[Verbena]

Originally Posted by Maximo

The first year is the most challenging, and the second year is slightly less so.

How many kids do you have and how old are they?

Your pup needs lots of structure and training.

1) Eating everything -- puppies explore everything with their mouths. This will slow down with age, but vigilance is a lifelong commitment to make sure the dog doesn't choke or eat something toxic. Training to "drop it" or that certain things are dangerous takes a lot of work. I have a very spartan home, two adults, yet my dogs still manage to get a hold of things every once in awhile. Always makes me wonder how these little guys survive in the average home.

2) Always supervise the pup with your kids, which it sounds like you are doing with him tethered. The pup needs to be taught bite inhibition and not to nip.

3) Institute a schedule/daily routine for your pup where you do the basic activities at about the same time each day -- eating, sleeping and napping, play periods, scheduled potty breaks, walks. This will have a calming effect and his body will fall into the rhythm knowing when to expect things.

4) start basic obedience/trick training if you haven't already. If your kids are old enough, involve them too. Clicker training is very helpful.

Watch videos on YouTube on training and start googling positive reinforcement training methods. Also keep in mind that a pup will mirror the level of excitement around him. So if everyone around him is excited or animated, the pup is going to do the same.

Puppies tend to play rough with their littermates, so this probably what he is doing with your kids.

Also, puppies have tons of energy and need a lot of activity to burn off the fuel.

It does get easier, but training is a must. It doesn't happen with age alone.

Originally Posted by Maximo

Definitely takes breaks for yourself during the day by putting him in an xpen or gated off small area -- a safe zone.

The problem with running after him is that he thinks that is a great game of chase. Max learned that one quickly and I played into it.

When your pup has something that he shouldn't, use a food reward to entice him to drop it. Say "want a treat?" and he should learn to drop the item and come running. When he does, praise him.

Also, when he has something naughty, say "That isn't good for you" or "uh uh uh." Establish keyphrases. My boys seem to do better with keyphrases than a simple "no." They also know "you don't want that." It's amazing how much language these little guys can pick up. You don't want to ramble on, just short phrases.

Wonderful suggestions!