PS Toby has just woken, spent 10-15mins outside with him. He came straight in and started to wee on the carpet. Picked him up and took him outside (not a word did I utter) weeing all the way...................... now what? :?

 

Hi there.
Toby is lovely!! Looks just like Leo at 10 weeks. They sure grow fast!
Leos almost 17 weeks now and still a little terror!
As for the toilet training thing, i ignored all accidents and praised whenever he went outdoors or in the garden. After every pee or poop i would praise him lots and give him one of his favourite treats.
This really helped and minimized the accidents indoors very quickly.
As for the puppy biting, i cant really help.
Leo is still doing this constantly, its puppy play to them.
Although everytime he bites or nips ignoring him and turning your back after hes done it for a few seconds or a minuite helps a little and the biten starts to get more gentle.
I also crate train leo, and have done since day one.
He sleeps there at night, and the door is left open for him to come and go all day, apart from when i have to go out, he goes in the crate. Left him out and came bk to a chewed house and little furnature left :wink:

I'm sure others will have much more advice.
Welcome to forums
Jill & Leo x

 

Hi

We did (are doing) very similar to Jill regards biting...arent those teeth sharp :wink: and crate training.

Also with house training....for the first few weeks i took her out A LOT..after every sleep, feed, play and sometimes because it had been half an hour since last time Also kept close eye for any circling, sniffing etc. Once she was outside we kept her to a small area to begin with so there were less distractions and when she went said Go pee Holly (feels very daft at the time) and praised her and gave her a treat. After a short while of this she began to link words with peeing and when we went out we could tell her to go pee and she did. Mind you sometimes id be out there at 3 in the morning saying it and she always seemed to take her time then. :roll:

She got the hang of housetraining quickly....which is not to say we didnt have accidents in the house....but now at 5 months i cant really remember the last one and that was probably my fault for not noticing her at the door.

Good luck with Toby... he looks a real sweetie.

All the best

Shelley

 

Hi there

Toby looks so gorgeous as do the two boys.

On the house training front, make sure that he is taken outside as soon as he wakes up (and after food, after playing, and if you have been out etc), and wait with him until he goes, and then lots of praise. We used paper on the floor inside and slowly reduced the area, moving it closer to the door as we went. 10 weeks is still very young, it will take a little time, but you need to be consistent.

Treat training, i.e. rewards for going outside worked a treat with my lab, although I must say so well, that even now (at 2-1/2). She expects it every time she comes in, and will sometimes ask to go out, run round the garden and then expect a treat, she thinks I don't know.

On the biting front, can't really make any suggestions other than whats already been said, although I would imagine it would be quite difficult getting the little ones to understand.

Good luck, I am sure things will get better.

Sue

 

Is it possible you can create some 'zones' in your house?.... spaces where the kids know the dog is not alowed, and spaces where the dog knows the kids are not alowed. at that age it is important the kids do not create a fear of the dog and visa versa.

bringing them together and teach the kids to be calm and gentle around the dog, ensuring the dog does not associate play with the kids and minimising the chances for over zealous play causing problems. In turn over time the dog will learn to behave appropriately around the kids.

with the chewing, continuously replacing inappropriate items with ones the dog can chew (and these probably need to be quite soft at his age) praising when they take the new item, simple no (not overly agressive) when they chew the wrong things.......as you will know from the kids, words without actions will have little effect on the pup, se be prepared for the next few weeks to have eyes in the back of your head, and drop things to put the dog straight.... he doesnt do wrong deliberately, just cause he doesnt know better :wink:

Letting the kids feed the dog as often as possible is also good practice.

The positive thing is the dog will be developing much faster than the kids so this really difficult stage will be soon impoving.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

Hi, Toby looks so gorgeous.......and so do your two boys

I have had the biting problem with Darcy too. It's very difficult when the child is too young to understand or react appropriately (my youngest is 6 and even he just started screaming and putting his arms up in the air or running away which Darcy just thought was part of the game :roll: ). I have taught them to shout a loud sharp 'NO' and if possible turn around and walk slowly away. It's been quite hard and I don't know that even that would work for you as your boys are so young.

Really I think you need to keep them apart from now unless supervised. Perhaps create a temporary run in the garden for Toby and limit his access in the house. Otherwise this problem will cause stress between you and the puppy will soon pick up on that. In the meantime you need to teach Toby that biting and jumping isn't acceptable. It sounds hard but you'll be amazed at how quickly he will learn :wink:

As for the toilet training. I just ignored mistakes by Darcy, put her out as often as possilbe and gave her a command 'quickly!' and lots of praise. I used puppy pads in her crate but barely got through one packet before she was clean. She's almost there now, just the odd occasional mistake and she's almost 15 weeks.

