[Mike D]

I haven't posted a Peanut update in a while as he's been a really great puppy, in some ways very balanced and mature, in some a challenging monster The initial months (and your advice and support) prepared me for it, so - bar the odd weird behaviour - he's been great.

But now, he's nearly 8 months old. He cocked his leg up for the first time last week, and we were both surprised. (It hasn't happened since).

The last few days have again been challenging. I assume it's potentially the usual hormonal rollercoaster, but I'd like to ask for your experiences and validate my assumptions:

1. Recall has become more patchy than ever before. In the park, letting him off the lead has become a challenge as my voice, the whistle or any attempts to get his attention when he's running up to - and jumping up on - ANYONE he can find, have proven futile. In a wooded area it's different, although he also jumps up on people he encounters, but at least he's more focused on me. In the park, I'm lost.

2. Dinners (also dinners with friends). I don't think anyone will come to visit for another year or so. The recent dinners have become challenging as he either tries to jump and steal from plates, or lingers or cries and whines when crated. We used to have quiet dinners - he would sit under the table with a chew. There's no chew, toy or command that would make him do that now.

3. Crate/playtime. We still crate him at night and during the day when we work. 90 minutes to two hour-long sessions, with loo breaks/playtime/training in between. Or walks. When should we start 'transitioning' him to unsupervised playtime out of crate? So far, he doesn't know when to stop or how to play with his toys/chews when not supervised, so crate is the safest option. He' has fallen asleep on the sofa a few times when he was supposed to be crated and we let him, hoping that this would help him create that out-of-crate habit. But it hasn't worked. Too soon? Or are we missing a trick? (He also spends a lot of time in the kitchen - we have an open plan kitchen - table surfing or just.... lingering)

He's also pulling like mad and we haven't had much success with focus or slip leads. As he gets better and stronger, my sciatica gets worse from the constant bracing and pulling. I expect it will still take a while, but again, what has your experience been?

We've started some initial gundog training and it was a delight to see him in his element. Pure joy. We'll resume in the new year. Until then, we'll have to course-correct and hope it's just another phase.

Other than that, he's just the most beautiful creature ever.

 

[Gabica]

Gorgeous puppy teenager. Nothing surprising about what you described, I have gone this thru twice and by now they are fine men, so just sharing what I would do / would not do. Generally whenever I have seen that there has been been a set back in a skill we already managed (like recall, jumping up) I`ve taken a step back and started over the training for that skill. Extreme example: when my steady looking boy who already had a pass on his on senior hunt test started creeping up on birds again he went back on check cord for the first 1 or two birds of a training session.
For dinner guest I have learned to feed them around the same time and then they are staying in their crate to rest and digest until dinner is finished. The way I have gotten them used to it is to have them crated during dinner even without guests, so it does not feel like a punishment.
In terms of unsupervised out of crate time I had 2 very opposite directions with my two boys: Bende hated the crate as a puppy so he learned very quickly that if he behaves he can be on the couch and with humans a lot, so by 6 months the only thing you had to be careful too leave ot was the white paper towel. Miksa liked the crate from day 1 and it took him years to become gradually reliable and of course for the two boys to learn that not every second they are out together from their crates are to be spent with crazy vizsla playing and chasing each other, lol (I must admit I enjoyed that phase too, but anyone coming to my house thought I have 2 red perpetuum mobile devices living here).
Pulling on the leash, well that one can be a longer battle, it seems really one of those which seemed to have restarted every time when we went to a new place, especially with Bende. So I learned to manage my expectations, use certain type of leashes when at new places, and also to have them as much off leash and as little on leash runs as possible to get out that steam. I have shown both of my boys so they are good going thru a crowded place full of dogs and people, but as soon as I take them out to the green area where probably another 1000 dogs left their scent mark I better pay attention or I will be just flying on the end of the leash, haha.
Bird work is great, that will help a lot, my personal favorite part. If your boy loved you before, afterwards he will think you are ruling the world yourself.

