If you could give THREE tips to a new dog owner....

[PrincessCare]

What would they be? Like I said in another post, I'm getting my dog soon and I really don't want to screw this up!

[queenkarlata]

i would suggest:

1) crate train it

2) tie a leash to your pants or around your waist and clip up your pup whenever you move around the house. this does a few things:
a) prevents accidents and helps with housetraining
b) teaches your pup to stay near you and go where you go not where he/she wants to go
c) gets your new baby used to having a leash on

3) don't let it sleep in the bed with you. i know this is hard to do cause the pup's so cute and will probably whine and cry to be with you on the bed but letting them sleep on the bed makes them think they're equal with you when in fact they aren't, YOU are the boss.

4) set up a schedule that you try your damndest to stick to. eat breakfast lunch and dinner at the same time everyday. playtime at the same time etc. dogs love schedules and structure.

5) prepare to go to bed early and wake up early everyday.

[Amie]

i agree with the queen's suggestions. also, i just want you to not freak out. you're getting a puppy. all puppies form some kind of bad habit at one point or another but if you catch it and nip it in the butt early, you'll be fine. you can't "ruin" a dog unless you allow it to repeat bad behavior. enjoy your puppy, don't worry about "messing it up". feed it, give it water, love and attention and don't hurt it. puppy classes and socialization are key. all these things are fun to do. so relax, get some toys a crate a blanket and a leash and have fun!

[PrincessCare]

i would suggest:

1) crate train it

2) tie a leash to your pants or around your waist and clip up your pup whenever you move around the house. this does a few things:
a) prevents accidents and helps with housetraining
b) teaches your pup to stay near you and go where you go not where he/she wants to go
c) gets your new baby used to having a leash on

3) don't let it sleep in the bed with you. i know this is hard to do cause the pup's so cute and will probably whine and cry to be with you on the bed but letting them sleep on the bed makes them think they're equal with you when in fact they aren't, YOU are the boss.

4) set up a schedule that you try your damndest to stick to. eat breakfast lunch and dinner at the same time everyday. playtime at the same time etc. dogs love schedules and structure.

5) prepare to go to bed early and wake up early everyday.



Wow, thanks for the great advice! What is the best thing to do when you're house training and the pup goes in he house? I've always had good luck with previous dogs but I may have to housebreak this one on my own.

About sleeping on the bed--is it ever okay to let the dog sleep w/you as a pup? That's sad if you can't :(

Why do you have to go to bed early and wake up early? Can't you just make sure the dog is on the same, later schedule as you?

[BetsyJoy]

1: Puppy Socialization Class then go to to obedience training right after

2: Puppy needs to go potty every 1hr they are month's old
so: if pup is 3 months old they can only hold it 3 hours at the most however for the 1st month taking them out every 30 minutes when possible will really help avoid accidents.

3: Teach who is alpha aka Top Dog...this should be YOU! Therefore you eat first, you walk out of doors first, you decide when is a good time to play and/or rest. Pup gets their clues from you no matter what time of day it is. However, keeping a regular schedule will make pup more confident in knowing whats next in his/her day.

So there's my 2cents worth...:)

[Drazhar]

2: Puppy needs to go potty every 1hr they are month's old
so: if pup is 3 months old they can only hold it 3 hours at the most however for the 1st month taking them out every 30 minutes when possible will really help avoid accidents.

this is a myth, tho a puppy drinking regular amounts of water CAN indeed potty every hour in its first month and 2 hours in second month, ect ect...

they CAN hold it, and they WILL! hold it if they are crate trained.. my puppy at 3 months old had held his potty doings for 12 hours on a couple of ocasions. and ever since the day i got him, i had a full nights sleep, so he held it for a minimum of 5-6 hours while i slept!, i do think i was blessed with a fantastic pup, never once peed in the house nor pooped and only ever woke me up 1 time since i had him, to let him out.

and thats MY 2cents worth...:P

[BetsyJoy]

Drazhar...would you hold your pee for 12 hours? Would you expect a 3 month old baby to hold it's pee 12 hours? How about a 3 YEAR old child? I think it would be crule to make a 3 month old puppy hold it's pee for 12 hours...and unreasonable.

Again My oppinion for what it's worth...

[Drazhar]

just going by facts and what really happened. it was an accident to leave him for 12 hours...but how about every singles night when i slept for 6 plus hours?? even when he was 10 weeks old.

[letsgopoopy]

1) exercise exercise exercise

2) acceptable chew things - puppies are teething and need "pacifiers" just like babies - you may spend a lot of time "trading" chewable objects - old water bottles are better than remote controls, stuffed animals are better than your clothes

3) socialize socialize socialize - meet as many new people and animals as possible

4) discourage food aggression - have food(and obviously water) available at all times they are not in the crate and are in the home - don't give them a treat while you are eating - when you are done give them a treat - I usually give a baby carrot or a piece of apple - or if they are lucky and I had a steak they get a bone,a simple ice cube can be the bestestest treat ever

5) use a crate - I teach the puppy to go to the front door to let me know its got to pee, if he pees in the house without going to the front door, he goes in the crate there is no need for the punishment to last long(10-15 minutes is sufficient), they will forget about it long before you do


6) give them a task to do when alone - they need to do a job - tell him to watch the house everytime you leave, by the time they are adults, they know watch the house means you are leaving, and not taking them with you - and leave a radio on low

sorry 3 wasn't enough

[nosnevets]

I wish i joined this group 2 years ago... now i have a pack of spoiled dogs.... I wonder if there is a way to fix them. Is there?