New puppy thread, where new puppy owners can come for help and advice and hopefully clever people like minimu, midori et al will check regularly (please) to help us...

[Happymm]

Exactly what it says on the tin really. Kings idea, that we have a thread where we can all come and ask for help, advice, support or just to vent and that the much more experienced people will come and help us out :)

Welcome to all the new people with puppies.

We left pup and older dog with the kids to look after while we went away. We went early Saturday morning and came back at lunchtime today.

My son had to get up to pup at 6 am and he had pooed in his crate (he won't go in there to sleep!!). That's the first time he's done that, so it's probably protest that I'm not here!

Other than that, he was very good for them.
We took him out this evening for the first time. Just up and down the road. He wasn't too bad on the lead. Puppy classes start on Tuesday evening so need to work hard on the lead over the next couple of days.

Well, ours has just turned 13 weeks, with us 4 and a half, and we all reckon we have finally turned a corner! (checks around for large object to trip me up!) It crept up on us without us noticing, until we took a step back and analysed last night.

He's not done a poo indoors now for nearly a week, most nights have been clear and dry, and he is now, finally, thank the Lord, going for a poo almost straight after eating and during walks! This is so much easier to manage. Still a fair few wees indoors, which I accept will happen, but we will "go" outside if you tell him to (and he needs one). Just have to make sure DH and DCs we all religiously take him out very regularly.

He's also now choosing to go into his crate and sleep, which I don't think he's ever done before (unless during night when I'm not there), and we don't hear him before 7am. This will be very useful when we go away in a few weeks time to an open-plan cottage.

OK, you can take your fingers out of your ears now. Brag-fest over!

Clam you're right - I think we need to also appreciate how far we've come too - he is 13 weeks tomorrow and we have had him just over 5 - we have also realised that he has got a lot better:

1. Can't remember the last time he had an accident inside.
2. He has been waking at 5/5:30 as you all know until Sunday morning when I said to my husband just to leave him as it wasn't getting better with us setting an alarm - he needs to adjust his body clock. Anyway on Sunday he barked for a bit then went quiet until 6:30 and this morning barely a squeak at 5:30 ish and quiet until 7 then out for loo and back in crate with kong until 8. FAB.
3. He has mainly stopped nipping and jumping in the house/with our family at home. (As you will have read outside is a different story but hopefully that will come).
4. He knows "sit", "down" (without having to be lured with a treat), "stay", recalls fairly well outside and very well inside, can do puppy push ups (sit,down,sit), is starting to walk nicely on lead (sometimes!), knows "paw" and we're starting to work on roll over.

There - brag fest from me too! Go on everyone - brag about the progress you have made with your pup - it will make you feel better! (I must admit after a weekend I sometimes feel a bit - "oh, same old same old again for me - going to park etc" - used to spend the day at friends' houses sometimes but think the puppy is too young to take yet...and feel guilty always getting them to come here. I have left him no probs for 2 hours - wonder if he could do more!?

I'm glad that your pups are making progress, lots of lovely stories today. We had a good weekend too, and attended our first puppy training session on Saturday.

Since you ask, pup is reliable with sit, down, wait, leave it and hi-five so we are working on 'look at me' and 'stand'. I am not entirely sure that stand is very useful but the trainer gave this as homework - apparently quite good for when you are putting a harness on or grooming. 'look at me' is for when faced with an exciting distraction on walks, to get them to focus on you rather than the other dog/cyclist etc.

We are also seeing improvements with the early waking (6am on Saturday and Sunday, which is good for us) and with the biting - lots of times she has lunged in for a bite and then clearly thought better of it at the last moment.

Pup also spent the day at kennels yesterday (I know, I am cruel). We had tickets for an event that dogs couldn't attend, and I thought it would be good for her to get used to going from an early age too; kennels said she had been fine but she was very hungry and thirsty when she got home so think she might not have eaten or drank much while there due to stress. Still, I really want her to get used to it so it will be a fortnightly feature from now on.

Ooh well done HowdoesJulian! Are you using leave it for toys etc?

You have reminded me ours also does "look at me" and "stand" (stand is getting there anyway) and "off" which we use for leaving treats (ie I hold one in my hand and he gets off it and waits until I give it to him) and also for dropping toys and things which aren't his. We use "drop" only for retrieving as want to gun dog train him so keeping that separate.

I have started to try using "floor" - ie for him to get down when jumping. Although don't want to complicate it as obv if you just give an incompatible command like "sit" then he has to get down from jumping...So maybe it's not needed!?

Are you using wait for doors and for his food etc?

I find it interesting/useful to see which commands others are using and what for as then I can get ideas to expand our repertoire too!

