[Moe]

@ jderden Sounds like you're doing everything right but you probably have a very busy / active doodle. The exercise sounds good. Do you find he is better on the two 45 minute walk days? He may need more exercise while he is a teen. More mental stimulation may help also. For more mental stimulation you could try feeding 1/2 of her food (dry kibble) from a feeder toy, I have a

 

[Moe]

@Stacy - It is hard to potty train a puppy. All the books say to do it the way you are doing it. My puppy was terrible when left alone. She cried the second she was not snuggling next to us. I couldn't do it.

You could continue what you are doing but gradually give her more freedom. By 12-14 weeks the pup should be able to hold it for a while. Right after you take the dog out you could let her wander around for 20 minutes or so then take her out again. I think you're on the right track.

 

[Moe]

I've never heard this theory and I've read a ton of dog books. Maybe it is the type of exercise - overstimulating ball play compared to long walks that are more draining. I think there are no right or wrong ways to do anything. It's whatever works for you.

I walk Charlie offleash for an hour almost every day. She is a calm dog by nature. The weather here has been freezing and there is snow everywhere. Charlie developed cracks on her paw pads that were bleeding so I've been treating them with Musher's Secret. She has not been out for a walk in 3 weeks. She is as calm as ever.

I think a lot of it is the dog's nature. Hyper dogs will be hyper no matter what you do. You can help to an extent with mental stimulation and exercise but it's not going to make a lazy dog. I think most hyper dogs mellow with age.

Have you tried feeding her out of some type of dispenser. It really is great for mental stimulation. This was the best advice I've ever gotten from a trainer:

More mental stimulation may help also. For more mental stimulation you could try feeding 1/2 of her food (dry kibble) from a feeder toy, I have a Treat Ball
and a Kong Wobbler
. These satisfy the dog's need to forage. I also have a Tails Teaser
toy which she loves to chase. It helps with her prey drive and it completely exhausts her. I think if you satisfy the dog's primal side then they are easier to handle the rest of the time. You can make a homemade one by tying a 6ft rope or leash to an empty milk carton then pull it around the yard. It is hilarious. For my dog this is much more exhausting than fetch.