I love my puppy but he's stressful?

I understand how you feel. I am an experienced dog owner. I have a 7 month old Labrador puppy. The first 3 months there were many times I thought about giving him back to the breeder. He had me in tears before I had him for 24 hours. Every time I complain people claimed I was not giving him enough exercise. I call bull. I would exercise him outdoors for 2 hours. He would take a half hour rest and be ready to go again. After a certain point more physical exercise just builds stamina so you need to give them even more physical exercise next week.

Each puppy has their own personality. Some puppies require more attention than others. My last dog had two speeds turbo and asleep. When he was a puppy he was in a crate, on leash or if I was actively playing with him dragging a leash for the 18 months of his life. Please try to crate train your puppy so you both can have a time out when you get overwhelmed without worrying about the carpet, wall, etc.

No training method is 100% effective because each dog is different. I prefer clicker training and supervision because the dogs like them. Physical corrections can have unintended consequences. Mental exercise will tire the puppy quicker than physical exercise. Take as many group obedience classes as you can. Have 30 second to 5 minute training sessions as often as you can through out the day.

Here is an article that might help http://www.yourdog.co.uk/Puppy-Advice/help-i-hate-...

Then give him up to a no-kill shelter.

What did you expect? You bought an illbred backyard breeder mutt and obviously are not giving it enough exercise. You're taking a ratty little dog like that on RUNS and it's still keyed up? Bull.

How is it even your decision whether this dog stays or goes? You're a CHILD. You surely whined and whined for a pet and then got one and didn't bother to house break it, never exercise it and I'm betting have a yard FULL of poop since you don't bother to pick it up, do you? TYPICAL child.

He is a normal dog. You haven't trained him. And multiple opinions from trainers? What did they tell you? That you have to work with him. You didn't like that answer, did you? You want a magic dog.

"I think about giving him away all the time and just getting a cat. "

If you think that a cat won't **** around your house or piss in your suitcase (clothes included!) if she is unhappy, or won't tear down and scratch everything (including your bra, your dinner, your furniture, your arms and legs) you're gravely mistaken.

"No, I tried their methods that they claimed were 100% effective."

I sense bullshit. Dogs are individuals, 1 method doesn't suit all.

"each of them had completely different opinions and it confused me."

That's sort of normal. There are different methods you pick the one that works for you and your dog the best.

Unfortunately your dog IS from a backyard breeder. Everyone is considered a backyard breeder who produces puppies without registration at a kennel club (like AKC or FCI). Some backyard breeders are better: they raise their pups in home environment, they provide good food, vet care and basic socialization, while some are very bad. The common problem with ALL backyard breeder is that they don't test for genetic diseases (both Yorkies and Malteses can have a number of them) and they don't care about the temperament of the parents.

There are TONS of mixed breed dogs where I live, and I can tell you that they are not as bad as people on this board can make them out to be: their temperament and energy levels can be all over the place, but real, neurological behavioral problems are rare.

It sounds like your dog just is just very high energy (and bored) and you are new and confused. I can't solve all your problems but I can give you some pointers:

1. Leslie McDevitt: Control Unleashed and Control Unleashed: Puppy Program. Get them, read them, use them. Don't be surprised, these books are aimed at the sports crowd, however they contain information every dog owner should know.

2. Housebreaking is pretty straightforward: pick up the pee pads, pick up the litter, pick up the carpet (if you still have any :D Give them a good, professional cleaning.). Go back to the basics: take the dog outside every 2 hours, after sleep, after playing. Praise when he goes outside, quietly, calmly say "no, outside" and go out with him if you catch him in the act, shut up and clean if you don't. Walk with other dogs, he might get the hang of it sooner. If he is not willing to do it outside, go camping for a few days if you must.

3. NO strenuous exercise for a 8 month old puppy! His bones and muscles are not developed fully. You can quickly cripple your puppy for a life by having him run with you. Let him run at his own pace as much as he wants to e.g. while playing with other dogs.

4. Most high energy dogs DOES NOT get tired SOLELY by running and walking. They need mental stimulation too. So:

- Enroll to a good dog school, take their obedience class, heck, why don't you even prepare for a Canine Good Citizenship test?

- Take up agility as soon as your vet allows it. It's a godsent for high energy dogs like yours: they run, they jump however they have a set of rules to keep in mind so they have to use their brains too :)

- In the meantime get 101 Dog Tricks by Kyra Sundance so you can keep your dog's mind occupied till he is old enough to do sports.

- A tired dog is a good dog. Get up early, take a long walk, practice obedience and tricks in different settings and distractions, play ect. Make sure he is tired before you leave for school. Leave chew toys for him treats to find etc.

- Try to use the instincts of your dog. If your dog loves smelling things: track! If he likes shredding things? Tug-o-war. (Incorporate the trading game, ask him to pull the toy, drop the toy, switch to playing fetch, ask him to sit before you throw the ball, add a cool down period etc.)

5. "He ripped up our carpet, chewed the plug off of my lamp, rips up my school work, chews my furniture, and more." If you catch him in the act, make him stop (NO! A-A! etc.) and PRAISE him when he does.

6. Instead of having the dog leashed, try to puppy proof at least one of the rooms to give him more space to roam.

7. A trip to the vet is in order: check his teeth, find out if he is done with teething. It's painful for the dog, and chewing soothes them. While it's not really an excuse for chewing on inappropriate things, it can be an explanation. A firm set of rules and interesting chew toys can help your dog get rid of this habit.

If you want to give him up to a no-kill shelter be aware that they work with a WAITING LIST. Since they don't euthanize dogs, they have to wait till someone adopts a dog before they can take in another one. They admit dogs in the order they are signed up for the waiting list. You might have to wait for a few months before they can admit your dog - that's a price for safety.