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 :)

Hello ladies! Sorry not been around, had full on day with the dog whisperer on Friday, and have been very busy with the dog and DC's since!

Dog whisperer was exactly that! Had her character within minutes. Says she is a rambunctious puppy, very confident, and that she is rude! ie badly behaved! He thought on a scale on 0-100% she was about 90! so wouldn't just gradually calm down without us putting some work.

Basically, she has to be on some form of lead all the time, a training lead, long lead etc, so that we can always control her and always know where she is. Also, so that she can be with us all the time, not just kept in the kitchen. Even on a lead when in sitting room in her bed, so she can't run riot in the sitting room at night, jumping up at us on the sofa and biting. The lead is sprayed with stuff to stop her biting that instead too! And use of time out, a minute or so if she's being really naughty.

We have to make her sit before we will stroke her, and as we go to stroke her, to slip a thumb or finger under her collar so that we're always in control. If she tries to jump, or bite, we've to give a slight tug at her collar, or on her lead and say NO biting! And to do that consistently. Every time.

She's also to be on the lead in the garden, so that we get her to toilet where we want, and also to train her not to dig and rubbish the garden. Doing some work with treats and training her to take it gently and not bite/snatch at it.

Have to say, that it all seems to be working! She is calming down! Unbelievably, but she is! Even sleeping now on her bed nicely! :) :) :)

Thats great news Happymm - might need to steal some of those ideas for our pup! You must be relieved to have some strategies that are working. Can I ask what you do for the time out?

Thanks

Yes, am very relieved as was at the end of my tether tbh and wasn't enjoying her at all.

Timeout-if she's being very bad and won't calm, eg lurching at me with jaws open to bite (though as I seem to be her main object of affection for this in the evening, I've moved, so DH is sitting by her) but we just take her out of the room, tie her lead around the radiator in the hallway and shut the door, for 1 or 2mins-bit like the naughty step! He said no longer than that as she'll not remember why she's there and will find something else to do or think about, like how to get the radiator off the wall!

With the treats thing, basically she doesn't get it until she takes it gently. I have to hold it between thumb and index finger and tell her gently, and if she uses her teeth to snatch or bite it away, then I remove it slightly and say gentle and we try again. She seems to be getting this, as has been taking it with her lips much more-even took a lovely brisket bone off me gently today!

Have so much to work on though! He was here for 5hours! And is coming back to do lead work etc.

Top excitement though. Took her to the park on the lead and she loved it! Was really good with the other dogs :)

That is such great news! 5 hours! Wow! That's a long time to speak dog

Will def use some of those ideas with our pup. We keep her on a lead in the garden as there are a few gaps under a fence which need to be blocked up, trying to untangle the lead from round slide, under table etc is always fun

Will look forward to updates on the progress!

Blimey! 5 hours! But nice you seem to be getting your money's worth already.
We went to pupy training yesterday, but he just wasn't in the mood. He's been tired and lethargic all weekend, actually (weather?) and we were about to excuse him when the trainer came up and said "nonsense" and promptly got him to do all the things he'd just been flopping on the ground for!
It's amazing all the "wrong" signals we give without realising it. I've got into the habit of saying his name for commands like 'Sit' when apparently I should reserve his name for exciting "come here and see what I've got!!!" things. And I didn't know whether, if I said 'Sit' and then he lay down, if that counted? Apparently not!
Anyway, after feeling like the class dunce yesterday, we've been practising the "wait...... come sit..... treat" thing and he's FAB at it.

Also, took him to a cricket match today. Tethered his lead to a stake by my chair, but tbh I'm not sure it was necessary. He was SO good and in a placid mood. Loads of children crowding him and he just smiled at them. I tensed up when a toddler wobbled up to him and lunged at his face, but he just smiled and rolled over! What a star.

AND..... while I'm bragging, he didn't poo in the kitchen last night, and he's beginning to wee on command in the garden. Unfortunately, he also pees in the house when he feels like it, but he definitely knows it pleases me to go outside coz he comes running over to me for praise straight after.

Beginning to enjoy this!

Great news. It sounds like things are moving on for everyone.

Pup has had a good weekend. Went from 10.15 - 7.45 both mornings and had not messed the pen at all.

