Puppy advice please
Discussion
Get a decent book - Gwen Bailey is widely recommended:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Puppy-Take-Britain...
or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Train-Superpup-Unleash...
or both!
Good luck
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Puppy-Take-Britain...
or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Train-Superpup-Unleash...
or both!
Good luck
I'll try my best to offer some help. I've always had dogs in my life, with picture of me as a baby with a golden retriever puppy by my side. I'm very much a dog person through and through, and being a young single male with no kids, my dog is like a little baby to me and I spoil her rotten. I would like to think I've done a good job with her, but by no means am I like some of these people I see with dogs who have them trained inch perfect. I've come from Golden Retrievers which my parents have always had, and still do, to a beautiful Japanese Spitz. Not a manly dog in the slightest, but after researching it's all characteristics it just sounded perfect for me.
Now it depends on how you plan your puppy being when it gets older. The reason I say this, is if you want the dog to sleep on the bed with you, obviously you do that. If you want it to go to it's own place, you need to train it that from day one. As cute as a puppy is and you want to cuddle it and spend all the time you can with it, it is important to be consistent with training.
Assuming you want the latter like most people, the first few nights will be hard. I've never liked the idea of a cage personally, but am fortunate to have a decent size kitchen where an area is cordoned off for the dogs area. She has her bed and her toys and it's like her own room. I bought a dog fencing thing (when I think of it, it is just like a big cage actually), but a still a decent space. This was to stop her chewing the wooden counters. Now you need to put your dog in it's area at night, and try and get some sleep. As said earlier, this will be very hard as the puppy is likely to whimper and yap all night, and all you want to do is go and comfort it. The problem with doing this, is if the puppy knows you will come down to it, it then becomes are hard cycle to break.
Now when I had my puppy, I took two weeks off work, and then managed to work from home for another two weeks so pretty much spent a month with her. This last puppy (had dogs all my life) has been the most painless experience. She's learnt everything very quickly. There are key things to teach it which are obviously being house trained, to eat well (particularly not getting super excited by food - I'd imagine a bulldog will get very boisterous with food if not taught correctly). Once it gets slightly older and it can outside, I strongly recommend taking it to puppy classes. It's less so much the teaching side of it for me as I'd like to think I'm good with that, but more about emerging the dog with other pups. The last thing I wanted was an unsociable dog as take mine most places with me so needed it to be very friendly with everything and everyone.
Expect lots of weeing in the house, and you need to be patient with this. I have carpet through most of the house rather than laminate flooring which is a bit harder to deal with. I bought some puppy pads for the first time, and in all honesty, they were useless. She never went on them, and loved to tear them up. I have an area where she goes to the toilet in the park garden. The trick is to get her to go in her designated area most of the time. I could often see when she needed to go as she would start sniffing a lot in the same area. You need to be very quick here and jump out and get her outside. Sometimes this was a per caution and she simply was having a nose around, but better safe than sorry. Reward her for going in the right place as well. This doesn't have to be with a treat, but simply being excited, patting her, good girl etc. With this most recent puppy, I think it only went inside about 10 times or so when I wasn't quick enough to react so was very impressed. She quickly learnt to run to the back door and I would let her out and she would go. Also, when the dog does go to the toilet in the house when training it, it is paramount to clean up the mess thoroughly sterilising it so the smell isn't there. Dogs love to go to the toilet where they can smell a dog has been to the toilet.
Feeding for me is a big one. My parents dogs go crazy around food time, and are obsessed with it. It doesn't help my dad always gives them treats, and my mum tries to train them. Seeing first hand, if there are two owners involved, you need to do things the same to keep everything as consistent as possible. Now it might be down to the type of dog I have, but she's not too fussed about food. As a puppy, she had three meals a day, and try and ensure they eat everything up. The first few times when you put the food down, she didn't know too much what to do with it leaving it, and coming back to it now and then. Once they get into routine and like their food, I got her to sit nicely, put the food down in front of her, and she can only eat it on my command. A simple trick I was taught which was really effective, is when trying to get them to wait before having their food right in front of them, simply put your finger round the back of her collar and hold it to stop them moving forward and getting the food.
