Helpful advice WANTED for adopted 2 year old Labradoodle

[Bobb01]

Hi there, we adopted a labradoodle about 5 weeks ago and he just turned 2. He is a very sweet dog, but we have been having some very stressful issues with Max. We have two children ages 6 and 8 and he is very dominating towards them. I am not always in the room, and when I am not I can hear my children yelling at him constantly because everytime they get up to go to another room or do something he is on them, either with his paws up on their shoulders or hips and he nips at their hands, feet or clothing. It is really stressful for my 8 year old and he keeps crying that he doesn't want to keep Max. We also have a 12 year old border collie/beagle cross that they have been used to and who also happens to be the worlds laziest dog! When Max comes in from outside I have to dry him off from the rain or snow (I live in Canada) and he will constantly bite the towel or my hands. I have tried holding his mouth shut and telling him no, but still everytime he does it. I am not sure what to do with Max and this behaviour. Other than these bad habits he was very well trained and he was also not with children in his prior house. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Jules&Beau]

My labradoodle Beau is now alittle over 2yrs. old. I did have the same issue when my neice brought her 3yr.old little girl over, I called the woman whose dog training w had attended...this is what she instructed me to do, and so far it has been successful!
1. When he attempts to show dominance with a child I immediately put him in "time away" (Beau that was naughty! Time Away for being naughty! not yelling just firmly) I have a 1/2 bath off my kitchen, that is where he has time away, the light is on but the door is firmly closed and he is kept in there for 2-3 minutes. When I let him out I tell him "time out is over, Beau be a good boy". It only took afew times, doodles are very intelligent. Generally, now I just have to tell him that he is being naughty and will go to "time away" if he isn't a good boy, as soon as he hears time away....it doesn't matter what he's doing he stops!
I live in Upstate NY and also have to dry his his paws when he comes in from outside, I tell him "paws" and have him sit so that I can wipe his feet, immediately after while still sitting he gets a treat. He will occasionally still try to take the towel and run, "keep away" is still his favorite game!

[lindamarie]

Good advice Jules! Dogs need the time out and to catch on and learn they are NOT ALPHA!
Bob, do you have a trainer? It's so hard for little children to be Alpha. Dogs just take advantage of them until big human comes on the scene. This can be a real pain for you.
You need to work with your 2 children with the doodle. I know at 6 & 8, this isn't easy and you don't want them to hate the doodle.
So, if you ave a trainer, perhaps he/she can help get the kids to be more assertive.
Living in Michigan, I totally understand the paw wiping routine. Teach Max to "STAND"! This is accomplished by ........once he's standing....say STANDand GOOD BOY when he does. If he starts to lie down, smply put your arm under his belly and don't let him go back down and repeat STAND......GOOD BOY! this will need some practice......yes.

As far as the running with the towel, have treats ready and say LEAVE IT.....followed by GOOD BOY when he leaves the towel for the treat.
It's not easy, I know.
That's why I suggest a trainer. Doodles are so trainable, but like any dog, they need work.
My fear is of you giving up before really trying AND that the kids will dislike the doodle. Train, train, train as much as you can and get some help from a trainer...........all can be well.
Also, dogs sense the stress and the little buggers love to use it against you! Show strength and determination. Be kind but FIRM.
Good luck!

[deepnite10]

Be kind but firm as Lindamarie said..

doodle s will be puppies for along time..when they chew, chase and jump as younger puppies, its cute..but, when they re old and bigger they become a problem..but, they re never too young or old to respond to consistant training..

Toby is 3..but, still is a very big puppy..he s very sensitive and does nt respond to yelling..believe me..they ll know if your pissed or discouraged..

whether he s eating, playing, running, jumping on people and chewing..i found it very helpful to have taught him the STOP command..whatever he s doing..when heres the command he freezes..and awaits the next command..