Got him to eat his dinner in the crate as well, but still won't go in there to sleep. Working on sit, down and come.

We now need to work on walking with the lead because he's got his last injection tomorrow and then puppy classes start next week.

Ooh sounds like everyone is doing well!

Happy - glad behaviourist has helped - will use some of those tips if I need to!

We are okay here although v jealous of your long sleeps. Ours was going til 6:30/7ish before we had those 2 weekends away where the people looking after him get up at 5/5:30 (mad I know!) so he is def in a bad routine re mornings. He was up at 5 today. And did a massive wee though as drank loads late last night (having been for a quick walk late last night). So clearly needed to go badly. BUT I really do NOT want this to continue so will have to start going hardcore as everyone else's puppies seem to sleep until at least 7 if not later, which would suit us very well! Do you think I should a) set alarm a bit earlier then take him out so he doesn't bark to get us up or b) let him bark at 5am and ignore him until a bit later? Risk is then that he doesn't really settle and learns that barking for a long time makes me come to him!

Argh. He is always a bit naughty the day he comes back but he has been very good with my daughter. They have been running around together and he hasn't really jumped up at all - he did once or twice but didn't actually bite or anything and I stopped him straight away. Then put him in his play pen!

Another puppy class tonight - hopefully he won't ignore me!

OK, so does anyone else have a puppy that doesn't like going for walks?
He's been very quiet the last two days - tried to take him out just now but he clearly wasn't interested. Dragged his feet and went really slowly. He only perked up once I turned round to come home again, when he almost broke into a trot!
Is it the weather, do you think? Or might he be sickening for something? Going to the vet's tonight for flea/worming stuff so might ask there.

Devil Dog does not fare well in weather of any kind. Over the summer months he turns into the worlds best behaved dog , during the winter he is a nightmare because it's not warm enough to knock him out, but he won't walk properly if it's windy/raining/snowy. Temperate and dry is the only weather he likes

If your pup is normal in every other way I'd say it's probably the heat.

Hope all OK!

Had not too bad a day, pup even with the provocation of activities that would normally lead her to bite me she hasn't. But have been really busy with singing group for DS, school runs, mountain of washing, changing all the beds, and sofa covers (they were in a right state and couldn't even look at them for a second more), so haven't been free to train pooch much though have been playing in garden a bit (not that she really wanted to as so hot) and DH not here to help tonight and sit by her. She's been terrible. Absopositively horrible. Either whining, barking if I didn't sit by her, and if I did than trying to jump up and nibble me, just constantly on the go. Fed fed fed up :(

Seems like one step forward, two steps back....

Well, he perked up a bit mid-evening and started racing around, so we attempted another walk. Not interested in the slightest!
Hope this pattern doesn't stick!

I actually think I am the only person whose puppy wasn't affected at all by the heat. Went to park and he was running around like a lunatic and then at puppy class too. And everyone else's puppies seemed to have spent all day asleep - not mine! ARGH.

He is also waking at 5am still. I imagine due to people at weekend looking after him getting up at 5. So.... need to decide whether to start setting that alarm clock again. I think that it what we are going to have to do as this isn't normal anymore for his age and think it's just a bad habit. I know he can do longer as he was before the first weekend - at only 10 weeks...

Did very well at puppy class last night and trainer introduced "paw" - which he wasn't too quick on last night actually but seems to have got the hang of a bit more now. Can't let the side down next week .

Happy - am sorry you're sad - do you think she got like that as it had cooled and then she needed some exercise having not done much in the day? It is just sooo hot isn't it?

Just got back from the vets for last injection. Can't wait to start taking pup out next week.

Need to get him used to the lead first though. Tried in the garden and he doesn't like it at all.

He's now laid out on the fireplace (his new sleeping spot),

Not sure Kings, unfortunately as DH not here, I couldn't take her for a walk, plus it started raining very hard for the rest of the night, so couldn't really play fetch etc. DH away till the wkend so got to put up with it the rest of the week too... Wish it wasn't so hard. I honestly don't remember any of my previous dogs doing this kind of thing, and it wasn't that long ago.

Two-try just leaving the lead on him and letting him trail it around for a bit, under supervision of course so doesn't get tangled up.

