Do pups have a naughty phase?

[Andrew556]

Hi, my 6month old collie x is getting very disobedient. She is usually really attentive and does pretty much whats shes told, but lately she is ignoring me.

Previously, she would come when called, or if not, me makeing a noise and running usually got her back but now if i take her for a walk and let her off her leash she will only stay by me for 5 minutes and then she'll run . I dont run after her, but if i call her and she hears me,she just runs away and into a bush or something. She keeps a distance between me and her.

Do dogs have a naughty stage as they are growing up? will she grow out of it? Is she testing me? Any ideas?

[Andrew556]

Forgot to add, i do 'recall training' but do you think its too early letting her off her lead and is putting her on her lead once ive caught her a good punishment for running off? Sooo many questions.......

[Shalva]

yes and yes
yes they do have a naughty stage just like human children and yes she is testing you

Now is a good time for some obedience training and work to reinforce that she has to listen to you. I would find a good training center and get her renrolled before you have an adolescent brat on your hands.....

I dont know much about collies and their stages so I am sure someone here cna give you more breed specific information but right now she is enterring late childhood and up through age 2 she will be an adolescent and then I dont know how fast collies mature.... my breed (fcr) generally stay bratty and childlike their entire lives and dont mature.....

NILIF (nothing in life is free) is a great way to reinforce that you are the boss ..... that can be started very simply by making her do something and earn everything.... ie. sit for a treat, down at the door to go out, sit for dinner, stay before you throw the toy.... you get the idea..... we all must work to support ourselves and dogs can do the same thing.... this will help reinforce good behavior and manners.....

I also want to add that I think that 6 mos. is way to young to be off leash in any place that is not contained..... if you want her to be able to run and frolic at a beach or park it may be worth having her on a long line, generally I think that 6 mos is a big time baby and she is not trustworthy at this age.... she doesn't mean to blow you off but she is just beginning to experience indepenance and there are lots of things to see and smell and she gets distracted.....

I would NOT put her on leash as punishment.... you may end up teaching her not to come back to you because if she does she will be put on leash..... it may end up making the situation worse..... instead what I would do is go to a contained place with some great treats and EVERY time she comes to you she gets a treat..... every single time..... and once she has that down then start working on that and then start varying when she gets a treat... sometimes she gets one and sometimes she doesnt... with her getting a treat more times than not and then start spreading it out more..... this will make it so she never knows when she will get a treat.... and use a treat that she never gets any other time.......

and a good training class will go far in helping you to maintain a good relationship with your dog and help her to learn the good manners and behaviors that will make living together very happy.
good luck
S

[rmci]

I agree with Shalva, just like kids dogs will test their boundaries now and then. Be patient and keep working with her.

[mrsgrubby]

Ok, I would not let her off her leash at this young age unless she is in a fenced in area like a yard or tennis court. If you want to give her more room to run put her on a long lead, like 20 feet. You can use clothesline rope or buy a long lead. Then when you call her to come, you can reel her back in and thus enforce the command.
Never give her a command you can not enforce. Otherwise she will learn that she doesn't have to listen. So at this point I would only call her to come when you have her on a lead or rope. Then praise her like crazy and give her a treat for coming.
She might not actually be trained to the "recall command" yet, but rather to the lure, either the clapping of hands or running backwards, or whatever, but not the command. That is another reason why it is soooo important to give her a treat when she actually comes after calling her.
After she gets good at coming back on the 20 footer, I'd take her to a field and let her drag it around. Then when you call her you can still get her to come if you need to grab the end of it.
I'd also always carry GOOD treats in your pocket for "recall" rewards. A very special yummy treat that is the recall treat. Then she will be more inclined to stick by you hoping to get a special yummy treat.

[Andrew556]

Thanx Shalva, Ill try more recall training and leave her on leash. Think ill invest in the longest one i can coz i feel so mean not letting her explore where she wants.

[Carrie]

Shalva, Mrsgrubby gave you great advice. Always make coming to you the greatest thing she can ever imagine. LOL. (No matter what.) Don't end the fun right after she comes to you. Dogs do go through stages. They would like to do their own thing sometimes and get very distracted easily, so you have to beef up ways to make paying attention and complying with your commands very fun and interesting....motivating and rewarding.

[brandysmama]

Brandy went through an interesting phase around 8 months. She'd pretty much been housebroken at that point, but she would just randomly poop in various rooms throughout the house. And it wasn't because she hadn't gone out, either. I kind of wonder if she was "marking her territory," because she didn't do it anymore after that brief spurt. It was just like once in each room she could get into.

But yeah, I'd be reluctant to let your dog run loose at this point. The positive reinforcement with a treat is a good idea.

[crazy_puppy]

Oh great, the teen stage! I'm going through the same thing with my GSD, it will pass. Just make sure you let her know that no matter what, whatever you say goes. She is testing you, and is at that age where you cant let her get away with anything! Keep postive and keep on keepin' on!

Good luck

[Andrew556]

Great advice guys, didnt think about some of the points mentioned. Also glad everyones dog had simialar phases, well glad for me anyway. Pups do some funny things and can be a right pain in the arse, but cant help lovin them!

Thanx for your time guys!!

[Charlie_boy]

So what is a good age to let them off the lead? Charlie is almost 10 months now and is good off the lead if he doesnt feel he has too much energy but you get to know your dog i guess and we seem to do pretty well as a team. He has his moment though i have to admit, like shouting demands at me every now and then, he certainly rules our house sometimes. Well to a certain extent, hes like a moody teenager lol
Sharon and Charlie

[2ndchance]

At that age they become more inquisitive and less frightened. Chasing a squirrel or anything else is more interesting than being with you. I would not let her off lead until she is one hundred percent obedient in her recall. Don't use the come command until she knows it. If she is off lead and you tell her to come at this stage, she will learn that come means nothing as you have no leash to reel her in with. Use a twenty foot lead to give her some run time but make sure she is attched to it whenever you give the come command. If at this point she has realized the come means nothing, start training with a different command , like her name and Here.

[linnie]

"DO PUPS HAVE A NAUGHTY STAGE"

Is the Pope Catholic? roflmao
My pups are still naughty and one of them is in her 19th year

[MazieDog]

Mazie, at 23 weeks, is now starting to go through her naughty phase... She won't listen to me and is getting into and chewing on everything. She's afraid of the strangest things... books, paper bags, pieces of paper... little things like that. How long does this stage normally last in a pup? It's hard teaching her new things when she won't listen to the things I've already taught her...lol...Guess it's time for obedience class, eh?

[RIo&Nickysmommy]

Oh Boy my two are bothe four. Nicky just turned four. But the two of them are like children they have their naughty stages for sure. I just make sure they know who is incharge here. Actually it is proabably them but I try not to let them know it. I laugh because all I say to them is does Mommy have to get up in a stern voice and they both go and lay down. I never hit them or anything. See I am always happy with them but when moms voice changes they know I mean business. Inside I am giggling but outside I seem strong. My two Cocker boys are just like kids. They will try to test the waters if I let them
Rio&Nickysmommy