Puppy Teething: Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde
So I was really beginning to think I had a problem: from the moment we arrived in FL (early Nov) Augie the Aussie pup (then 3 months old) was an often unpleasant fellow. His general attitude was sour...
Forum Discussion
SteveAE wrote:
Perhaps part of what you were seeing was a fear stage. "Usually" there are two such periods in a pup's life, one at ~2 months and a second at ~9 months of age. The timing is a bit off, but maybe????
Aussies want to please their owners. But being a working bread, they also need tons of exercise (both physical and mental), least they turn that energy into more destructive behavior.
The reason we chose the breeder we got Augie from, is that she and her family spend a LOT of time doing psychological things with the puppies to make them calm, trusting, and unafraid, and I can certainly see that in Augie (I was SO grateful to see him run up to the TV and happily watch fireworks!) so I don't think he has fear issues?
Exercise? We are blessed to have a massive dog park nearby - today Augie played with a labradoodle a few months older than him; and yes, 10 minutes romping with a dog friend is a LOT more effective than Ed and I simply walking him.....LOL! So for everyone's sanity (especially our little 20-lb Ben the Aussiedoodle) - going to the park is a daily routine.
I've owned Aussies for 40-some years. I'm used to their quirks (and the challenge of staying one step ahead of them....LOL!) but had never encountered such a huge change in attitude over the course of just a few days.
