Five-and-a-half-month-old Harry leash wrestles; he tugs and bites it. It’s in one set of circumstances only. At the end of his walk, when they they get to the entrance of the park, Harry goes into some sort of frenzy. Flying about nipping, he attacks the lead and tugs at it as he swings about, growling.
They made a list for me of things that get her stirred up and vocal. It includes barking any time one of them goes through the dog gate without her, when someone goes into the garden without her, when they empty the kitchen bin. She is vocal when a dog comes on TV. She will bark if anyone gets up suddenly or they call to one another. She has developed a fear of the freezer door and barks when it’s opened…it goes on and on.
Like many people, they have believed and read online that more exercise and stimulation is needed to make him ‘good’, when actually it’s the very opposite. Winston needs more mental enrichment and just as much time spent on him – if not more – but what they do during this time needs to be different.
It’s after his third walk, before their tea, that the trouble starts.
Why does a young dog start jumping, grabbing clothes and causing chaos around the house?
German Shepherd Kerry is bored.
Kerry
Although it’s natural for adult dogs to sleep for up to eighteen hours a day, this is only so if the rest of the time is filled with stuff natural to the dog – and its breed. Sleep probably won’t be in long blocks of enforced inaction during the day, but dozing between doing other things.
Young dogs in particular need action and fulfilment (just like young humans) or they get bored.
Kerry is a beautiful eighteen-month-old German Shepherd living with another GSD, Lemmy, aged four. They are both gorgeous dogs with lovely, friendly basic temperaments.
Young Kerry, unfortunately, probably isn’t getting enough action in her life and she’s very easily aroused. I saw this by how the smallest thing results in her leaping at someone, me in this case – grabbing my clothes and even hair with her teeth. (more…)
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