Cash or Czech Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Brought home 11-week old Hank this weekend. He's super sweet, loves attention, learning his quirks and boundaries that've been set up by the breeder. Progressing on making the bathroom outside only. Open to any and all tips and advice as we raise him and continue his training. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 When I first got my puppy, I enrolled in training classes. Not for her, but for my benefit, so that I could learn how to communicate effectively with my dog. Did wonders for me as a new dog owner (had cats my whole life). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindG1000 Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 24 minutes ago, phillyb said: When I first got my puppy, I enrolled in training classes. Not for her, but for my benefit, so that I could learn how to communicate effectively with my dog. Did wonders for me as a new dog owner (had cats my whole life). This. Especially if this is your first dog. Puppies are very impressionable and want to please - but small, adorable behaviors you tolerate when they're little become big problems when they aren't. Enlist a pro if you can. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 23 minutes ago, phillyb said: When I first got my puppy, I enrolled in training classes. Not for her, but for my benefit, so that I could learn how to communicate effectively with my dog. Did wonders for me as a new dog owner (had cats my whole life). This. Right off the bat, the crate is your friend. As far as he's concerned, it's not a cage, it's a den. Look into a cover for it and make sure it's the proper size. Teach him that everything good happens in the crate, lots of toys, food, etc... But no going to the bathroom in the crate. Eventually their instincts will kick in and they will not go to the bathroom where they eat and sleep. Second thing is as far as he's concerned all physical contact is good. He can't tell the difference between you pushing him away or off a piece of furniture, and you petting him. Make sure he has a short house leash on whenever you're home, and he's in the crate whenever you're not. Use the house leash to lead him away from things he shouldn't be doing. I'm sure the folks you got him from who started the house breaking process and gave you the guidelines for that, and how long he could be left alone without going out, etc. What I'll also say is don't listen to the nonsense about not being able to give your dog different sources of protein. Dog food manufacturers want to hook you into continuing to buy their brand so the easiest thing for them to say is changes to the dog's diet are bad for it. That's not the case you can switch between chicken beef poultry and fish as long as you're weaning. So as you transition you'll want to do three quarters of a serving of the old food mixed with one quarter serving of the new food to see how he does. Try to buy food with the shortest ingredient list possible, and once you've settled on your manufacturer don't be worried about switching between protein sources. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 6 hours ago, Pete said: This. Right off the bat, the crate is your friend. As far as he's concerned, it's not a cage, it's a den. Look into a cover for it and make sure it's the proper size. Teach him that everything good happens in the crate, lots of toys, food, etc... But no going to the bathroom in the crate. Eventually their instincts will kick in and they will not go to the bathroom where they eat and sleep. Second thing is as far as he's concerned all physical contact is good. He can't tell the difference between you pushing him away or off a piece of furniture, and you petting him. Make sure he has a short house leash on whenever you're home, and he's in the crate whenever you're not. Use the house leash to lead him away from things he shouldn't be doing. I'm sure the folks you got him from who started the house breaking process and gave you the guidelines for that, and how long he could be left alone without going out, etc. What I'll also say is don't listen to the nonsense about not being able to give your dog different sources of protein. Dog food manufacturers want to hook you into continuing to buy their brand so the easiest thing for them to say is changes to the dog's diet are bad for it. That's not the case you can switch between chicken beef poultry and fish as long as you're weaning. So as you transition you'll want to do three quarters of a serving of the old food mixed with one quarter serving of the new food to see how he does. Try to buy food with the shortest ingredient list possible, and once you've settled on your manufacturer don't be worried about switching between protein sources. Can I use this same advice with my incoming daughter? Especially that cage part? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 We recently got Kody (Chocolate Lab) at 8 weeks old; he is now 4 months. This isn't our first dog but we are trying to train him a bit more than our past dogs to have better manners (company coming over, sitting before eating, not jumping on people). I downloaded the Puppr app which has been helpful with a bunch of free training tips from simple things to more complex training. Even more so than the app, I have been watching thia guy's videos and employing his tactics and they seem to work pretty well. https://youtube.com/@willathertoncaninetraining Once Kody is 6ish months, training will pick up a bit more with a hopefully more mature ability to understand and learn. Good luck with Hank!! We had to put down our 16 year old pup last year and decided to bring in a new family member to grow up with our kids. Hope he brings you all the joy in the world. Nothing like having a loyal friend who makes you their world. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Wife getting out of hand? To the crate. Need some alone time? To the crate. Shit, spit, piss, and vomit everywhere? To the crate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 9 hours ago, Keirik said: Can I use this same advice with my incoming daughter? Especially that cage part? Yea just call it a "playpen" to your friends. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted March 20, 2023 Author Share Posted March 20, 2023 (edited) Updates: The trainer has definitely helped. We had an intro session working on the basics. He's a fast learner. As the vet says, he's got the sweetness of a cavalier but he's smart like a poodle, probably too smart for his own good. Potty training was pretty easy for him. Working on walking etiquette. Picky eater, both the food and the receptacle. Will eat off the floor or out of our hands fine. Okay with plates. Doesn't love bowls. Edited March 20, 2023 by Cash or Czech 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 41 minutes ago, Cash or Czech said: Updates: The trainer has definitely helped. We had an intro session working on the basics. He's a fast learner. As the vet says, he's got the sweetness of a cavalier but he's smart like a poodle, probably too smart for his own good. Potty training was pretty easy for him. Working on walking etiquette. Picky eater, both the food and the receptacle. Will eat off the floor or out of our hands fine. Okay with plates. Doesn't love bowls. Cute pup! Is he a barker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted March 20, 2023 Author Share Posted March 20, 2023 12 minutes ago, jsm7302 said: Cute pup! Is he a barker? Not persistently. He’s got a small bark, uses it primarily when he’s excited. Mostly when seeing other dogs/people but not being able to sprint over and say hi. Like a bark/whine combo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Could try a bowl like this: Smart dogs need jobs, so giving them a job while they eat might be worth a shot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 9 minutes ago, phillyb said: Could try a bowl like this: Smart dogs need jobs, so giving them a job while they eat might be worth a shot. This, or feed him from a Kong or a puzzle toy where the food falls out of it as they push it across the floor. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 If he’s so smart why can’t he cook his own meals 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted March 21, 2023 Author Share Posted March 21, 2023 1 hour ago, Keirik said: If he’s so smart why can’t he cook his own meals I keep asking him what he’d do without us? He’d be awful hunting for kibble and bully sticks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long live the King Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Or he just might not like the food. What brand are you using? This is what we use... https://www.pawtree.com/pawtree/products/983 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted March 21, 2023 Author Share Posted March 21, 2023 14 minutes ago, Long live the King said: Or he just might not like the food. What brand are you using? This is what we use... https://www.pawtree.com/pawtree/products/983 He likes his current food. He came home on a raw diet. Switched to blue Buffalo which he didn’t eat. Now he’s on Stella and Chewy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 My pup didn't like Blue Buffalo either. I used to walk my pup up and down the aisles at Petco and let him pick out his food. He finally found one he likes, Canidae, and has been eating it for a few months now. Every now and then, I mix it with something else like table scraps, Purina Beefy Burger, tacos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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