Maniac puppies!

recovering_spendaholic

We have always had scotties and last July our beloved Angus the scottie passed away after contracting cancer at the age of 14. We were all devastated and only recently have we felt able to contemplate another dog. We wanted a scottie but I heard about a pedigree scottie who had accidently become pregnant by a Jack Russell and we went to see the puppies and they were beautiful.

We couldn't choose between two and in the end decided to take both. They are both girls and one is black and white and looks more like her Dad (the Jack Russell) and the other one looks JUST like a little scottie.

They are adorable and not in the slightest bit snappy or agressive but they run around like maniacs all the time and we can't take them out yet as they are only 8 weeks old and have only had 1 injection so far. They will make for the front door if we open it and run like lightning down the drive and they have already tunnelled into next door's garden and also the garden backing on to ours on numerous occasions.

They are paper trained but not yet house trained and I am a bit unsure how to deal with their manic behaviour! Tonight they ran into the actual TV stand and climbed up the back and were hanging on to the LCD telly! They have loads of chews, toys, a lovely bed and get lots of attention and have never been left on their own.

The other problem is that they will only sleep on my bed at night, even though they have a lovely bed in the bedroom. I know I am a soft touch but I don't want to smack them but am not sure how to go about training them - I have already taught them to sit and stay which they will do so they aren't daft!

I know that once we start taking them for long walks they will calm down but any ideas how to cope at the moment? Our little Angus was never like this!

OnAndUp

What are you feeding them? Some foods can make pups even more manic than they normally are!

Tropez

That's puppies for you.

A puppy is like a very young child - they always want to be doing something and they don't really care what as long as they're entertaining themselves. Also, like a young child, a puppy will become more and more excitable when it is over tired.

For this reason, and also for the reason of them sleeping on your bed, you really should consider crate training them.

You should also consider whether it is feasible to confine them to a reasonably sized area that is free from things like electrical cables, books, magazines... basically free from anything other than stuff that they are allowed to have - because otherwise, they will chew at everything they can get hold of and they will continue to run around like maniacs.

Even with the best will in the world, a puppy cannot be monitored 24/7 and so there are times when the puppy can get somewhere and do something that it shouldn't be allowed to. You can buy guards to restrict access to certain areas, or you could consider buying a pen where you can contain them for those moments when they can't be watched - or simply just as a place to put them to calm down if they're getting too excited.

Beckyy

Oh goodness. You are a very, very brave person getting two puppies from the same litter. You're going to have a lot of work on your hands.


If you don't want them sleeping on your bed then don't let them. Fullstop. Don't even let them sleep in your room if it's going to mean they get on the bed. You need to be firm and start as you mean to go on. Never smack them for being ont he bed, you'll petrify them, just remove them from the bed and put them in their own. You could try putting a play pen around their bed(s) to keep them there.

What food do you feed them?

recovering_spendaholic

Thanks for this! I have been considering getting a playpen to fill with their stuff for a night-time. They are on Iams puppy food and seem to like it. They also get a little chicken from time to time if I have any leftover (in their bowl though not from our hands).

I think I will go round the charity shops today and try and get a playpen!

Fire_Fox

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

Thanks for this! I have been considering getting a playpen to fill with their stuff for a night-time. They are on Iams puppy food and seem to like it. They also get a little chicken from time to time if I have any leftover (in their bowl though not from our hands).

I think I will go round the charity shops today and try and get a playpen!

Various nutrients may be associated with behaviour issues - I notice IAMS is very high in maize and wheat both of which are high on the glycaemic index, so behave like sugar in the body. :eek: You might consider switching to a food containing whole basmati rice and barley, or is cereal-free and uses sweet potato, fruit and veg for carbohydrates. Protein content and artificial additives are sometimes associated with behaviour issues, but obviously growing puppies should not be put onto a low protein food.

Chicken contains protein only which throws the balance of the complete food out. If you would like to supplement you might consider a raw chicken wing (supervised, hold the end) which will clean their teeth and provide a balance of minerals, fat and protein.

Beckyy

If you're interested in changing food, try looking for something that doesn't contain fillers like maize, corn, wheat etc. Dog's don't need them, they're just cheaper than using more meat in the foods. If youdo change foods, do it gradually over a week or two.

If you do decide to let them sleep in your bedroom make sure you work on leaving them on their own for small periods of time during the day, as constant company can lead to seperation anxiety in the future if you do ever have to leave them on their own.

If they're still behaving really mad, then do more mental exercises with them. Take them seperately, and practise sit/down/stay and walking on the lead (it doesn't have to be outside). All those things are vital, and going over them will stimulate them mentally. It's also worth trying to use variable reinforcement (treat, then praise, then toy etc.) so that they don't automatically expect one reinforcer (food!). Many dogs are only given treats as rewards and you won't always have treats on you.

Good luck!

almond

try and get two crates best thing ever, we lost our lovely jay 7 years ago and got lucy a staffie cross she was a nightmare crying all night and we got no sleep , i was against them at first but she loved it, you know they are safe when you are out. lucy stopped using hers last year, we had put it in a spare bedroom and she used to turn her head to the door at 10.30pm to say its my bedtime.
I ended up getting crate out when we got bob no balls and have it in kitchen but lucy and bob use it.

Ilona

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

I know I am a soft touch but I don't want to smack them but am not sure how to go about training them

My goodness, I hope you dont ever smack them :eek:
Ilona

mico62

Get a crate! We've got a 10wk old Shiba and hubby thought I was cruel ordering one but its been a godsend - we'd be exhausted without it cos there's no off switch on puppies and when she's tired she goes and lies in it.

rising_from_the_ashes

Personally, I don't like crates so wouldn't go for that option.

However, our dogs have always had their beds in the kitchen and have been left in there overnight - a couple of nights crying but they soon settle down (and should be easier with 2).

Have a look at other foods as well as this may help calm them down - Wainwrights is very good http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search1_10601_wainwrights%2Bpuppy_-1_1|Lifestage-|Puppy%2B%2528to%2B1yr%2529_10551 and also Skinners http://www.skinnerspetfoods.co.uk/products/Field---Trial-Products/ (stick to their Field & Trial range though).

I also think that puppy classes are a must!
Good luck