Woofa is a cross springer / Lab and is 11 weeks old today. He doesn't sleep as much as I thought he would which is fine, but..... he seems to be like a toddler who is tired and fights against it by going hyper. He runs around the house with toys in his mouth, chases his tail round & round in circles and when I tell him sternly to calm down he barks and runs away. Is this normal or is it me doing something wrong? I usually pick him up and make him sit next to me as I sit on the floor then I talk calmly telling him he has to calm down then give him something to chew on (he has an old rope skipping rope he like to lay and chew), then it's like his batteries finally run out and he's out like a light!!!
he is a lovely dog and exceeding our expections with house training, and general training and i'm lucky to have him but this bothers me a bit
Patricia

This is quite normal - you're right, they're just like toddlers who can't gauge when they're tired and need a rest! That's something we have to do for them - it's no good telling him off. :) I've always had to do what you're doing - sit on the floor and pup was usually only too delighted to climb onto my lap and crash out! Otherwise pop him into his bed/crate with a chew for some rest about every three hours so he gets the naps he needs. Then when he wakes take him out in the garden immediately for a wee. Then the fun starts all over again!

I was surprised with mine that he didnt want to sleep as much as the books had led me to expect. I longed for evenings with a tired dog at my feet but instead till about 6 months I had a nutter. Now he sleeps...  Ahhhhh

Just confirming that this is absolutely normal, Patricia! They are so like toddlers at that age and they simply can't regulate their own tiredness properly. So by evening you've got this nutty pup who desperately needs a nap but behaves like a total fruit loop before finally going zonko! This stage does seem to last until they are about five or six months old when you suddenly realise the pup is dozing away quietly in front of the television.So surprised that you start wondering whether it's ill!

I've found that feeding before settling the pup in a crate meant that the pup is usually happy to settle (easier to settle with a nice full tum :D ) they grow well like this too :D  so in our house the routine is wake, wee/poo, play, wee some more, eat, sleep :D :D

This way, every 3 hours or so you get to have a cuppa and a rest while you waste loads of time watching pup/s sleep :) :) :)