Afternoon Aggression-Help!

[Guest Anonymous]

Two weeks ago we adopted a 7-month-old beagle/foxhound mix from the shelter. She is the sweetest dog in the world in the morning, but she turns into the biggest brat in the late afternoon and evening. I am home with her all day, so I have the "honor" of seeing the Jekyll/Hyde transition.

I can't identify a trigger; she just seems to become bored with obedience and starts jumping, barking, nipping hard, etc.

I've been trying to increase her exercise regimen but have met with resistance. She has no interest in her toys until the witching hour begins. She would rather crack her windpipe than walk on a standard collar/leash, and she constantly paws at her gentle-leader to the point she's now scratched her muzzle.

We start obedience classes in two weeks, but any ideas or suggestions for the meantime would be much appreciated. I don't know what to do.

[Carolk9s]

Hi Pipersmom,
First, congrats to you for adopting this pup! Perhaps I should say this 'teenaged' pup! :D
How often are you practicing obedience with her? How long do your sessions last each time? Being that she is at 'that age' where dogs just wanna have fun, keep your sessions short, no more than 10 minutes at a time. You can still practice 4-5 times each day but you want short happy sessions. Always try to end a session with a success, even if you have to go WAY back to something she has known for days and days or will reliably do for you. Even something so simple as asking your pup to make eye contact with you, like a 'LOOKIE' command. I still praise my dogs when I ask for eye contact and get it. You want your pup to think 'gee this is fun!' After training, do you play with your pup a bit, throw a ball, play tug, whatever? I feel having a play session after a training session is a good thing. Do you use food training treats in your sessions? I like using food during training but some do not. If you do use food, remember to treat EACH time as your pup is learning a NEW behaviour. Once you can reasonably feel that your pup KNOWS the behaviour, start giving a treat just every other time and give verbal/physical praise the other time. Gradually phase out the food treats but keep up the verbal/physical praise.
I don't have experience with a dog that alters from morning to afternoon so I'm not sure what to say for that. Is it possible that you are putting too much stress on the pup by training too often or for too long each time?
Lets see what other minds on this list have to say.

[Guest Anonymous]

Thank you for the response, Carolk9s. From your advice, I wonder if my approach to training is not proactive or focused enough. I've been so busy trying to be consistent on the basics that I've perhaps neglected her formal education.

With the exception of some simple commands (sit, wait, take it, etc.), I don't really hold "training sessions." I wait for her to spontaneously do something good (chew on a bone, lay quietly, etc.) and then reward her with treats, rubs and/or praise. When she does something undesirable (jump onto the couch, jump on people, etc.), I try to cut it off with an appropriate command and redirect her attention to something I can praise her for.

The "Ghandi approach," as my husband calls it, works until her afternoon spaz fit. Then, there seems to be no stopping her until she decides she wants to quit.

I originally had planned to limit her initial education to the most important commands, and wait to learn the trainer's techniques before teaching the more advanced skills. But perhaps she isn't being challenged enough? Or maybe she's just being a puppy?

[Carolk9s]

Well of course one of the most important things your pup should learn is that its 'because I said so!' :D Just like children, she'll need boundaries. I think you would be doing alright by starting her 'formal' education now, I did with Candy and was so proud of her in class as she already had some basic ideas of what I wanted of her.
The trainers style may be something you want to emulate, or it may not. We ALL train just a tiny bit differently, a smile, a pat, a different inflection in the voice. You can certainly adopt ways that you see in the trainer if they fit you and your dog. But always remember, this is you and YOUR dog. There were some lessons I modified for my dog, I'm far from an expert but have done this before :lol: so I decided on what would work best for my dog and what would not. So many little things, such as if I am putting my dog on a stay and I will return to the dogs side, I use the word STAY. If I want my dog to stay briefly then come when I call, I use the word WAIT instead. Just my preference, can certainly be done using just one word.

[Guest Anonymous]

I will be enrolling Scooter in training classes but am not sure on wether or not to start some basics before them.

[Guest Anonymous]

I am 11 years old and do not have very much time at all to train Scooter. I have 5 hours of homework EVERY DAY!! When is probably the best time for me to hold a "training session?" Right after when I get home for school? This may be good because both of us are in a good mood then. I am not stressed over homework yet, and Scooter is in a good mood because he is happy to see me. I think I might have just answered my question. Please reply with any ideas anyway though.

[Dad4duchess]

Scooter&Me napisał(a):

I am 11 years old and do not have very much time at all to train Scooter. I have 5 hours of homework EVERY DAY!! When is probably the best time for me to hold a "training session?" Right after when I get home for school? This may be good because both of us are in a good mood then. I am not stressed over homework yet, and Scooter is in a good mood because he is happy to see me. I think I might have just answered my question. Please reply with any ideas anyway though.

Do it when you feel comfortable and stick to that time 8)

[Guest Anonymous]

After I finished my reply, i realized I had answered my own question! :oops: :oops: :oops: