puppy owners, I need HELP

lilpiglet

ok, so we got a boxer puppy, he's now 3.5 months old and BAD, no matter what we do, he doesn't listen, I know he's still a puppy and I understand that, but when will he start to listen?  He's destroyed 3 pairs of my GOOD shoes already, lost count on how many toys of DS's he's destroyed, DS#2's bottles, ect. It's like he doesn't care, we tell him no, redirect him and as soon as you turn your back he goes back to doing what he got in trouble for to begin with.  And when will he get the hole concept of going to the bathroom OUTSIDE.  I take him out every half hour-hour and he'll either just sit on the porch and cry to go in, or he'll take off down the driveway, then as soon as you get him back inside and close the door, he's peeing or pooping on the floor!! I had him outside this morning in the snow for over an hour waiting for him to go and he wouldn't, got inside and turned around and he squatted on the floor and went.  I'm at a loss on what to do, DH says if he doesn't straighten up, then he's either becoming an outside dog or finding a new home.  I try to tell him he's just a puppy, but he keeps comparing him to the Lab we had, he was the best puppy you could ask for, we never had any problems with him destroying anything or potty training him.  I tell DH that puppies are like babies all of them are different, but he says he's old enough now he should be doing better, not getting worse.

any advice/ideas??

Halo79RN

ours' is a lab/rat terrier mix that we found at a pound... he potty trained easily... pretty much was kennel trained from the start.  so I cannot help there other than gating him off in a specific room until he is trained.  I was told they are still puppy puppies until 3yr... our puppy is now approaching his 3rd bday and has calmed tremendously in the last 6 months.  although he's still an anxious dog.  but your puppy is only 3 1/2 months... he's a baby... he's probably teething (chewing), high energy, probably needs good jogs or walks.  do you take him on long walks?  that's all I could suggest.... gate him off in a hard floor room... and set a schedule that includes at least 2 long walks a day for starters.  that used to wear our dog out so he'd nap with dc napped. lol. 

puppihood is hard! hard work!   worse than a newborn, I'd say.  my dh thought I was nuts b/c I'd get up and walk him at 11p and then again at 5a... and I took his water away at night.  he was a puppy.. they have no bladder and questionable control. 

hang in there... he'll get a lot better within months. 

Yodajo

Puppies are a lot of work!  We got a 10 month old puppy who is a complete sweeetheart, but loved to chew, jump and had a lot of accidents.  5 months later, she is better, but still not there completely.  At least I have hope now that she'll get there.  For a while, I was feeling hopeless.

Are you crate training?  If not, I would do that.  Only let him out to go potty.  Also, for the chewing, obviously make sure he has a lot of chew type tous, but I also read to not give them anything that used to be yours or your DC's.  They can smell you or  your DC on the toys and that can be confusing to them when it comes to the off limits items.

GL!  I hope he catches on soon for you!  As long as you're consistent, he will...eventually!

KrisBriMcBunny

first of all get him some chew toys....all kinds of them

then head over to petsmart to sign up for puppy obedience classes and they also have housebreaking classes too.

Crate train him too.

PearlieGirl'sMom

As from my post below, I have a two year old Boxer and he is STILL a handful. Though we rarely have an accident in the house (OK, except for today), he gets into everything!!!

I strongly suggest that you join Boxer Board (you can look it up on Google). There is great advice on there.

Boxers are puppies for A LONG time and are known to be hyper and sensitive. One thing I had heard is that you must show the Boxer who is boss and be stern but not harsh.

Also, there are several girls on the Pet board that have Boxers.

pincushions

PearlieGirl'sMom:

As from my post below, I have a two year old Boxer and he is STILL a handful. Though we rarely have an accident in the house (OK, except for today), he gets into everything!!!

I strongly suggest that you join Boxer Board (you can look it up on Google). There is great advice on there.

Boxers are puppies for A LONG time and are known to be hyper and sensitive. One thing I had heard is that you must show the Boxer who is boss and be stern but not harsh.

Also, there are several girls on the Pet board that have Boxers.

this. I have a 7 yr old Boxer female that is just now mellowing out. She rarely chewed anything and we crate trained her.

While I love the breed I don't think we will ever get a Boxer puppy again.

mlm1128

I have had the same issues with our Scottie regarding potty training.  The vet said that when we go outside, only stay for 3 minutes.  She needs to understand what she is there for is to go potty, not to play.  If she doesn't go in 3 minutes, back inside and try again in 30 minutes.  It actually has worked well.

She also chews on everything.  She and our lab now have their own toy box so she doesn't steal our stuff!  They told us from the start she was going to be a chewer and a bad teether.

My brother had a boxer.  He was a handful forever.  My lab did not calm down until we got  the second dog, and he was 6.  Good Luck!

Jaylea

He sounds like a typical puppy to me.

1. Are you crate training? It's a necessity to keep the dog under control, I've found. Even just to give a quick time out so they can settle down, helps with housebreaking, etc.

2. on the housebreaking - give him treats when he goes outside. Slices of hotdog were a HUGE motivator for our pup. She was fully housebroken within a month of getting her.

3. Don't leave things around for him to chew. I know it's a pain. But it's just as much training yourselves as it is him. Since we got smarter about not leaving things down in her reach, the dog hasn't destroyed anything. Again - crate him if you can't supervise him. It'll keep him and your stuff safe.

Also - 3.5 months is NOT old enough to know better. He is still a baby. Ours is 9 months and just smartening up a bit. She's not going to mellow out until at least 2 or so.

I know it's exhausting to stay on top of everything when they're this age, but it's what they need to become well behaved adults.

hikerbeth

I'd say crate train him so that he cannot destroy things when you're not looking.  When he's out, attach him to your waist with a leash so he's always in eyesight and you can correct bad behaviors immediately.