Help with my monster Puppy!!

DAMS76 · #1 8th January 2002, 02:38 PM

I have a 7 month old fawn male boxer and I dont know what to do with him. He thinks everything is a game and it is getting worse. He will grab one of our shoes and take off running with it. We will tell him no and approach him to get it and he will bark at us wag his tail then pick the shoe up and play keep away. Trying to get him in the cage in the morning is a game. We try bribing him with toys and treats and still it comes down to playing catch and then once we get his collar he will walk nicely into the cage pretty much by himself. We will tell him no when he chases the cat which never works until we have to get up and then he takes of running. I know he knows he is doing wrong, but why does he continue to do these things.
DavidS

Cayenne's Mom · #2 8th January 2002, 03:01 PM

Have you tried putting him in the crate at times just for fun? Not when you are in a hurry or have to go anywhere? Then telling him what a good boy he is in his crate. Cayenne thinks I am crazy but she doesn't think the crate is so bad anymore and she does not have the separation anxiety with the crate.

Cayenne is still small enough that I can catch her but I have a feeling a few weeks with being on a leash when she is out of the crate may do her some good. That way she knows that she is to follow me and she cannot get away. We are still working on potty training and now when I catch her getting ready to go she runs like it is a game. If I had her on a leash she would be a little less mobile and mistakes can be corrected easier with rewards. We start puppy class in a few weeks so I am hoping there will be more ideas for us.

Dodgn_AK · #3 9th January 2002, 12:43 PM

My first suggestion, if you havent done it already is to enroll in obedience. It would be both beneficial and fun.

The second suggestion is when your dog is chasing the cat you may try the command "leave it" this works well with Tyson. It may even work with the shoe problem. When he obeys your command, be sure to praise him alot. Good luck.

BRIDGIT · #4 9th January 2002, 05:42 PM

I have a six months old and I can relate to you. Jasmine doesn't do those things but she does act up or do things she shouldn't. Try to keep on top of her and I agree with the obedience, it will help. Good luck.

trudy · #5 14th January 2002, 12:03 PM

Have a bit of advice for you...Try teaching the command "give" I tried this with my 11 week old boxer and she caught on very quickly....when he has something even something he should tell him "give it" you will probably need to lure him to do so...let him smell that tasty treat you have in your hand and tell him "give it" he will most likely give up whatever he has....once he has "given it" up treat him, praise him and give it back to him, that is why i recommend using first a chew toy or something that he is semi interested in...He will learn rather quickly that when someone takes something from him they are most likely going to give it back..Hence when he does have something in his mouth that you need him to give to you he will "give it"

The second piece of advice I have for you is it sounds like your little guy's favorite game is chase..Let that be a reward for him or a fun game, but make sure it has a cue use something like "i'm gonna get you" and begin the chase!! If he goes off and running without being invited to do so, you must not chase him!! Simply tell him "Too Bad" and go sit on the couch He will learn that chase is acceptable and fun only when he is inivted to play... I got all these tips from a book called "The Culture Clash" (Tulsa Dan's reccomendation) it is a really good book for anyone trying to train a dog now matter how young or old they are..

Good Luck!!