Getting puppy

[pbjmaker]

Quote:
IMP - you're alive - we thought the cats had ate you!

Sorry OP to highjack was just really excited!

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Let's see those cute photos (of Blaze too).

 

[WalkerH]

I can say the bell hanging on the door is most effective. Until they learn that you will open the door whenever and then it is non-stop ringing if your dog is fond of going outside, like mine. Crate training is simple enough if you are strong. They will whine and whine and whine, but ignore them. Make sure they want to go int he crate rather then using it as a punishment, like Punk said. Use it as punishment and you may end up with an fear-aggressive crate dog, like my brother. Give it a name, like saying 'let's go to bed!' and eventually you can say that and they'll go running there for a treat.

Puppies at that age usually pee and poo about 20 minutes after they eat, but I usually take mine out about ten minutes after, I think a little exercise really gets their bowels moving. Block it off to a certain place in the house, don't just give it free run of the house from the beginning. Set boundaries, much like a child. My pups were in the laundry room/kitchen/library until we had no potty accidents, those were all hardwood floors.

I like to make sure my dogs know I own the food and it is I who allows them to have it. So I will walk up and take the bowl away, if they do this and then sit they get a treat. Mine are to the point where you can walk up and they sit right down allowing you to take the bowl, they know treats are better anyway. But when I got my pit bull mix as a pup she was becoming food territorial so I would sit there and hand feed her and when she went after my older dog I would correct her, give the older dog back the food and make the pup sit there. When she turned her attention to me and off of my older dog she would get a treat.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

Our dog is a lab/BC mix, and she's amazing. she is the best dog ever. congratulations!

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Quote:
IMP - you're alive - we thought the cats had ate you!

Sorry OP to highjack was just really excited!

Imp posted that on 5/20/2011....

 

[michickenwrangler]

Here are pics

I'll post more later.

So far so good. Whined half the night in her crate (to be expected). So far has pooed and peed outside (good dog!) and had fun running around while I did chores.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Aw, cute little black fuzzly thing! Is Blaze part husky? Gorgeous eyes!

Good luck with the puppy howling/chewing/piddling stage.

. Oh, and on crates, my family dog had this mistake made when our airedale was a pup. We should have crated during parts of the day, at random intervals, maybe with a nice big chewy something. Otherwise, they totally know that crate only means they are going to be shut in for the night, and tend to resist rather than see it as a safe place for them. We also had our family dog in the garage, and spent many sleepless nights when he was being broken of howling nonstop. I'm not sure how you feel about dogs in the bedroom (I know some feel this is letting the dog be alpha, I haven't personally had that experience yet), but my husband and I crate new dogs in the bedroom or in view of us, and we haven't had the typical whining/howling at night. Of course, we've had heelers, and they are eerily quiet dogs. Maybe something to play with or look into. See what has worked for others, and what hasn't etc.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Her crate is in the bedroom next to my bed. Our house is also small enough that Blaze's bed in the living is in view.

Yes, howling all through the night. Eventually she did settle down.