The puppy is a terror!! What should I do??

Question

I live with a couple who have a large, 6 month old black lab puppy that they are crate-training. The dog sometimes obeys, but usually only when a treat is used.

The dog jumps up on ppl, steals/eats shoes, jumps up on to the kitchen counters (AND steals food right out from under our noses!), jumps on the dining room table, takes things from people, and bites!

The couple doesn't seem to effectively discipline him (if at all) when he behaves badly; he sometimes wears a collar that delivers a very mild shock and they advise a knee to the chest when he jumps on ppl but they don't do it.

I love animals and believe rewarding good behaviour and punishing bad behaviour *consistently*. I don't see that happening here... yet this dog's behaviour is totally unacceptable!

How can I initiate or participate in effective training since it isn't MY dog?

How do I handle this diplomatically?

What are some good tools/tips for training the puppy?

What should I do?!?

I am going bonkers!!

HOW to train it?
Remember: It is not MY dog....

Shock collar:
Delivers a 'zinging' sensation. Not painful at all, just surprising enough to get the dog's attention. Apparently it only 'zings' when the dog barks... so it's only helpful in getting him to not bark (which is ALSO an issue).

Answer 1

First of all allow me to make some initial statements - you will not stop a dog from jumping by using a knee to the chest and you could possibly hurt the dog. This is inappropriate behavior and not effective training. A puppy needs love and respect and discipline. Rewarding positive behavior is good and ignoring bad behavior that is not dangerous can be a good technique however what you are describing is a dog that has not manners because no one has told the dog about the house rules and it does not sound like the dog owners are behaving as the pack leaders.

I would suggest that you introduce the dog owners and the dog to a training program called Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF) - This is an amazingly effectively training program and it can be modified for any breed and dog and to accomodate any lifestyle. Basically the premise is that the dog must ask permission before it receives anything. When you go to feed the puppy - you ask the dog to sit and stay before you put the bowl on the floor and the puppy must sit and stay until the bowl is on the floor and you have stood up and then you can release the dog to go and eat his meal. Another example is the dog is only allowed to sit on furniture once he has been invited to join someone on that piece of furniture - if you find the dog just jumps up on the sofa, you attach the leash to the collar and ask the dog to get down and lie on the floor - if the dog refuses, you use the leash to give a short tug and force the dog onto the floor - if the dog returns to the sofa, repeat removing the dog from the sofa - if the dog turns this into the on and off game then when you remove him from the sofa using the leash now you take a few steps away from the sofa and tie the lead somewhere away from the furniture so that dog has no other option but to sit or rest on the floor, then once the dog relaxes, then you can give verbal praise to the dog -

I would suggest that you contact a canine behaviorist and ask for the full NLIF program and combine that with some basic obedience information - the dog owners need to be trained and all adults in the home need to follow the same dog handling rules for consistency. you can also research the NILIF program on the web but you will get much faster and much more predictable results of you invest the money with a behaviorist who has used this program effectively and you will see immediate improvement in the dogs behaviors if all the adults implement the program consistently.

The people need to be trainined so that the dog can be educated in the house rules.

Once the people have been trained and the dog understands the rules - now you spend an equal amount of time playing and grooming and bondig with the dog as you do in training the dog and all training sessions should be 10 to 15 minutes long tops and you can have up to 3 sessions per day - always end training sessions on a happy note with the dog performing something well and receiving a reward of praise and maybe a treat and then a few moments of play.

Answer 2

The problem is that he is a puppy - and puppies don't learn overnight. Stop popping him and yelling no. He probably doesn't even know what no means (yes, they need to be taught that as well). Yelp and ignore him every time he bites. Leave the room for 30 seconds if he doesn't leave you alone or stand somewhere where he can't reach you. Repeat, repeat, repeat...we're not talking 5-10 times, but hundreds of times. He is not going to learn this within a matter of days. If you are lucky and consistent in your training methods (frequently switching methods is just about the worst thing you can do, as it only confuses the dog), you'll be looking at maybe 10-14 days before he's learned to be gentle. If you're unlucky, he might not get it until he starts teething at around 4 months old. Rule number 1 when you have a puppy is to be calm, consistent and patient, and not expect too much of them too soon. It will only set the puppy up for failure and frustrate you because you aren't seeing results fast enough. Yes, there are puppies who learn bite-inhibition and are housebroken lightning fast (I've had one of those, who on the other hand was an absolute nightmare during adolescence), but these wonder-puppies are the exception and not the rule.