 

[gunnr]

You have a bit of time in front of you, but don't get discouraged, and just kind of keep after him.
I'll try to answer your questions in order.
1.) Put him back on the check cord. This is not a step backward, it is the way forward with him. Try, to the maximum extent possible, to never give him a command that you cannot enforce. Once you can imprint on his brain that you can, and will, enforce a command at any distance, he'll come around. I know it sucks, but you have to do it. We all hate the check cord. I thought I got lucky with Finn and wouldn't need a checkcord his first hunting season at 12 months ,but noooo,. He started acting up and we hunted with a check cord attached, and an electronic collar also. Very much, and "unfun" situation. Dog, not listening or paying attention, electronic remote, 30 feet of cord, and a shotgun. i was sometimes hoping he wouldn't find a bird. Oh well, we're past it now.
2.) You gotta tough it out on this one, and or, feed him at the same time.
3.) I don't leave my dogs alone, unsupervised, in the house uncrated for quite some time. Finn, at three years old is still crated when we leave. He probably could do it it now, but he likes his crate, so I just go with that.
4.) Pulling sucks and all to often we unknowingly reward the behavior. Next time he starts to pull. You stop, and I mean a dead stop. Let him continue to pull on his own, you don't pull back. If wants to choke himself, let him. Just don't you do it. Once he stops pulling, call him back to your side, and start him at the heel again. Tie him to a post or tree sometime by his leash, and I guarantee he'll stop pulling against the leash. in pretty short order.
You may only make twenty yards of forward progress in twenty minutes, but you'll be glad you did a year from now.
Continue the gun dog training. Get a nice folding chair, put him on his check cord, put him at the stay on a bath may next to the chair and play fetch from the chair in the back yard. You'll be stunned at how many basic commands have to be followed to perform the fetch correctly, and you can sit in a chair and do it.

Have fun. It's supposed to be fun.

 

[PhilipL]

I remember this teenage phase well with my Rafa, it was exactly as you describe. The comments above are right on. This phase will pass and Peanut will mature in time. Vizslas are simply the best dogs, but can be hard work when young.

 

[Mrs M]

I haven't posted a Peanut update in a while as he's been a really great puppy, in some ways very balanced and mature, in some a challenging monster The initial months (and your advice and support) prepared me for it, so - bar the odd weird behaviour - he's been great.

But now, he's nearly 8 months old. He cocked his leg up for the first time last week, and we were both surprised. (It hasn't happened since).

The last few days have again been challenging. I assume it's potentially the usual hormonal rollercoaster, but I'd like to ask for your experiences and validate my assumptions:

1. Recall has become more patchy than ever before. In the park, letting him off the lead has become a challenge as my voice, the whistle or any attempts to get his attention when he's running up to - and jumping up on - ANYONE he can find, have proven futile. In a wooded area it's different, although he also jumps up on people he encounters, but at least he's more focused on me. In the park, I'm lost.

2. Dinners (also dinners with friends). I don't think anyone will come to visit for another year or so. The recent dinners have become challenging as he either tries to jump and steal from plates, or lingers or cries and whines when crated. We used to have quiet dinners - he would sit under the table with a chew. There's no chew, toy or command that would make him do that now.

3. Crate/playtime. We still crate him at night and during the day when we work. 90 minutes to two hour-long sessions, with loo breaks/playtime/training in between. Or walks. When should we start 'transitioning' him to unsupervised playtime out of crate? So far, he doesn't know when to stop or how to play with his toys/chews when not supervised, so crate is the safest option. He' has fallen asleep on the sofa a few times when he was supposed to be crated and we let him, hoping that this would help him create that out-of-crate habit. But it hasn't worked. Too soon? Or are we missing a trick? (He also spends a lot of time in the kitchen - we have an open plan kitchen - table surfing or just.... lingering)

He's also pulling like mad and we haven't had much success with focus or slip leads. As he gets better and stronger, my sciatica gets worse from the constant bracing and pulling. I expect it will still take a while, but again, what has your experience been?

We've started some initial gundog training and it was a delight to see him in his element. Pure joy. We'll resume in the new year. Until then, we'll have to course-correct and hope it's just another phase.

Other than that, he's just the most beautiful creature ever.

View attachment 105077

Not to worry though.
Sound so similar to our experience.
Everything will get better and you will have the most amazing pooch. ❤

 

[Mike D]

