defiant behavior after being trained
 

hello all, i have a 7 month old female who was doing great with everything up until 1 week ago. she is litter trained and was also allowed to roam the home even at night without any problems at all she didnt even really chew anything up except for paper which was once in a while. all of a sudden she has been peeing outside of the litterbox directly right in front of it no matter how many times she gets told not too etc. she even peed in our hallway today. she has been crated all over again like when training first began and has been barking and just throwing a fit while in there as well no matter what is done for her to stop. she would never do this at all besides a little wimper here and there. she has also been not listening at all to any commands or directions. we never had too bad of a time with chewing stuff but in the last week she chewed about 7 playstation controllers, a warming blaket cord and pretty much anything she sees. she just has this wierd attitude that is just scarry. she is just not at all herself.

I have reverted back to the crate training and only allowing her out while on leash to pee and eat etc and for some play time. she cant be trusted for anything other than this at this time.

what could possibly be going on?

She sounds stressed over something. Dogs aren't like people= they don't do things like urinate on rugs or chew up stuff to irritate or get back at us. They do it because they are communicating in the only way they have that something is wrong. Have a vet check her out to be sure there is nothing physical going on. Then, if everything's ok, increase her exercise. She may just need more exercise, and keeping her in the crate could make her worse. Have you tried keeping her on a leash with you inside the house, so that you can monitor her potty, chewing behaviors? Good luck.

I expect that it's hormones at that age.

The advice to exercise her more was a very good suggestion. I'd also give her more to chew on. I personally like rawhide although I know that many here don't. Be sure to reward good behavior - pottying appropriately, chewing on her own stuff. Don't just give negative consequences. Behavior that is rewarded will increase in frequency.

She's a teenager. Who knows what goes on in their heads. LOL.
I can assure you it is not defiance. Dogs do not act defiantly.

GiGi started acting out like that. We were in training at the time, and our trainer said it's puppy puberty. It's hormonal, and it affects their memory and attention span. She said that we would need to adopt the mantra *this too shall pass*, and start over at the very beginning for a little while, just like you are doing.

It's sad, our trainer said that puppy puberty is one of the main reasons so many dogs end up in shelters at the age of 7 months to 9 months....... their owners don't understand that puppies go through this stage.

Yes it's just the teenage stage :rolleyes:

At least it's not so bad when they're little, it's much worse with a big breed honest! :(

My Ninna has recessed to something similar recently. I thought it was 100% due to the new addition to the family (Tiffany) but after reading this thread I am sooo relieved that it may be her hormones... there is hope for us after all!
Good luck to you!
Keep us updated!!

Ahhhh! Howie is only 5.5 months old, so I'm wondering if he's going through "puberty." He was doing really well with his potty training (about 80%) and for the past couple of days he's been peeing anywhere and everywhere! I thought he didn't want to use his old pads, so I would constantly change them (that was a problem at one point). But, that didn't resolve the issue. I do'nt get it! I will show him exactly where to go, sometimes I'll even move him there. Out of 20 times of peeing, he only went on the pad once, which I rewarded him greatly for. But, still back to the same ol thing. Also, he's been barking at things a lot more now. :( Any other suggestions? Or just begin to retrain?

I would think about neutering Howie, after I called the vet. I waited until Max was 7.5 months old when he started to do that and was worried that I waited too long, but he's begun to go more and more on the paper again. My vet told me that it can take up to 3 months for the testosterone to leave their systems and the marking should stop
altogether.

His behavior is also like the rest of you described. He's a teenager. I also read somewhere that they go through their second teething at this age. Thank goodness I was a high school teacher and am used to dealing with teenagers.
I have never been so stern with Max as I am now. Teens need boundaries on top of boundaries and then they still try to push the envelope.

Judy

Great points! I'm having the same issue with my little guy, and I think I'm going to call today to schedule his neutering. We were waiting for his second testicle to descend (so he didn't have to have a more extensive surgery) - but I'm not certain that it's going to before he drives me to the nut house. He's 8 months old.

I am planning to neuter him soon; we have an appointment to see the vet this weekend. But, he's been doing a lot better with peeing on his pads. I think he just may have been frustrated for a couple of days. But, what hasn't stopped is his waking in the middle of the night barking. I'm really curious as to what and why he is barking.

I suspect (for some odd reason) that there may be a mouse in the house (I've had one in the past). I'm afraid he sees one and not sure what to do? Do you think all yorkies will go for it? Or, maybe he's a chicken and won't. But, sometimes I just see him looking at the top of my dresser and he's barking. I move things around if I feel like he's focused on something, but it'll take him awhile to calm down. Any ideas?

Good luck with the neutering. It's scary for us moms, but Max was just fine. He slept all of the next day, was tired and had a little less energy for the next couple of days (not that he didn't run around), and then he was fine.

Max only barks when he hears things - I can't always hear them, but maybe your house is haunted? Seriously, he may be just hearing a mouse in the walls.
Ask the vet what to do. You don't want to leave poison for the mouse, if that's what it is, because if he catches it, he'll ingest the poison. I would let it go for a while and it will stop.

Keep us posted.

Judy

Update
 

Well Sox seemed to calm down some in the last few days. I went back to starter training and she didnt like that one bit. i let her do her own thing this morning and she did fine all day.

I however noticed the following:

She acts up more when my husband is home. he works a lot during the week so he is not around and its just me my 1 yr old and the puppy. she seems to do excellent during the week but on weekends she is bad.

I also found out this past friday that I am pregnant and have been for about a month now and i wonder if she senses that or not.

She is doing better and hopefully we wont have too many of these stages!

Congratulations! What wonderful news. I hope you have a wonderful pregnancy. The dog may sense it, but you still have 8 months for her to get used to it,

Judy

I HAVE to agree - and lol on the teenager comment - I agree !!! Try to be patient - she may sense you're upset with her and that only makes things worse...She's still a puppy :)