We chose a puppy!

How is little Ace doing now?
How sweet of you to ask! He's doing great! I've got my hands full with him. It's so.much.work.. He's learned to sit, down, wait at doorways, come here and let go. He knows what NO means but often he doesn't care and I need to physically remove him or pull something out of his mouth. When he cant seem to stop biting and trying to get on the couch I put him in his crate.

He still screams when crated, the first few minutes. But it seems to get better. It's hard to eat on the couch when he's walking around, he then seems to have forgotten what NO means.

Reading back all this makes it look not so bad, but it is. Does it ever get better? Any uplifting words for me?

#tireddobersharkmommy
 
So, at or around four months?.?.

I was in same exact shoes as you at four months. Really thought I had it figured out. Ragnar was obeying all commands and was attentive/focused on me when we went out. I was excited and overjoyed--I can handle this!! I can handle his crazy, wild behavior as long as he listens and demonstrates the ability to get better with obedience.

Then brick wall--he stayed wild and crazy and just stopped listening. Lost most attention and focus and gained more bad habits like launching self at the back French doors to be let back in, counter surfing, redoubled his efforts on attacking cats, would not recall and made a game out of it, growling excessively at other dogs, etc....

I came really close to posting to DChat members on reasons and give stories on how to keep the "faith" because I was getting whipped and Ragnar was regressing.

Then next thing I know, we are at 5 1/2 months almost finished teething, I believe he has back molars left to lose. He has settled down considerably!!! It's like he is no longer Mach12 but down to Mach2 instead. He is more friendly and less outright wild. I got so used to Mach12, that Mach2 is a joy!!!

I noticed a big change when I started letting post stay out of his ears. I would let him stay out of post for a couple of days to trial it but always reposted because his tips would get really flimsy. We are at 6months 2weeks now using Breathe-Rite strips.

Now, be it that he no longer had swollen, inflamed, bleeding gums or he no longer had post crammed into his ears and now he can hear?.?.? I don't know, prob a lot of both, but I notice a huge change when he is not posted. And no, no sores or irritated areas in ears from post, posting with him has been wonderful for a while.

I work with him everyday too. Many days, he would frustrate me so much. I know he knows these commands but just won't do, ugggg!!!! I would calm down and chalk it up to a bad day and find something he would have fun at.

One of @Doberman Gang big things is to build that solid trusting relationship, that solid bond. So for sometime, I did what I could do with obedience and then tried to have fun--getting that little tail to wag.

I think from what I read on hear, some Dobermans can be easy to train, easy to learn and not as high strung. I did not get one like that....and at same time I am not a Doberman pro either.

No, I did/do not find it easy at all. But I stay focused on the end goal. I think you just have to stay faithful, consistent and weather the storm.
 
So, at or around four months?.?.

I was in same exact shoes as you at four months. Really thought I had it figured out. Ragnar was obeying all commands and was attentive/focused on me when we went out. I was excited and overjoyed--I can handle this!! I can handle his crazy, wild behavior as long as he listens and demonstrates the ability to get better with obedience.

Then brick wall--he stayed wild and crazy and just stopped listening. Lost most attention and focus and gained more bad habits like launching self at the back French doors to be let back in, counter surfing, redoubled his efforts on attacking cats, would not recall and made a game out of it, growling excessively at other dogs, etc....

I came really close to posting to DChat members on reasons and give stories on how to keep the "faith" because I was getting whipped and Ragnar was regressing.

Then next thing I know, we are at 5 1/2 months almost finished teething, I believe he has back molars left to lose. He has settled down considerably!!! It's like he is no longer Mach12 but down to Mach2 instead. He is more friendly and less outright wild. I got so used to Mach12, that Mach2 is a joy!!!

I noticed a big change when I started letting post stay out of his ears. I would let him stay out of post for a couple of days to trial it but always reposted because his tips would get really flimsy. We are at 6months 2weeks now using Breathe-Rite strips.

Now, be it that he no longer had swollen, inflamed, bleeding gums or he no longer had post crammed into his ears and now he can hear?.?.? I don't know, prob a lot of both, but I notice a huge change when he is not posted. And no, no sores or irritated areas in ears from post, posting with him has been wonderful for a while.

I work with him everyday too. Many days, he would frustrate me so much. I know he knows these commands but just won't do, ugggg!!!! I would calm down and chalk it up to a bad day and find something he would have fun at.

One of @Doberman Gang big things is to build that solid trusting relationship, that solid bond. So for sometime, I did what I could do with obedience and then tried to have fun--getting that little tail to wag.

I think from what I read on hear, some Dobermans can be easy to train, easy to learn and not as high strung. I did not get one like that....and at same time I am not a Doberman pro either.

No, I did/do not find it easy at all. But I stay focused on the end goal. I think you just have to stay faithful, consistent and weather the storm.
Thank you for this. It means a lot!
 
You are more than welcome.

Make you a deal? You keep us updated and I'll keep you updated on mine?

After all it sounds like you are walking in my footsteps, hahaha.
 
How sweet of you to ask! He's doing great! I've got my hands full with him. It's so.much.work.. He's learned to sit, down, wait at doorways, come here and let go. He knows what NO means but often he doesn't care and I need to physically remove him or pull something out of his mouth. When he cant seem to stop biting and trying to get on the couch I put him in his crate.

He still screams when crated, the first few minutes. But it seems to get better. It's hard to eat on the couch when he's walking around, he then seems to have forgotten what NO means.

Reading back all this makes it look not so bad, but it is. Does it ever get better? Any uplifting words for me?

#tireddobersharkmommy


If you keep working with him several times a day and be consistent, he will get and one day you'll go, Holy cow! How did I end up with such an amazing dog! Oh yeah.... HOURS of training and a lot of patience! I would recommend a spray bottle. Rubie is 2 and we still keep it around. And no, she does not associate the water spray bottle with any other type of water: she's not afraid to drink water or go into a body of water but rain might as well be acid.

I like the spray bottle because you can get some distance :D

Also, if you let him on the couch and don't want him in your face while you're eating/snacking, I would spend a lot of time on "off." Rubie is allowed on the couch but if we have popcorn or our Sunday pizza there and she's being annoying, she gets an "off" for a short period and then is *invited* back up but only if she's done being an arse. She only gets tastes of things when she's calmly laying down.

More pictures, please!!!!
 
In the beginning, it all feels impossible :facepalm: but he is registering what you're saying. He's just not listening to you lol.

As for the furniture, I advocate keeping them off so as to establish your leadership first. You can decide much later on whether to permit such privileges. They are capable of recognizing these types of rewards.
 
Thanks guys!

He is definitely not allowed on the furniture (and not allowed upstairs). He has his own pillow (the one in the picture) which we marked as "place", he doesnt really get the command yet. I sometimes join him there to cuddle, if he becomes nippy, I leave, he then follows me. Is that good?
 
You're doing the right thing by walking away and as long as he's not nipping when he follows you, it's fine.

Yes, it’s absolutely fine as long as he’s not nipping you as you walk away or hanging off your trouser leg. Some pups think it’s a game and get excited when you walk away from them which in turn increases the urge to nip. This you don’t want!!!

Puppies need a lot of repetition before they learn, and before it starts sinking in. The thing is, you have to be consistent and do it every time. Everyone in the home has to do the same thing, every time, or he’ll keep trying.
 

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