Hi all,

I've a cross breed dog, Toby, who we've had for about 4 months now, as some of you will know.  I've had previous problems with what I thought was SA, but he appears to be fine with that now, hardly messing at all, thank goodness.

My only little problem now is his constant 'madness'.  He is thought to be approx 2 years old, and was castrated a short while ago.  He is in constant need of fuss and attention, and races around so much that he even knocked me down the stairs in his eagerness to run down them.  He does 'wait' and 'stay' for a while, but it's becoming annoying having to do this every time you want to walk anywhere to prevent him from bounding up next to you.  On some occasions he simply races from one end of the room to the other, scratching into my carpet, barking like a dog possessed!  When he does this we simply pick him up and put him in the kitchen (he can see us through baby gate) for about five minutes, then let him back in, but he tends to just repeat this again.  He also grabs things such as my hair bobbles that are on the sofa's, time after time after time.  Is he just doing this for attention?  We try to ignore him, but obviously have to retrieve the items he steals before he ruins them!

Running out of ideas, and feel like I have a 3 year old naughty child instead of a dog!!  Can anyone help?

Thanks.

What does he eat.........?

Good question :)  It's a dried food, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is - the OH picks it.  At a dog class recently someone mentioned that the food shouldn't have more than 20% protein, and on checking this one had 25%.  Could that be causing it?

Could be a number of things, the dog may have an intolerance to a particular ingredient or the food may contain additives and colourings to which your dog may be sensitive ........

I have yet to be convinced that the protein level per se has anything to do with hyperactivity as it is hard to measure this scientifically due to a number of factors.

He's been on two different foods since we got him, as the vet thought he was allergic to the previous stuff (runny eyes etc).  The thing is he can be quiet calm when he chooses to.  It's just like he's acting like a really annoying toddler, who's just after anything to get his parents to notice him.  Do you think we are reacting correctly when he grabs things and runs off with them?  We've tried telling him off but I fear that's just giving him the attention he craves.  Which, BTW, he gets loads of when we have the time to give it to him!!

Hi Keeley,

My 7mth old pup does this too - it's called "having a mad half hour" in my house, although it's not actually that long.  Lennon runs like a creature possessed from our front door, through the house - out to the top of the garden, round the shed and back indoors again.  I call it his "time trials" and just ignore him.  He stops after a little while.  He also used to jump up a lot and bite, but since spraying him in the mush with cold water, he has stopped - just telling him "no" and "down" were not working.  I actually sprayed him only four times - fast learner - obviously not fond of cold water :)  As for grabbing things you don't want him to have, make sure you are close to these items too and when he tries to nab them, spray him - he'll soon stop!

Thanks Vicki, I've not tried spraying him before so I'll give that a go!  Should be fun!  I'm sure it's all attention seeking, and so just makes me feel guilty like I'm not giving him enough of my time, but when you work it's not always possible to fuss him for hours on end!  I ache for the day when he turns into a lovely little calm doggy - that day will come, won't it?!

Of course it will - some pups/dogs just take a bit longer than others :)

On an American list I am on they also call this the 'bum tuck zoomies' it is just a zest for life and just lettingoff steam.  Evn my 13 year old will do it playing madly with her descendants.  They have been known to bounce off the sofa until I yell ENOUGH!!!  Most of the rest of the time they spend snoozing around the livingroom, or kitchen with the odd mooch in the grden until a walk is on the cards when they come to life again.

Ooh sounds lovely!  As much as I love my dog I'm ready for the time when he 'grows up' a bit.  I can't imagine him ever wanting to laze around like I do :D

hi vicki
is lennon the shiba inu you got last month? just courious could have you mi9xed up tho. :)

That's the one Mini-Meg :)

how much Exercise do you give him? is any of it off lead ? i find a good 3 mile walk a twice a day tends to burn off any excesive energy -jo

Hi Jo,

He does get plenty of walks, usually three a day, but letting him off the lead is not possible I'm afraid.  He's just too god damn interested in birds/flies/ducks/anything that moves, and even with a treat right underneath his nose he seems to almost push our hands away with his nose because we're interfering with his 'view' on what's going on around him!  People say he looks like a collie crossed with a springer, probably hence his zest for life, and birds!

Brainless - I love that description - the bum tuck zoomies - it describes Lennie the Loonie to a "T" :) :)

Lennon also gets three walks a day - but cannot be off lead due to his youth - his recall is nowhere near good enough as yet, and I may never get to the stage where I really let him go......  The only way he could be almost off lead would be with a horse lead (30 foot +) and his harness LOL :)

The only way he could be almost off lead would be with a horse lead (30 foot +) and his harness LOL :-)

Vicki thats not such a bad idea,i've seen a couple Malamute owners walk their dogs with a horse lead,might take a bit of getting used to,i can forsee plenty of tangling up at first :D

There is no way i would be able to tire my dogs out if they had to stay on the lead,i have no doubt they would be bouncing off the walls and driving me mad :rolleyes: Loads of free running is the only reason my dogs make calm house pets :)

Hi Edie,

Yes, I agree, I'm tempted to give it a go.  I'm also considering "proper" training classes just to get the recall sorted out.  I think, if I'm honest, I could probably do it myself, but I reckon it may be easier to get professional help! :)

do you take him to any training classes? you would be supprised at how easy it is to get recall  sorted it the most important skill you can teach a dog and gives you and the dog a better way of life-Jo

Hi all

Sounds just like our mad mutt Duke! We will be trying the water gun thing as well.

A horse lead and a dog harness now that sounds interesting, as I am only short myself and our dog is a lurcher he is waist high to me and on a 'halti' nose lead appears to be a minature pony! He also loves to eat grass (although there is no reasoning why).

Thanks

Guiness

:)

Hi Guiness,

My Lennon is a real grazer - he totally loves grass and eats it all the time, especially first thing in the morning, when the dew's on it.  There's no reasoning behind why dogs do this - just 'cos they can, and they like it! :) :D

Hi

He does it just because he can! - Sums our dog up to a T LOL!

Guinness

;D

Looking at what you do I think that it's just something that all us medical secretaries have, mad dogs :d  We need something to make us laugh when we get home from work :d