[wellies]

Hi everyone, just thought I would ask for a bit of advice. I have an Irish setter puppy who is 15 weeks old. Generally he's pretty good and learning his basic commands well. However he does have an annoying habit of yapping at me or my other dog in a play with me NOW tone. I have tried to ignore it, told him he's a good boy when he's quiet and saying a firm NO. The firm no seems to make him yap louder  . It seems to be worse after walks and then after meals, they seem to send him into more excitable behaviour. After about half an hour he settles down and goes to sleep. Do you guys have any advice on how to calm him down so he gets used to being calm and relaxed after his walk and food? He has lots of toys, walks a minimum of twice a day, a 15 minute training session of basic commands in the day and is not often left on his own for hours on end but just when I go to the shops etc. Thanks 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I have to say I cant answer your query but I did have a giggle at the thought of someone trying to train an Irish/red setter :-))))))

[in the hills]

I think he will probably grow out of it. He is only a baby.

You could try simply turning your back on him and ignoring him until he is quiet and then fussing him.

[doganjo]

I have an old girl who is very gobby - started as soon as she opened her mouth as she came out of the sac   I keep a plastic milk container in the kitchen with some large gravel in it.  And when she starts I shake it.  She hates the noise and shuts up.  Might work with a pup but watch you don't scare him. A little noise might be enough to distract him - you can get mikki discs which do the same thing but are a bit quieter.  You throw them on the ground but NOT at the dog.

[funkyfish]

Stuffed kong toys!!! He prob getting over tired/excited. If all else fails then a few seconds of time out in a room with he door shut- like 10-20 sec then invite him in again and give him something to do. If demands attention then time out again. He as to earn the responsibility to be with u only when he is calm and quiet. If saying no has not worked, then your timing is off as the attention has reinforced the behaviour. Dogs fined when you look at them, talk or touch them rewarding so sometimes you actually inatvertantly teach them that barking at you is the right thing to do.

I can pm you more games to play to teach not to mob for food/ attention etc - feel free to pm me. I run puppy groups at work, I'm a behaviour councillor of many years and just finishing a degree in dog behaviour. ( also I'm a vet nurse ).

Please do NOT use punishment on any dog esp a puppy!!! No rattle bottles etc! Can do so much damage to them and your relationship.

[wellies]

Hi Funkyfish

Thank you for the post. I would love some games to play with him so if you could PM me that would be great, thank you  We are due to start puppy classes next week hopefully they will have some good training tips too. He is generally such a good boy just a bit of a yapping habit at the mo. I completely appreciate it's my fault as I must have accidently reinforced the behaviour although I try so hard not to  Thanks again for the help 

[HelenVF]

In my experience, he will grow out of it.  He is probably just overtired. It is incredibly easy to accidentally praise a bad behaviour like that.  Would love to see photos.

Helen

[wellies]

hope this works... i've tried to make a photo smaller so it will upload

[doganjo]

aw, he's gorgeous!  Super head for his age.

[in the hills]

He is lovely 

It is just normal doggy .... I want to play...... behaviour and all young things want to play. My Flat-coat still resorts to doing it now if he gets over-excited and he is 6 years old. I just turn my back on him and carry on with what Im doing. He usually gets the message.

Have fun with him 

[sabrina]

Years ago I had Irish Setters and they can be quite a handful. They may take longer to train but I always felt they were around 4 years old before they grew up. .wonderful happy dogs, a joy to have around but like all working breeds better kept busy.   

[HelenVF]

aww, what a sweetheart!  A friend had an irish setter when I was growing up.  I used to look after him a lot and he was such a clown.  The only ones i've seen recently are the working line.

Helen

[YorkshireLass]

Ahhh a cutie!

I wouldn't use rattle bottle etc, you don't want him to wonder if it's safe to come near you  Speaking as the owner of a very timid wee thing. I know other dogs who'd just play with the "scary noisy thing" 

Persist and the message will sink in.
I had similar with a friend's pup, we were doing the yelp-when-they-nip bite inhibition thing. Just as we were sure we were doing it wrong, it seemed to click in his little brain 

[lill]

very cute,have fun training him.

[Old Shep]

Awww he's gorgeous.  One of my Gordon's is what can only be described as gobby!  Always has been, and we have full blown conversations every morning :-) 

I wouldn't use a rattle bottle at that tender young age, and as you've found out shouting just gets a conversation going!  Does he have a crate?  That might be a good idea, so he has a place that is his and his alone, where he chills out.  Maybe covered with a cloth?  The other dogs may appreciate this time out too!  They will only tolerate bad mannered puppies for so long!

Enjoy your puppy