She started to lose her teeth a couple weeks ago,she is 19 weeks old (today actually), and she has turned into a little Hellion the past week or so. Very mouthy, chewy, and very testy with her limits?

She will do what she is told then just bark at me in protest?? I don't want to correct her for doing what was done correct, just the barking??

She also seems to be getting a little domineering (Dominant doesn't seem like the correct word here) over my G.F. as well. We socialize her all of the time with dogs and people, different place, walks in woods, in town and she has been fine wih new people, but the other day she was very aggressive towards two of my G.F's friends (both Male). Think it is all part of her teething and moody'ness?? She wouldn't even let them pet her or take a treat when they were allowed to giver her one?

Just moody because of the teething??

She usually gets plenty of fun-time/exercise with my buddies Fila puppy and adult male. So that tires her out and usually calms her down, but not recently??

Thanks for the info. Oh, LAB puppy

ADam

Adam, are you raising this Lab puppy by the rules below ?

http://www.leerburg.com/puppygroundwork.htm

And did you get this DVD ?

http://www.leerburg.com/120.htm

Yeah, rad the articles here, tons of them and I have read about 10 or 12 books on dogs/pppies/Schutzhund Ect..

But I can't remember reading about teething period.

I got the Basic Obedience DVD..

I read in a thread just recently about using frozen carrots during teething. Maybe to peak her interest, tie a string on the end and make it into a toy, then let her chew away and ease her achin' gums.

I'm actually going to add a thank you for posting about your challenges. I've been finding myself in fantasy land on occasion about how "perfectly" my puppy rearing will be and of course I snap into reality and intellectually *know* the challenges, but it's nice to be reminded outside my own mind.

Good luck with your pup.

Well, she's not quite 5 months old yet, so I would concentrate all your efforts on living by Ed's Puppy Groundwork rules & his DVD "Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months" for the time being <:-) Teething is not really the problem, IMHO

No teething?? Ok, just Puppy'hood then?? Gets so Frustrating? One day she is great and it seems like al of the time in training/socializing and such is well worth it, then "BANG" new day and it feels like it has all gone to SH#t?? I know it will get better and better but everbody likes to think that their experience will go better. And this is really first dog that I have trained by myself and every little thing getsme wondering/thinking about ten other things that could go wrong, not just training, but health and everything else.

I'll try the carrot trick.

Thanks for the info guys..

Adam

Hi Adam,
I really feel for you - my puppy Nickie just turned 5 months old - yesterday was a very good day with him - he walked nicely in the morning with no problems, slept most of the day in the crate with no problems, played and went thru his little obedience lessons with no problems, and then WHAM! Today was a new day and he is acting just terrible! He wanted to be let out every two hours all day long (my husband works nights and sleeps during the day while I'm at work so that did not go over very well.) Then when I got home and put a quick dinner on the table and took Nickie out to play, he started acting very aggressive, mouthy, biting, etc. etc. He did not want to play, just nip, bark, jump up at me, etc. etc. If it isn't his teething, then I'm about at my wits end! I noticed that where he nipped at my pants leg, there was a little blood (not from me - but from his teeth or gums). Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this puppy craziness!

Yup that's my girl Bella (pictured). Must be the puppy'hood and teething thing all in one?? I'm gonna try the rolled up rags frozen and the carrot thing with her.

She is all about being a "wise-guy" the past few days???
I know that she needs lots of stimulation from play and such becasue her parents are high energy dogs that are used in some sort of field/hunting trials and real-life situations. The breeder had told us that the pups from these litters are super-active. She's nothing like the rest of the "coffee-Table" labs that I have known before. I can only imagine what my soon-to-have GSD pup will be like. Hopefully I'm learning something now about training, if only patience, HA?
Oh well, I guess I'll just ahve to push through it.

Thanks for the info.

ADam

Do what you said, just push through it, it will pass. As long as in the meantime you continue to do groundwork with her and exercise a gentle but firm "I'm the boss" attitude. I'm not the greatest dog leader in the world, so speaking from that place, there are good days and days of rebellion. I know the "wise-guy" mode The days (or moments) of rebellion are getting fewer and further between cause I'm learning along with my pup; learning how to be a better leader for such a high energy/drive dog.

It also sounds like the teething is really bothering her, so your efforts in that area would be good too. I know some dogs have a terrible time with it.

Your Bella is absolutely beautiful, definitely "bella". When I first saw her, I gasped cause she looks like a dog I had a few years ago (she was a mix but always looked like a chocolate lab), who lived to be 14 yrs. Very high energy, crazy, and sweet as she could be. She looked like that as a puppy.

Bayley was like that too, around the same time. Every now and then she has a what I can best call a 'spaz attack' where she runs around me as fast as she can go and won't let me catch her. I don't worry too much because this is in a fenced yard. Fortunately these little attacks happen quite infrequently now and I just stand in one place and ignore her until she quiets down. I think most of the time it's my fault and usually happens if I haven't been able to take her for enough exercise.