Is My Dog Normal?

[Happy]

Hi all, my dog is almost 8months old. The bigger he gets, the more agressive he is. He has already destroyed 3 leather collars, 2 chain and many shoes lol. Day by day, he is making me and my family dislike him due to his behaviour, as he acts really abnormal. He never seems to stop moving. Eventhogh we chained him (it's normal in my country), he will try his way to jump and move around. Most of the t ime, he mnanaged to get his way out of the chain...amazing isn't it? Here's my questionsthat we cant seem to understand:

1. Whenever I touch him, he will thought I wanna play with him and he started to jump over me FURIOUSLY!! Is it normal?
2. Whoever he met, he will jump over them. Isnt a dog suppose to bark or cautious to stranger? He is friendly to everybody. IS he normal?
3. My dog nearly bite my dad when he tried to remove the food tray. My dog seems to be insane when he is eating as he will keep barking while eating. Is it normal?
4. Whenever he saw us holding the food tray and going to feed him, he will bark non-stop, very fierce, and will try to bite us. ANd he never gets FULL. Always hungry and he can actually finish 10bowls of rice and still eating!! Is it normal?
5. Once in a while, he will run furiously from front yard to the other end with all his strenght. There was once, he ran too fast until he couldnt stop and banged on the wall, caused him swollen eye. Is it normal a dog will run HAVOC once in a blue moon?

6. Does he still consider puppy since he is already 8months old?

I cant afford to send him to any obidient class, any advise that I can practise at home? I need him to be more 'settle down', not too hyper and act NORMAL...

thanks

 

[Zoom]

Your dog sounds like he's completely untrained and going stir crazy from being chained up all the time. The jumping up on people is what dogs do when they haven't been taught proper greeting manners. The food aggression can be worked on, but I'm guessing your dog is huge and thus there is a pretty big risk in trying to tell you what to do over the internet.

Since you can't afford obedience classes, go to your local library and check out (or buy online) books like "The Power of Positive Dog Training". This goes through step by step processes on how to get your dog to do things.

You really MUST start exercising your dog!!!! A tired dog is a good dog. Your dog is acting completely normal for one who is getting little to no mental or physical stimulation and I'm guessing is still intact. Neutering him will help calm him down some. But at 8 months old they have an excess of energy to begin with, so it's up to you do find a way to manage him. Otherwise, it's in your family's and the dog's best interest if you find a new home for him, one that will take the time to teach him how to be a good dog.

 

[squirtsmom]

I echo that advice. The dog is bored and needs exercise regularly.

 

[Herschel]

Yes, your dog is being a normal puppy.

I'm sorry to hear that your family is starting to dislike him. None of this is his fault at all, he just hasn't had any training.

As for the food aggression, I think NILIF will help you tremendously. http://www.sspca.org/Dogs/TANSTAAFL.html

 

[~Jessie~]

I agree with Zoom- this dog needs to be exercised more.

Trust me, a tired puppy is a happy puppy. My chis all get 1 long walk daily, as well as shorter walks throughout the day. I couldn't imagine how much energy they would have if they were cooped up or confined for the day.

I also recommend the NILIF method... not just for food aggression, but for everything. Before we go on walks, I make my chis sit at the door until I get their harnesses and leashes on. Before I give them food, I make them perform a command that we've been working on (right now it's 'shake and other paw). I bet if you try it, you will feel more "in control," rather than letting your pup control you.

 

[Julie]

What are you feeding him other than rice?

 

[Boemy]

Your dog sounds lonely. Normal . . . but lonely. Why don't you take him off the chain and let the poor thing inside? And, yes, exercise is essential.

 

[Whisper]

He sounds bored and lonely. How much quality time does he really get to spend with you? What training have you done with him? How much exercise does he get? What mental stimulation?

 

[Happy]

thanks all for the advise.

i've tried to unchain my puppy but he will run to the garden and destroy all the things in front of him. he will also start scratching my car and keep looking for shoes to bite. I did buy him toys and bones to bite, but he is more interested on shoes and plantations.....but anyway, the toy can only last for 1day. he will bite it into pieces and eat it.

He is extremely strong and able to push me down when he jumped over me. Im consider a big size, 6' tall and 80kg. Can u imagine the strenghts he has.

