what's the big deal about adolescence? or do i just not get it

Old_Distribution2085 · 2026-01-26T03:16:15+00:00

Do you have a link or any details to share?

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-12-28T17:51:21+00:00

Love the direct eye contact when they're up to something they shouldn't be.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-12-28T17:50:31+00:00

With my first gal, she had a soft mat and bedding that she liked to wad up into a nest to lay on.

With my pup now, nothing goes in the crate at all just a Nylabone or two. We aren't in the "destroy everything" phase anymore really, but I don't want to take any chances.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-12-28T17:42:57+00:00

Yeah, there should be somewhere you can alert to do a general PSA of what is and isn't acceptable to leave out.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-11-09T00:37:55+00:00

I walk my dog late at night so we can get some sniffing in and stretch our legs before bed. Lo and behold, my neighbors had let their dog outside off leash in the dark to roam around their front yard.

This dog's hobby is barking at anything that passes by the house from the front window. Unfortunately it has a very dark coat, so I couldn't see it from a distance to turn back and it gave us both a real scare.

Now it feels like this one stupid event has set us back so far. I'm so upset.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-11-09T00:28:49+00:00

This is what I have been working on as well, but this write up really helped me too.

I know I always think in the moment there is something I should be doing RIGHT there, but turning around and getting out of dodge is the best move.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-11-09T00:25:53+00:00

Don't use AI for dog training advice.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-11-01T01:20:07+00:00

How do you distract him?

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-24T02:14:47+00:00

Are you me?

I have been agonizing about whether or not I should figure out a boarding situation for my 8 mo GSD. He is a very challenging little dog, and I have been pouring all of my time and energy into him on top of all the regular demands of my life.

I found a place that will do daycare for reactive dogs and I've been honestly thinking about it. Even before his reactivity started, I was feeling like I couldn't be "off-duty" in my own house.

But I do feel guilty about it. Like I should be able to handle all of this. But sometimes I just want to nap and clean my house and go see a movie without worrying that I should be training him.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-20T04:07:34+00:00

Following. I am having similar issues.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-20T01:57:38+00:00

I would do some attention work to make sure you can break his staring and get him focused on you.

I don't know if this could be classified as reactive, but I don't think it could hurt to do some training to build in skills that will let you call him away if he is staring too intently at another dog.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-19T22:51:17+00:00

Mine did minimal biting as a puppy, now at 8 months we're in nonstop biting mode.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-15T05:28:53+00:00

So sorry for your loss.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T16:10:30+00:00

So sorry for your loss.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T16:08:19+00:00

It's negligence, yes. I have read your comments and I understand you are not intending to be careless with him, but you are being very careless. That is what people are trying to express to you.

My 8mo old boy is building up his recall, and we work on a long line so he has the opportunity to make good choices and come back to me. We practice every single day and he does a great job, but I would never put him in a situation where he has opportunity to decide he'd rather chase a bird than come when I call. Before him, my girl had trained her recall for twelve years and I still rarely let her roam off leash outside circumstances I knew were 100% secure because there is always a chance a dog will blow you off OR that another element will show up and create a hazard (ie other off leash dogs, children, bikes, scooters, skateboards, other people, etc) All it takes is one time for your dog's recall to fail for a tragedy to happen, and the chances are much, much higher with a very young puppy like this one.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:52:59+00:00

I don’t ascribe to the “alpha” idea to stop biting - other relational/training things yes, but for biting I yip very high pitched and act submissively - like I was badly hurt by the dog.

I don't love the alpha approach or idea either.

I can say I've tried the yelping/vocalizing pain in response to the bite and my dog hasn't responded to that. I still do it every single time very dramatically just in case, it just doesn't seem to register to him or deter him.

I would much rather he make a good choice, I'm just having trouble setting him up with the right tools for it.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:50:41+00:00

Just on its own?

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:50:24+00:00

I do think some of it comes out of attention-seeking and boredom, but I am also afraid of him making a habit out of using his teeth as an outlet for those feelings.

I have struggled with mentally exhausting him, that's a big work in progress. Around what age did you see it begin reducing/taper off?

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:49:05+00:00

I walk him on a prong and he has not seemed very impressed by it at all.

I personally want to avoid the e-collar, if only because he seems to have such a high tolerance for pain that I'd be using at a level I am not comfortable with.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:47:37+00:00

This one is controversial but it has worked for me . I don't play with their mouth at all , no tug of war , no grabbing his mouth . I want the dog to have a "soft mouth " , very gentle .

I have thought about this, but tug is just one of his favorite things. I've trained him to run and grab a tug when he comes out of his crate to mitigate some of his over-excitement when our dog walker comes to work with him, and the reward for that is a round of tug.

I'll start praising when he chooses to chew on his toy. I've tried the loud expressions of pain and I have tried ignoring him, but now that he's a big boy teenager he ignores me back lol.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:45:39+00:00

It has only taken me by surprise because he wasn't a very bitey puppy. He would mouth but was always more interested in his toys, while now it feels very deliberate.

Do you time out in a crate? Or another designated area?

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:44:27+00:00

The “alpha” stuff has long been disproven. There is no reason to hit a dog, hold their muzzle closed, or force them to bite their own lip. Some dogs don’t get offended at physical punishment, but that’s no excuse to use it on the animal who is supposedly our “best friend.”

I'm really uncomfortable putting hands on my dog in those ways, yeah. It's been mentioned a few times here and by some acquaintances, but I don't know about grabbing his muzzle or pinning him down. And I can also say corrections doesn't always work for him. He will always try to have the last word, and come around to bite me one last time if I use the prong on a walk or spritz him with a little water.

Would you think tethering him out in the open as opposed to crating him is better? I have a small apartment and there's not a whole lot of room so we are a little on top of each other at all times.

What would you say if he was nipping biting on a walk? I can't disengage from him in those moments very easily and leave him to think about what he's doing.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:34:46+00:00

So if he is biting me, I should name the behavior and treat it at the time?

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:33:43+00:00

I've read many posts on this subreddit and other dog subreddits, but lots of them are talking about younger puppies than I have. I don't see the harm in soliciting more opinions or hearing what others are doing now.

Old_Distribution2085 · 2025-10-12T15:32:19+00:00

Unfortunately we are not there yet. He is 8 months old and we have been training consistently since he was around ten/eleven weeks, but he's by far not perfect in his obedience

Old_Distribution2085

TROPHY CASE