Eleven months old today and remembered he's a teenager

[Londongirl]

So a few weeks ago I posted about how nicely Henry had settled down - solid recall, well behaved on walks, calm at home. And y'all told me he was just messing with my head?

Well, in the last week we've had a serious backsliding on a lot of his behaviour. He's still much more chilled out during the day, which is great, but he just completely ignores almost all of my commands unless he's right by my side and can see the treat in my hand. Commands to go to bed, or come in from the garden, even just sit, are meet with a blank stare, followed by walking the other way. He dodges away from me when I go to put on his harness or (at the moment) his cool coat. I refuse to chase him or force him so we spend a LONG time before we go out waiting for him to come over to me calmly.

I've gone back a few steps on all his training, raised the value of rewards and try to remember to praise him when he's just generally being good.

Please tell me this is just adolescent testing of his independence. I'm feeling really discouraged at the moment.

[Blueberry]

Heheheh!  Blue is only 15 weeks old and after 5 weeks of being fairly obedient and biddable, he's had a few days of this too - he used to stick to me like glue, but he seems to be discovering his independence now, pottering off in any direction that takes his fancy, and coming back in his own sweet time - unless he can see I'm holding a piece of sausage! 
He also cottoned on that he gets a treat for going out to wee, so now will ask to go out, not do anything, (or do precisely two drips of wee) and wait for his treat before deigning to come back in!  I can't wait til he's a teenager, I bet he'll give me a right old run around.

[Finvarra]

Yep, sounds about right. Wait til he stays in his rooms playing with his ipad and grunting  . Dylan started that at about ten months, and he 13 months now, and he seems to be getting over it, he's quietened down a little bit, and is doing as he's told again (mostly  ). At least it doesn't go on for years and he doesn't bring his friends round 

Lesley and Dylan

[Ben's mum]

Yep, sounds about right. Wait til he stays in his rooms playing with his ipad and grunting  . Dylan started that at about ten months, and he 13 months now, and he seems to be getting over it, he's quietened down a little bit, and is doing as he's told again (mostly  ). At least it doesn't go on for years and he doesn't bring his friends round 

 

I remember Ben going through this, it was like someone had taken my well behaved puppy and replaced him with Godzilla 
I particularly remember that blank stare when I asked him to sit, I could almost hear him thinking, 'I am not going to and what are you going to do about it' 

But he did come out the other side and all the hard work you have already put in will reap rewards 

[Londongirl]

Thank you guys I feel SO much better now!

Blueberry - I think giving treats for wees is generally not advised for exactly the behaviour you're describing.

[bizzylizzy]

O'h welcome to the club of cockers in puberty!!!!!!
Humphrey reaction to the whistle at the moment is to look up, see if there's anything interesting going  on and if not, to saunter up and then plonk himself down about a yard in front of me like as if he's saying "ok, I've met you half way, don't push me!!"
Biggest hurdle at the moment is that he's refusing all treats so I'm having a job even going back to basics. I thought at the weekend he'd become infatuated with a femme fatale and was becoming  a canine Adrian Mole but maybe its just the heat! (Although I did find him hiding in the bathroom yesterday, - maybe I should check the clearasil bottle!! )

[ejp]

Has he started wearing cologne.....  young ladies like it if the boys make an effort 

[Londongirl]

So today he ran away from me twice. Once he went out of the park through a gate he has NEVER gone near before. Heart was in my mouth. The second time he just evaporated from my sight when my head was turned for a second. Took me ten minutes to find him. He was playing with another dog and thank goodness the owner kept a hold of Henry when he realised his owner was nowhere near. I have no idea how far he would have gone otherwise. He was completely unconcerned when I reappeared.

The strange thing is just two weeks ago me and OH we're commenting on how relaxing our walks had become as Henry still darted about but always in sight and always came when called. I could get him to turn on a sixpence by blowing the whistle. Overnight - literally overnight - his recall collapsed. It's like he's five months old again.

Back on the lead for the foreseeable future. He's going into kennels for a few weeks in August, I wonder how he'll be when he comes home?

[Finvarra]

Dylan did that at eleven months, we were on our first night of the holiday and stopped at a forestry car park overnight on the way to Skye. Took him for a walk in the woods, he had been so good so let him off lead. Cocked his leg for the first time, cheers all round, and the. He just disappeared into the trees. We ran after him, took twenty minutes to find him running alongside the fence by the road. Absolutely terrified, as we were in a strange place for him. Donchajustluvem.

Lesley and Dylan

[Londongirl]

Donchajustluvem.

Lesley and Dylan

Ask me again tomorrow. 

[bizzylizzy]

Donchajustluvem.

Lesley and Dylan

Ask me again tomorrow. 

(If its any consolation, you're not on your own!!! )

[Mudmagnets]

Back on the lead for the foreseeable future. He's going into kennels for a few weeks in August, I wonder how he'll be when he comes home?

Maybe it will do some good, especially if he is still playing up before he goes in  - maybe he will appreciate home comforts a bit more keenly - I know they look after them well in kennels, but it is not quite the same as home 

[Londongirl]

Maybe it will do some good, especially if he is still playing up before he goes in  - maybe he will appreciate home comforts a bit more keenly - I know they look after them well in kennels, but it is not quite the same as home 

Yes, I'm hoping he'll be SO grateful to come home he'll never leave my side again. Only problem is the kennels have a doggy adventure playground. And a ball pit. And a pool. And...

[Londongirl]

Donchajustluvem.

Lesley and Dylan

Ask me again tomorrow. 

(If its any consolation, you're not on your own!!! )

It's actually a huge consolation, thank you! At least I know it's not me, it's him, the little tinker.

[Mudmagnets]

Maybe it will do some good, especially if he is still playing up before he goes in  - maybe he will appreciate home comforts a bit more keenly - I know they look after them well in kennels, but it is not quite the same as home 

Yes, I'm hoping he'll be SO grateful to come home he'll never leave my side again. Only problem is the kennels have a doggy adventure playground. And a ball pit. And a pool. And...

ah right!! sounds like doggy heaven away from home then