Ok, i believe you are right, as I hardly bring him out for a walk, and i only spend few minutes to train him the same trick over the past 8months...which is teaching him to learn to 'sit' when i said so....til now, it doesnt work...but it will only works when i have something on my hand..especially food (dog biscuit).

So, I should:
- bring him out for a work more often,
- play with him more often
- give him training more often
- unchain him more often
am I right on the above practise?

so, i guess i am the one who is abnormal....not my puppy... hehehe....

thanks again

 

[hbwright]

There are a lot of good training sites on the web and books. Make sure to only use positive reinforcement with him. Puppies want nothing more then to please their owners. It is time consuming and can be difficult to teach them exactly what you want and how you want them to act but with training they will become more confident and much better behaved.

I have a 7 month old pup and we've had him for just over 3 months. There is a world of difference between when we brought him home and now. It's amazing and very rewarding to watch them grow and become these lovely larger, more well behaved pups.

The NILIF is wonderful and you are not too late to start. I know at first it sounds like you're asking too much but it becomes fun for the dog and they are happier when they learn obedience. I always change it around. First I make him sit for food, then add a little stay, then down and then leave it. We do this for everything. For play time, he has to work for petting he has to work, to get on couch he has to work. If he starts getting to roudy and rambunctious we start his obedience training and mind stimulation.

Remember, this too shall pass. Puppies don't stay puppies forever. With hard work on both your sides you'll have a dog that you'll enjoy for many years to come.

 

[Whisper]

You will find he will be more well mannered when he is happier and well trained with a properly stimulated mind. He does those things because a) he's bored and has pent up energy and b) has never been taught otherwise. Dogs are not born with a sense of knowing what is acceptable to humans- it's up to the owners of the dog to teach them what they can and can't do.
Please don't be hostile toward him- he's doing what dogs do naturally when not properly trained.
Practice NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free) training. Before you set down his bowl, have him sit. Before you let him outside, have him do a down stay or follow a series of commands. Before you give him something he wants have him obey a command.
Be consistent with him and teach him things slowly and patiently. When you are teaching him things give him something he really likes- a treat, a a game of tug, etc. Get some books on training. Get him some toys, and a kong or a cube that drops kibble when they roll it around. Is it possible for you to enroll in some obedience classes?

What do you usually do when he does something you don't like?

 

[codexsmom]

So, I should:
- bring him out for a work more often,
- play with him more often
- give him training more often
- unchain him more often
am I right on the above practise?

That's about it, but if he's ripping up your garden and scratching his car, I suggest
A) Keeping him on a LONG line that keeps him just out of the car & gardens leash or
B) Fencing it off.'

Also, training your dog to sit for 8 months is a bit foolish. I tought my dog to learn to sit by the time she was 13 weeks, and by that time I had her house broken and nearly done with the down command. Go to your library or local pet store and find some books and magazines on dog training.

 

[Whisper]

Also, training is not something that should stop- throughout his life teach him things. I'm always teaching my dogs new commands, words, tricks, skills, etc.

 

[mrose_s]

Buster is still learning and he's 4 and a half years old now.
so like momof2pups said, never stop training. its a lot of fun when you relise your dog actually gets what your teaching them.

he does sound bored, how long is he off the chain for? and how long every day do you spend with him.
a good log run is a great idea, how is his recall? once you get a good recall down pat your able to take your dog to a lot more big open places for a good run.

 

[Happy]

thx again for the advise.

2 b honest, i do not have the time to bring him to the obidience class and i only spend less than 10minutes with him a day. My working schedule and personal life do not allow me to company him often. But my dad and mom with him all the time. even that, my dog never listen to them, and even tried to bite my dad's hand when he is feeding him.

we still want to keep him as part of our family but ...either he is slow in learning tricks, or i have taught him the wrong way. Until today after so many months of teaching him to sit, he still disobey my command. I know he understand the command but he purposely disobey it. Only when i offer him a treat, he will obey my command.

well, maybe i should really send him to obidience class.....

 

[girlbuffalo1]

10 minutes it not sufficient even for the laziest oldest dog---I would say he needs at least 2 LONG walks a day--and other activities to keep him busy. It is of the utmost importance that he gets more exercise. There is no way he will ever be trained or learn how to walk properly on a leash ect unless you work very hard EVERY DAY with him. I am very busy right now in my life too--working full time and taking care of my mothers affairs while she is in the hospital but even if it is 10pm and I am dead tired--I make an effort to walk and play with my dogs--it's that important....

