Getting a puppy out of a bad habit

My latest whippet was very full on as a puppy and she’s the only dog I’ve ever had that has been allowed on the sofa ( being retired I wasn’t as strict with her as I’d been when my dogs had to fit in with my lifestyle).And that’s where she was at her stroppiest. After going to several dog training classes until I found one that suited her I found that if I put her collar and lead on she would immediately calm down and go into a more what do you want me to do mode. 9 months is puppy adolescence time when they forget what they’ve learned and rebel against everything. Although she’s allowed on our sofa we take her ‘blankie’ everywhere for her to lie on on the floor. I don’t really understand separation anxiety. The first time I heard of it was when someone I knew bought a second dog because the first one suffered from it. They thought it would cure dog number one but ended up with two dogs with separation anxiety.I think it’s very complex and very difficult to cure. Puppies minds are formed in the first few weeks of life and a good breeder will do things in those 8 weeks that result in happy confident dogs. Winnie’s breeder takes her dogs out and about, car trips, visiting friends etc when they are tiny. Because of retiring and lockdowns etc I’ve never left our latest dog alone with full access to the house but the rare occasion that she has been left she goes into the kitchen where she has an open crate as there’s nothing she can destroy there. I always give her a special treat but she never eats it till I return!

I have a Cavapoo (aged 4) and can catergorically say she does not bite (apart from the usual puppy biting which ended at about 6 months) or jump up at people. So, no, it’s not all crossbreeds or this breed in particular.

However, they are needy dogs who suffer from separation anxiety but that is something we had to work hard on and after a few months training at home, leaving her for very short periods then building them up we are now able to leave her for 4 hours ( which is generally considered the max amount of time to leave any dog alone) She also attended puppy training classes for 6 weeks, so learnt the basics and more.

All dogs needs training in different areas. Cavapoo’s are generally gentle dogs, and I think their good/ cute looks mean they can get away with behaviour that others may not…but that’s down to the owner.

We had this. Basically every time the dog jumps/bites, get up and walk away. When they approach you and sit, you say, "yes" and treat. The important thing is to say absolutely nothing until they do the right thing. Dogs are like children; even bad attention is attention.

We had a behaviourist/trainer out to our house and it was the best £50 we spent. He watched what our dog did and showed us how to sort it. He only used positive reinforcement but it was amazing how quickly the dog learned once we learned! I have also had well behaved dogs for years but some of the old ways of doing things just did not work for this one.

Your friends also appear to have an anxious dog so they need to work on separation anxiety. There are loads of resources on t'internet to assist in this. Just make sure that whatever they use, it is positively reinforced. I found something online which told me to keep moving from room to room staying in each room for less than a minute. The dog followed me round until it realised that nothing exciting was happening so began to just stay where it was. Gradually I built up the time I was out of the room and treated when I came back in. Similarly I built up time for crate/pen training and now she feels safe whenever we have to go out. She sleeps there overnight and wherever we go, we take the crate so it is home from home.

All little dogs jump up and all puppies bite until they are taught not to. It’s nothing to do with their breed.
Cross-breeds are a wonderful fight back against dogs bred with terrible deformities to suit a ‘Breed standard’. German shepherds with hip displasia, pugs and bull dogs who can’t breathe, cavaliers with in-built heart disease and all the many others bred for the show ring and doomed to ill health.

Regarding the jumping up and biting , the dog needs training . Either classes or there’s loads online . I’ve always had dogs and training isn’t just a 6 week session of classes . You have to be consistent and as they reach adolescence and become teenagers you sometimes have to back to basics . I now have a 20 month lab and have put in the work but occasionally he goes deaf , so the training is a constant thing. Luckily labs are food driven.
With the separation anxiety, again you have to train them to be comfortable being left alone , which takes time and patience.
Your friends might benefit from a dog behaviourist ,as the biting , jumping up and neediness sounds like attention seeking . but again you have to put in the work at home .
Regarding the dog on the furniture at your house, absolutely not , your house , your rules . My boy is allowed on the sofas at home but definitely not at someone else’s house . He sits or lies on the floor. Also if we’re going to someone’s house , i ask if he’s welcome and if not I leave him at home .

If I were you, I would simply tell my friends that they are welome, but only if they come without their dog, until it has learned not to bite.

Why on earth do so many people keep dogs these days, who have no idea how to train them?

In my childhood, a dog was allowed to bite once, but was reproved, and steps were taken to prevent whatever had scared or annoyed the dog occuring again.

A habitual biter was put down, before any real damage was done.

And no, you are not unreasonable telling the dog and its owners that in your house dogs lie on the floor at all times, and neither sit, nor lie on sofas or armchairs. Nor do they beg at the table or jump up at people.

Yes, all right, I know I am old-fashioned, but at 72 I have the right to be.

Dog Training and Behaviour Solutions: The stress-free way to live in harmony with your dog amzn.eu/d/dgRW9oD

Best book ever. Graham Hall does telly the authors of this book do responsible dog training.

I agree with Whitewavemark on this .
It sounds as though this dog has unfortunately inherited negative traits from the breeding .
I know two sisters with Cockerpoo dogs from different breeders .
One is a complete nightmare and the other a pleasure to own .

Cockapoos look very sweet especially as a puppy. They have yet to reach the “teenage attitude” stage so attending a training class should definitely be a must. I have dogs but would only take them to family and again we dont allow dogs unless family dogs. One of mine (rescue) can be taken anywhere as he is so good but we dont.

Separation anxiety is horrible for the dog and no better for it's owners. There's lots of help on the internet (eg Battersea Dogs home have a helpful site) I do think the mix of King Charles Spaniel (lap dog) and poodle (clever but some are very nervous) can lead to issues unless they get good consistent training but tbh despite being a dog lover I won't have a badly behaved dog to stay and I only take my well behaved dog to places where I know he is welcome.

He may be better when he's neutered. They're clever dogs and he will push to be top dog. Neutering may help calm him (at least that's what I've heard). Also, if he did well at training classes why did they stop? He probably enjoyed the stimulation. Perhaps agility training or fly ball to use up some of that energy?

I most certainly would not allow my dogs on other people's furniture, unless of course they were dog lovers and happy with that. Very entitled behaviour.
I agree about watching Graham Hall for training ideas although I think time scales are reduced for TV.

I agree about the crossbreeds. The friends have kept pure breeds before. They’ve taken the puppy to classes and say he did ok there and have stopped taking him. I don’t think they discussed the jumping up/biting with the trainer.

I’ll let them know about Dogs Behaving Badly, and watch it myself.

May I suggest watching chanel 5 at 6pm. Graham Hall, Dogs Behaving Badly. Graham soon sorts out similar problems to the one you describe. I've seen him do it several times. A very interesting and informative programme for dog owners.

First - your house, your rules.

Second. Training classes

Third- talking to a vet - she reckons all these different crossbreeds have been done so purely with profit in mind and not with care to personality traits etc. I think she has a point.