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Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - 1:25 PM
Hello Army,
My name is Shelley Martin and I live in Maine. I want to thank you for accepting emails from people and I also thank you for providing so much information on Goldendoodles for us. I presently have two standard poodles, ages six and seven, and just recently adopted a three year old Goldendoodle named Riley. One of my Clients owned him and when I would call on her business, Riley would literally almost break her door down (he weighs 90 pounds) trying to come see me. Whenever the family would go on vacation, I would sit for them and basically Riley was getting absolutely no love from them, no walks, car rides, running around or anything. I live on a lake and although this family has a beautiful "camp" on the same lake, they would leave Riley home and make trips back to let him out to relieve him and feed him.
Finally, after a year of convincing them their life would be much better with a cat and Riley needed obedience training and a family that included him in everything, the much waited for came asking me if I wanted to adopt him! I am in my second week and basically Riley doesn't leave my side even when I go to use the bathroom! I don't mind, though, because my two Standard Poodles are pretty much the same and they all get along.
My question is, where should I look for the best site on Goldendoodles, what should I know and expect and are all Goldendoodles high strung like Riley is?! Literally, every single doodle I have ever met is not disciplined, they mouth, they jump up and I wonder why? I definitely have calmed Riley down in two weeks, but I still have a ways to go and we start basic obedience next week. I am working with my Standard Poodle’s instructor who trained us to compete in obedience and agility. Riley and I will begin with the Beginner's Class. :-}
Please let me know some of what I need to know and where to find it and again, thank you so much for all that you do for others and me!
Truly, Shelley
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snippy temperment
Dear Army,
I immensely thank you for this Q&A web site as I am feeling a little concerned and confused. I have owned goldens, labs and golden/lab mixes with much success and enjoyment. Recently we welcomed a male goldendoodle to our family that includes 3 children and an 11yr old golden/Lab mix. This puppy is unpredictably snippy, growly and dominate and has been since he was 9 weeks old! (now 6 months old). He is very smart, mostly obedient, no house destruction/chewing, no food or toy guarding and we are following the NILF program (which has helped a lot, but not completely, with the dominate issue). He has had puppy manners classes and will start obedience classes once he recovers from his neuter (planned for this Friday). Every day he has 3 pack walks, swims and plays in our yard with the kids. What's the problem? Although we have, and continue to, socialize him to many situations (parks, little league games, city strolls, country hikes etc.) and ask everyone we meet to help us by greeting him, he is still growly and barky to strangers AND even people he has met before. It's mostly one-on-one interactions. People walking to their car, talking inside their house, mowing their lawn, jogging by. But not with dogs or in areas with a large amount of people like LL games, parades. Here's my BIG problem: when this extends to people in our house. Barking/growling meanly at the kids or me or at the street through an open door or at our other dog without provocation. I could sit next to him one time with no problem and get snarled/snapped at the next time. (this is without any touching and I know all about the sleeping dog thing. He's not sleeping). This is very disconcerting to me because I have 3 kids and their friends. I include the kids in training sessions, but it's clear he considers them on equal footing even following the NILF program. I cannot have a dog that bites. Does this sound aggressive to you or a dominate issue? Will his neuter help? I need direction to help keep my children safe. I never had a puppy that was such a brat. HELP! And thank you so much for the long post and in advance for an answer.
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Hyper and No Manners
Hello Army,
My name is Shelley Martin and I live in Maine. I want to thank you for accepting emails from people and I also thank you for providing so much information on Goldendoodles for us. I presently have two standard poodles, ages six and seven, and just recently adopted a three year old Goldendoodle named Riley. One of my Clients owned him and when I would call on her business, Riley would literally almost break her door down (he weighs 90 pounds) trying to come see me...
Army-
Having the scent on you of the two poodles age six and seven contributes also to the state of arousal or excitement in the dog. .
Shelly-
Whenever the family would go on vacation, I would sit for them and basically Riley was getting absolutely no love from them, no walks, car rides, running around or anything. I live on a lake and although this family has a beautiful "camp" on the same lake, they would leave Riley home and make trips back to let him out to relieve him and feed him.
Army-
Unfortunately, neglect is common among many dog owners.
Shelley-
Finally, after a year of convincing them their life would be much better with a cat and Riley needed obedience training and a family that included him in everything, the much waited for came asking me if I wanted to adopt him! I am in my second week and basically Riley doesn't leave my side even when I go to use the bathroom! I don't mind, though, because my two Standard Poodles are pretty much the same and they all get along.
My question is, where should I look for the best site on Goldendoodles, what should I know and expect and are all Goldendoodles high strung like Riley is?! I will address all that in a moment. Literally, every single doodle I have ever met is not disciplined, they mouth, they jump up and I wonder why? I definitely have calmed Riley down in two weeks, but I still have a ways to go and we start basic obedience next week. I am working with my Standard Poodle’s instructor who trained us to compete inobedience and agility. Riley and I will begin with the Beginner's Class. :-}
Please let me know some of what I need to know and where to find it and again, thank you so much for all that you do for others and
me!
Truly, Shelley
Army-
Dear Shelley,
I personally think doodles are a product of their environment and conditioning. If you define “high strung” as active, I think doodles are similar to Golden Retrievers. They thrive on greeting and interacting with other dogs, as well as people. They are not lethargic like a
Basset Hound, but also they are not like a working breed with a high working drive like a Border Collie. I think all dogs have specific energy levels and each breed has certain exercise needs that must be met. I will give you a few ideas to think about.
First, we must acknowledge that you have acquired a dog with prior behavioral conditioning that already has learned associations. Now, it is your job and responsibility to address the conditioning you wish the dog to learn. Once identified, this in turn will eliminate
the unwanted behavioral issues.
Typically, before I ever even begin discussing training with clients, I first will always address the environment, exercise and diet of the dog. Does the dog have a confined area where it can be left alone during the day or at night that is safe and secure? Secondly, does the dog have a crate that it can be confined inside the home? In my opinion, every dog should learn to be confined in a crate. There are numerous reasons for this which I will be addressing in a future article.
Also, a well balanced diet is so important. I personally feed my dog a raw food diet. This contains no added sugars, wheat or other ingredients that dogs turn into sugars. And finally, an appropriate level of physical activity is important for dogs to burn off the calories
they consume and keep them physically fit.
Every dog comes to us with certain energy levels. As their owners and friends, it is our responsibility to let them burn that energy off in an appropriate manner. All the things you describe above are all typical of a dog that has had little or no restrictions or has had a
constructive outlet for its natural behaviors. Whenever I train any animal, I always look at one big factor that will help me train - “Motivation”. Sounds like you have a dog that wants to be around its owner, has lots of energy, is starved for attention, and is willing to
please.
So, where do you start? You will be like Michael Angelo looking at a new piece of marble.
First, get the dog properly acclimated to the leash. I never use choke chains or any form of severe collars. In my opinion, these damage the throat more often than not. Second, crate train the dog. Be sure that you don’t use the crate as a punishment. Use it so
you can safely confine the dog so it learns to be alone as well as becomes acclimated to having its “own space”. As a good friend and great dog trainer once told me “Make the crate something the dog gets to do, not something it has to do.” And, lastly, find a way to
properly exercise the dog daily so it will help burn off the energy in an appropriate manner.
So in conclusion I suggest exercise for your dog and get more involved in training including structured exercise as well as a proper diet.
Hope this answers your concerns , Army
http://www.animalconditioning.com
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