Overall, you will learn quickly and have a loving dog in return. If you can, take the time to get them trained (i.e. go to classes with the dog) as it can make the next 10-15 years of ownership so much nicer as you both know where you stand. Occasionally you need to be sharp, and show the dog you are it's master and stuff is done on your terms and not theirs, but this can all mostly be ironed out at a puppy age. But have fun, enjoy the puppy, and would love to see pictures of it growing up occasionally. Any questions, feel free to ask. Also well I remember, invest in a nice collar for the dog. All they will outgrow it and need replacing, get a decent rolled leather as there very comfortable for the dog. Considering they wear it 24/7, don't buy a cheap tacky one.
Now it depends on how you plan your puppy being when it gets older. The reason I say this, is if you want the dog to sleep on the bed with you, obviously you do that. If you want it to go to it's own place, you need to train it that from day one. As cute as a puppy is and you want to cuddle it and spend all the time you can with it, it is important to be consistent with training.
Assuming you want the latter like most people, the first few nights will be hard. I've never liked the idea of a cage personally, but am fortunate to have a decent size kitchen where an area is cordoned off for the dogs area. She has her bed and her toys and it's like her own room. I bought a dog fencing thing (when I think of it, it is just like a big cage actually), but a still a decent space. This was to stop her chewing the wooden counters. Now you need to put your dog in it's area at night, and try and get some sleep. As said earlier, this will be very hard as the puppy is likely to whimper and yap all night, and all you want to do is go and comfort it. The problem with doing this, is if the puppy knows you will come down to it, it then becomes are hard cycle to break.
Now when I had my puppy, I took two weeks off work, and then managed to work from home for another two weeks so pretty much spent a month with her. This last puppy (had dogs all my life) has been the most painless experience. She's learnt everything very quickly. There are key things to teach it which are obviously being house trained, to eat well (particularly not getting super excited by food - I'd imagine a bulldog will get very boisterous with food if not taught correctly). Once it gets slightly older and it can outside, I strongly recommend taking it to puppy classes. It's less so much the teaching side of it for me as I'd like to think I'm good with that, but more about emerging the dog with other pups. The last thing I wanted was an unsociable dog as take mine most places with me so needed it to be very friendly with everything and everyone.
Expect lots of weeing in the house, and you need to be patient with this. I have carpet through most of the house rather than laminate flooring which is a bit harder to deal with. I bought some puppy pads for the first time, and in all honesty, they were useless. She never went on them, and loved to tear them up. I have an area where she goes to the toilet in the park garden. The trick is to get her to go in her designated area most of the time. I could often see when she needed to go as she would start sniffing a lot in the same area. You need to be very quick here and jump out and get her outside. Sometimes this was a per caution and she simply was having a nose around, but better safe than sorry. Reward her for going in the right place as well. This doesn't have to be with a treat, but simply being excited, patting her, good girl etc. With this most recent puppy, I think it only went inside about 10 times or so when I wasn't quick enough to react so was very impressed. She quickly learnt to run to the back door and I would let her out and she would go. Also, when the dog does go to the toilet in the house when training it, it is paramount to clean up the mess thoroughly sterilising it so the smell isn't there. Dogs love to go to the toilet where they can smell a dog has been to the toilet.
Feeding for me is a big one. My parents dogs go crazy around food time, and are obsessed with it. It doesn't help my dad always gives them treats, and my mum tries to train them. Seeing first hand, if there are two owners involved, you need to do things the same to keep everything as consistent as possible. Now it might be down to the type of dog I have, but she's not too fussed about food. As a puppy, she had three meals a day, and try and ensure they eat everything up. The first few times when you put the food down, she didn't know too much what to do with it leaving it, and coming back to it now and then. Once they get into routine and like their food, I got her to sit nicely, put the food down in front of her, and she can only eat it on my command. A simple trick I was taught which was really effective, is when trying to get them to wait before having their food right in front of them, simply put your finger round the back of her collar and hold it to stop them moving forward and getting the food.
Overall, you will learn quickly and have a loving dog in return. If you can, take the time to get them trained (i.e. go to classes with the dog) as it can make the next 10-15 years of ownership so much nicer as you both know where you stand. Occasionally you need to be sharp, and show the dog you are it's master and stuff is done on your terms and not theirs, but this can all mostly be ironed out at a puppy age. But have fun, enjoy the puppy, and would love to see pictures of it growing up occasionally. Any questions, feel free to ask. Also well I remember, invest in a nice collar for the dog. All they will outgrow it and need replacing, get a decent rolled leather as there very comfortable for the dog. Considering they wear it 24/7, don't buy a cheap tacky one.
