New pup

[TipsNotHacks]

I have a 14 week old JRT. Gorgeous little thing, sweet natured and lots of fun.

I was daft and didn’t get in quick enough with training courses and they’re all booked up. Making a lots of progress ourselves. He’s happy to chill with us but also loves to play which we are more than happy to oblige with

I’m taking him to a “puppy romp” on Sunday at a very reputable dog school and will discuss training courses with them then (apparently there’s a good one aimed at 20 weeks plus). I have just a few questions:

• i have tried walking with him. Very hit and miss. He doesn’t like pavements but is happy to stomp about on grass so I take him to a local park. 50% of the time he parks his bum on the floor and doesn’t move so I coax him with treats . Is this normal? He gets better by the day (I don’t over exert and stick to time recommendations) but we’re plannimg a quiet woodland stroll to a local pub on Saturday (he LOVES the pub and people as he was socialised a lot when we first got him at 9 weeks and onwards). Any tips for walking? I don’t want to scare him for life.

Toilet training: he’s doing really well and I have learned to read cues that he needs to go but still obviously having the odd accident which is my fault. I work from home and am self employed so I have all the time to watch him like a hawk! He’s in a largish crate now which has a pad down. He went into the kitchen for the first time on Monday and last night had his first night where he went straight through with no accidents. He doesn’t ask to be let out and I physically carry him out (I think he hates the cold!) - is this to be expected or am I creating a rod for my own back?
Alone time: he has never been left alone 😂 i want him to be well balanced and confident so am giving him tonnes of attention. Ideally though I’d like to be able to leave him 2-4 hours alone eventually! Should I be leaving him for brief periods at this stage? So far all I do is pop him in the cage for an hour after breakfast so I can do the house. Tips here would be most welcome. He so far is used to me constantly in the house. He is well
Behaved int he cage, whines a little but then gives up after a couple of mins so I’m certain he isn’t distressed.

Apologies for length of thread, just want to make sure I’m doing this right and not overlooking anything

JRT puppy, eh? You're brave

I have an old JRT (not that you would know she was old to meet her - she is still a full on dog) and a Springer pup.

Re walking, I would just focus on making it as fun as possible and keeping your puppy's attention on you - which is normally pretty easy at this age! Lots of interaction and getting the puppy to chase you by running away giggling and making high pitch noises. Use a long training lead (10m+) so you know he is safe but then start to jog away from him, making really encouraging noises so that he runs after you. Lots of praise and a treat when he catches you - something high value like roast chicken. That way you are setting up some excellent habits that coming to you is FUN - something you will rely on later when his JRT chase drive kicks in!

Other than that, just lots of praise and making it obvious that you are enjoying yourself on walks - he'll pick it up.

My springer took quite a few weeks to really 'get' the point of a walk so it's still very early days for yours.

The toilet thing sounds about on track as well. Mine still has the odd accident once a week or so. Again, it's only in the last 3-4 weeks that he has understood he can ask to go out. I took him out whenever I thought he needed to go but if I ever caught him sat looking at me in what I consider to be a meaningful way, I took him out then too. He now sits like that as a way to ask. He just picked it up.

The crate also sounds like it is working well. If at this age you can leave him alone in a crate while you are in another room and he isn't upset by it then I'd say you are doing well. There's plenty of the puppy survival thread about dealing with separation but you sound like you've made a great start.

Play is really important, especially with a JRT as they tend to be less food-motivated when outside. Setting your dog up with the knowledge that you are FUN and know how to play is going to be a great foundation for you. This is great news because it means you can legit play with your puppy and consider it 'training'.

14 weeks old is also a good age to start teaching some manners. The basics (for me) are not to snatch food until offered and to sit to ask for something. Teaching him that eye contact can get him good things is also useful as it sets him up to look to you whenever he wants something or whenever he is unsure what to do. That attention makes it easier for you to guide him.

Thanks so much for such a thorough reply, really reassuring. I grew up with JRT’s - they were all so different in personality - so I know they can be a handful but I just adore them, this little one has us in stiches at night when he does his 3 turbo charged laps around the lounge

How old is your Springer? She sounds a delight already!

The springer is a he (not that he minds being called a she) and he's 5.5 months old. He's a good dog and one of 3 we have, but my first puppy for a looong while. I think I'm learning that they take a bit longer to get things than I remember but just to be patient and consistent and trust that it will come.

JRTs are, indeed, a whole lot of dog. Big, brave personalities in tiny little packages...