8 month old girl has become arrogant! Please help!!!

genni · #1 01-08-2005, 07:43 AM

Bailey has become soooo arrogant! she has been a dream since we got her at 9 weeks old eager to learn and please, and brilliant with my young children untill recently!

At first the only problem was potty training she wouldn't pee any where but our floor!! so we decided to try crate training her at 6 months old, which worked!
but it seems like since iv been putting her in her crate at night she has lost all respect for me, she totally ignores me, and seems to do everything she has learnt not to do! like chewing things up if i walk out the room, and hiding them when i walk back in, ignoring my commands like "NO" "STAY" ect before the crate she'd only chew her toys (she knew what not to chew) and wouldn't jump up on the sofa, but now she gets on the sofa and when i tell her to get down (a command she use to obey) she just ignores me! she's also started jumping up at my son, knocking him to the floor!
Walks have also become a nightmare, whereas she use to walk very well and always paid attention to any commands she now jumps up at every single person we pass, especially young children and is very forcefull when i try to stop her, she becomes absolutely manic and trys to pull me to the floor by biting and pulling at her lead running back and forth until i am on the floor! and once again ignores all the commands she use to happily obey!

Im at the end of my tether with her, i have put alot of time into training her and it seems that in a blink of an eye it has all gone to waste! even though i am keeping at it, i don't think she'll ever go back to being the well behaived dog she was!

If anyone has any ideas i would be EXTREMELY gratefull, as my husband is threatening to re-home her, and that would break my heart!

Genni

**Maniago** · #2 01-08-2005, 07:56 AM

Sounds like adolescence to me.

Uh oh!! I think it's time!!
I've got a hyper-active jumper.
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/sho...ht=adolescence

If you do a search on "adolescence", and/or "jumping" you will find alot of information

Quote:

as my husband is threatening to re-home her, and that would break my heart!

This I can easily solve for you threaten to re-home him to solve the problem.

harley03 · #3 01-08-2005, 08:03 AM

Don't think about rehoming just yet....
She's entering her "teenage" rebellion phase, as most (if not all boxers do). Stick with the training, and be consistant. Don't let her think that these behaviors are acceptable. If she breaks her stay, lead her back to the same spot and reinforce the stay. If you don't want her on the couch, when she jumps up there redirect her to her own bed/crate. Keep a constant eye on her to ensure she is not chewing or hiding things on you, even if that means keeping her leashed to your side. For the jumping you will need to replace the jumping behavior with something more appropriate (for example "sit"). When someone approaches make her sit and hold it, therefore she can't jump. And remember all of these commands/redirective behaviors should be followed by a positive experience for her. Give her a special treat when she performs well, and maybe when walking bring treats along to distract her when she feels the need to jump on passing strangers

.
Don't give up on her, she's still just a baby and needs to be tought what you expect from her.
Good Luck.

carole · #4 01-08-2005, 09:53 AM

she sounds like she is becoming a teenager.

it does pass and will with the advice given already.

Az Boxr Lovr · #5 01-08-2005, 10:02 AM

Oh those darn teenage years! Joe, my sweet, wonderful baby went through the same thing. I thought he was possessed! He started doing things he never did before. It didn't last too long and now my sweet boy is back.
Cheryl

2whtbabies · #6 01-08-2005, 10:03 AM

We have a one yr. old that we just rescued a couple weeks ago; I forgot what it was like to go through the baby stage. He's definitely gotten used to his surroundings; he stopped listening, and is chewing on everything he can get his mouth on. This boy can jump too! He jumped on the kitchen table the other night, I thought I was seeing things!!

Our other white boxer never did any of these things; but he's also deaf and we had a whole other set of training issues with him! I think once they get past that baby stage they get their act together. Tell your husband to have some patients.
Best of luck!!

Scrapper's Mom · #7 01-08-2005, 11:00 AM

Would your hubby think about rehoming your skin kids when they get to be teenagers?

Work through it - it will pass as they mature. Scrapper went through the same phase. I'd been warned, but until it happened, well,you don't believe it.

**Jan** · #8 01-08-2005, 01:00 PM

She is just going through her rebellious teenage years. I would adopt the nothing for free approach. Make her work for everything, even pats. A refresher training class would also be a good idea.

Good luck!

Putermom · #9 01-08-2005, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan

She is just going through her rebellious teenage years. I would adopt the nothing for free approach. Make her work for everything, even pats. A refresher training class would also be a good idea.

Good luck!

Also, be consistent. Go back to basic training. I also found that a tired Boxer is a well behaved Boxer. So maybe an extra walk or if you have a fenced in yard...more play time and really let her use up her energy. She'll soon be too tired to get into mischief.

Been there and waiting for my 2nd one (Chow Chow - 6 months old) to go through it. It will pass...Otis is now 18 months old and is mostly back to being good. He still has a few issues but we try to tire him, actually both pups, out so that they can't get into too much trouble.

Good Luck! You've got lots of good advice here and in any of the posts from searching...it's what got us through Otis's rebellious stage! There is light at the end of the tunnel.

BasilStreets · #10 01-09-2005, 01:23 PM

As mentionned in a previous post the nothing for free (also known as the "no free lunch program") worked really well for Basil and Streets when they were going thru the evil teenage years. I found that if you are really strict about it at first, for instance always make the dog sit before she gets affection or a treat or gets to go out ect. ) then after as couple of weeks you can ease up on it. I still use this to some degree with Basil and Streets, sitting before they get their food for example, but at 3 years old now, they have figured it out and don't need constant reminding of who the boss is.
Good luck