Puppies

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sub4hire -> Puppies (11/3/2004 2:17:54 PM)
I need advice. The last few month's I have had extra time in my life to raise a brand new puppy. Well he is going on four months old and no longer brand new. It has been a very long time since I've had a puppy. I feel like a new parent. It is exhausting. My dog passed away 3 month's ago of cancer. A month later we brought Charlie home. He was 8 weeks old at the time. Very cute Beagle. I have to take him outside to do his duty. He is very afraid of the dark. So, going out at night is against his moral fabric. Especially alone. We have a lot of accidents during the night. I assume he is teething. He chews on most anything. He ate a bar of soap last week while I was at work, threw up half the night. He searches for everything so I've pretty much had to child proof my home. Doug just called me, when I hung up the phone I had to go run after Charlie he stole a can of pringles. We've considered taking potty training classes. Will they help? How do you teach him to not be afraid of the dark? Or when he hears other dogs barking in the neighborhood? How do you teach him this is my stuff, keep your lips off? Help, help

blushes4u -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 2:25:11 PM)
Well i'm not going to be much help here. I have two dogs, one loves going outside any time of the day, the other doesn't like it at all. I have had them for a year now and the small one STILL will have accidents at night because she doesn't like going out. Yet i still take her out...stand there and make her go out into the grass and after half an hour i give up lol. She has even done the naughty thing on the floor right in front of me...and i have tried to rub her nose in it to show her she's a baaaad girl but ...she looks at me like she likes her nose rubbed in it lol. I was hoping she would see the other go outside and follow the lead but to no avail. So with that said i too will watch for any replies...i can't afford to take them to a training class or anything though.

sub4hire -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 2:58:57 PM)
I know what you mean blushes. The potty training class is a one hour class. No follow up...nothing. Either I guess you get it or you're out in the cold. I know when they go outside you're supposed to reward them. I do that. He goes outside during the day. I stand outside with him at night re-assuring him everything is ok. Get it done. He has a bad habit of running around the yard in circles. Sniffing here and there. You know its starting to get cold at night? Standing out there as you already want to be in bed gets pretty cold. Kind of hard to warm up to fall asleep as well. I'm fining myself having to tell him more and more often to get to it. We don't have all night to play. That actually usually works. He goes. Problem I see is though he has a weak bladder. Has to go every few hours. So even going right before bed doesn't mean he doesn't have to go before we get up. That isn't my only issue. His best friend in the world is a cat. He follows her everywhere. Climbs on stuff. Gets into things nobody else would ever think of. He can lose his footing and fall 4 feet to the hard tile floor and think nothing of it. My cat has a little carpet. You know those scratching posts that you put on doors? Well she never used it so I threw it on the floor. She loves it. If she is in the house she uses it as a pillow...or whatever. Charlie knows she loves it. He knows he is not supposed to take it. So what does he do? Today I found it in the yard when I got home. I assume he will grow out of this. But when? Or am I failing as a puppy parent?

perverseangelic -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 3:11:16 PM)
Have you considered crate training? All of my friends with dogs say it worked wonders for them. I'm not entirely sure of the mechanics and how-to's but I know if you google it you'll get lots of info. Still, most people I know -swear- by this, especially if they can't be in the house with the pup all day. With our pup (1/2 staffordshire terrier, 1/2 austraillian shep.) we just had to rely on being around, taking her outside every hour, and dragging her out if we caught her going in places she wasn't supposed to. Inefficient, but at the time someone was always home with her, so it worked well. Also, as far as I know, beagles are -very- high energy critters. Give 'im LOTS to do, or you get chewed-up house. Like, LOTS. :) I used to work in a pet store, and had a customer come in about once a week to get toys for his beagle as the pup either destroyed or lost 'em. Too, in regards to teething- cardboard is AMAZING. All of my kitties and puppies have adored teething on the stuff, and if they swallow it it's not going to hurt them. It's cute to see all the little puppy-teeth holes they leave in it. :)

