Naughty daschund puppy

[Laurenmoore115]

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Hi everyone, new to this kind of thing! I’m basically seeking advice from any daschund experts/lovers regarding my 5 month old puppy. He is an absolute angel, the most affectionate and loving dog I’ve ever had... but he is becoming the most naughty and mischievous puppy. I believe he’s going through some kind of puppy puberty???? everything we have taught him and worked on so far has gone out the window and he’s doing things he’s never done before. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks guys

 

[JoanneF]

Yes, he is probably coming into adolescence. Is there anything in particular? If someone else has experienced the same things, they may have suggestions.

 

[Westie_Lover]

Welcome to the forum Lauren.

 

[Finsky]

Hi everyone, new to this kind of thing! I’m basically seeking advice from any daschund experts/lovers regarding my 5 month old puppy. He is an absolute angel, the most affectionate and loving dog I’ve ever had... but he is becoming the most naughty and mischievous puppy. I believe he’s going through some kind of puppy puberty???? everything we have taught him and worked on so far has gone out the window and he’s doing things he’s never done before. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks guys

I don't have daschunds, but what you describe does sound familiar. I would suspect many pups go through the stage when they start using their 'brains' and push their boundaries...some will be more boulder than others.
Main thing is, don't loose your temper...carry on with your routines and teachings as normal and try to pass his resistance to them with a chuckle and distraction tactics to make him forget what he wanted to do in first place. Squeak a toy when ever he don't expect it to break his intentions from the unwanted things and then excitedly direct it towards what you want to happen. Basically you will need to learn some 'magician skills'..pulling 'coins' out of the tabs to make him forget the naughty action. It doesn't have to be horrible growing stage, you just have to adjust be different with him until he grows out of it. But like a good 'mum'..you still have to persistent, just not a forceful or you end up lock'a heads with him and you won't win that game for sure!
Now his energy levels will hype up and that is what part of the 'naughtiness' is too. So you will have to give him plenty of things to do..not just physically but more of for his brain, this means lots of playing and if you can go to group or connect with other dog owners and their pets to arrange some play time, it will help A LOT to get rid of some that mischievous energy. But when they are energetic and play a lot....make sure he gets plenty of rest too. There is temptation that he is more interested of the 'fun' and less rest..and then the behaviour can turn into naughty.
I tackled this 'not wanting to rest enough' with my terriers with cage. I had to pick mine up, place the pup into cage while giving kisses and cuddles and talking same time what and why I'm about to do it so the pup didn't get any vibes that it was a punishment. Couple a little treats through the cage and wait the pup to settle. Once so, I would open the door and let her to sleep in there or come out and settle on the cushion on front of it. Mine was used to the cage and it was just a means to break up that endless running around and getting ratty. Now it doesn't have to be a cage if yours is not familiar with it, make any other arrangement that will create him calming space to slow down from the 'hamster wheel' and catch a nap or two ...and then it all starts all over again.
Mine started their restless stage quite early on but the worst was over in about 6 months age. They both had couple of months of it and although the younger one (7 months) can still be mischievous, it is now mainly happy sort and excitement..the naughtiness has fizzled out now that she is not too busy not to nap anymore .

 

[Finsky]

I don't have daschunds, but what you describe does sound familiar. I would suspect many pups go through the stage when they start using their 'brains' and push their boundaries...some will be more boulder than others.
Main thing is, don't loose your temper...carry on with your routines and teachings as normal and try to pass their resistance to them with a chuckle and distraction tactics to make him forget what he wanted to do in first place. Squeak a toy when ever he don't expect it to break his intentions from the unwanted things and then excitedly direct it towards what you want to happen. Basically you will need to learn some 'magician skills'..pulling 'coins' out of the tabs to make him forget the naughty action. It doesn't have to be horrible growing stage, you just have to adjust be different with him until he grows out of it. But like a good 'mum'..you still have to persistent, just not a forceful or you end up lock'a heads with him and you won't win that game for sure!
Now his energy levels will hype up and that is what part of the 'naughtiness' is too. So you will have to give him plenty of things to do..not just physically but more of for his brain. So unfortunately this means lots of playing and if you can go to group or connect with other dog owners and their pets to arrange some play time, it will help A LOT to get rid of some that mischievous energy. But when they are energetic and play a lot....make sure he gets plenty of rest too. There is temptation that he is more interested of the 'fun' and less rest..and then the behaviour can turn into naughty.
I tackled this 'not wanting to rest enough' with my terriers with cage. I had to pick mine up, place the pup into cage while giving kisses and cuddles and talking same time what and why I'm about to do it so the pup didn't get any vibes that it was a punishment. Couple a little treats through the cage and wait the pup to settle. Once so, I would open the door and let her to sleep in there or come out and settle on the cushion on front of it. Mine was used to the cage and it was just a means to break up that endless running around and getting ratty. Now it doesn't have to be a cage if yours is not familiar with it, make any other arrangement that will create him calming space to slow down from the 'hamster wheel' and catch a nap or two ...and then it all starts all over again.
Mine started their restless stage quite early on but the worst was over in about 6 months age. They both had couple of months of it and although the younger one (7 months) is can still be mischievous, it is now just happy sort and excitement..the naughtiness has fizzled out now that she is not too busy not to nap anymore .