I got my pup last thursday and he's 11 weeks old. The way I've done it is i came down and comforted him the first two nights but as this was killing me and the mrs off i decided to get serious with this night time stuff. Radio on and ticking clock seems to help.
Last night he went through the night with one trip out into the garden and half a hours howling and did NO toilet on the kitchen floor. He is definitely learning and its very rewarding! I've got him a collar and lead and keep trying it on to get him used to it when he's able to go out in the big world (after last jab).
With regards to toilet training i just let him out when i go for a ciggy in the garden (which is quite a lot at the moment due to lack of sleep!) and he tends to go for a wee or poo followed by a "wee wee/poo poo well done" and a bit of a treat. Any poo done on the patio i have cleaned up as it attracts slugs and the pup keeps getting too close to eating them, poos on the grass are broken up with a hose so he can't try eating it but still has the scent so he can establish that as his s
t spot.
One last thing, doggy proof whatever room its going to be in and the garden, puppies put everything in their mouth and if it tastes of something will try eating it! I sweep the patio of bugs and snails etc before we go to bed so we don't have to follow him around half asleep at night!
Lastly, no matter how knackered you get its great having a puppy! Especially when he ends up having a nap like this...
Last night he went through the night with one trip out into the garden and half a hours howling and did NO toilet on the kitchen floor. He is definitely learning and its very rewarding! I've got him a collar and lead and keep trying it on to get him used to it when he's able to go out in the big world (after last jab).
With regards to toilet training i just let him out when i go for a ciggy in the garden (which is quite a lot at the moment due to lack of sleep!) and he tends to go for a wee or poo followed by a "wee wee/poo poo well done" and a bit of a treat. Any poo done on the patio i have cleaned up as it attracts slugs and the pup keeps getting too close to eating them, poos on the grass are broken up with a hose so he can't try eating it but still has the scent so he can establish that as his s
t spot.One last thing, doggy proof whatever room its going to be in and the garden, puppies put everything in their mouth and if it tastes of something will try eating it! I sweep the patio of bugs and snails etc before we go to bed so we don't have to follow him around half asleep at night!
Lastly, no matter how knackered you get its great having a puppy! Especially when he ends up having a nap like this...
Snollygoster said:
I'll try my best to offer some help. I've always had dogs in my life, with picture of me as a baby with a golden retriever puppy by my side. I'm very much a dog person through and through, and being a young single male with no kids, my dog is like a little baby to me and I spoil her rotten. I would like to think I've done a good job with her, but by no means am I like some of these people I see with dogs who have them trained inch perfect. I've come from Golden Retrievers which my parents have always had, and still do, to a beautiful Japanese Spitz. Not a manly dog in the slightest, but after researching it's all characteristics it just sounded perfect for me.
Now it depends on how you plan your puppy being when it gets older. The reason I say this, is if you want the dog to sleep on the bed with you, obviously you do that. If you want it to go to it's own place, you need to train it that from day one. As cute as a puppy is and you want to cuddle it and spend all the time you can with it, it is important to be consistent with training.
Assuming you want the latter like most people, the first few nights will be hard. I've never liked the idea of a cage personally, but am fortunate to have a decent size kitchen where an area is cordoned off for the dogs area. She has her bed and her toys and it's like her own room. I bought a dog fencing thing (when I think of it, it is just like a big cage actually), but a still a decent space. This was to stop her chewing the wooden counters. Now you need to put your dog in it's area at night, and try and get some sleep. As said earlier, this will be very hard as the puppy is likely to whimper and yap all night, and all you want to do is go and comfort it. The problem with doing this, is if the puppy knows you will come down to it, it then becomes are hard cycle to break.
Now when I had my puppy, I took two weeks off work, and then managed to work from home for another two weeks so pretty much spent a month with her. This last puppy (had dogs all my life) has been the most painless experience. She's learnt everything very quickly. There are key things to teach it which are obviously being house trained, to eat well (particularly not getting super excited by food - I'd imagine a bulldog will get very boisterous with food if not taught correctly). Once it gets slightly older and it can outside, I strongly recommend taking it to puppy classes. It's less so much the teaching side of it for me as I'd like to think I'm good with that, but more about emerging the dog with other pups. The last thing I wanted was an unsociable dog as take mine most places with me so needed it to be very friendly with everything and everyone.