He's fine trailing it about the garden, he will even let me hold it and walk next to me for a bit when I've got sausage in my hand and then he starts pulling and bucking. Need to keep working at it as puppy classes start next week

Ugh Happy such a nightmare. That is rubbish. Yes my husband works v long hours so often no chance of a walk in the evening either. You okay?

TWo - I found my puppy wasn't great on the lead but when we got outside was much better - perhaps the distractions?

Just fed up tbh.

Almost wish we'd never got her. Just did some training for a bit outside. She was just going nuts in the wind, so so so excitable over minimal things, wouldn't come when called-thank god we were in the garden, and when she did come, she wouldn't sit, or did but just for a second or two then wanting to race off.

The only positive bit is that she's not biting anywhere near as much-though when she does it really hurts now.

Really want to try and enjoy her, but just fed up and exasperated if truth be known. :(

Hi All

I posted earlier but the computer did somethign odd and lost it! Arrghh!!

Happymm - Sorry to hear you are having a rough time. You are doing so well during the day being able to complete so many jobs and still have a puppy thats not biting/jumping up! Just think if the days are almost sussed then the evenings will be soon too

We had our last jabs today too so are on count down to when we can go out. Pup got so excited at the vets that she was wagging her entire body and not just her tail! I haven't been able to take her out for more socilisation trips as yet so I am looking forward to next week when we can get out of the house/garden a bit more - but that wil bring a whoel new set of issues Im sure!

We keep her on the lead in the garden as it isn't 100% secure through the thick hedges between us and next door so i am hopng that she will be OK when out althogh just walking her into the vets she was pullingn hard so it won't be all good!

Any chance of getting a one on one puppy training session or something before you can start puppy classes? Might help with training. When you recall her do you let her sniff a treat before she goes off to play? Then hopefully she might remember when you call her to you? Also get down into a crouch and open your arms (positive body language), call her name or rattle treat box (works for us) and then say "come" (rather than just calling her name as she won't know what you want her to do), when she is on her way praise and praise and praise and treat when she gets to you. Don't try and get her to sit first as then you aren't actually giving the reward for what you asked her to do which was come. Then grab her collar so she is controlled and praise for at least 10 seconds so she knows how pleased you are. Then you can try a sit etc.

This is from puppy classes and my own experience. Also a book called the Idiots Guide to Positive Dog Training which I found v useful (you may have it already!). Do I remember you saying you used a clicker?

If she only sits for a second when excited maybe try not releasing the treat straight away - ie holding it so she noses your hand etc but hold "sit" for a few seconds and praise and then let her have it? Maybe then she will learn to stay in the "sit" for a bit longer.

Try not to say "sit, sit sit sit" etc as she will then learn to just switch off. Say "sit" firmly and calmly and then wait 10 seconds. If she doesn't do it then say it again. If she still doesn't do it after 10 seconds then use treat as a lure to get her into sit position

That may be all old news to you (Have just realised that I think you have actually had dogs before so sorry if extremely patronising - but going to post anyway as might help someone) but might help a bit!

Keep it up - you sound like you are doing well and have made progress...

Happymm - sorry my last post was really relevant or in answer to your post.

I'm sorry to her your not enjoying puppy life. It is all incredibly hard but you have lots of plans in place and you will have a beautiful family dog. Just at this time it's all a little too far away.

I have no tips to offer as have had no puppy training yet. Thursday is our first class!

Wasn't really relevant -
Sorry!!

Happymm I will confess to having cried a bit last week when I was standing out in the garden for the umpteenth time waiting for the wretched hound to poo.
But I'm fine now. And there is an improvement. A bit. But they're only babies, remember. Yours will get there!

Doesn't have to be relevant, just your support is good...

Have been in tears over it. She's now barking and whining at me. She's on her house lead in the kitchen with me, so lord knows what's up.

To be fair, I don't treat straight away, as she tries to snatch it with jaw open, so we have several tries at gently before she manages to take a treat gently, but am clicking so she gets a click straight away. She just is then expecting a treat so is too excited!

poor you - I am so glad I am opting for a rescue dog when I get one!!! This thread is so offputting . You are all doing a great job though, well done. It sounds tougher than I would have imagined! Keep plugging away at it Happymm - or you may have to namechange to grumpymm!!

Was thinking that myself 2T! Or maybe unhappymm! :o