, Leo barks and barks and barks at Cooper, but Cooper just wants to play with him. So then Cooper puts his paws in the air and hits Leo. Its like he's punching him in the face. And it makes Leo SOOO mad. How can I make all of this S-T-O-P? My mom is considering getting rid of him. I dont want to lose him.

Thanks for ANY help.

<3

[ValRock]

Sounds like they both need training... I took my dog to a puppy class held at petsmart when he was small and he's had no problems... maybe look into something like that?

[techwife]

Stephanie...I got a puppy last year, too. Mine is an old english sheepdog and he's HUGE. He used to dig and dig and dig and would run full-steam ahead at me to lick my face...which is totally uncool in bathing suit and shorts season ... He was a real pain. BUT, things have changed due to two things...

1: He got older...and heavier...and now that he's 1 1/2 years old, he's not quite as bouncy as he was. Puppies are very mischeivous and a royal pain...when they're not being impossibly cute...which is good for them they have cute moments because no owner would keep them if they weren't cute.

2: I got one of those mean looking prong collars and use it only for taking walks. I tell you, I would take Junior for a walk and if he saw another dog, that was IT. He literally would drag me down the road in my sandals and I looked like I was water skiing. Very embarassing down right dangerous if the other dog attacked!! So, I took him to a trainer for a one-day lesson on how to walk him properly and use the prong collar properly. One of the main reason dogs dig and do bad puppy things is because they are bored. So, walking serves two purposes...it wears them out so they'll take more naps when outside and, even more importantly, it gives you as his owner, or big sister, to teach him who's boss. Dogs are all about obeying the 'top dog' in the house and once they get passed that annoying, out of control puppy stage, they'll naturally want to please you. So, consider taking him to an obedience class or two....learn how to properly use a prong collar (more on that below) and take him for lots of long walks whenever possible. When he gets home, he'll be too tired to dig holes. And when he gets bigger and heavier, he'll be too big to jump on you and tear holes in your clothes. And, if when you take him for walks, you give the prong collar a little tug, it will teach him not to be wild and he'll learn that you are higher on the alpha dog chain than he is and this will help him to listen to you when you yell at him when you see him digging or doing other bad puppy things.

Regarding the prong collar...this thing looks totally horrible...almost cruel...BUT...I'm here to tell you it doesn't hurt them and if it's uncomfortable, it's only because they are pulling too hard or trying to be bad and they'll learn that they have to maintain control of themselves if they don't want that uncomfortable feeling. MANY people have opposing opinions on prong collars, but I feel its better than him tangling with another dog or dragging me into the street in oncoming traffic, AND he gets many more walks with the prong collar...I fully resigned from ever walking him again until I got it. Walking him was totally impossible and way more hassle than it's worth. And jsut so you know, the prongs are totally dull on the ends...I used to think (when I saw other people using them) that they were sharp, but they're about as blunt as the clicker part of a retractable pen...maybe a little smaller. But, they really don't hurt them, what they do is similate another dog's mouth and in pack mentality, this would symbolize the alpha dog in the pack putting him in his place. Does that make sense?

Anyhow...I'm really, really tired and have to go to bed now. Speaking of bed...have you thought of sequestering him to his own room? LIke a back porch or the kitchen? This would keep him from pouncing on you in the night. And would give your other dog a bit of privacy.

I'm rambling...good luck.

[alinnell]

I am assuming that the lab digs and claws at the screen when you are not around. Try kennel training him. Dogs naturally want to be in an enclosed space when they are upset. It is not mean to do this. Dogs will not spoil (pee or poop) in their "home" so you can leave them there for a few hours without trouble. Labs are high energy dogs (I have 2!). Once you let them out from the kennel, let them outside and then play with them for 20-30 minutes. Most love playing catch with tennis balls. They need the exercise (and so do we, that's why we're here!!!). Your puppy should be old enough to stay in a kennel for 4-6 hours (or more) without trouble. Mine loves his kennel (the other came to us as an older dog and was never kennel trained, so we didn't start with him). He sleeps in his (door open) every night and will go in there willingly during the day because he feels safe and secure there. He's 18 months now, and rarely gives us problems. You need to get him disciplined and kennel training is a great start.

[alinnell]

I agree totally with the prong collar!!!! Big dogs do not understand how powerful they are. Try the prong collar on yourself--you'll see that it pinches but does not dig into the skin. It is very humane!!

[techwife]

I remember I had to leave a big ole pile of poo (I ALWAYS clean my dog's poo) right in the middle of the road because a neighbor dog started barking right after Junior left it and started barking and bouncing and carrying on. I started crying and left it there because here I was with my plastic bag trying like crazy to control him pick it up at the same time. It was insane! Now, I walk him down the road and he walks right beside me and when he sees a dog, it may be barking and being obnoxious and he's just trotting along with his ears back as if he's saying, "not looking, not looking, not looking" and give little squeaks because he wants to respond to them soooo bad...but he knows that if he even looks their way, he'll get a little tug at the collar from mom and he'd rather not go there. And I have him trained that if he even hears a car coming, he stops in his tracks and sits like a good boy. Prong collars are a miracle. I think they get a bad name from people that abuse them and leave them on them all the time, but my dog has his regular leather collar that has his rabies tag and name tag and then I put the collar on right before we leave (once I get him to sit still long enough to put it on...he gets so excited when he sees it because he LOVES walks and he has a hard time containing his excitement. As he sits there while I hook him up, he actually quivers!) and then it comes right off when we get back in the house. He's turned from a nightmare to a great dog to go for walks with!

[Daisy Boo]

labs are just big kids and they will always be a little goofy and over the top. i think cooper is just being a puppy. a rule of thumb is that a dog will continue to be considered adolescent until 2 years of age. his personality will change many times during that period too.

if cooper has come into leo's territory without gradual introduction, leo may well feel threatened, hence the barking. it sounds like cooper just wants to play.

Ensure that cooper gets plenty of exercise - labs need exercise and they are prone to weight gain so it is even more important. also give him toys and bones to chew on while you aren't there to keep him occupied. the exercise and the toys/bones may help curb the destruction a little.

take him to puppy preschool and start teaching him discipline. it will challenge him and you will get some authority over him too.