Discussion
Hello all,
I'm just fishing for any good tips or advice really. I'm a long time dog owner, we've always had them in the family, and my partner and I have kept dogs all the time we've been together as well, but we've never had a puppy yet. Previously we've adopted dogs, and took on other peoples etc. My family's dogs were puppies, but I was around 11-12yrs old then, so not really paying much attention.
As of last night, I'm now very responsible for Ruby. She's 8 weeks old, and a tan / fawn coloured Staffordshire Terrier. Generally speaking, things seem to be going as smoothly as they possibly could have, given I've had her for 16 hours. She's slept lots, and enjoyed some warm milk this morning, and is doing her bodily functions proud.
She's due her shots this week, which I'm organising today, and that's sort of that really.
Any tips for puppy training are gratefully recieved. She's not allowed out yet due to injections, so I've got some newspaper down and we've successfully wee'd on that once out of 4 times so far, which I'm calling progress
Broadly speaking, is it generally cool to start training her straight away? I'm sure I'll have loads more questions to annoy everyone with shortly.
Thanks!
I'm just fishing for any good tips or advice really. I'm a long time dog owner, we've always had them in the family, and my partner and I have kept dogs all the time we've been together as well, but we've never had a puppy yet. Previously we've adopted dogs, and took on other peoples etc. My family's dogs were puppies, but I was around 11-12yrs old then, so not really paying much attention.
As of last night, I'm now very responsible for Ruby. She's 8 weeks old, and a tan / fawn coloured Staffordshire Terrier. Generally speaking, things seem to be going as smoothly as they possibly could have, given I've had her for 16 hours. She's slept lots, and enjoyed some warm milk this morning, and is doing her bodily functions proud.
She's due her shots this week, which I'm organising today, and that's sort of that really.
Any tips for puppy training are gratefully recieved. She's not allowed out yet due to injections, so I've got some newspaper down and we've successfully wee'd on that once out of 4 times so far, which I'm calling progress
Broadly speaking, is it generally cool to start training her straight away? I'm sure I'll have loads more questions to annoy everyone with shortly.
Thanks!
Yes, start training now. 8-12 weeks is when they're most receptive to it. Unfortunately that also coincides with the time they an't go out but that can't be helped.
Decide on what your commands will be so you're both using the same ones. Train the basic stuff now. Include recall even though it's just in the house.
Decide what the house rules are and stick to them; Don't give into "look at my big sad puppy eyes". If you don't want it upstairs/on the bed/etc later don't allow it now. If on the desk is allowed now, it'll never understand it isn't later.
Think about socialisation. Introduce as many new things as you can even now in the house (carrierbags, hoovers, men with beards...) and think about all the other stuff that will have to be introduced later so you can plan it.
Get a puppy training book (or two/three).
Decide on what your commands will be so you're both using the same ones. Train the basic stuff now. Include recall even though it's just in the house.
Decide what the house rules are and stick to them; Don't give into "look at my big sad puppy eyes". If you don't want it upstairs/on the bed/etc later don't allow it now. If on the desk is allowed now, it'll never understand it isn't later.
Think about socialisation. Introduce as many new things as you can even now in the house (carrierbags, hoovers, men with beards...) and think about all the other stuff that will have to be introduced later so you can plan it.
Get a puppy training book (or two/three).
AdiT said:
Yes, start training now. 8-12 weeks is when they're most receptive to it. Unfortunately that also coincides with the time they an't go out but that can't be helped.
Decide on what your commands will be so you're both using the same ones. Train the basic stuff now. Include recall even though it's just in the house.
Decide what the house rules are and stick to them; Don't give into "look at my big sad puppy eyes". If you don't want it upstairs/on the bed/etc later don't allow it now. If on the desk is allowed now, it'll never understand it isn't later.
Think about socialisation. Introduce as many new things as you can even now in the house (carrierbags, hoovers, men with beards...) and think about all the other stuff that will have to be introduced later so you can plan it.
Get a puppy training book (or two/three).
That's great advice thank you, exactly what I was after!Decide on what your commands will be so you're both using the same ones. Train the basic stuff now. Include recall even though it's just in the house.
