Our puppy is driving us up the wall. Wants family together/lunges at other dogs

We've been having a grand time with Fern except over the last two days where he seems to have decided to cause a bit of mayhem.

We both walk him together and he has been pretty good - but lately if we walk to the supermarket, OH will go in and I will wait outside with Fern - Fern has decided to go ballistic if OH leaves him, regardless that I am with him, trying to distract him with treats. If I cross the road before OH and Fern -Fern will go ballistic again and try to tear across the road to get to me.

As soon as either of us get ahead or go into a building he doesn't cope - regardless that he still has one of us with him. In fact he will walk at a 30 degree angle next to OH, refusing the 'foot' command to try and get to me.

It doesn't matter where we are - OH was two metres away from Fern ordering some drinks for us at the local and Fern went mental.

It's driving us insane - he tends to be so upset he ignores treats and distraction.

He's not playing nice with other puppies at the moment either - he lunged and growled at a wee jack russell that was off lead, the owner didn't take the dog away from Fern so Fern got very upset and jumped at the jack russell while tangling my legs with the lead in the process which led me to fall and land on Fern while the owner stood staring at me. Somehow I walked away from this feeling that the whole thing was my fault - And he didn't obey a single command on the way home, even with a treat in front of his nose - until we got into the garden and then he was an angel

Time to call the vet to ask them why it's taken so long for us to be placed in their puppy training classes.

xi

Anyone got any tips?

Many thanks.

Hi Ingrid. Sorry you're having slight probs with Fern. I would suggest you take him for short walks separately, as you seem to have always been out together with him? You must socialise him with other dogs and other people, so that he doesn't just "cling" to the pair of you.

Can you not take him out on your own just down the road and back and maybe the next morning get hubby to do the same? He must get used to having just one of you around at times, even out on a walk. You're lucky, I always have to drag my o/h out with us! The dogs didn't want to go out with him in the mornings the last 3 days, and in fact, Georgie wouldn't budge from my bedside, but in the end my husband managed to persuade him. Don't forget he has to get used to everything you do, not the other way around! I would strongly suggest it's tackled now before he gets even bigger! Good luck, hopefully you will have some good advice from everyone else, but that's just my suggestion.

MC my best advice if it`s any good to you it is a puppy mix with people mix with other dogs let your friends walk with your puppy otherwise it will get fixed to only one person don`t want that do you or as helen said that`s a good idea as well

Thanks Helen, the weird thing is, he does get a mix, OH and I walk him together in the evening, and I walk him on my own during the day - we do it like this given the type of town we live in, not so safe for a girl to be out on her own at night - but I think for the sake of your suggestion, I will get OH to take Fern out in the evenings without me and see how he gets on. Thanks appreciate it

It's strange because he was fine with an elderly beagle bitch a few days ago, and another GSD pup, but he just went mental at this Jack Russell, I think perhaps that it was off lead might have put him on edge - I suspect Fern of liking to be the boss

You are right, it is essential to get him mixing - we have been calling the vet regularly saying when can we be placed but they keep saying in a few weeks they will know more. Our biggest problem is transport as we don't have UK licences so travelling is a real pain, we need something local. The vet offered one on one training but this is no good to us as he needs to be with other puppies. We will get there.

We have a welcomed relief of my outlaws arriving this week and I think the children and different mix of people will be good for Fern.

xi

Trust me we soo do not want a clingy dog

He's getting used to our neighbours which is good, and he likes the rubbish lady for some reason and the pet store owner is his favourite because he gets treats - he's just a food tart really. He also loves the guy who runs the local hardware store

Thanks Fred, we're working on it for sure.

Can't give any advice really never owned a GSD,but just to let you know that I think all puppies can be so stubbron at times that it can really get to you,Zanta can be a nightmare,if she doesn't want to come in the house after her walk we find it really hard to convince her otherwise,we are just using the treat and reward and now getting a little firmer and pulling quite hard easier with a harness and slowly but surely we are getting there,other times we jog to keep her mind distracted,I think you just have to keep on and the advice sounds really good,he is just feeling his feet,but stay in charge I am sure he will be fine.We all go through it you are not alone Good luck.

He sounds like a normal GSD puppy to me. They are very vocal & it as I have said many times easy to mistake the growly play noise for a full on growl unless you have had other GSDs.

When Roy is playing with Abbie the GSD she sounds to an outsider like she is attacking him, she isn't it's just play. They can get very rugh & bearing in mind Abbie weighed in at 58 kilos in April(hopefully less now)& Roy is just 14 kilos so there is a vast difference between them, she could easily hurt him, but never does.

GSDs do tend to be physical when they play & I always tell people with puppies not to play with your hands as they can get carried away & hurt when nipping, better to play with a tuggie or ball on a rope so your hands are out of the way

Fern isn't too young to do 5 minutes formal training a day so it might be a time to practice a sit & down on command so that if he does start being naughty you can go into training mode. If you can't take him out on your own safely then do a little no more than 5 minutes at a time heelwork & sit & down training in your garden. Start & end with a game of tuggie or fetch so he associated training with pleasant things

If there is a local dog training club go ago & have a chat with the trainers, we allow people with very young puppies to come along & just sit & watch & socialize(must admit that's what I do ) as training should be done away from the club as well as at the club. LOL clubs are really there to teach you how to train your dog & sort out any problems that you may encounter The actual training is down to you & your OH

Ingrid, have you got a NZ license ? If so, I think you can drive here ok, I had an aussie license and I drove on that for 12 months then you surrender it to the DVLA who will exhange it for a full UK license. Anyway I’m guessing that the NZ rules would apply along with the Aussie ones.

Similarly if your husband is an EU citizen (I’m guessing he is) shouldn’t be able to drive here? As our UK licenses allow us to drive to there.

That’s my thought for the day … now to go back and argue with a spreadsheet….some days I hate accounts.

I agree with accounts!

I was suppose to change my NZ licence over before the first year ended but didn't, totally my fault for forgetting and my international 1 year licence has expired - I need to double check this but I think I have to have a valid international before I can swap my licence over for a british one, but I really need to check this - I thought that I would have to go back to NZ to get a international one issued then exchange on my return

Not sure - but worthwhile looking into....

Ssh....don't tell OH I told you....he doesn't know how to drive The rules were when he & his siblings were teenagers, his parents said they would pay for driving lessons for each of them if they didn't smoke, so his siblings lied to his parents and said they didn't smoke and got their lessons paid for and qualified - my OH was an honest teenager and said he did smoke, therefore lost out for being truthful......

I'm glad he was honest - he has alot of integrity, my wonderful husband He no longer smokes either, thanks to meeting a certain kiwi girl

Hi JD

He has formal training daily which he really enjoys and tires him which is always a good thing

We are awaiting to be accept into a training class at our local vet - not sure why but it seems like they are having a vacation from it for a bit but really really want to start soon - am chasing them again to see what's going on.

Thanks for the info.

x