New Blenheim Cavalier
Discussion
So we picked up Charlie at 3 months old and had him at home now for a month.
Settled in lovely, the toilet training wasn't too much of an issue as we have tiles down throughout the house. However, after a while it has become a pain and the wife isn't too happy about cleaning up his droppings as and when he chooses to drop.
Didn't take long for him to learn his name and now we've started to crate train him. Probably should have started this straight away but I was reluctant to use this method as I've never had to train a puppy before, always house trained rescue dogs in the past.
I think we've had it fairly easy as from day one he has recognised his bed as the place to rest and chillout. Also the very nature of these dogs seems that he can be bonkers anytime you want him to be, but if we relax he his happy to relax.
We have a large cage for him, with a big bottle feeder, placed his bed inside and he seems to have no problem with getting in the crate once his business is done or we need to head out for a while.
He was happy on the first night being left in it all night, say 10pm to 5.30am
I'm typically awake around 5.30 and take him out the front straight away, we've now started to make progress with the business seeming to be done in the first couple of minutes.
So that he still gets the attention he craves, he shares the sofa with us in the evenings, it's too high for him to jump down from just yet, so when he starts pacing we know it's time to take him out.
I'm not sure how long to keep working the crate, if we stop too early does he regress and just start dropping presents through the house? Or how long before we can stop watching every move he makes when roaming?
He's a lovely little chap and is wonderful to be around.
Settled in lovely, the toilet training wasn't too much of an issue as we have tiles down throughout the house. However, after a while it has become a pain and the wife isn't too happy about cleaning up his droppings as and when he chooses to drop.
Didn't take long for him to learn his name and now we've started to crate train him. Probably should have started this straight away but I was reluctant to use this method as I've never had to train a puppy before, always house trained rescue dogs in the past.
I think we've had it fairly easy as from day one he has recognised his bed as the place to rest and chillout. Also the very nature of these dogs seems that he can be bonkers anytime you want him to be, but if we relax he his happy to relax.
We have a large cage for him, with a big bottle feeder, placed his bed inside and he seems to have no problem with getting in the crate once his business is done or we need to head out for a while.
He was happy on the first night being left in it all night, say 10pm to 5.30am
I'm typically awake around 5.30 and take him out the front straight away, we've now started to make progress with the business seeming to be done in the first couple of minutes.
So that he still gets the attention he craves, he shares the sofa with us in the evenings, it's too high for him to jump down from just yet, so when he starts pacing we know it's time to take him out.
I'm not sure how long to keep working the crate, if we stop too early does he regress and just start dropping presents through the house? Or how long before we can stop watching every move he makes when roaming?
He's a lovely little chap and is wonderful to be around.
Edited by Jakarta on Wednesday 18th March 04:39
Got home late last night and sadly he'd pee'd in his crate. Changed out the bed for a soft mat, and then this morning the same.
Both in the wash and no harm done, so just a minor setback.
I've told the staff to make sure that when the night security chap gets there, and if we're not home for him to be kept outside with him as company.
Hopefully that should reduce the time he spends in the crate, and also in the house alone.
Both in the wash and no harm done, so just a minor setback.
I've told the staff to make sure that when the night security chap gets there, and if we're not home for him to be kept outside with him as company.
Hopefully that should reduce the time he spends in the crate, and also in the house alone.
A bit of a success story last night. Went to bed around 11.30 and crated Charlie in our bedroom. 3am a little squeak from him, so I walk him to the front garden straight away where he duly completes both parts of his business and then trots back with me to his crate.
So at least now he's learning to let us know if he needs out.
Slight fail this morning though, 7am I let him out for a few minutes before breakfast, just as he walks back in the house he lets go with a little puddle.
Ho hum, still a way to go.
So at least now he's learning to let us know if he needs out.
Slight fail this morning though, 7am I let him out for a few minutes before breakfast, just as he walks back in the house he lets go with a little puddle.
Ho hum, still a way to go.
I get the feeling he's getting better. Regular trots out the front door. If we're out of the house we leave his cage out in the front porch are and he can roam the garden.
I was keeping him on the sofa with me whilst he was in the house as any spare minute he had he would squeeze one out or leave a puddle. This seems to have eased off now and we can safely leave him on the floor without watching him like a hawk.
We just have to keep up with the regular trips out the front of the house.
No more accidents in the cage, he seems to genuinely enjoy being in there, even though he know the door is getting locked he trots himself in there and lays down straight away.
I'm away from home for 2 weeks now, hopefully the wife will keep up with the progress and perhaps when I get home I'll never have to mop up a puddle again?
I was keeping him on the sofa with me whilst he was in the house as any spare minute he had he would squeeze one out or leave a puddle. This seems to have eased off now and we can safely leave him on the floor without watching him like a hawk.
We just have to keep up with the regular trips out the front of the house.
No more accidents in the cage, he seems to genuinely enjoy being in there, even though he know the door is getting locked he trots himself in there and lays down straight away.
I'm away from home for 2 weeks now, hopefully the wife will keep up with the progress and perhaps when I get home I'll never have to mop up a puddle again?
I run with the Hash House Harriers, and whilst some of my runs may be a bit long and fast for him, he joined the wife on a 7km run last Saturday. He seemed to love the start trying to keep up with the faster runners, but slowed down in the middle when the grass got a bit long for him and scared him a little.
Still full of energy when he got back after 80 minutes.
Maybe when he's a bit bigger I'll bring him on a faster run. I just need to be happy that he'll keep up with me when off the lead.
Will post some photos from my phone in a mo
Still full of energy when he got back after 80 minutes.
Maybe when he's a bit bigger I'll bring him on a faster run. I just need to be happy that he'll keep up with me when off the lead.
Will post some photos from my phone in a mo
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