Decide what the house rules are and stick to them; Don't give into "look at my big sad puppy eyes". If you don't want it upstairs/on the bed/etc later don't allow it now. If on the desk is allowed now, it'll never understand it isn't later.
Think about socialisation. Introduce as many new things as you can even now in the house (carrierbags, hoovers, men with beards...) and think about all the other stuff that will have to be introduced later so you can plan it.
Get a puppy training book (or two/three).
Establish all the rules now. Stick to them. Ensure the whole family knows the rules and commands to be used.
When feeding, put your hand in the bowl for a while to try to prevent resource guarding.
Lead training - you can use the balance leash if the dog will pull.
ETA - socialising - find friendly dogs and people. Also use the hoover and if you can get one of the noise CDs to play. We put liver cake on the hoover then move on to having the hoover on and keep the food on it. The good news is they soon are not scared of the hoover, the bad news is that you end up with a dog following you around when you hoover......
When feeding, put your hand in the bowl for a while to try to prevent resource guarding.
Lead training - you can use the balance leash if the dog will pull.
ETA - socialising - find friendly dogs and people. Also use the hoover and if you can get one of the noise CDs to play. We put liver cake on the hoover then move on to having the hoover on and keep the food on it. The good news is they soon are not scared of the hoover, the bad news is that you end up with a dog following you around when you hoover......
Edited by Jasandjules on Monday 16th September 20:17
DocArbathnot said:
Does this puppy do nothing else except sleep?
Basically, not much. I'm enjoying it while it lasts.She sleeps a lot. Through the day yesterday she slept around 2-3 hours at a time, and then she was up for around 30 mins in between snoozing sessions for a wee, and some food at lunch / a bit of a charge about.
She's sleeping through so far as well, which is decent. She was up at 2 this morning whimpering to go for a wee which I was chuffed with, so took her down for one, back to bed and back to sleep.
Long may it last!
Well, day 3.
Ruby and I have been to the vets this morning for our first round of vaccinations, wasn't too impressed at that. She's a bit on the skinny side, so it's plenty of puppy food and goats milk, but other than that she's in good order. Regular heartbeat, eyes seem ok, no hernias etc.
The vets do a puppy socialising evening on a tuesday night for any dogs between their 8 and 12 week vaccinations, so they're all of a similar immunity. This seems a good idea as it's the best "time" for her to socialise with other dogs, so I think we're off to that.
Toilet training is making ok-ish progress, but we've made real leaps and bounds in terms of biting and mouthing. Whenever she goes to nip my hand I'm over-exaggerating that it's hurt me and pulling my hand away with a "hhhsssssssshh" type noise, and she's worked out straightaway that it's naughty, to the point of almost realising when she's done it and pausing before I can even do it. If that keeps up I'll be a happy chap.
Puppies are expensive. We've managed to accumulate a wealth of new toys, beds, blankets, treats, collar etc
Ruby and I have been to the vets this morning for our first round of vaccinations, wasn't too impressed at that. She's a bit on the skinny side, so it's plenty of puppy food and goats milk, but other than that she's in good order. Regular heartbeat, eyes seem ok, no hernias etc.
The vets do a puppy socialising evening on a tuesday night for any dogs between their 8 and 12 week vaccinations, so they're all of a similar immunity. This seems a good idea as it's the best "time" for her to socialise with other dogs, so I think we're off to that.
Toilet training is making ok-ish progress, but we've made real leaps and bounds in terms of biting and mouthing. Whenever she goes to nip my hand I'm over-exaggerating that it's hurt me and pulling my hand away with a "hhhsssssssshh" type noise, and she's worked out straightaway that it's naughty, to the point of almost realising when she's done it and pausing before I can even do it. If that keeps up I'll be a happy chap.
Puppies are expensive. We've managed to accumulate a wealth of new toys, beds, blankets, treats, collar etc
I would suggest trying to expose her to just about every person, situation, animal you can think of - old people, kids, shops, trains, lorries, cats etc etc
Get her into some puppy-specific training classes too, she will enjoy meeting other puppies and you will get good advice in training the most important things for a young pup, 'come back' and 'heel'
Get her into some puppy-specific training classes too, she will enjoy meeting other puppies and you will get good advice in training the most important things for a young pup, 'come back' and 'heel'
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