Answer 3

They need to take this puppy to a obediance class ASAP. Also labs can be quite a handful until about 2 years old. They can be wonderful dogs if properly trained. This dog knows it's the top dog and it needs to stop before someone gets hurt. Try researching training classes, I know that PetCo and Petsmart both offer good classes. You may even try offering to pay all or part of the fee for the class. However no matter how many classes they take the dog to it is up to them to work on the training at home as well. Also let them know a knee to the chest could potentially hurt the dog if done to hard. Not a good idea. The shock collars can be effective but can also be cruel if it is not used consistantly. The dog never knows when it is going to get a shock; wich is supposed to be mild, try using it on yourself and tell me if it's mild. I have used shock collars in the past effictivly, but it takes consistancy.

Answer 4

As a dog owner and lover, I realize the awkward position that you are in.
If it were me, I would try to show the dog as much love as I could bear, and in time he should respect you enough to learn from you in a subtle way. I would start with the basics and make him sit every time you see him, and then reward with a good ear scratch. You should be able to bond enough with the puppy so that you will be able to have your own understanding and respect regardless of what the owners do. If you show the pup what you expect, and be consistent, you will be amazed how well the pup will respond to you.
I would also give the owners a gift certificate for 2 sessions at puppy training school for their birthday, anniversary, haunikah, or whatever. The sooner they start this pup in obedience training the happier you will all be, and after 2 free sessions hopefully they will see the benefits and continue with the classes.

Hope this helps?

Answer 5

The shock collar can be effective, but only if used consistently and fairly. . . and only used if any other correction collar has not worked! (choke or pinch) Remember, this is an exuberant kid - in fur. If he is treated consistently and fairly - and corrected without anger, he will get the idea and mind. All you can do is try and make the dog behave when he is in your face. If you don't let him jump on you, steal your food, ect. . .he will get the idea to behave or leave you alone. I would not do anything to/with the dog unless he is right there in your personal space. You are in a tricky situation! Good Luck. p.s. Don't get emotional with the dog - it will wind him up more.

Answer 6

You're right - this puppy is a terror and will only get worse!

Unless you can totally take over the training of this puppy, I don't see that you can do anything other than point out to them that this dog's behaviour is not unacceptable and they need to train him now before he gets worse. His discipline (and I definitely do not mean punishment!) needs to be consistent - that's key.

Dogs need positive reinforcement for correct behaviour and gentle corrections, not punishment, for wrong behaviour. Any dog will, if he understands what's expected of him, behave correctly because dogs don't like being in trouble.

Since its not your dog, I don't see how you can force them to train their dog. Will they let you take over? Even that won't help if they don't enforce following the rules. I don't see this turning into a good situation if the owners don't step up and train their dog.

Answer 7

well i have a dog and it is small, but he bites and steals and jumps on the table and all that other stuff too. All you have to do is buy some training videos and and learn to discipline the dog. if he does something bad put him in the crate depending on how bad it is. If he pees then bring him where you want him to pee and say pee and in the spot where you don't want him to pee say no pee. And if you want him like to sit, then push his butt down and when he sits, give him a treat. if you keep doing that, they will learn. It is hard but it works. I hear labs are smart.

Answer 8

I completely understand my pup is now 5 months but according to my husband its "his" dog, yet Im the one who cleans the poop, scolds him, lets him out and so on - now the dog is a complete mess very much so like the dog you descibed so as a "gift" I took him to Petco and had a professional obedience trainer work with him. His behavior has improved dramatically. My previous dog was a terror up until about 7 months and she out of nowhere became my dream dog, I didnt have the patience to wait it out this time. Do the gift thing they might think its sweet. But remember he is a lab they are some of the smartest dogs he is going thru "adolescence" right now so he must be trained asap. Dogs are pack animals show him you are the leader of the pack as the famous Dog Whisperer would say!

Answer 9

The shock collar might be the cause of the problem. Those make a dog crazy - they do not teach the dog right from wrong.

Answer 10

i'm sorry your living with this mess. i could have guessed it was a lab! they are the dumbest puppies ever. wont grow a brain till 2yrs old!! and NEEDS a strong hand and firm command. with kindness! which is tricky but it is what works/ maybe buy them a training book as a gift? or find a school and offer to help with his training? good luck. :)