[TxDog]

My puppy Dakota is roughly 6 months old. She was a wild puppy then calmed down. Now she is really, really wild again. Chewing on everything, running around, refusing to sleep like normal, terroizing my small dog.

Is this normal for a bitch right before she is about to go into heat?

[Krystallovespitbulls]

Its okay what she is doing here try this
Leadership:
http://www.dogtrainingbasics.com/Leadership%20Checklist.htm

And I would also get her spayed ASAP, No matter what people say. There are too many homeless dogs and puppies.

Good luck
Krystal
Pitty Lover

[BelovedJuggernaut]

I have had dogs act weird before they go into their first heat, my girl Callie acted a little off, but not outright crazy.

Most of the dogs that I have worked with at the shelter have been spayed prior to coming home and being fostered by me, so other than my own dogs that I have had, I really am not sure what to tell you. I have always given it two - three heat cycles before i can say their behavior is normal.

Is she still teething? That could explain the chewing and off behavior, but it really sounds like your Dakota is hitting the terrible two stage of dog years! Have you changed her diet at all? Like I said, I am really at a loss... is their a trainer near by that could help?


Krystallovespitbulls-

I like letting my dogs on the couch or bed with me sometimes! They LOVE tug of war!!! What kind of trainer advocates no bedtime snuggle!?!? You can be the leader and still be able to do some of those things!

[StarfishSaving]

Originally Posted by BelovedJuggernaut

Krystallovespitbulls-

I like letting my dogs on the couch or bed with me sometimes! They LOVE tug of war!!! What kind of trainer advocates no bedtime snuggle!?!? You can be the leader and still be able to do some of those things!

With extreme cases of dominance conflict/aggression with fosters, we have followed a very strict routine like this before and I think it has its place but for the most part, I totally agree. I understand pack dynamics and leadership training has its place but one thing that people are forgetting is that just as dogs are not people, people are not dogs and don't need to try and communicate as if we were.

[BelovedJuggernaut]

Originally Posted by StarfishSaving

With extreme cases of dominance conflict/aggression with fosters, we have followed a very strict routine like this before and I think it has its place but for the most part, I totally agree. I understand pack dynamics and leadership training has its place but one thing that people are forgetting is that just as dogs are not people, people are not dogs and don't need to try and communicate as if we were.

With fosters I can completely understand strict routines, but with my dogs... nope.
They are my lazy, wonderful, SPOILED couch potatos.... but they do have great manners!

[Rottweilerlvr]

Originally Posted by BelovedJuggernaut

Krystallovespitbulls-

I like letting my dogs on the couch or bed with me sometimes! They LOVE tug of war!!! What kind of trainer advocates no bedtime snuggle!?!? You can be the leader and still be able to do some of those things!

That's the first time I have seen that article, but I do agree with it. I have nothing against tug o' war, as long as YOU win 99 percent of the time, and I'll allow my dogs to play tug o' war with each other and I just monitor. Having a dog on the bed or furniture puts the dog on the same level as you, it can make things in other areas difficult, if your dog isn't completely trained. I get in my cuddly moods and I put a extra bed sheet down on the living room floor, grab some pillows, and a spare blanket and all of us will lay on the floor and cuddle and watch a movie or TV together... anywho...

[Rottweilerlvr]

Originally Posted by TxDog

My puppy Dakota is roughly 6 months old. She was a wild puppy then calmed down. Now she is really, really wild again. Chewing on everything, running around, refusing to sleep like normal, terroizing my small dog.

Is this normal for a bitch right before she is about to go into heat?

When Isabella had her first heat, she acted a little rebelious and was slow to respond to things... She also became very, very submissive as in like I would just start walking towards her and could be 10 feet away, and she would drop down and show me her stomach, it was wierd and annoying, but after her heat cycle was done, she was back to normal.

[SmoothCollieluver]

YES! I have seen it tons of times. They act goofy and stupid. Not all of them of course but a good number.