Hello everyone
I have a puppy who is nearly 13 weeks old and has been with us three weeks. He's had his second vaccinations and we've been taking him out and about for two weeks. He's only little, so we've been concentrating on socialising him with other dogs, birds, traffic, bridges and water, different environments. He seems confident and happy and never runs away or barks. Sometimes he will pull on the lead a little, sometimes he will sit and refuse to walk (I'm guessing he is tired?) but otherwise there's been no concerns.
He sleeps all night in his crate with no problems. He will whine a little once or twice a night, and I get up and take him out in the garden to do his business. Then back to sleep until about 7am - which is perfect for me. No problems there and I am guessing the night waking will fade as he gets older and his bladder gets bigger.
He can sit - very reliably both with and without a treat. I make him sit at the kerb when we're out and about and he will wait until I tell him we can cross the road. He is unreliable about offering a paw. He will sometimes come when called - almost always reliable in the house and back garden - very hit and miss when out and about. He can't do 'down' and 'wait' is a very unreliable thing right now.
I am trying to teach him fetch but he seems to have no idea at all... yet!
Food wise - he's on Royal Canin (recommended by the breeder) three times a day. He's eating less than the packet recommends but he is putting on weight and the vet had no concerns about his size. I am not sure if I should leave his half-finished bowl down all the time and let him graze, or I should take it away and let him build up his hunger to the next mealtime. He quite often - I'd say at least once or twice a day - has a very loose and mucussy stool - I have to wash it away out of the grass rather than pick it up. There's no blood and he is drinking often and well and seems very active so I haven't been to the vet about this yet. Should I?
As you can tell, I'm a first time dog owner. I've read a lot and I'm a member of various force-free training groups on facebook. I want to do my best by him. Should I be doing a bit more with his training - especially on 'wait' and come when called? He's too young for long walks, so this would be practicing in the garden, I think.
What should I expect with house training? He will go when I take him out to the garden. He's reliable and I am taking him out after every meal and drink, every sleep, and every half hour generally. I still have misses and he will go in the house and he doesn't ask to be let out during the day (though he does at night). Should I crate him in the day to help with house training? I don't punish or shout when he has an accident inside, just clean with the enzyme cleaner and take him out. Lots of praise when he does do it in the garden.
In terms of being left alone: I will crate him when I shower - this is for about ten minutes and he has a special chew in there he doesn't get at any other time. He seems happy and doesn't whine. Last week I had to make an emergency trip to the GP with my child and I crated him then for one hour, with the special chew, and he was sleeping very happily and seemed happy and not anxious when we got back, though I know it wasn't ideal. I haven't left him otherwise. I will need him to be reasonably okay with being left for about three hours once a day on week days come October - so we have some months to work on that. How and when should I start? (If he isn't ready or it doesn't work, I have other options as stand-by).
We have a puppy party booked for two weeks' time. He's socialised well with other vaccinated dogs. There's a vet nurse who runs the party and I will mention his loose stool to her unless you think I should make a trip to the vet more urgently?