I don't even care about the phone at this point. I want to know what his problem is and how to get him to stop. Is there anything I can do to get him to stop now and not in another year?
He likes to leap off the bed and the high end of the couch (which is only a problem because we live in an apartment and the neighbors downstairs complain about the noise), jump onto the counters (not on top of...jump up to as in stand and lean on it...his head barely makes it over), and throughout all of these major problems, he grabs random things like towels and tissues and runs off with them and eats them or chews them up (if we don't catch him in time).
We stopped using the phrases ';come'; ';sit'; or ';stay'; when we're trying to catch him for this because when we catch him, we punish him by tapping him with a newspaper and putting him into the bathroom for a while, and we don't want him to stop obeying those commands when he's not in trouble. We do our best to catch him with as little chasing as possible, otherwise he thinks it's a game of tag and continues to run. When we eventually catch him, we take him to whatever he did wrong (i.e. the towel sitting on the floor), pick it up and push it into his face and say ';No'; before we put him into the bathroom.
About, 1 in every 20 times, he'll respond to ';drop it';, and when he does, we'll call him over and have him do a few tricks and tell him good boy and then do the same ';rub it in his face'; and tell him no to try and show him it's not okay for him to play with whatever it was.
But he continues to play with these things. He should know better by now. All day yesterday and all day today, I've been home from work and he's been nothing but trouble. Yesterday he got two walks, and was just troublesome in between, and today, I haven't taken him on a walk yet because it's pouring rain out. He doesn't cause trouble when we're out of the house because we got him a kennel (specifically because we were coming home to destroyed books and DVDs). I don't want to keep him locked in a cage when I'm home until ';I feel like playing with him';. I don't know why he's so interested in getting into trouble. I refuse to believe that he doesn't realize by now, after all the yelling and punishing, that jumping on the table and counters and grabbing tissues and towels is wrong.
But what else is there to do? I hit him the newspaper (after chasing him for minutes...which is usually too late when he's got something in his mouth), yell at him before, throughout, and after the chase and put his face in whatever it is he's not supposed to do, and then put him into ';the slammer';. I cannot think of any other thing to do, and yet he continues to do these things.
IS there anything else to do!?!?!? Or is this something that we just have to learn to live with for another few years until he ';matures';?How do I get my dog to stop misbehaving?
You need to sign up for obedience classes, get a book on dog training, and read it. Contact a trainer in your area.
You are doing so many things wrong that I don't even know where to start. You're trying, but you're making it all worse. Get the book, go to the classes. Do it now, otherwise that little guy is going to end up in a shelter, like all untrained dogs.How do I get my dog to stop misbehaving?
That poor dog is bored, and needs to be trained *CORRECTLY!!!*
What in the world is PUSHING the item in the dogs face supposed to do? Especially after having him do tricks? Or how about locking him up in room? Or hitting him with a newspaper!? O_o
1. Your dog needs something to do. It's obvious he is BORED.
2. Why not try a crate?
3. Only discipline your dog if you catch him in the act! But not by shoving it in his face! If you see him doing something you want, say ';NO!'; and take the item away.
4. Buy him some chew toys.
5. Train that dog that when you say a command like ';sit'; ';down'; or ';drop it';, he MUST do it. If you don't know how, (which it's quite obvious you don't) take the dog to some training classes.
Edit -
';1. So how can I cure that if we dont' have a backyard?';
Activities, more exercise, mental stimulation.
3. ';I catch him in the middle of these acts multiple times a day, and the first thing I do is yell ';NO!'; And I can't take the item away until I catch him.';
Then don't say NO until you are right by him and have hands on the item.
4. ';Okay, chew toys.';
Give them when you aren't home. Or when he is in his crate. And when you take away the item he was chewing on, replace it with a chew toy.
5. ';How do I punish him or get him to to learn that he MUST do it? What would the trainers have me do?';
The trainers will tell you what to do.
I got a prong collar for my dogs training, it works wonderful, but they should NOT be used unless you know how to use them correctly.
I agree that you are making so many mistakes that we would have to right a book to explain it all to you. Never hit your dog, never chase your dog, forget pushing stuff he tore up in his face after you have chased and caught him. He isn't going to know what he's in trouble for... only that you are angry over something. Your energy is all wrong too. See, there is just too much to explain. Hire a trainer to help you.
Well for starters when he does something bad don't lock him in a dark bathroom. He doesn't know what he did wrong he's a puppy so obviously hes going to do something like destroying your cell phone. You have to be firm if you want him to learn. Pick a one word to use when he does something you don't want him to do like ';bad'; for example. Then with a firm voice say bad whenever he does something you don't approve of. Eventually he will start to understand. When he starts running don't try to catch him the best thing to do is ignore him then he will come to you. When he has something in his mouth he is not allowed to have you should have a treat in your hand and when you say leave it he will want the treat so he will leave the thing you don't want him having and take the treat. You also have to understand he is a puppy and all puppies grab towels,tissues,shoes and everything else they know there not supposed to have because they don't know any better and think it's fun and a good way to get their owners attention. Whatever you do don't hit your dog that's animal abuse and he will never learn that way. You can also try getting a dog trainer or if your have a petsmart or petco near by the offer training classes.
Although your dog is almost a year, some dogs stay in puppy like behavior longer than others.
I think from what I am hearing that your dog is wanting attention. If both you and your husband work he is left on his own quiet a few hours of the day. Walking is a wonderful way to burn up excess energy, but it is not the be all, end all problem solver. You must interact with your dog in a positive way. Teach him to fetch a ball and bring it back. That is an easy game and they catch on fast. Give him his own toys to chew on and when he takes something he isn't supposed to,grab one, kneel down and squeak the toy and I almost guarantee he will drop whatever he has and come for the toy you have. I don't think you are making it clear to him by putting him in a dark room what he is doing wrong. He needs firm but positive reinforcement. When he jumps on the counter for instance, gently but firmly push him down and tell him no. When he has been down even 2 seconds instantly give him a soft treat like a bit of hot dog and praise him. You will be surprised how fast he will associate good behavior with a reward. I know you are thinking that you can't be doing that the rest of his life, but gradually give the treats less and less. I am not experienced enough to know why, but somehow it will work if you stay firm and consistent. Frankly it is a lot of work to train your dog, but is it really more work than chasing your dog around and stressing out over the way he is behaving at this point? Never mind replacing the valuable items he has destroyed. Please think of joining an obedience classes. Not only will you learn how to train your dog, but you will realize you are not alone in having issues with your dog, and you will enjoy telling your ';dog stories,'; and listening to the others in the group. Hope this situation works out for you. Best of luck.
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