Today I took Levi to the soccer field to try and run all this piss and vinegar out of him that he all of a sudden has become obsessed with! Ran the tar out of him, he came home tongue on the ground, got a drink and proceeded to continue where he left off with tearing up my back yard. What should I be doing with him? It's as if the show half of his lines went nighty night and the working lines have literally taken over!! Constantly, play with me, tug with me, work with me, fight with me!! Non stop!!! Never, never, never does he seem to be content anymore. The dog doesnt seem to sleep anymore, either. At bedtime he will sit there and stare at me for an hour. Then he will plop his sloppy, wet tug on the bed next to my face! LOL!!

We literally worked about an hour between chasing the balls, going on the slides, under the poles, through the tunnels, and back again at the park. Used his chuckit, played tug with his orbee, did some obedience...you get the picture. This nice puppy that never had to be corrected has all of a sudden become a holy terror. Chewing up my yard, digging holes, torturing the other dogs and I even suspect him of stealing off the counters although I can't prove it because my female is notorious for doing so. (heaven help them if they ever get caught! :madthe wrapper was outside in the grass where Levi always lays. Kinda like HIS spot in the yard. Still, I can't prove who the culprit was so...

...you would think that tongue touching the ground would mean pooped out. Am I going to have to start kenneling this guy again? I thought we were through all that stuff! Tell me what to do guys, cuz I really dont know what I'm supposed to do with a dog that won't be still. I will mention one last thing. It appears that most of the distruction is occuring when he is not WITH ME. Either when I am gone or when I put him outside with the other dogs so that I can get stuff done. Almost like he is acting out when we are not together. Could this be a seperation type thing? GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! I've promised myself I'm going to sacrifice more time to work him but even then the exercise seems to be doing nothing for the problems. I used to be able to trust him and now I cant! Ideas please!

Sorry Robbin no bright ideas here. Folks that know or see me often think I'm crazy. When I've got a young dog of 'that age' it's done just like you scripted, only it's three times a day!

Welcome to the world of GSDs. Ain't they fun.
Randy

I'd add that "acting out because of separation" wouldn't be my first diagnosis. It'd be "destruction when the dog is bored and not being exercised (right that second, I mean) and/or not under immediate control or crated" (again, I mean right that second).

Have fun!

P.S. to the O.P.: Sometimes I think "I really have to get a puppy this time," but then a post like yours sobers me up and reminds me of how old I am. I must thank you for that.

Is this one big daily exercise thing a habit? Or did you just start it? Remember, dogs are ALL about routine. If he sees it as a blip, an anomaly, he'd enjoy it and want more, but it may not effect how he behaves when he's bored.

As you turn your workout routine into a habit, he will begin to understand that every single day, there will be a time to burn energy, to play, and to work. I firmly believe that as dogs begin to understand this, they become more calm at other times, not necessarily because you "wore them out" but because they know, even when they aren't in that mode, that "soon" they will be, and that they can relax during their off time.

If he's not in the habit of regular workouts, all he knows is he's bored and he's been bored for days and he'll be bored for days, so he might as well see what's under the next layer of dirt that used to be your lawn.

Hi, Robbin-

I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your question, but just out of curiosity, how old is Levi? (I love his name, BTW).

 Quote: kori bigge

Hi, Robbin-

I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your question, but just out of curiosity, how old is Levi? (I love his name, BTW).

Levi is a couple days shy of 14 months old. Actually, Christmas Eve will be his 14 month B-day! Just curious why you asked..

Thank you on the name, btw...we took it from the Bible. It is a Hebrew word that means "Attached or United" and here I thought it just meant jeans! Still, the name fits him as he is devoted as can be to me. Dog is up my backside 24/7 and I wouldn't have it any other way!

 Quote: robbinmann

Levi is a couple days shy of 14 months old. Actually, Christmas Eve will be his 14 month B-day! Just curious why you asked..

I just wondered b/c I've seen a few posts on dog "adolescence", and was just wondering what age he was (don't know if this has anything to do with Levi's behavior or not), mainly b/c I have a pup who will be at that stage at some point. Just wondered when I should brace myself. LOL!

P.S. Is that Levi in the sig picture? Whoever he is, he's absolutely gorgeous!

Edited by Kori Bigge (12/18/2007 09:08 PM)
Edit reason: P.S. Added

Connie,

My wife and I are in our mid 50's. We bought Hans for our son, who was 16 at the time, and some day he's going to leave the house and take Hans with him. My wife and I have already discussed this, raising a puppy is a lot of work, and when Hans leaves, we may decide to go with an adult dog (probably a GSD, I love them) that someone else has trained.

Rich

 Quote: Rich Pallechio

Connie,

My wife and I are in our mid 50's. We bought Hans for our son, who was 16 at the time, and some day he's going to leave the house and take Hans with him. My wife and I have already discussed this, raising a puppy is a lot of work, and when Hans leaves, we may decide to go with an adult dog (probably a GSD, I love them) that someone else has trained.

Rich

Well, the training isn't so much the thing.... I usually end up with a badly-trained or untrained adoptee anyway (because that's often the reason the dog needs a new home). It's the energy level.