 

[oc_spirit]

You shouldn't get a dog if you don't have the time to properly care for it and provide for all it's needs....

Heck, I work anywhere from 6-13 hour days right now almost every day and I still make sure my dogs get the excercise they need!!! Sometimes it means we are out at 2am walking but so be it. I enjoy it and so do they.

 

[hbwright]

First things first. This dog doesn't respect you. You give it the option to sit or not. When you say "sit" it should sit, simple. He knows what it is, so you don't have to lure him. Tell him in a stern voice (calm but mean business) Happy, Sit. If he doesn't sit and gets excited say "no" and turn around, cross your arms, ignore him, don't let him jump and count to five. If he jumps you have two options, move out of the way so he falls from the jump or get in his space (without using hands) so you are bumping into him. He can't jump on you if you get in his space. The moving away so he falls from the jump is the most effective for most dogs. After 5 seconds turn around and say, "Happy sit". Absolutely no physical contact from your hands or a treat until he obeys your command. He'll learn that he has to sit to get the treat or attention from you. If you touch him with your hands, even to push his bum down, he enjoys the contact and attention. Sit is not an option for a dog, it is a command. Once he is reliable with sit you start to work on down with a lure, not a touch by putting him in a sit and holding a treat in your hand and moving your hand from his nose straight down to the floor. He should learn to follow your hand and go down. These are the two most simple commands IMO to teach your dog. From there you should be able to continue with training and start adding distractions to your commands.

I would call around, look around everywhere, call local kennel clubs. We have a kennel club in the area that has lessons for 4 weeks for $30 with the point being that everybody can afford at least basic lessons for their dogs. You begin to realize that it is not the dog that needs the lessons near as much as it is their humans. When the humans learn it is much easier to teach the dog what you want them to learn.

First things first, you need to get this dog to respect you. It will not be done with a heavy hand or harsh voice. It will only start to respect you with a calm demeaner coming from you and knowing what you say, you mean.

There is no such thing as not enough time. Even if you work 12 hours a day, there is still time for you and the dog. Wake up an hour early and go for a walk, practice obedience commands. The commands can be practiced for 5 minutes before giving him his food and this enforces the idea that he has to work for his food. Better yet, give him his meal during the obedience lesson a few pieces of kibble at a time instead of a treat. We give almost a full meal of kibble just during a few short training sessions a day.

At the very minimum you can give this dog 15 minutes in the morning before work, 15 minutes after you get home and then a good long walk and 15 minutes training before bed. There is nobody in the world that is so busy they can not afford this time with their dog on a typical day. I've done it while working at home full-time, helping run my husbands home based business and raising 3 kids.

 

[codexsmom]

Wow. Good advice, hbwright!

I agree entirely with what people are saying. Your dog doesn't respect you, and it probably bit your dad because a) Happy thought your dad was provoking him/trying to steal his food or b) he isn't well socialized. Obedience classes are your best options, you can't seriously let your dog get away with that stuff. Any human contact at all will make him think " ignore = contact". I made that mistake when I was 12 and had my first dog, a doberman, and it took me a lot longer to re-train him the right way then training him the wrong way.

 

[Happy]

thanks again 4 the advise...esp hbwright, great advise u have there. really appreciate it.

ocspirit, at that point of time, if i didnt adopt Happy, the pet center (SPCA) will put him to sleep.

Yes, after all yor advises, I finally spent a wonderful 1hour with Happy last night. I cant believe how happy he was as I can see from how he react. He actually sit when i asked him to...after playing with him for a while. i also gave him a body massage for 5minutes..he was less aggressive after that and ....at the end of the day, i rewarded him with a tug of war hehe.

i've also rewarded him with many treats ...well everytime he obey my command. i think he actually understand the command but he just ignored it. I can see that he will follow all the commands (from what i taught him all these while) when he gets the attention.

when he was 3-5months, i spend almost 1-2hour with him. only after 6months til now (8months), i spend lesser time.

so, i guess he really needs my attention....he is NoRmAl afterall...