Posted on 07/13/2013 11:34:45 PM PDT by proud American in Canada
You need to get Cesar Milan’s (The Dog Whisperer) book and/or watch his show and adopt his training methods. We adopted a 3 month old Jack Russell that was nuts!! Took us about a month to get her under control and housebroken using Cesar’s philosophy.
Everyone now amazes how well behaved out little Cookie Lee is. She’s a pack MEMBER, not the pack LEADER.
Congrats on your new family member. I’ve crate trained all my dogs and my newest little boy, Buckley (Chi-Jack mix) still sleeps in his crate, I got him at 9 mos or so, we think someone dumped him. He is a such a sweetie and now at 3 years old, he still sleeps in his crate, it’s his refuge :) He just has to make sure there isn’t a cat sleeping in there before he goes in at night.
My border collie mix hated the crate, he would cry, the crate only lasted a week, but we were vigilant about taking him out a couple of times a night, and with tons of praise, he learned very quickly. My rottweiler LOVED the crate, he slept in it until he outgrew it and then he moved onto the bed. He had his own blankie and pillow. I lost them within 4 months of each other, at ages 14 and 12. I miss them every day but my little boy has been such a joy. I was 8 months without a dog, wondering if I could ever fill the empty space in my heart, but then my neighbor found my little boy wandering around the neighborhood. He was so skinny and dirty, just lost. But such a little love, we brought him into our home and we never looked back.
Just be patient. Tons of praise, if you think you’re overdoing it, bump it up a notch! They learn so quickly and all they want is to please you. Love her and you’ll have a faithful companion for many years. Best to you!
Problem is that it is a Canadian Black Lab, eh?
2. Six weeks is young for a puppy. A breeder should not adopt them out at that age.
Bookmarked for later. Thanks for posting!
We had a black lab who was not allowed on the bed. Every morning, I awoke with that sneaky dog sleeping peacefully in the crook of my elbow. They don’t call them “Labrador Deceivers” for nothing. I miss him sooooo much.
Figure she can wait one hour per month of age between pees. They also have an unlimited supply of urine. Most puppies will automatically try to get as far from their sleeping and eating places as possible before pooping.
They will pee not only for relief, but out of frustration or manipulation or trying to be submissive. Never yell, never hit or punish. Just say *NO*, remove them to an appropriate pee place and always reward them when they do what you want.
We set up a puppy bed in the kitchen and it is gated. Put down puppy pads. Used enzyme cleaner the first few weeks for accidents. We also placed an old, clean comforter at the foot of our bed for nighttime and just got up every hour to take him out. Make sure it is a comforter you can easily throw out at some point, as they will chew it as well as sleep on it. We also made sure he had some stuffed animals larger than he was to sleep with. Some will fight with their beds, as though it is a toy. At that point, just watch for their favorite sleeping place that is also on an easy to clean floor, hopefully with a gate they can see through and make up a bed there for nighttime. You are lucky, as it is summer. Our boy was born in August and we were housetraining in colder weather.
When you take the pup out, make happy, happy talk. Take him to the same spot for pees, keep repeating your special word (piddle, pee, whatever). For a really young puppy, just pick them up and carry them outside at first. Otherwise, the act of walking will trigger the pee response. Reward immediately with lavish praise and happy sounds when the pup obeys. Poops happen right after a meal. Feed, then out. Walk as far as you can and the pup will before encouraging a poo. React the same way as for a successful pee.
Watch the pup. They will signal, each in their own way. Ours would start nervously pacing, looking for a spot. He doesn’t bark much and now his signal is to suddenly sit, look over at us and sort of hang his head when he wants to go out. We were not successful using doorknob bells, but it works with some.
Training takes about 3-4 weeks for an 8-week-old.
I have never used crates. I have had 2 Akitas and they are terrified of the crate. We made a large fenced pen and had our dog out there for some period of time every day the weather allowed. Provide a *den* or other protected spot. Provide shade, water and food if it is going to be several hours. Make it large enough that they can go to the furthest corner to poo, if necessary. Check often and play there with them, some times. They do need to learn to spend time by themselves and the fresh air is good for them. If everything is fine and you have work to do or need to leave for a short time, ignore plaintive crying to be let out. You should be able to spy on their pen without them seeing you so they will know to spend some time alone.
Dogs want to be with their people. You have a baby and you need to be patient. They grow up really fast.
Just remember, that if you train your pup to sleep in your bed, when she is a large adult, she will still sleep in your bed and straight-leg you right out of it. Put the puppy bed close enough that you can pet her at night, instead.
No matter what, be consistent.
Unless one of the dogs turns out not to like other dogs. I took in a stray like that once. She adored people. If you adopt another one, please introduce them first.
Not housebreaking; but great video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I_QzPLEjM4&feature=player_embedded
Put an article of clothing that has a strong concentration of your smell on it in with pup at night. Make sure it’s something you don’t mind giving up for good. I’ve had one stubborn pooch with which this trick has not worked—with her, a very firm “NO”—the only response she got for her crying—worked on the third try.
After two weeks of crying, my husband got our new 4 mo. old mini-poodle out of the crate and brought him to bed. He is now a permanent bedmate. Don’t do it. Our previous poodle was crate trained and we had no problem with him. Train them early for the crate.
It’s good to teach them the command to go, too. I tell Oliver to potty or poop and he will usually will go on command. Can’t get hubby to use the words, so he walks around the block several times just to get Ollie to go.
Sure hope you have a king-size bed!!! LOL.
LOL
Yes our bed is king (dog) sized! :D The dogs are bathed often and the sheets are changed twice a week.
You can put one of your socks or an old shirt in the
crate too, they find that comforting.
Yes dogs are pack animals and you are part of the pack.
I have three, one is mine and the other two are my mon’s
she can’t keep them in assisted living.
When I sleep, they sleep, when I go work on the computer
they come in and lay there, it’s like a shadow.
At some point perhaps you can put in a dog door to
an enclosed yard they will like that and very seldom
mess up in the house. other wise you have to walk them
several times a day. Still they each have their personalities, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Good luck to you.
tet.
BookMark :)
I’ve had several labs as pets including my current dog who is 12. My advice is to crate train and take him outside on a frequent basis when he is very young. My further advice is to always take him to the same area in your yard, so he learns to relieve himself there. It makes it easier to clean up after him and less likely that he’ll pick up the nasty vice of eating his own poop and then coming back inside and promptly licking you. If you don’t do this, he’ll go where ever he wants and you’ll be cleaning dog crap off of your shoes and the kids shoes for the rest of his life.
It is important to begin basic obedience training when the dog is a bit older - say around 12 weeks or so and continue this training through his first couple of years. You will want a dog that is obedient (sit, stay, come, down, etc), is trained both on a leash and off leash and who has house manners that is well socialized both with other dogs and people. Lots of books and videos on techniques. There are few things more exasperating than to have a dog that jumps up on people or who, for example, counter surfs eating your food as opposed to his because he has never been trained not to do this. Training has to be systematic, done daily and reinforced consistently over his first few years until it is engrained.
My last bit of advice is that adult labs coats are very oily and if you allow them on the furniture they will ruin the upholstery eventually, so I advise against letting them get up on couches or beds.
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