New puppy inbound.. Any helpful advice for a first timer?
Discussion
Hi all,
I have an 8 week old labradoodle coming home in a few days which is very exciting, however I'm also a bit nervous about the whole thing as I've never owned a dog before!
Any useful advice on the first few nights/weeks including by toilet training tips? Have been reading about puppy crates which seems like a good idea.
Any help is appreciated!
I have an 8 week old labradoodle coming home in a few days which is very exciting, however I'm also a bit nervous about the whole thing as I've never owned a dog before!
Any useful advice on the first few nights/weeks including by toilet training tips? Have been reading about puppy crates which seems like a good idea.
Any help is appreciated!
I always recommend two books:
The Perfect Puppy - How to raise a problem-free dog by Gwen Bailey
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training - Pamela Dennison
Both are based on modern scientific methods of how dogs learn, are a good and easy read, make a load of sense, etc, etc.
Best of luck!
Oh - and puppy classes - but it is a nightmare finding ones that are not overcrowded and still taught by the march/yank/shout brigade.
The Perfect Puppy - How to raise a problem-free dog by Gwen Bailey
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training - Pamela Dennison
Both are based on modern scientific methods of how dogs learn, are a good and easy read, make a load of sense, etc, etc.
Best of luck!
Oh - and puppy classes - but it is a nightmare finding ones that are not overcrowded and still taught by the march/yank/shout brigade.
Get plenty of sleep now whilst you can - Puppies have small tanks so need emptying regularly.
Stock up on kitchen roll and anti-bacterial spray/dettol.
Move anything valuable out of reach.
Hide wires out of the way.
Get some more kitchen roll.
Put some chicken wire or similar around any valuable plants in your garden.
Practice putting the remote control out of reach.
Did I mention the kitchen roll?
Best of luck with it.
Our latest Lab pup is now 4 months old and whilst it's definitely worth it, she has been a handful at times. We're crate training her and it seems to have worked pretty well. Puppies are hard work, but extremely rewarding. No better feeling at the moment than taking her out to the field across the way from us with her walking at heel, then throwing dummies for her to retrieve to hand - I'm amazed at her progress (even though it probably isn't that remarkable).
We've not bothered with puppy training class as she has our other two dogs to teach her social skills, and she is learning all their good habits. Already far more responsive than out neighbours pup who is nearly a year old. Our fear is that they can pick up bad habits from other dogs and she needs to understand that meeting other dogs isn't playtime - unfortunately there are a few owners at our local class who haven't quite mastered control of their dogs yet and it just turned into a farce.
Stock up on kitchen roll and anti-bacterial spray/dettol.
Move anything valuable out of reach.
Hide wires out of the way.
Get some more kitchen roll.
Put some chicken wire or similar around any valuable plants in your garden.
Practice putting the remote control out of reach.
Did I mention the kitchen roll?
Best of luck with it.
Our latest Lab pup is now 4 months old and whilst it's definitely worth it, she has been a handful at times. We're crate training her and it seems to have worked pretty well. Puppies are hard work, but extremely rewarding. No better feeling at the moment than taking her out to the field across the way from us with her walking at heel, then throwing dummies for her to retrieve to hand - I'm amazed at her progress (even though it probably isn't that remarkable).
We've not bothered with puppy training class as she has our other two dogs to teach her social skills, and she is learning all their good habits. Already far more responsive than out neighbours pup who is nearly a year old. Our fear is that they can pick up bad habits from other dogs and she needs to understand that meeting other dogs isn't playtime - unfortunately there are a few owners at our local class who haven't quite mastered control of their dogs yet and it just turned into a farce.
Well first night is over which went amazingly well, slept in her crate all night without a single cry, one little accident by the back door. Have had her going to the toilet outside all day, things are going wells far (touch wood)!
Bought the perfect puppy book which seems very well written and is easy to understand,
Thanks for the tips so far, any more are appreciated!
Bought the perfect puppy book which seems very well written and is easy to understand,
Thanks for the tips so far, any more are appreciated!
Photos?
Our Labradoodle is 16 weeks old now. He sleeps a lot but also has his active times. He's house trained, except when he gets really excited and you get the odd accident.
I would recommend puppy training as it gives both the dog confidence in meeting other dogs (he was great with humans but a bit timid with other dogs) and gives us (you) a bit of guidance on how to achieve the basics. Dexter responds to training really well, and was the calmest pup there. Not sure if that's to do with the breed or just our particular pup? (nature nurture argument?). Our trainer was very much in the modern manner of training and is a dog behaviour expert.
The other thing I would recommend is consistency and routine. It's very noticeable that on days the kids aren't at school he's confused a bit and can get tired as sleep time becomes playtime.
Oh, and he loves his crate, is only in it at nights after we've all gone up to bed or if were out. He knows at night when I start switching the lamps off and after his last wee and trots straight in there and curls up.
Have fun
I would recommend puppy training as it gives both the dog confidence in meeting other dogs (he was great with humans but a bit timid with other dogs) and gives us (you) a bit of guidance on how to achieve the basics. Dexter responds to training really well, and was the calmest pup there. Not sure if that's to do with the breed or just our particular pup? (nature nurture argument?). Our trainer was very much in the modern manner of training and is a dog behaviour expert.
The other thing I would recommend is consistency and routine. It's very noticeable that on days the kids aren't at school he's confused a bit and can get tired as sleep time becomes playtime.
Oh, and he loves his crate, is only in it at nights after we've all gone up to bed or if were out. He knows at night when I start switching the lamps off and after his last wee and trots straight in there and curls up.
Have fun
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