newflowers -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 4:11:11 PM)
Crate training is a wonderful thing. My puppy, who is now 1.5 years, still sleeps in her crate and plays in the crate with my grandson - she has an open door policy and even allows the cats in sometimes. It's easy to do and the handiest dog thing ever for unattended dogs who get into trouble and dogs will usually not soil such an area when they are used to living there and they can't chew inappropriate things if given a bone/toy in the crate for a human break. I could go on - BUY A CRATE!!! I suggest that you read The Art of Raising a Puppy - it is the best book I've read on puppy/dog training. Ian Dunbar also has very good dog training/cohabiting books as well. Because you are in my area, I suggest you look at www.dogservicesunlimited.com - their services are usually used by local parks and rec for dog training. Much less expensive than the pet store training. They have a combo program where, for a fee, they will come to your home to work witht he dog and the fee also pays for basic training at the park for as long as you own your dog. These people are great and I highly recommend them having used their services for this dog and the previous one. The SPCA also has good dog training programs as well and they give a discount of your dog came from the pound or rescue. Good luck with your new baby - newflowers

compes -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 5:46:49 PM)
Go for crate training. It made life a LOT easier. One other small piece of advice - teach your dogs to 'go' on command. Best command I ever taught my dogs! Compes

velvetvixen -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 6:27:19 PM)
The crate is the way to go. Dogs generally won't mess in their "home". You have to be diligent about the crate, though. You can't allow them free run of the house if you are not with them. If you are not supervising, into the crate they go. As you allow them more freedom from the crate, they are allowed more area of the house, always supervised. It takes 10-14 days if you are super diligent with the crate. You can't give the dog any leeway, it gives him a mixed signal and he will mess up. Housebreaking for Dummies is an excellent reference and details the whole crating process.

blushes4u -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 6:32:16 PM)
wonder if mine is too old now for crate training? The other one well god she jumps up and down in front of the door when she needs to go out so i must have done something right with her lol. Nooo sub4hire you are NOT a failing puppy parent!!! Btw i have a cat too and he stays in a cage during the day because the cat and the two dogs loose in the house when no one is here? Nooo way lol.

SherriA -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 7:52:02 PM)
Your fur-baby sounds healthy and happy. That would indicate to me that you're not a bad puppy parent. Remind yourself of that when things get frustrating. Dogs are like kids - they have their own personalities and they learn at their own rates. Puppies, like small children, have small bladders and less control over them. They don't like waking up in the middle of the night to urinate any more than you do, but they don't often have that choice. For me, with puppies, I simply make it a point to get up and take them outside once or twice during the night, until they're old enough to make it through the 5 hrs that I spend in bed. (And just so that relatively short period of time doesn't intimidate you, Jack spends 10 - 12 hours alone in the house just fine, and only has "accidents" when he's not feeling well or when he's being vindictive (and then it's NO accident!)) The dogs that I've had who are "chewers" usually chew until they're about 6 months or so old. Our black lab/irish setter cross chewed until he was a year. We gave him lots of rawhide and pigs ears and toys to chew on, but he still managed to chew the arm off of a sofa. He couldn't help it, according to the vet. Even he grew out of it though. Beagles are playful, mischevious dogs. They like to socialize and play games. It's understandable that he'll grab things and run with them (like the pringles can and the cat's mat). He's trying to engage his "pack" in play! Take away the inappropriate object and replace it with something he's allowed to play with...then play with him, so he makes the association. As for crate training, I know some people who have had great success with it, but I never have. I ended up with very expensive dental bills for both dogs that I tried to crate train, because they continually tried to chew their way out through the bars. According to my vet, some dogs are simply too social to accept being crated. It's a lot of work, helping your new fur-baby learn the household rules, but it will be worth it. Stick to it, and use your instincts. You can probably "read" your puppy better than anyone else.

sub4hire -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 8:45:17 PM)
Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm not so sure the crate training would work. As I said, he thinks he is half cat. Well 100% cat. He absolutely follows them everywhere. For a little dog he sure can climb. Hates the leash. I could go on and on. It has been about 15 years since I've had a puppy. I just don't remember them being so much work raising them. I guess since I'm 15 years older that may be the reason why. I cannot wait until the day he stops eating the house. Or the day we are completely potty trained. Or the day he doesn't throw a tantrum when I leave the house. The day he will walk on the leash without flipping over. [image]local://upfiles/9817/CACFEDF38A89470FAE66DD291FEFD66C.jpg[/image]