Also Howdoes - remind me what your puppy is again? Have forgotten!

Yes, we're using 'leave it' for anything we want her to leave alone iyswim.

I taught it pretty much as you have been teaching 'off' - by holding a treat and then putting it on the floor and saying 'leave it' until I give the release command (if she made a move towards it I picked it up again or covered it with my hand). Over a few days I was able to leave treats on the floor and leave the room, and she wouldn't take them. Then it was easy to use it in other situations - when she was running towards the sofa, about to pick up something that wasn't hers etc. She does seem to understand that 'leave it' means 'don't touch'.

We use 'off' as 'get off' if she is actually already up on the furniture.

It's a bit confusing isn't it..everyone using different commands for what is essentially the same action!?

We are still working on 'drop' - if she has something in her mouth I bribe her with a treat and say 'drop' as she releases the item, but she definitely wouldn't do it without the bribe.

Like you, we practice 'wait' at doors, when opening crate, when putting food out etc but then we also seem to use it instead of 'stay' - so I will ask her to sit and wait, and then walk across the garden or wherever and make sure she isn't following before calling her to me for a treat.

How on earth did you teach stand? She doesn't seem to get it at all. I ask her to sit first, and then stand - when she eventually stands (due to boredom I suppose) I click and treat. Is there a better way, or do I just need to persevere?

Oh, and she's a Spanish Water Dog.

Yes - interesting how we all use different commands and also a bit confusing as you say! That's a good idea re teaching leave it - I have taught off by holding a treat in my hand and he comes and tries to get it and I say off and don't let him have it until his nose stops touching my hand. Now I say off and he will sit or lie down and wait for me to give it to him. BUT I wonder if we confuse the poor chap as "off" when he has a toy in his mouth isn't quite the same. Maybe we should use drop for that too although my husband wants to keep drop for retrieving... (and ours will rarely drop without a treat either - I think continue and then click and treat, repeat ad infinitum!) I think our "off" is the same as leave maybe? So if we wanted him to leave a treat or food on the floor then we should say "off" as soon as he starts towards it? A good one to teach I think. And then say drop for things in mouth. God am all confused now!

Yes I have been getting him to sit before his food and am starting to introduce stay until I say so (which isn't really working as he is starving!).

Haven't actually used wait yet re doors and crate (tried with crate and he didn't get the hang of it so thought would focus on the easier ones first). How are you teaching that one?

Well, stand is by no means perfect yet! He isn't quite doing it to command. He sits and then I tip my finger under his tummy and he stands. Then obv say "stand" click and treat. But in my book it says hold treat in front of nose and then move backwards and dog should automatically stand. Sadly as we have taught off so he won't follow treat it doesn't work with him!

He doesn't really get the roll over - ie luring his head round as he just stands up to try and get treat...

I like this - discussing ideas and ways to train is very helpful! For me anyway...

Ooh and one more thing: I have FINALLY sorted out the food situation. I was pretty sure JWB wasn't agreeing with him and it seemed it wasn't - he had on and off runny poo, and even when not runny there was loads of it! I took him off all kibble a week ago and fed him chicken and rice for 2 days and then started very very slowly introducing it back in - but this time Acana (made by the same people as Orijen but not as high protein) - only 4 pieces at first and gradually working up to a full amount today. Anyway - all good again - firm poo and he is going approx 3/4 times a day (as opposed to 6 or 7!) and is on 3 meals a day. Anyway bet you're all glad that I have told you all about my poo situation as a bit of light relief! And a plug for Acana here but I think I have also learnt that not all pups suit the same food...

Some good ideas kings, thanks.

I found 'wait' to be quite straightforward (unlike virtually every other command, so am definitely not bragging!).

I started by getting her to sit and 'wait' when she wanted to come out of her crate - I just kept saying 'wait' and closing the door again if she moved a muscle. You need quick reflexes! I also used a hand signal at first.

This then progressed to asking her to sit and wait at doorways - I still struggle to get her to do it if the door is open and she happens to be ahead of me, but she will do it if the door is closed (same as with crate door - i close it again if she moves out of her sit before I am through it and give the release command). This isn't anything to do with pack theory btw, I just think it's good manners not to barge me out of the way, and a safety thing too because when we are out and about I should go through doors/gates etc to check it's safe to do so.

Then the same when giving her her food - sit and 'wait', and pick the food up again if she twitches.

Could you use 'give' if you don't want to use 'drop', for when you need him to release something?

I also want to try 'roll over' for showing off purposes but need stand and look at me first otherwise will be class dunces next Saturday!