Gorgeous puppy teenager. Nothing surprising about what you described, I have gone this thru twice and by now they are fine men, so just sharing what I would do / would not do. Generally whenever I have seen that there has been been a set back in a skill we already managed (like recall, jumping up) I`ve taken a step back and started over the training for that skill. Extreme example: when my steady looking boy who already had a pass on his on senior hunt test started creeping up on birds again he went back on check cord for the first 1 or two birds of a training session.
For dinner guest I have learned to feed them around the same time and then they are staying in their crate to rest and digest until dinner is finished. The way I have gotten them used to it is to have them crated during dinner even without guests, so it does not feel like a punishment.
In terms of unsupervised out of crate time I had 2 very opposite directions with my two boys: Bende hated the crate as a puppy so he learned very quickly that if he behaves he can be on the couch and with humans a lot, so by 6 months the only thing you had to be careful too leave ot was the white paper towel. Miksa liked the crate from day 1 and it took him years to become gradually reliable and of course for the two boys to learn that not every second they are out together from their crates are to be spent with crazy vizsla playing and chasing each other, lol (I must admit I enjoyed that phase too, but anyone coming to my house thought I have 2 red perpetuum mobile devices living here).
Pulling on the leash, well that one can be a longer battle, it seems really one of those which seemed to have restarted every time when we went to a new place, especially with Bende. So I learned to manage my expectations, use certain type of leashes when at new places, and also to have them as much off leash and as little on leash runs as possible to get out that steam. I have shown both of my boys so they are good going thru a crowded place full of dogs and people, but as soon as I take them out to the green area where probably another 1000 dogs left their scent mark I better pay attention or I will be just flying on the end of the leash, haha.
Bird work is great, that will help a lot, my personal favorite part. If your boy loved you before, afterwards he will think you are ruling the world yourself.

Wonderful, thank you so much for such an exhaustive reply. Yes, going back a step seems the best solution, and he picks it up so quickly.
We've also started giving him something to eat while we're having dinner but only after he's behaved well (i.e. managed to stay away from the table).
Our leash walks already are a constant game of start and stop, and the open area scenario you describe is precisely what happens to me every day. Sadly, our park is a huge open space.
Onwards and upwards

 

[Mike D]

You have a bit of time in front of you, but don't get discouraged, and just kind of keep after him.
I'll try to answer your questions in order.
1.) Put him back on the check cord. This is not a step backward, it is the way forward with him. Try, to the maximum extent possible, to never give him a command that you cannot enforce. Once you can imprint on his brain that you can, and will, enforce a command at any distance, he'll come around. I know it sucks, but you have to do it. We all hate the check cord. I thought I got lucky with Finn and wouldn't need a checkcord his first hunting season at 12 months ,but noooo,. He started acting up and we hunted with a check cord attached, and an electronic collar also. Very much, and "unfun" situation. Dog, not listening or paying attention, electronic remote, 30 feet of cord, and a shotgun. i was sometimes hoping he wouldn't find a bird. Oh well, we're past it now.
2.) You gotta tough it out on this one, and or, feed him at the same time.
3.) I don't leave my dogs alone, unsupervised, in the house uncrated for quite some time. Finn, at three years old is still crated when we leave. He probably could do it it now, but he likes his crate, so I just go with that.
4.) Pulling sucks and all to often we unknowingly reward the behavior. Next time he starts to pull. You stop, and I mean a dead stop. Let him continue to pull on his own, you don't pull back. If wants to choke himself, let him. Just don't you do it. Once he stops pulling, call him back to your side, and start him at the heel again. Tie him to a post or tree sometime by his leash, and I guarantee he'll stop pulling against the leash. in pretty short order.
You may only make twenty yards of forward progress in twenty minutes, but you'll be glad you did a year from now.
Continue the gun dog training. Get a nice folding chair, put him on his check cord, put him at the stay on a bath may next to the chair and play fetch from the chair in the back yard. You'll be stunned at how many basic commands have to be followed to perform the fetch correctly, and you can sit in a chair and do it.

Have fun. It's supposed to be fun.

Thank you, his check cord has been dusted off Appreciate the advice about enforcing a command, very valuable, thanks.

 

[cosmoKenney]

RE: 8 Months. Still a puppy?
YES!
IMO they don't grow out of puppyhood until they are more like 8 years old. LOL.
In all seriousness, though, part of what you are going to be facing is him testing boundaries. Between about 6 months to a year old I wanted to murder my latest V pup. I believe this is when they experience their "terrible twos" period.
Just keep at it and use praise as much as possible and, admonishment only when you can do it at just the precise moment he does something bad. Nothing worse then constantly yelling at a V in angry tones. It ruins them due to their over sensitive nature.
Also, learn to not sweat the small stuff. Vs are very intelligent even though they mostly act goofy all the time. Just let them be a dog. If you are one of those owners who is constantly barking orders and trying to control everything they do, they will tune you out. I see this in other breeds too, especially on the rare occasions I take mine to the dog park. There is always at least one person there with an energetic dog and that person is just tossing out an endless stream of orders: "Baily sit. 2 seconds later: Baily come. Baily don't drink out of that puddle. Baily don't sniff that dog's butt. Bail come. Baily come. Baily COME! BAILY!! Baily you are on a timeout. Baily! ..."