Good luck


Sarah, Darcy & Coco

 

Thanks so much everyone for your advice, I shall follow all consistently!!! My other dogs (Barnie a Border Collie and Megan a little Scottie both now sadly gone to the big doggie park in the sky) were house trained via the newspaper over the floor which worked very quickly plus I think females seem to learn far quicker than the males. Bit like life in general really :lol:

I do try and keep Toby away from the boys unless I am there 100% to supervise but that means he has to spend most of the mornings either in his crate or alone in his bit of garden and I feel soooo mean, as he whines a bit to come in to play

All of the dogs are beautiful but then Labs are with their big soulful eyes and lovely colouring.

I thought another thing I may try is having Toby on a stretchy lead whilst he is around the boys, then he could play with them but if he got too boisterous or the boys were getting worried I could reel him in and say no. Any thoughts on that one?

As for the house training with hind sight I am being a bit unfair and over ambitious. We only got him on 8th July and last week he was away with us in our caravan so spent most of his time outside (in the boys old playpen!!) so he could poo and pee at will. So after the first week, which no doubt he has forgotten now :roll:, he hasn't had any house training to speak of, I think I will start from scratch as if he had just arrived.

Also haven't tried the treat thing as have been told they can put on too much weight and I don't want to make him ill. So maybe I will give him some of his dried food upon performance :wink:

Thanks again everybody, no doubt I shall be back with more questions and updates. Hope you don't all get fed up with this dopey woman !!!!!!!!!!!

Toby's Mum

 

Hi again

The lead thing - i completely forgot about that. :roll: I have done that too with Holly...had her on a long lead when playing with the kids (although my kids are slightly older 5 and nearly 3 - andit did help to keep a control over the situation. Holly is good with my 2 now.. or is it they are good with her but when they have friends to play who arent used to dogs i stll do it. Just have to be careful that kids dont see it as a chance to take doggy for a walk in the hiouse :wink: :roll:

Shelley

 

Hadn't thought of the walking in the house!! But I think I would hang on to the lead otherwise Toby will be taking the twins for a walk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How old is Holly now?

Jennie Toby's Mum

 

Also haven't tried the treat thing as have been told they can put on too much weight and I don't want to make him ill. So maybe I will give him some of his dried food upon performance

Yes, just take is out of his daily allowence. Thats what we do.
Before each meal, i'll take 3 or 4 of his biscuits out of his bowl and put them in a seperate plastic container. (they soon add up)
Then everytime he does his toilet outside, he gets one, or if he plays with his toys instead of chewing furnature, its another one etc etc.
It all adds up and he should use whatever you have put in the container within a day meaning he gets his total food amount but he thinks they are extra treats

Dont be over ambitious about toilet training too quickly though.
We have had Leo for a month now, persevering with his toilet training everyday and taking him outdoors for it constantly yet he done another accident indoors again today, so it takes a lot of patience and time.
x

 

Hi

I think the lead idea could work quite well; we had a brief problem with Hally when she was a few months old and sought advice, the lead was the suggested solution, and it worked well in the house.

On the weight front, I wouldn't worry too much at this age (within reason of course) I would have thought it unlikely with the amount of energy pups can burn that it would have a major impact; some good suggestions above on taking it from his allowance. Also, some small nibbles from his biscuits / dried food should be sufficient. We tend to buy our chew from Wilkinsons where they have a Ours doesn't mind what the treat is, it can be a pigs ear (which she loves) or a single chocolate drop, she will settle for anything so long as she gets some reward (and it has worked for virtually everything we have trained her for - including returning when off the lead - an area I am very nervous of).

Our vet did also suggest giving slivers of Carrot or Apple, apparently some dogs love them (unfortunately not ours) and it means you can be less worried about the weight piling on while getting the benefits of treat training.

Good luck, keep us informed of your progress,

Sue

 

Hi Sue

Thanks for back up on the lead thing. Will start that tonight with the boys, within the hour 8O . So will keep you informed.

 

hi there,
max is now 11 months old and i still use food from his daily allowance as treats. i also keep a bowl of diced carrot and apple handy. also frozen carrot is good.

 

Hi again Jennie

Holly is just over 5 months now and wow the time has gone quick! i thought we would never get over the nipping and to be honest she still does it at times esp. with my hubby. Think its to do with the way he plays with her at times :roll: but if she does now it is more gentle.

It did take the kids, esp. my eldest funnily enough, a while to adjust to Holly... the expectaion didnt match the reality despite the fact we had tried to prepare him for what a puppy is really like :wink: She is still very excitable but we are lucky that she really enjoys fetch and this is a game they can play (with my supervision...dont want them undoing all the hard work LOL)

Having said that i really need to work on greeting new people as she is sooo excited all the things she has learnt go straight out the window :roll: Aah well! Who wants a quiet life hey? :wink:

All the best

 

the other thing thats been suggested when small children are playing with pups is have a traffic lights game (red=stop still and silent amber=slow and quiet green=back to normal) I haven't tried it myself as I have no children but it was on another thread somewhere.
Anna

 

Have just had Toby in the living room on the lead with the twins and a visitor - in for a penny as they say. Totally nuts to start with but calmed down quite quickly and without damaging anyone or anything!! Only did 15 mins to start but will increase time and length of lead each time.