Oh and good news about the poo. My pup is doing well on JWB so again interesting how different they all are. Hilarious how we are all obsessing about their poos - my obsession is getting a poo before bed because that seems to lead to a slightly later getting up time!

Thanks howdoes - that's what I started to do it with - his crate - but I felt like I was just closing the door on his nose the whole time (it is divided in half so he is really near the door already)!

Perhaps I could just use the "stay" command as I have already starting teaching it? Am trying to think whether that would be confusing in any situations - don't think so...He actually did start to respond to "stay" when I fed him at lunchtime. What release command do you use? Need to decide one.

Good idea re give! I might write out a big list of commands and what they are used for so that I can see if I could be over-complicating things or confusing him.

Hello all, thought I would mention the change in food also. We switched over to just JWB about 6 days ago and puppy doing very well on it. Poos only about 3 times a day now instead of the 5 or 6 before, makes life much easier! Again not much to report, puppy very very cute and am really starting to enjoy her she is such a poppet. She loves licking feet and will casually walk past me giving my toes a quick lick as she passes . My husband is besotted with her which is very sweet to watch, he had to be persuaded to get one and he still claims to all and sundry that he doesn't like dogs but you should see them together it is lovely!

She was a bit of a pain over the weekend, I decided to do some gardening and everything was exciting and needed barking at, couldn't rake, brush, mow or strim without her kicking off so kept having to take her inside and shut the blinds so she couldn't see. She attacked the compost bag, attacked the empty plant pots, attacked the hose and had great fun digging in the old compost from last year's pots. It was quite trying but I got the job done in the end.

She is still bad on lead and I had a very long and frustrating walk on Saturday lots and lots of stopping - she is kind of getting the message but we are in for a long ride with this one I think. Problem is she has so much opportunity to be off lead, that she is hardly ever on the lead! I think I need to do some intense lead work only but I find it so boring, much more fun watching her tear around the woods!

Can I ask what you are all walking your puppies in - collars or harness?

Oh god we are all obsessed with poos aren't we?

How funny - two of you having a great time with JWB and we just didn't get on with it at all. Perhaps he isn't keen on grains (the Acana we get is grain free).

Spam that sounds lovely! Oh - we can't do any gardening (I use that term loosely in our SW London patio) or sweeping etc with him around...

He does pull on lead also. I keep it so short he doesn't really get much chance and am practising stopping and him stopping too/sitting. We use a leather collar and leather training lead. (Our trainer recommended it). Looks similar to the last lead on this page: Training Lead

Thanks Kings. What is different about the training lead? I haven't really thought about making the lead really short.....I just stop every time she rushes forward put her back in place and say heel and when she is nicely walking at heel I say heel and good girl and occasionally treat. If I treat too much she spends the whole walk jumping up to the treat pot! Looks like I am walking a kangaroo not a dog!

Sometimes she trots along nicely for ages and I think we have cracked it then when she sees someone or something interesting it is back to pull pull, choke, pull - arggh

I'd love some advice asap! We are driving thru France and so far our 17 week old puppy hasn't wee'd at all. We keep stopping and walking him on grass and giving him the 'wee' command...but nothing. At home he's all house trained and toilets in one area of the garden.
What can we do?? We are staying in a chalet for a few days and he simply must wee!!!
Please help...any advice appreciated.

Spam - um not really sure . It's def not a magic lead at all. Just gives you more options re length - think it can be three lengths depending on how far you double it over. And you can loop it across your body if you need all hands free. But that's it really. Yes our trainer advised to keep it really short - ie holding it straight up from collar. Ours is the same - sometimes walks nicely but as soon as he sees anyone or a dog he pulls a lot.

Slinky - have you been giving him lots of water? It's very hot out so perhaps he is dehydrated and hasn't made enough wee yet? Or are you staying out long enough? Perhaps it will take him longer as he isn't in a familiar place? Those are all the ideas I have really - sorry they aren't much help!

kings - yes I expect 'stay' will work in exactly the same way that I use 'wait' and as you have already started with that, it should be easier.

I just use 'go on' as the release command - I didn't give much thought to that one, it just evolved as I said it naturally.

At our first training session the trainer did advise drawing up a 'doggy dictionary' so that the whole family knew which words meant what, and so that you could easily check for inconsistencies. It sounded daft at the time, but now I am thinking it might be a good idea!

spam - I had a similarly frustrating day of attempted gardening a couple of weeks ago, which prompted me to buy a doggy play pen. I know this makes me sound like a crazy person, but it has been so handy - 8 big panels, one of which has a door in it, by Savic for about £40. It has been so useful - I pop her in it in the garden so I can get on with things, or in the house if the doorbell goes or the children want to play whilst keeping all of their limbs intact.