I remembered something I did just other day when my little ones started to play tad too rough for my liking and no manner of talking would go through their thick skulls, they were in their 'zone'. I suddenly skipped to another room, waving my hands up in the air 'singing' 'la-la-la' (like when you do when you put your fingers in the ears and saying I can't hear you'.
Dogs stopped their game straight away, looking at me what went wrong with me...'what is she up to!!!'.....'must investigate if she is ok'. And that did it! I might look and behave like a loony in my own home, but dogs forgot instantly what they were doing and were more concern of my wellbeing. I gave them lot of calm fuss when they came to me and we carried on the evening in calmer note.

 

[JudyN]

I remembered something I did just other day when my little ones started to play tad too rough for my liking and no manner of talking would go through their thick skulls, they were in their 'zone'. I suddenly skipped to another room, waving my hands up in the air 'singing' 'la-la-la' (like when you do when you put your fingers in the ears and saying I can't hear you'.

That reminds me of a game I saw suggested for a dog who might start eyeballing another dog and not want to recall to his owner - 'Zombies'. You train it by going really silly, waving your arms in the air shouting 'Zombies!!!' in a really excited voice, then turning and running off with more whoops. The dog hopefully follows you, getting all excited himself - jumping up, barking, etc. and all the things you normally don't want to do are actively encouraged and you end up falling down in a heap for a bit cuddle. And then spend the next hour calming him down again.... The idea is that it is SO exciting, it will trump everything. Whether it works in practice or could rebound and just increase unwanted behaviour probably depends on the dog...

 

[Finsky]

That reminds me of a game I saw suggested for a dog who might start eyeballing another dog and not want to recall to his owner - 'Zombies'. You train it by going really silly, waving your arms in the air shouting 'Zombies!!!' in a really excited voice, then turning and running off with more whoops. The dog hopefully follows you, getting all excited himself - jumping up, barking, etc. and all the things you normally don't want to do are actively encouraged and you end up falling down in a heap for a bit cuddle. And then spend the next hour calming him down again.... The idea is that it is SO exciting, it will trump everything. Whether it works in practice or could rebound and just increase unwanted behaviour probably depends on the dog...

LOL...I've done that too, though without shouting 'zombies'. It haven't worked with mine when outdoors, apprantly I'm just not excited enough, hunting is 'better'.. But indoors these tricks do work when there is less adrenalin competition to battle with.
Hmmm.....maybe the lack of 'zombies' shout is the reason my approach in outdoors didn't work...must try that and earn myself a town loonie badge as well ..I would wear it with bride though

 

[Mandy Farr]

I know it's not the same breed but our whippet Arthur is now five months and we are really struggling at the moment. He was lovely for two months and now it's madness. Everyone keeps saying they grow out of it, hopefully because this wasn't how I imagined having a dog. Hang on in there, you're not alone.

 

[Finsky]

I know it's not the same breed but our whippet Arthur is now five months and we are really struggling at the moment. He was lovely for two months and now it's madness. Everyone keeps saying they grow out of it, hopefully because this wasn't how I imagined having a dog. Hang on in there, you're not alone.

Yep...many don't realize that there is 'prize to pay' with all the puppy cuteness. When they see all the lovely slightly older dogs that have settled with their hormones and learned their way in the world, having younster that is stretching its muscles and brain cells is total shock for the system.
I don't know if it is lack of warnings out there..and/or they are not taken seriously or believed when heard. It is darn HARD WORK to bring up a puppy and of course with some dogs it is worst than with others.
My younger one was yesterday 8 months..and she has now turned the corner with the 'youngsterhood'. It is not all about manic play and being on its toes all the time. She has just started to resign to the boring moments and rather than pester me or the older dog for companion...she has started to just calmly lie down at times, maybe have a nap or just looking the world go by....'phewwwww'. We are both utterly pleased to have occasional quiet time during the day.
No matter how cute and entertaining and funny and cuddly young dogs are, I do admit I'm not the biggest fan of the puppy phase, but it doesn't last forever and they DO grow up so quickly so it is not end of the world and making the effort bringing them up and playing and all that, it is all worth it in the end. We are now on the phase that I've been really looking forward to...certainly it ain't gonna be plain sailing and calmly riding into sun set kind of life, but certainly we will have more steady feel to it from now on...with occasional mad moments of course...or mine would not be terriers!

 

[Mandy Farr]

Awe yes it's nice to know that it's normal to be honest, and I suppose like people they all have their different personalities.
Some puppies are fairly quiet, some are crazy lol. I think ours is in between. I told my husband before Arthur came that it would be hard work but as he's never had a dog before I think he's bewildered

 

[Ragsysmum]

The price you pay for having a puppy will be worth it in the end.