INSIDEYOURMIND -> RE: Puppies (11/3/2004 9:30:06 PM)
Crate training can work on just about any dog, and at just about any age. The hardest part, is being tough and not caving in. It's hard at first, but gets easier over time. Or you can get pets like ours..................... [image]local://upfiles/7331/B9C5FF17988F4E4AA6E7DBA9C0D6C94E.jpg[/image]

blushes4u -> RE: Puppies (11/4/2004 2:37:38 AM)
shivers umm i'll stick to my dogs and cat thank you [:D]

aliljaded1 -> RE: Puppies (11/4/2004 6:43:38 AM)
wow you sound like i did 6 mo.s ago . i got a springer spaniel for my 2 young sons last x-mas . he turned into my newest son .. i had a hard time saying no to him and let him run the house until he ate half my furniture and all of my shoes, he wouldnt even stay out in our very big yard unless i was out there w/ him (he'd bark his head off). i swear he was laughing at me (lol) i was so discouraged that i even thought about giving him up , but the crate saved my life (and his). he actually took to it really well and goes in there when hes in trouble now automatically. its his own private idaho. hes still a lil bratt sometimes but hes learning . hes like a child , so im thinking its the best way to treat him . good luck w/ the growing pains . p.s. he calmed down ALOT afer i had him fixed and stopped humping us and my poor cat [image]local://upfiles/34231/30DE190656574FC59BCD45100319ED48.jpg[/image]

sub4hire -> RE: Puppies (11/4/2004 12:12:35 PM)
He knows the difference between right and wrong. For the most part he doesn't chew a whole lot. Not that he still doesn't test the waters from time to time. He inherited a lot of toys from the past dog. Many of those I've already had to replace. Someone said that they had to purchase new toys weekly. That's about right. He just loves hearing the squeak. The one that has lasted longest so far is a little teddy bear that squeaks. He doesn't bark. i imagine he may know how. Actually I have heard him utter one bark since we've had him. The only reason why I'm thinking the crate might not work is because he would chew his way out. Also climb out. I have a 6 foot block wall around my house. Firewood stacked on one small little part. He followed the cat up to the top of the wall the other day. Climbing on the wood. Not caring if he fell. Of course, now the wood is moved. That's just an example though. Charlie isn't caing about any humping yet thankfully. He just wants to run and be free. Explore as much as he can. I would be willing to bet he knows more of what is in every nook and cranny of my house than I do.

EStrict -> RE: Puppies (11/4/2004 3:17:50 PM)
quote: . It has been about 15 years since I've had a puppy. I just don't remember them being so much work raising them. I guess since I'm 15 years older that may be the reason why. ::laughing:: yeah Gloria, I would lay odds that that is a factor. It's kinda like when I suddenly had a one year old child after 15 years. ::winks:: but look at the bright side,, they get older every day,,, and then you will be wishing for those puppy days from time to time :)

MistressDREAD -> RE: Puppies (11/8/2004 8:32:55 PM)
quote: I'm fining myself having to tell him more and more often to get to it. We don't have all night to play. When he is outside he is not playing but sniffing out who has been with in HIS domain and goes about resenting it with his pee. This is normal and the pic of the pet is adorable.

LadyBeckett -> RE: Puppies (11/8/2004 8:51:18 PM)
"Good Owners, Great Dogs; A Training Manual For Humans and Their Canine Companions" by Brian Kilcommons with Sarah Wilson.

MiladyElaine -> RE: Puppies (11/9/2004 6:24:09 AM)
If you do do the crate thing, make sure you invest in a good product that will get the smell out of carpet and such or it will do no good. He sees your family and cats as his family- or pack. I would suggest that if you have a relative or friend that has an outside guard dog to borrow him just for one night so your pup can learn what he is and what he's supposed to do - besides pee- when he's outside. There's no better teacher than another dog...

sub4hire -> RE: Puppies (11/15/2004 2:03:30 PM)
We have another dog. He does pee when we are outside together. He is up there in age. Fourteen or 15 already. Same age as the one who just passed on to cancer. Charlie still doesn't bark. Although it does appear he is learning what they are saying when barking. He doesn't run away anymore. The crate, well he has soiled it everytime he has been in it so far. He has no problem sleeping beside one of his loaves (like Doug calls them) Or in his own pee as far as that goes. You could wake the neighbors when it is time for a bath. Looks like we need that potty training class afterall.

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