Expect lots of weeing in the house, and you need to be patient with this. I have carpet through most of the house rather than laminate flooring which is a bit harder to deal with. I bought some puppy pads for the first time, and in all honesty, they were useless. She never went on them, and loved to tear them up. I have an area where she goes to the toilet in the park garden. The trick is to get her to go in her designated area most of the time. I could often see when she needed to go as she would start sniffing a lot in the same area. You need to be very quick here and jump out and get her outside. Sometimes this was a per caution and she simply was having a nose around, but better safe than sorry. Reward her for going in the right place as well. This doesn't have to be with a treat, but simply being excited, patting her, good girl etc. With this most recent puppy, I think it only went inside about 10 times or so when I wasn't quick enough to react so was very impressed. She quickly learnt to run to the back door and I would let her out and she would go. Also, when the dog does go to the toilet in the house when training it, it is paramount to clean up the mess thoroughly sterilising it so the smell isn't there. Dogs love to go to the toilet where they can smell a dog has been to the toilet.
Feeding for me is a big one. My parents dogs go crazy around food time, and are obsessed with it. It doesn't help my dad always gives them treats, and my mum tries to train them. Seeing first hand, if there are two owners involved, you need to do things the same to keep everything as consistent as possible. Now it might be down to the type of dog I have, but she's not too fussed about food. As a puppy, she had three meals a day, and try and ensure they eat everything up. The first few times when you put the food down, she didn't know too much what to do with it leaving it, and coming back to it now and then. Once they get into routine and like their food, I got her to sit nicely, put the food down in front of her, and she can only eat it on my command. A simple trick I was taught which was really effective, is when trying to get them to wait before having their food right in front of them, simply put your finger round the back of her collar and hold it to stop them moving forward and getting the food.
Overall, you will learn quickly and have a loving dog in return. If you can, take the time to get them trained (i.e. go to classes with the dog) as it can make the next 10-15 years of ownership so much nicer as you both know where you stand. Occasionally you need to be sharp, and show the dog you are it's master and stuff is done on your terms and not theirs, but this can all mostly be ironed out at a puppy age. But have fun, enjoy the puppy, and would love to see pictures of it growing up occasionally. Any questions, feel free to ask. Also well I remember, invest in a nice collar for the dog. All they will outgrow it and need replacing, get a decent rolled leather as there very comfortable for the dog. Considering they wear it 24/7, don't buy a cheap tacky one.
Thanks Phil, some great advice there. Noted about the collar, and will pop some more photos on as he gets older. Now it depends on how you plan your puppy being when it gets older. The reason I say this, is if you want the dog to sleep on the bed with you, obviously you do that. If you want it to go to it's own place, you need to train it that from day one. As cute as a puppy is and you want to cuddle it and spend all the time you can with it, it is important to be consistent with training.
Assuming you want the latter like most people, the first few nights will be hard. I've never liked the idea of a cage personally, but am fortunate to have a decent size kitchen where an area is cordoned off for the dogs area. She has her bed and her toys and it's like her own room. I bought a dog fencing thing (when I think of it, it is just like a big cage actually), but a still a decent space. This was to stop her chewing the wooden counters. Now you need to put your dog in it's area at night, and try and get some sleep. As said earlier, this will be very hard as the puppy is likely to whimper and yap all night, and all you want to do is go and comfort it. The problem with doing this, is if the puppy knows you will come down to it, it then becomes are hard cycle to break.
Now when I had my puppy, I took two weeks off work, and then managed to work from home for another two weeks so pretty much spent a month with her. This last puppy (had dogs all my life) has been the most painless experience. She's learnt everything very quickly. There are key things to teach it which are obviously being house trained, to eat well (particularly not getting super excited by food - I'd imagine a bulldog will get very boisterous with food if not taught correctly). Once it gets slightly older and it can outside, I strongly recommend taking it to puppy classes. It's less so much the teaching side of it for me as I'd like to think I'm good with that, but more about emerging the dog with other pups. The last thing I wanted was an unsociable dog as take mine most places with me so needed it to be very friendly with everything and everyone.
Expect lots of weeing in the house, and you need to be patient with this. I have carpet through most of the house rather than laminate flooring which is a bit harder to deal with. I bought some puppy pads for the first time, and in all honesty, they were useless. She never went on them, and loved to tear them up. I have an area where she goes to the toilet in the park garden. The trick is to get her to go in her designated area most of the time. I could often see when she needed to go as she would start sniffing a lot in the same area. You need to be very quick here and jump out and get her outside. Sometimes this was a per caution and she simply was having a nose around, but better safe than sorry. Reward her for going in the right place as well. This doesn't have to be with a treat, but simply being excited, patting her, good girl etc. With this most recent puppy, I think it only went inside about 10 times or so when I wasn't quick enough to react so was very impressed. She quickly learnt to run to the back door and I would let her out and she would go. Also, when the dog does go to the toilet in the house when training it, it is paramount to clean up the mess thoroughly sterilising it so the smell isn't there. Dogs love to go to the toilet where they can smell a dog has been to the toilet.
