Dog Community

Need serious help, never had a puppy! Please respond!

Posted : 7/25/2006 4:53:07 PM

I need alot of advice about training my puppy. I've had her since she was about 7 weeks. I know this was too early to get her, but the guy who gave her to me said it was fine.

I know she was too small when I got her because she was very timid and didn't want to come out and play at all. She then started using the potty in the house and I wasn't sure how to go about training her. I bought puppy pads and placed one in the house for her, but she wasn't using it good. She'd use it once or twice, but then the next time she'd go on the carpet. I then started taking her outside every time I thought about it and she would potty.( both kinds )

I would always know when she needed to go out because she would whine and turn around in a circle. She'll let me know sometimes, and then she won't at others.

I have moved and we are in a new place. She does pretty good about peeing on her pads when I'm not around, and I take her out regular. I have caught her peeing and gave her a pop on the butt and said "no". But when I don't catch her and see where she has went I can't scold her.

I put puppy pads out at night for her to go on but she doesn't go on them. I woke up this morning, for instance, and she had peed and pooped twice in the house. I can't scold her after she does it, but I never see her when she does do it.

Another things is I work two days a week from 9-6. I don't want to shut her up in one room because it'll get hot because I only have one window unit. I've been leaving her out while I'm gone and of course, come home to a stinky house with accidents everywhere. She has never been crated and I'm scared if I start now she'll do nothing but yelp. I don't want her to stay outside but I can't seem to get her going.

I don't have the first idea of how to go about training one. Every dog I've ever had has been an outside watch dog. I need help!

inne

Posted : 7/25/2006 6:01:10 PM

ORIGINAL: taradenise18

I have moved and we are in a new place. She does pretty good about peeing on her pads when I'm not around, and I take her out regular. I have caught her peeing and gave her a pop on the butt and said "no". But when I don't catch her and see where she has went I can't scold her.

I put puppy pads out at night for her to go on but she doesn't go on them. I woke up this morning, for instance, and she had peed and pooped twice in the house. I can't scold her after she does it, but I never see her when she does do it.

Please don't hit your dog.   This doesn't teach her anything other than to be scared of you and to pee where you can't see her.    Instead, if you catch her in the act, interrupt her by saying something like "uh uh!" (not in a negative tone), immediately bring her outside, say "go potty" and praise and treat when she goes outside.

Trying to paper train and train her to go outside at the same time can lead to confusion.   I would just pick going outside.

As for going at night, the best thing to do is to crate train her and crate her at night and at all times you can't watch her.    This will help a lot with the potty training and teaching her how to be comfortable, safe and happy in a crate will also be enormously beneficial for things like overnight vet stays and long car rides.   When you are with her, keep her tethered to you so you can supervise her closely.

There are a lot of threads about all this in the House Training, Crates & Puppies forum, so you might want to go over there for a lot of helpful, detailed suggestions and instructions for how to crate train.

Good luck!

Edit:   when you are gone during the day, keep her crate or playpen in the room with your window unit.

tara shepherd

Posted : 7/25/2006 6:10:53 PM

Thanks alot for your response! After reading alot of the posts here and seeing about the crates, I went down to my parents barn and found a big crate. She's still a puppy, and I read on one of these posts that I should enclose a small portion of the crate. Just enough room for her to stretch out and sleep.

I need to get more stern with the schedule and eating/drinking times. She absolutely loves water. I can get out of the tub and she'll lick my feet and legs like she's so thirsty but she drinks all the time! I don't know wether or not to be concerned about that.

I hate to woop her. (spank, in other words) but that's all anyone has ever told me to do. I'm a big animal lover, I don't want anyone to think I beat her or anything. [X(]

Anyway, thanks for the advice. And oh! Is it ok to bathe her with human shampoo? I've heard dawn dish detergent and shampoo will kill fleas quick. Thanks!!

-Tara [

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inne

Posted : 7/25/2006 6:17:21 PM

In my own experience, positive reinforcement training works really well.   Maybe you can look up clicker training as well.

Drinking too much can be a sign of a problem, but it's been so hot that it could just be that.   Has she been to the vet?

Human shampoo is different from dog shampoo because our skin is different.    A very gentle puppy shampoo is your best bet, along with going to your vet and putting her on a flea prevention program like Frontline.

Elizabeth Lutz

Posted : 7/25/2006 6:21:11 PM

You sound like your on the right track with the crate training.

I dont crate train but the pups stay gated in our kitchen until they are potty trained. That works best for me. BUT Im also a stay at home mom. I think if I worked outside the home I would crate train.
Dont wash your puppy with human shampoo. That will dry them out too quick. There are alot of puppy shampoos out there but if you dont want to use that you could use baby shampoo. Ive used Johnson and Johnsons before on my pup.
How old is your puppy now? YOu said you got her at 7 weeks so Im assuming she is slightly older now?

Congratulations on your Puppy!!![

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Justine Freeman

Posted : 7/26/2006 12:00:15 AM

Congrats on the puppy!

Crate training is the way to go! Marley loves his crate! We can just put him in there and he is happy as a clam. If you can come home from work at lunch to let the puppy out of its crate...the would be good. There's a formula for how long a puppy can "hold" it, but I don't remember what it is. Maybe someone else knows. I was able to quickly housetrain Marley because I did "catch" him a couple of times peeing in the house. I startled him to stop with a "no" and then brought him outside to finish peeing. Then (and this is important) praise!

Make sure you take your new puppy to the vet for a new puppy check up! You need to make sure your puppy gets all of its vaccinations too!

Sign up for puppy kindergarten! That way your puppy will learn basic manners. It will give you a good foundation for what your puppy needs to know too. We had a puppy kindergarten that clicker trained.

Also, pick a healthy food...check out the nutrition threads...they have a lot of good information! Good Luck![

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