we have a 14-week old german shepherd/chow mix. she is very smart, can do a lot of tricks already, and comes when called. otherwise she is a hellion. she fights with our adult shepherd ALL waking hours, pees and poops on the carpet, and chews and destroys everything she can reach, down to wood work and furniture, while there are 5 puppy toys within easy reach.

i can put her out or walk her for an hour, all the while she waits until she is INSIDE to poop. what the hell is going on in this dog's head?? i can't seem to get through to her.

last night i was reloading ammo and dropped a loaded cartridge on the floor. i immediately looked for it but even though i heard it hit the floor i could not locate it. i looked for a long time and then this morning again. my fear is that she swallowed it. she was not in the room when i dropped it but since i couldn't find it, i had no choice but to let her in later since that is "her" room to sleep in. its a flat point but does have lead exposed and if she swallowed it whole she is better off than if she chewed it. no signs of being sick in the last 24 hours, so maybe SHE can't find the cartridge either?

she may not have eaten it but who knows. the big thing is to train her so she doesnt act like this forever. when our other dog is outside, she is a perfect angel and a very sweet puppy. but as soon as we put them together the adult acts like a puppy again and neither behaves.

ideas? please! i am going nuts trying to get this puppy trained.

-Matt

Crate training works great for puppies. If you are going to have a young dog loose in the house be prepared for lots of indoor accidents, trips outside, cleaning up after them, etc.

You'll need to establish a toilet area for her outside. Use the same command for going out and when you take her out praise her for 'going' where you want her to go. Just letting her out the door won't work. Get right on her when she evacuates in the house. Lots of work ahead of you for awhile!

Aspen Hill nailed it.

That pup's world needs to shrink to the crate until she understands the rules of that world. Then increase the size and continue to reinforce and train.

You didn't mention the sex of the dogs .....your pup might be trying to show dominance ....if they are both males or females ,this could be the issue.....if so the new pup may be a "ladder climber" and is trying to show it's place in the pack ....crate training is great b/c they won't poop where they sleep,but some do,because they are to young to hold it for a long time,I believe at 6 months that are old enough to control their bladder & bowels ....Everyone in the house must you the same command "potty time" or "do your business" and wait patiently for them to go in their spot,then positive reenforcement is needed all the time ...They catch on ,in time...Good Luck,Jim