What happened to my sweet little boy?
 

Bentley will be 5 months this month. I have noticed about the past 2 weeks he is to put it simply, getting out of control. Not all the time, but at times. He will just get in spaz mode and will not listen AT ALL. When he's calm I can get him to focus so I'm guessing it's not a total I don't want to listen to you type of issue.

Is this typical at this stage? PLEASE tell me it will stop. lol In addition to just not listening when he gets spazzy he's now discovered he can jump up at you and scratch you. He will be getting neutered on the 19th. Is it possible he will settle down some? Is it puberty rearing it's head? I have also noticed that while not actually mounting the cat it looks like when he gets after her he's attempting to figure out if he can. (She's much bigger than him.) Ultimately I'm thinking it's a spazz issue lol and not an obedience one where he just does not want to listen.

He just seams to have turned into the proverbial girl with the curl on her forehead:

When he's good he's very very good, but when he's bad, he's HORRID.

Any experience and/or advice greatly appreciated.

yes just like a toddler they go through stages to see what they can get away with. the neuter will help but you also need to be consistent with training and not allow the jumping. i say no and down....then give a treat when they respond correctly. the humping could also be showing dominence. cedric will still do this to his toys occassionally.

Could it be that he's getting bored? Does it happen more at a certain time of day? It could be that he just has a lot of pent up energy and needs a burn-off period with more structured play time.

Sam is alone during the day, and is an absolute wild child when I get home. We have at least 30 minutes of play time at night. He lives to play fetch, whether it's a tennis ball or a stuffed toy. I try to sneak in some training commands during the second half of our game. By the time we are finished, he's much different and much calmer.

Bentley is fortunate to be in doggie daycare with his grand-humans (my parents) when I work. When I get home now that it's nice we go out either before or after dinner so I can play him out.

It's like an alien has taken over his body. :eek: Totally different boy.

Neutering might help....getting lots of exercise for all that pent up energy would also help! It is probably just the age he is at right now. Teeka went through a stage where she just would just ignore me and go about her business. She is 9 months, been spayed and she has settled down considerably. Yorkies can be very strong willed!

Somewhat consistent with times. When my kids get off the buss my parents meet them to pass Bentley off to them until I get home about 90 minutes later. He goes nuts when I get home now. I try my best to tell him to settle down before I actually show him lots of attention.

The car is another issue. He love riding in the car. Thing is, he loves me more.:p I have him harnessed in the front passenger seat. He will lay down and relax and then all of a sudden it's MOMMY'S NEXT TO ME. lol The tether is too short for him to leave his seat, but he is able to reach over a paw at my arm. Usually I will talk to him and try to get him to calm down and scratch his head if he does.

Yep exactly what Bentley does.

I never think of treats in a time like that. I do praise him when he does respond to no jumping "good down" or "good sit" in a very happy voice and a good hearty belly rub. Belly rub is his Achilles heel lol. May have to keep some treats in my pocket.

That sounds like Joel until he was 1 lol. The best thing that worked for me was to keep him exercised until there was no energy left!:D

Why are you going to neuter him so early? (Just curious...)

Sounds like he loves you a lot... when I walk in the door, I allow mine about 5 minutes to spazz out before I even ask them to chill... they are just so darned happy to see me!

Careful with him in the front seat... airbags kill small dogs. I use seatbelt harnesses that snap into the seatbelt buckle, in the backseat... 4 dogs loose in the car is a road hazard!

Relax... enjoy his puppyness, it will be gone all too soon, then you'll have years to enjoy him as an adult. Puppies are only puppies for about one year!:D

I was waiting for the question about neutering. I have been doing a lot of research even before Bentley came home about early vs. late neutering. They both seem to have their draw backs. Guess like everything else in life there are pros and cons to everything. The vet also made the suggestion to neuter at this age. I questioned her up and down about her experience with neutering dogs his size. (As of last Friday's vet visit he's a whopping 5lb. 8oz. So much for the growth charts that say he would be 5.5 to 6lb. lol) And she is well experience in it. Early neuter was even the decision for her own dog. So it's been my personal decision to have him neutered prior to us dealing with leg hiking and marking.

Yes Bentley is my dog no doubt about it. I am so thankful he is not an exited peer. Otherwise I would have to cover my living room in Natures Miracle every day I come home. His second favorite person is my dad. His grand humans puppy sit while I'm at work. My mom says he follows my dad around like a shadow.:D

Front seat airbag deactivates because he is so small otherwise I would not dream of having him up front with me. Mommy's little co-pilot. lol :cool:

And yes a relish every moment(even the bad ones) of Bentley being a puppy. I am amazed at how much he has changed over just the past 2 months he's been my fur-ever baby.

I appreciate everyone's feedback. I was just a little worried I may have been doing something wrong that he seemed to go from an angel to an I'm not listening to you toddler overnight. :yelrotflm

Nope it's not you It's Bentley lol Georgie did the same thing one day he was my sweet little boy and then next day he was nipping at my socks (while on my feet) and enjoying every minute of it! BTW Georgie goes to his Grandparents too maybe they spoil them and send them back for us to deal with;)

I tease my mom that she has the joy of a dog with none of the responsibility. She really wanted a dog back when they got their last cat, but my dad wanted another cat after his Manx passed away.

Bentley loves his grand humans. :D

I say the same thing LOL! Awe that's great he gets to spend time with them:) Georgie is the same way he really loves his Granny and loves taking naps with his Poppy:)

Leg hiking and marking is not always controlled by neutering... just don't want you to be disappointed if it still happens...

Don't Make This Mistake When Scheduling Your Dog's Neutering Procedure