anyone have a nutjob of a dog?

Doggie prozac?

As much exercise as you can give him......I just got a five month old puppy and she is pretty wild....but settles down after a really really long walk. She is too young to run, but I'll bet your pup could handle a run. Is he left alone all day? Has he been neutered? Talk to your vet...they may have suggestions. But a couple of good walks each and every day should help...

I'd recommend getting a trainer that uses an alpha dog/leadership approach to training... That is the type used by the "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan. Or, if you want to undertake that yourself, I understand his book is very clear on how to train dogs properly. The other book that is usually highly recommended is The Art of Raising a Puppy by The Monks of New Skete.

The leadership approach doesn't just train the dog, it trains the humans how to deal with the dog... at first it may seem to be a pain, but it's really worth it.

Exactly - the Dog Whisperer makes it incredibly clear that the problem is not the dog, but rather your responses to the dog's behavior.

I just watched "The Dog Whisperer's Toughest Cases" - these bad dogs really tested him, but he pulled through in the end. I'm sure they didn't include the dogs that he couldn't break though.

We have a 2yr old Boxer. They will settle down. Ours is just beginning to NOT freak out at the things she used to go absolutely psycho over. We were in the same situation you were when she was that age.

Your dog is telling you in their way that they need to be excercised both physically and mentally.

Stay calm. Continue to reinforce positive behaviour. Training, training, training. And find an excercise that wears your dog out.

A tired dog is a good dog.

Turd

my dog is nine years old and is still psycho...hes a labrador retriever and bounces off the walls whenever someone comes over...he has always considered himself a puppy even though he is an adult dog.

you're already way behind schedule on getting this dog in line. you've let him get away with bad behavior for 9 months now, and he's conditioned to believe that what he's doing is not only acceptable, but his right. go buy a "dog training for dummies" or something similiar, and follow the book to the letter. do not cut corners. you need to assert your dominance over the pup right away if you want to calm him down and get him under control. it's going to try your patience, i'm talking about consecutive hours of working on "sit" and "stay", but if you want to keep the little guy, it's worth the effort.

All puppies and young dogs have a lot of energy. Exercise is your friend.

Too many dog owners get a dog w/out doing any research or get the dog because they are cute and have a lot of "personality" and end up with a hyper dog.

Before you get a dog or a puppy go out and Buy AND READ COVER TO COVER. "How to be your dog's best friend" and/or "The Art of Raising a Puppy". Both by the Monks of New Skete. They have been training, raising, and breeding GSD's for nearly 40 years. The latter book is great for puppies. It goes into personality tests and puppy selection and preparing your house along with training. Everything was right on and worked for each of the 3 dogs we have.

Unfortunately, the founding Reverend, Laurence Mancuso, just passed on.

How much exercise are you giving your dog? Although it is the biggest pain in the ass imagineable at times, two long walks a day is a MUST! One in the morning (BEFORE breakfast) and one in the evening (BEFORE dinner). Toss in a few play sessions of fetch, keep a way, or frisbee a week and you should see a noticeable difference. Also, make sure the walks are structured - ie, YOU walk out the door before your dog, the dog stays on your lefthand side, and does not pull at all. If your dog is too strong to keep under control, use either the Gentle Leader or one of those pinch collars to keep him/her in check.

Also, it is imperative to set limitations and ground rules for your dog and ANY deviations are punished. You absolutely have to be consistent, b/c if a dog gets away with it once they will think they always have a chance and will keep testing you. I have a 9 month old lab, and she gets ornery every once in a while - her big thing is trying to get at food on the table. Usually discipline involves "NO" in a very stern, yet controlled voice. When that does not work, doing a simulated "bite" with my hand or a soft pinch of the skin by her neck. If she starts biting back or fighting me, I pin her to the ground by her neck and will not let her up until she relaxes and submits.

I read the Dog Whisperer's book and it was really helpful.