Just have to teach the eldest and scattiest twin that he must behave too :lol:

Will try apple, carrot and food from his daily allowance plus playtime as treats when he does what I want. Have to say with all your support and advice life seems much easier with him.

Anyhow we all know it's worth the hard work and mini traumas in the end - dont we :roll:

 

did you know that apple can be used as a natural wormer

there you go that is my little diti on wisdom for today

ps hi toby and tob'y mum from all tha mad girls at velvetine

 

Hi all at velvetine, what is that?
Toby is getting better at the house training but obviously I have to watch but he has actually starting whining or yapping to go out and yaps if he poos in his crate. Which he did this morning after his breakfast!! I wasn't quick enough so not only did I have to clean the crate I had to wash Toby down also :roll:

He is very good at playing fetch but sometimes have a struggle to make him drop when we've been playing a while and he gets over excited. Will come 'most' times when I call him but not if otherwise engaged!! Ignores all other family members but I'm sure that will come in time.

Still having trouble with playing with the twins, particularly Adam who tends to tease (not that he knows that he is just nervous of him) and jump about giddily which of course starts Toby off. So have to train Adam to calm down as well, that will be a feat in itself!! He is excitable at the best of times and loves Toby but of course he doesn't do what he wants him to do - sit still and be cuddled!!

Have got the boys giving Toby treats and giving and taking away toys and he's fine with that so gently, gently catchy monkey and we will get there.

Have been trying to contact various training clubs recommended by the Kennel Club, no easy task I can tell you. One trainer is even ex-directory!!

Have managed to get in touch with one locally but she has just had a sudden bereavement so will go back to her in a couple of weeks. Toby isn't ready to go just yet anyway, have one more vaccination to go then a week or so after that - then the serious stuff will start :lol:

Thanks for all your help and support,

 

try the association of pet dog trainers they accreddit trainers who have good training methods (positive reinforcement) and that seems to be the only kind of stamp of aproval that they can get, www.apdt.co.uk i think, hope life is getting a little easier. also i'd visit the classes if you can before you take toby.
Anna

 

Thanks Anna, will try that now. Hopefully they will have someone who answers their 'phone!!

 

Hi everyone,

Thought I would give an update on Toby, he is 12 wks old today and this evening he shall have his last vacc ('till next year!) so next week we shall be out and about. So if you hear of a mad woman with twin buggy being dragged along by a Lab pup in the news - that will be me 8O

We are starting to get somewhere with the house training had a dry and clean night for the first time last night, even though I give him a training pad in his crate - yes I know I shouldn't but it seems to be working

We also have a training pad near the back door during the day so if he can't quite make it outside it usually lands on there - so not too bad at all. Still have the odd accident but all in all my house is relatively puppy poo & wee free

I know the general consensus is not to use these training pads but to be honest now Toby has his own part of the house (penned off as suggested by some genius on this thread - thanks ) he roams about and I'm not always behind him as I have the boys to watch, so to me they have been invaluable - better on the pad than my laminate floor :wink:

I'd like to thank all for their advice you have all been a great help in these early weeks and no doubt I shall be returning shortly for more advice!!!

 

Isn't it lovely when you can see things starting to happen Jennie! I know people start to dispair after a week of sleepless nights and half their house chewed but then you start to see a little glimmer. A few nights of complete sleep, a puppy who suddenly stops doing something for no better reason than you said, "No!" It's VERY hard to start but it does get easier. Amy went for a little run in the wood this morning, a car ride this afternoon and is sleeping at my feet as I type this. She has started to climb the ladder towards being a lovely lady! She might only be on the bottom step but she's left the ground!

Regards, John

 

Thats great Jennie.
12 weeks now. He must be getting so big so quickly.
Leo is 18 weeks now, and when i look back to pictures, i relise how quickly he has grown in a matter of weeks!!
I'm so sure hes going to grow the same size as a horse 8O
:lol:

 

Hi Jill

Yep he's getting big, all legs and feet :lol: they don't stay small for long so will try and make the most of his 'puppy days' even though they may be hard work at times :wink: How tall (roughly) is Leo and is he still at the legs and feet stage, or evening out a little?

Your sooo right John, how wonderful Amy is on that 1st rung, they learn but we feel as if we've achieved, quite a partnership isn't it? I love it
Really looking forward to taking Toby out next week, it is a week after 2nd vaccination isn't it? Over 10 years since I last had a pup............

It's going to be an experience, twin buggy et al :roll: , still at least I can put his things under the pushchair and not carry them. I thought the 1st little wander would be to the park round the corner, about 10 mins away, we can sit the boys can play Toby can have a little rest and maybe a treat or 2 :lol: then we can have a slow wander back - poor pup will be exhausted 8O
He's got to get over the 'trauma' of the vets tonight yet!! I'm sure he will be fine, all those smells and all that adoration.......... can he cope we ask ourselves :?

 

Great to hear things are going well Jennie, that light at the end of the tunnel really does exist its only the length of the tunnel that varies