[lisadoodle]

Buddy is getting even more hyper, if that is possible. He is 5 months now and I'm getting worried because the activity is increasing, he's not mellowing at all, he's bouncing off the walls, jumping on everyone all the time, biting, especially in the late afternoon/early evening. He does get exercise every day, but, honestly, I don't have the time to take him to the dog park for an hour every single day. Doggy school is a complete failure. He's very affectionate, and we love him, but I'm beginning to get a little discouraged. My vision of a doggy sleeping at my feet is moving ever farther away.....

[lisarundell]

Lisa, our Lani is 5 months old and goes into Cujo mode also. We will put her in a time out in her crate with a treat (thanks to a suggestion on this forum) and tell her to settle with no anger. After a few minutes we let her out and she usually remains calm. She has been jumping on people also, we will crate her untill she can settle down, then we let her out and willput her back if she starts again. Our obedience instructor says she is a rebellious teen right now and just to be consistent with what we do and persistant. Good luck, we figure this too shall pass.
_________________
Lisa, Lani and Toby
http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j309/lisarundell/


Outside of a dog a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
Groucho Marx

[lovemydoodle]

Our Leno is really hyper at times! Some times he gets into the really hyper but funny moods and usually at night. He runs all through out the house, spins in circles, and the gets all the blankets and sheets off my bed. Its really funny to watch. He does jump on people, usually when he first sees them then he gets calm. Then he gets into a mood where he wants to wrestle around. He loves doin that with my husband, and he starts it too. It always makes him sleepy after
_________________
Brooke

[Dixie's Mom]

We are also dealing with a hyper doodle!

She is 5 months old also. I walk her first thing in the morning, late afternoon and evening, but she still has endless energy! She jumps and nips and can be completely psycho!

A trainer told us to NOT give her affection unless she is sitting, so she will stop jumping and I think it's working a little.

I have clicker trained her to sit, down and shake a paw, but now I am going to try and train her to not bite. It says online to put a treat in your hand let them smell it but don't give it to them until they either lick your hand or touch it softly with their nose NO teeth!

I am hoping she will eventually calm down. My husband thinks when we get her spayed, that this will mellow her out...I don't know about that! My vet won't do it until 6 months old.

I am happy to know I am not the only one with a little maniac!
She does have an awesome personality and can be quite affectionate, it's just the in her that drives us all crazy!

[bdbanddad]

Welcome to the club, Murphy will be 5 months the 1st of June and is a little maniac with teeth too. When he starts acting like that we have had luck making him sit and then start talking to him real calm. It seems to work a little. The problem we are having now is that he is getting stuff off of the top of cabinets. That is the next thing we need to remedy. Also in the evening I have been playing in the house fetch with him that seems to tire him out pretty quick. Good luck let us know what ends up working for you!
_________________
Jamie

http://bdbanddad.tripod.com/our_doodle_murphy/index.album?i=5

[seazr]

You mean there really are hyper doodle pups out there??!! Dakota goes into psycho mode first thing in the morning and in the evening--every morning and every evening! His rottie mix friend comes over almost every night and Dakota is so fearless in his Cujo mode that he will charge Sparky at top speed and jump right in his face! So far, Sparky has been tolerant of the wacko pup and lately has even decided to play with him! I fear for Dakota around other big dogs that don't have the same level of tolerance . . . I guess there are lessons out there still to be learned . . .
Diane (and Dakota)

[dshell74]

Gus (9 mos) has laid back moments and then super-crazy-I'm-trying-to-destroy-the-place moments. He'll get this crazy wild look in his eye and look out! He (all 75lbs of him) runs laps in the house, jumps around in circles, boomerangs off the couch, you name it. He gets PLENTY of exercise, either at the dog park, with his brother, at playcare, with the dogwalker, etc. I call them his "crazy spells".

[2doodsmom]

I have had a little experience with the hyper-doodle"Cujo" syndrome. And I sympathize completely. Here a few suggestions that have worked (sometimes) for me and my two doods:

1. Try to see the Cujo frame of mind as an "unstable" (Cesar Milan's word) condition and that it is your job to bring "stability." What this means to me is when this behavior starts to happen I cease any and all behavior of my own that could be considered excited or unstable. Including, but not limited to, laughing, clapping, yelling, shouting "no!", chasing, calling for help, beating your own head against a wall. I mention these because I have tried them all and they do not work.