We are walking her with a collar and lead, and I share your frustration - we are also doing the stop/start method, and have seen some improvements but it is still impossible to do a 'quick walk'.

slinkyboo - not sure, we had the same problem, we weren't very far from home but got stuck in horrendous traffic and ended up being on the motorway for about 3hrs. She hadn't had all of her vaccinations yet, so I kept getting out of the car and standing her on a towel whilst giving the wee command. Absolute madness, and it didn't work - she was bursting by the time we got home. The only thing I would say is that they can only hold on so long before they simply have to go, even if they are not comfortable with the location, so surely no physical harm? Surely?

HowdoesJuliancope - yes we have a pen but she would still bark like crazy if outdoors so not much use - I can't stand it when she gets into bark mode my head can't take it! They are great and I can see their uses but we haven't really needed it as the layout of the house means I can shut her in the kitchen and dining room with access to outside if I need to be upstairs with my daugther or have to go and answer the front door etc.

Walking tonight was a nightmare as with my daugther who is walking all over the place and puppy is more interested where she is than with me! Gah

You have made me think about training again, I am not doing enough and I really should do more. Recall is good, sit, down is good. She doesn't rush through doors so I haven't really had to teach her wait and if she is at the side of the road I make her sit and then cross. But I have stopped doing Stay or wait whilst I walk off so going to up that bit of training I think!

Slinky - no physical harm I wouldn't think, our pup is 18 weeks tomorrow and she can go for 9 hours without a wee during the night. In fact last night she had a wee at about 11.30pm and then when I took her out at 7.30am she waited about 20 minutes before she wee'd I was getting worried. I think I read from Minimu or Midori about how long they can hold it if they want to and it is quite long! Hope she goes soon X

Drama tonight, took Maggie out for a walk and went along a path next to a field. Been there loads of times, field usually empty and Maggie has never made an attempt to go in field. Field was full of cows and she jumped into the field over some barbed wire. There were four strings of barbed wire in long grass and about 6 inches apart. I called her back and she came (good puppy!!) but I couldn't grab her and lift her over the barb, she just hurled herself over it and caught herself. We thought she had caught her tummy but next minute her eye closed up and started bleeding. Daughter started crying her eyes out, I was panicking as couldn't see how much damage there was. Thankfully we were 10 minutes from home and vet is only a minute from our house, so whizzed into vet who was still open and he had a look. By then the bleeding had stopped, but she has caught her eyeball and punctured outside her eye, needs antibiotic drops but should be okay X poor puppy

Spam, oh no poor puppy..hope she is OK!

Ah I can see that an outdoor play pen wouldn't help you in that situation..with us it was the general charging, bounding, digging etc that was hard to deal with, but no advice for the barking I'm afraid! Possibly investigate inventing, patenting and manufacturing the worlds first soundproofed puppy pen?! Guaranteed bestseller!

Thank you for the replies
When we finally arrived (after 8 hours!) he jumped out and was delighted to be out of car and off lead - and promptly did a lengthy wee on the grass
However, he then embarrassed us all by racing up to a neighbouring chalet and running in...lady came out and had a real moan at us as they were having supper and he'd barged in all I could do was apologise in my poor French...

I like the sound of the puppy playpen as we have a large garden and I get nervous that he's up to mischief when he's out there unsupervised...don't they try to jump out, though?
Hope pup's eye better very soon - thank goodness she doesn't have to wear a huge plastic collar!!
Btw I should introduce my pup to this thread - Otis, born 1st march (so 18weeks tomorrow?) pure-bred rescue mutt!

Awww Slinky our pups are the same age, Maggie was born on 1st March!!

Twins (sort of)

Slinky - you can buy different sizes, but ours is 1m high and she certainly couldn't jump that at the moment. In fact I hope that that doesn't occur to her until she is old enough to not need it anymore! I think she would get bored if left for too long in it, but it's worked well for a couple of hours while we get the gardening done - good to know she is safe, and can't get into mischief while our backs are turned. I just put it in a shady spot with water and toys, and she is happy.

Spam - hope Maggie is feeling OK this morning.

Spam! Poor Maggie - so sad for you all. Hope it heals well.

We had a result this morning - puppy still asleep at 7! We went down anyway as wanted to get him before he started barking. But he went back in crate with his kong as usual. Had his last puppy class last night which was a bit sad actually as have been enjoying the opportunity to train him in the evenings without any distractions. But there's a further class in Sept which we will go to and we might go down to the trainer's house and do some basic gundog training with him. Started using some had signals last night for sit and down which would obv be useful if shooting. And am waiting for my whistle to arrive!

Happy - how you feeling?