[texasheathers]

We have three children - my boys are 8 and 6 and they do well with our doodle. He was five years old when we got him - and was well taken care of and well trained. He belonged to an older couple and was around children occasionally - and they became ill and their granddaughter's family took him and they had four children. They had him a little over a year while they looked for him the perfect home - which was us!

My boys are pretty assertive - and Rocky does not run over them - but my daughter is only three and Rocky is bigger than her. Normally she is in preschool three days a week but over Christmas break - we were all home each day and Gracie became very, very attached to Rocky. She begin leading him around by the collar and just basically dragging him everywhere she went. Rocky loves the kids and so at first I didn't really intervene in this new relationship. But, one day I noticed Rocky pawing at a pile of clothes that belonged to Gracie. He was raking them under him like he was trying to bury them. That was strange because he never messes with anything like that. Then, I noticed him following Gracie around and just smelling of her constantly. This put my alarm up - and then finally I noticed him try to jump up on her back - and he's 80 pounds and she's 25 pounds and I flipped the heck out.

The first time it happened - I freaked out and just lit into him with my voice. I pulled him by the collar and put him outside. I think he was pretty shocked to see that side of my personality because previous to this he really had never done anything wrong - and so he'd never been corrected very harshly from us. This was probably not the greatest reaction - but after I calmed down a bit I came up with a game plan. I watched them very, very closely and anytime I noticed him paying too much attention to her of following her and sniffing her obsessively I told him "no Rocky, go lay down Rocky" in my sternest voice... and he would mind me each time. Then, again I saw him try to jump up on her back when she was playing and I immediately went over and pulled him down to the floor - sternly telling him no... I kind of copied a Dog Whisperer technique that I'd seen once - all I had to do was give Rocky a nudge to lay down and he flopped out on the floor belly up - lol. And of course my daughter is standing right beside me and the boys run over to see what is going on and my husband is there - so you have to picture the entire family kind of standing over Rocky who is lying still as a mouse. I kept him there for a couple seconds and then let go and he jumped back up with his tail wagging - but I felt like I'd gotten my point across. It happened ONE more time after that and I did the same thing and that was the end of it - he has not been particularly obsessive about Gracie since then - but he is still sweet to her and very tolerant and I feel like I can relax again! It was a pretty tense week or so when that was going on though.

I'm not sure if I did the perfect thing - but it did work. He still knows that Gracie is the weakest link - and will trail behind her if she has food. She is horrible and will give him a lick or bite of anything she has. Sigh. Also, his favorite thing to do is go for a car ride - so if Gracie goes out the front door and doesn't have one of us or her brothers with her - he will charge past her to try to get in the car. Sometimes he knocks her over - but she is doing better with that and she will say "NO ROCK STAR (her nickname for him) NO - BACK BACK" and he generally will obey her if she catches him before he's already mowed her down. She also gives him treats and tells him to sit and lay down before she shares. I caught her once with the tub of peanut butter and was getting it out with her finger - she would lick it - and then stick her finger back in and then give Rocky a lick - but only after she told him to "SIT" first. LOL. I watched them for a couple seconds before I came in and confiscated the contraband.

Also, if Rocky has had enough of Gracie - he will just get up and walk away from her. He never has a reaction - but he will sometimes shake her off and just move away from her with a deep sigh.

Rocky is learning quicly that the Alpha in our house is 3 year old Gracie... She's learning a lot about how to handle him with tone of voice and commands and that's helping a lot.

Heather

[deepnite10]

from experience..obedience training is a must for a well behavied with good manners around people and other dogs..

many people think that a puppy will just out grow the stage..without training your just going to end up with an adult dog thats misbehave s..

I spend alot of time with Toby..we went thru puppy to advance obedience class s..and we still review daily on different aspects of his training as it pertains to his therapy work..obedience training is the best foundation for
any dog to bond with its family and know its place in the home..

many of us don t have a whole lot of time to train a new pet..yet, we expect the dog to be a friendly companion..DOGS ARE HAPPY..when they know who s boss in the home..right now it seems that your doodle see s the children as just playmates..that needs to change thru training..