Feeding for me is a big one. My parents dogs go crazy around food time, and are obsessed with it. It doesn't help my dad always gives them treats, and my mum tries to train them. Seeing first hand, if there are two owners involved, you need to do things the same to keep everything as consistent as possible. Now it might be down to the type of dog I have, but she's not too fussed about food. As a puppy, she had three meals a day, and try and ensure they eat everything up. The first few times when you put the food down, she didn't know too much what to do with it leaving it, and coming back to it now and then. Once they get into routine and like their food, I got her to sit nicely, put the food down in front of her, and she can only eat it on my command. A simple trick I was taught which was really effective, is when trying to get them to wait before having their food right in front of them, simply put your finger round the back of her collar and hold it to stop them moving forward and getting the food.
Overall, you will learn quickly and have a loving dog in return. If you can, take the time to get them trained (i.e. go to classes with the dog) as it can make the next 10-15 years of ownership so much nicer as you both know where you stand. Occasionally you need to be sharp, and show the dog you are it's master and stuff is done on your terms and not theirs, but this can all mostly be ironed out at a puppy age. But have fun, enjoy the puppy, and would love to see pictures of it growing up occasionally. Any questions, feel free to ask. Also well I remember, invest in a nice collar for the dog. All they will outgrow it and need replacing, get a decent rolled leather as there very comfortable for the dog. Considering they wear it 24/7, don't buy a cheap tacky one.
elephantstone said:
I got my pup last thursday and he's 11 weeks old. The way I've done it is i came down and comforted him the first two nights but as this was killing me and the mrs off i decided to get serious with this night time stuff. Radio on and ticking clock seems to help.
Last night he went through the night with one trip out into the garden and half a hours howling and did NO toilet on the kitchen floor. He is definitely learning and its very rewarding! I've got him a collar and lead and keep trying it on to get him used to it when he's able to go out in the big world (after last jab).
With regards to toilet training i just let him out when i go for a ciggy in the garden (which is quite a lot at the moment due to lack of sleep!) and he tends to go for a wee or poo followed by a "wee wee/poo poo well done" and a bit of a treat. Any poo done on the patio i have cleaned up as it attracts slugs and the pup keeps getting too close to eating them, poos on the grass are broken up with a hose so he can't try eating it but still has the scent so he can establish that as his st spot.
One last thing, doggy proof whatever room its going to be in and the garden, puppies put everything in their mouth and if it tastes of something will try eating it! I sweep the patio of bugs and snails etc before we go to bed so we don't have to follow him around half asleep at night!
Lastly, no matter how knackered you get its great having a puppy! Especially when he ends up having a nap like this...
Thanks Darren. Just read this and Phils out loud to the ball and chain, and we were laughing about the 'wee wee/poo poo' comment. Last night he went through the night with one trip out into the garden and half a hours howling and did NO toilet on the kitchen floor. He is definitely learning and its very rewarding! I've got him a collar and lead and keep trying it on to get him used to it when he's able to go out in the big world (after last jab).
With regards to toilet training i just let him out when i go for a ciggy in the garden (which is quite a lot at the moment due to lack of sleep!) and he tends to go for a wee or poo followed by a "wee wee/poo poo well done" and a bit of a treat. Any poo done on the patio i have cleaned up as it attracts slugs and the pup keeps getting too close to eating them, poos on the grass are broken up with a hose so he can't try eating it but still has the scent so he can establish that as his s
t spot.One last thing, doggy proof whatever room its going to be in and the garden, puppies put everything in their mouth and if it tastes of something will try eating it! I sweep the patio of bugs and snails etc before we go to bed so we don't have to follow him around half asleep at night!
Lastly, no matter how knackered you get its great having a puppy! Especially when he ends up having a nap like this...
May I highly recommend http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1845844467 - it is co-authored by my fiancé and has a great reputation.
Pete
Pete
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/2hwUcxU1.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/8YUt5ha2" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/8YUt5ha2.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/gAsp85Xi" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/gAsp85Xi.jpg)
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff