9mo old regression

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SheltieSmile

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My sweetie Indy has been showing regression in behavior. He is totally ignoring me and especially not coming when called. He used to listen well but now he is being so ornery. When we work on training he listens only if I have a treat. He is in an obedience class once a week and we work on training at least once a day. He has been chewing on everything all of a sudden. And he poopied in the house today and he has never done
that not even as a baby. Any suggestions?
 
My English is not good, but I try until there will be a lot of good help !!

I think he has come to "defy phase" - then it is to have a great deal of patience - make the easy obedience exercises - praise and reward when it succeeded.

Do not call if you know he will not come - make you funny and interesting and have some extra good treats to reward when the call succeeded. :yes:

It does not help to get angry and mad, it makes only phase even worse. :no:
 
Welcome to adolescence!

It's a stage that's defined by two things - their brains are changing and they are growing out, they just can't think straight. Some puppies have it harder than others, and how long it lasts is really variable, but at least it doesn't last as long as a human.

A lot of the behaviours can be dealt with by going back to puppy basics for a while. With the pooping in the house - usually it only happens a few times, but for now go back to regular, scheduled trips to the toilet. The chewing may be due to teeth settling into a growing jaw, so make sure he has enough things to chew. Finally, with the problems with listening, he may actually be a bit slower processing information but even though they seem to regress in behaviour, once they come out the other side of adolescence you'll actually find he did take things in. For now you may just need to compromise and repeat things and use rewards to get behaviours - just like with a human teen.

Btw - if you want to feel better, have a look at all the threads that come up if you search on adolescence. You are not alone.
 
Oh the "fun" time of adolencense. The time when then seem to forget everything they've learned and become stubbon on top of it.

My boy pooped in the house while going through this phase as well. What we ended up doing was going to back to potty training 101. Whenever he finished eating or playing he was taken out to pee or poop. Thankfully we were dealing with it through warmer weather but it was still an annoying part of the day for a few months. He did eventually grow out of of it.

The chewing, the most you can do is keep toys he can chew on within hand's reach and subsitute whatever he shouldn't be chewing on for what he should chew on. Bitter Apple spray liberally applied to items will also help.

With training, short sessions with a treat so he's successful.

Trust us, this will pass and your sweet boy will return.
 
Welcome to the wonderful world of teenagers! If you've had human ones, this is similar. They tune you out and ignore your commands and never keep their room clean! :confused: But it will pass. As others have said, go back to basics for the duration. Treat and praise the good behavior; reprimand with a "no" when you catch him in the act. I've found it lasts anywhere from a week to a month. Never fear, your sweet boy will be back. :)
 
Yes the regressions, even potty, are normal. They will start getting more infrequent. My last sheltie sailed through with minimal drama. This one. Ay. You can tell during that he is a singleton and a more anxious and reactive temperament. Then these defiant and fear
And regression stages disappear as fast as they started and he is back to a sane albeit more
Reactive/ anxious temperament than my last dog, but nothing mentally ill or special needs! He is a wonderful boy!!
 
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