2. Get dead solid calm and quietly move the cujo doodle outside or into the crate. (This can be problematic if you have to catch your doodle first, so it usually helps to have an extremely desirable treat in your hand.) Give a treat, saying nothing. Shut the door and leave the room.

3. Come back when cujo is acting like a doodle again and (still quietly and calmly) open the door. If cujo returns, repeat steps 1 & 2 above for a longer period of time.

3. (optional) A radical approach involves getting yourself another doodle and letting them play "Hyper-Doodle Cujo" with each other, outdoors and without human intervention (especially not children) Only take this step if you are completely bonkers for doodles. I mention this because I am and I have tried it and it works.

4. Continue this approach for 4- 6 months. Repeating the steps above as necessary. You will begin to see a new symdrome which we call the "speedbump doodle." Cujo will return briefly from time to time, but less and less often. Really.
_________________
Lisa and George and Gracie
http://labradoodle-dogs.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=79
Outside of a dog, a book is your best friend, and inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
--Groucho Marx

[Maureen]

hahahahaahahahaha
I'm laughing but really sympathizing with you all...do you all see the similarities in the ages of your puppies?

Also..if your experience in OBEDIENCE TRAINING hasn't helped and given you the tools that you need for your working with Buddy (or whomever) I would gently suggest that there might be a BETTER trainer somewhere who can and will help you. I have not ever had an experience with a dog getting more hyper but I do know that by 5-6mos. if we didn't get our pup in a good training program that they really did irritate me as they were acting like the adolescents that they are.

I'm a breeder and have had several family in-house pets over the past 20 yrs but if I don't use the discipline of a class and a trainer's input I fail miserably at trying to train our dogs. So I just want to encourage you that in my experience it is the rare person who can sufficiently train their dogs from just a book or personal knowledge. And with some dogs more than others we have had to take "refresher" courses for both our benefits. But the fact of the matter is that the "big box" stores with the "kindergarten" classes in between the aisles send those people to school for as long as 5 wks and then voila! They are officially certified dog trainers! I have found better success with the people who are in business for themselves, with their own name and reputation on the line bringing more help to me and my puppies for the money.

I sincerely hope this helps someone!
_________________
~Maureen
LabradoodleRanch@aol.com
www.LabradoodleRanch.com

[bminder]

Dora is also 5 months old. She has changed a lot since I had her spayed. At first I thought it must be just post surgery taking longer to get back to her old self, but she is really a lot more mellow. She still has issues with company. I was trying to talk to my neighbor last night and she wouldn't stop jumping and barking. I think she will get over that too. I think like with everything they all have these little phases. I am so tickled that she is completely house trained, including the overnight, I could care less if she barked at the neighbor!! But I will work with one thing at a time. Dora now lays at my feet when I cook or do dishes and has stopped using the kids as chew toys. My toddlers poor legs were a mess for a while!! She has slowed on the biting since most of her adult teeth are in! Good luck everyone!! This puppy stage is no joke. They are so lucky that they are sooo cute!!
Beth and Dora

[SeattleDoodle]

Quin is only four months but I am trying some preventative strategies. (Maybe this'll help any lurkers with younger doods.) Hopefully I can remember to post again in a month or two to tell you if we're successful! I would definitely reiterate Maureen's training comments. The training program we are enrolled in (not a big box store) has had many wonderful suggestions for instilling appropriate behavior in the pups. Most boil down to key words ("enough" and "settle") and time-outs. (Like 2doodsmom suggested.) Also, they say to set expectations about what behavior is ok in the house. So, I no longer allow fetch, chase, tug-of-war or any crazy-making games inside. This is hard for our [human] daughter Zoe - she is 3.5 and can't resist running around and exciting Quin ... and of course he loves it. But I am trying to be really firm re: hyper games are for outside only. The anti-jumping training we're doing is that when the dog jumps on you, say "oops" and immediately turn around and walk away (withdraw your attention). When all four paws are on the floor, reward / praise. We did this in class - we actually rotated puppies (everyone got a chance with each dog) because they may behave for you but not a stranger / guest. Basically, we baited the dog to jump up (patting your knees saying "c'mon Quin!") and when they didn't jump they got lavish rewards. I am having Zoe do this training with Quin.

Again, I'll check back in a couple months to let you know if it works (I can hear your snickering - c'mon, let me be naive and I'll let you say "I told you so!" ... )



Lisa

[dshell74]

Here are 2 pics of Gus in the midst of one of his crazy spells: