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Original poster

New Puppy Question and Poll

37 replies

ahundredtimes · 23/01/2008 11:40

Right here's the question:

When can he wear a collar or rather when is a good time to put a collar on him? Do you put on and leave, or take on and off? I don't think I like collars much.

Poll:

Where in your house is your dog allowed to go? Everywhere? Just downstairs? Or upstairs and downstairs?

I think once he's more house-trained, he should be allowed everywhere, dh thinks just downstairs.

OP posts:
Original poster
ahundredtimes · 23/01/2008 11:45

[barks]

OP posts:
beautifulgirls · 23/01/2008 11:52

Best plan is a soft small adjustable collar right from the start. He will hate it to start with, scratch at it but will get used to it the best if you just put it on and leave it on. If you take it off you reset the work you have done backwards so it gets harder for him to adjust to it than if it just stays. It is well worth also getting him used to the lead attached to the collar once he is used to the collar too. That way when you are able to first take him out and about after vaccines he will be much more used to it and the walk will be more fun for you all.

Our dog basically stays downstairs. Personal choice though really. We like to contain the shed fur to one area rather than everywhere, though it still manages to get up the stairs all by itself If you are considering having the dog in part at least for security then it is probably worth occasionally taking the dog upstairs though just so it is not a strange place for it. There may come a day you want to send the dog up to check out a noise and if they are not too sure about it all it kind of defeats that purpose.

Threadie · 23/01/2008 11:57

If you are fairly houseproud I guess it makes sense to keep them downstairs. Ours is allowed everywhere though . He is very good and clean and doesn't steal toys etc to chew.

Threadie · 23/01/2008 11:58

Oh, but before he was neutered he did briefly have the habit of 'claiming' our beds by means of a sneaky wee wee. Worth avoiding probably!

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 23/01/2008 12:02

Oh thank you both - and for the collar advice.

I am not at all house proud. Also I don't think this one is really guard dog material he bounds up to everyone and lies on the floor so they can tickle his tummy.

Good point about the hair. Hmm. He will have long hair too.

I thought allowed everywhere, but as I work downstairs he'll probably stay around me most of the day, but definitely sleep downstairs.

OP posts:
Original poster
ahundredtimes · 23/01/2008 12:04

beautifulgirls - good point. We could have practice sessions in the garden first couldn't we? He's in for another three weeks poor thing.

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Threadie · 23/01/2008 12:06

Oh Do you work at home 100x. So do I. It is just lovely having a dog with you when you work at home. It just feels so cosy and peaceful.

Wisteria · 23/01/2008 12:06

Ours doesn't wear a collar at all, just a harness when we're out.

She's allowed anywhere in the house in the daytime when I'm in, if we're out she's in the kitchen or garden and at night she's in kitchen.

I heard that they become more protective over the house if allowed everywhere but our lab didn't get protective until she was 2+.

Threadie · 23/01/2008 12:07

Ours always sleeps downstairs.

bratnav · 23/01/2008 12:07

Got the same situation here ahundred, we collected our puppy 10 days ago. She is only allowed downstairs, and not in the kids playroom, far too much polly pocket around for her to eat!

We have put a collar on her, about 2-3 days after she arrived and left it on, and she was fine with it after a day or so.

What type of puppy are you getting?

boudoiricca · 23/01/2008 12:07

Put a soft cloth collar on him now and leave it on... As beau says he'll scratch at first but soon get used to it. Then once he's going out and about you can get a dog tag with your name and number on it so if he ever manages to escape you're more likely to get him back...

I would recommend keeping him a downstairs dogs, for hair moulting, climbing into bed type reasons.

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 23/01/2008 12:41

bratnav - we have already. He's a cocker spaniel puppy, now 10 weeks. Utterly divine and a bit daft and very jolly.

Right.

Collar - on then, now.

Different views on the house. Thing is I don't think he's ever going to be much of a guard dog, I don't think cockers are, so perhaps it won't matter if he doesn't go upstairs.

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DontCallMeHun · 23/01/2008 13:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 23/01/2008 13:21

The collar is ON. Doesn't seem to be bothering him either - he really might be quite incredibly dim I think - so that's that.

Now I want what you've got with the Cairn DCMH. I think it's nicer and jollier. Is he house trained? I don't think I care about the hair that much.

I want him to be able to go upstairs when he regularly / more often wees/poos outside.

When will that be O Dog Experts of MN?

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SaggyOldBagpuss · 23/01/2008 13:23

Ours only wears a collar when we go for a walk, when she was a puppy though we left it on her all the time so that she could get used to it.

She's not allowed upstairs at all and gets told off if she does come up.

mellowma · 23/01/2008 13:31

Message withdrawn

DontCallMeHun · 23/01/2008 13:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bratnav · 23/01/2008 13:59

We're still training Amelie (god I love her) but we have managed her going outside about 70% of the time so far, which I think is pretty good.

I think we will have our work cut out for us training her, she is already so wilfull, bu lovely, (pic on profile)

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 24/01/2008 11:07

Oh she looks beautiful Bratnav, I don't know how to spell Weimerarer but I like them . . .

Chewing. Can we talk about chewing. Like the clothes we're wearing, all the time.

I go and buy loads of puppy toys yes? And then I say 'no' and give him the thing he can chew on. Problem is, I do that, and then he comes back and starts on my jeans. Repetition is the order of the day?

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justwaterformethanks · 24/01/2008 11:26

mine wears his collar all the time even in the house ,just in case one of the kids doesnt shut the door properly and he escapes ,that way if someone finds him they can ring straight away instead of him ending up at the police station or with the dog warden where you are charged a release fee .He is microchipped aswell .

lululemonrefuser · 24/01/2008 11:46

Repetition is indeed the thing. Also, just turn your back and walk away, emanating disapproval. They do pick up on that. But it will go on for a while yet ... Scout grabbed at clothes until he was six months, and still will if very overexcited (he's 1 1/4 now), although he stops pretty quickly with a hard stare.

Agree with everyone else about the collar, esp. justwater's post. My trainer describes a collar as a 'handle for dogs'.

My dog is only allowed upstairs with us. We tend to keep bedroom doors shut in the day so that he can't leap on beds. He sleeps in his crate in the kitchen - takes himself off there promptly at 10pm every night!

He was house trained reliably at 4 months - we did the same as DontcallmeHun and it worked brilliantly.

On the going out/leash thing, I would try spending a bit of time now in the house and g garden letting him drag a light leash behind him (just a really thin one) so that he gets used to the feel, then while he still wants to be close to you, start practising have him walk near you with the leash slack in your hand. I didn't do enough of this and have ended up with a dog who cannot walk nicely on a slack leash, which is now hell to correct. And spaniels do tend to pull .... hope someone else can benefit from my mistake!

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 24/01/2008 12:40

Oh thank you lulu. You are a star.

We had a 'sit' and lots of treats session in the garden. He was very good. Kept it short and positive. Can you tell I have read the books?

We tried putting the lead on, and it was all just too exciting and he kept eating it and then he scooped it up in his mouth and powered about the place with his ears in the wind. Hmm. We shall try again tomorrow.

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Catherinedeneuve · 24/01/2008 13:35

I have a labrador puppy who is about to turn ten weeks old, had him since seven weeks. He's not allowed upstairs and at the moment he sort of obeys, but I'm not sure for how long! I've been given conflicting advice about stairgates. What do other people think?

have been practising with the collar, but am able to leave him for very short bursts alone in the garden and would be worried he might choke himself if we put it on permanently?
And congrats Ahundretimes! It's hard work but fun, isn;t it!

MuffinMclay · 24/01/2008 21:02

I've always given dogs a (soft) collar from the start so they get used to it. They do look much nicer without though.

My dog is allowed to go everywhere in the house, most of the time. He's not allowed in our bedroom at night (unless dh is away, when he sleeps on the bed with me), but comes bouncing in to say hello when he hears sounds of movement in the morning. And he's not allowed upstairs in the mornings when he comes back from walks and is all muddy.

I do allow him upstairs at other times when he wants to get away from ds (who chases and pesters the dog). And he tends to follow me around wherever I go.

I wouldn't encourage a dog to go upstairs until it was housetrained, especially if you have carpets up there.

dexter73 · 25/01/2008 10:49

Read this.
States that a dog must wear a collar when in a public place.