|
Post by pmkrause on Jun 22, 2006 19:21:58 GMT -5
we just brought home a new labradoodle. She is 8 weeks and 2 days old. I have two young children who are used to a calm old dog who recently passed. I've been reading all sorts of books, but very few have a step up step instructions - more just general guidelines. My two problems at this time are lots of whining in the crate especially at night (45minutes last night twice each after a sucessful trip out) and nipping. I understand all this is normal puppy behavior but what do I do to help the separation anixety at night and control the mouthing/nipping. we are working on lease training -- which she chews -- but we're not there yet so the teather thing isn't an option right now. any tips for immediate behavior corrections. She's a beautiful and smart dog and i don't want to mess her up with the wrong training or lack of training. thanks for the help.
|
|
|
Post by Aussienot on Jun 23, 2006 19:11:57 GMT -5
Congratulations on your new puppy. Step by step instructions for housebreaking are here: dogden.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=articles&action=display&thread=1074722872and crate training here: dogden.proboards21.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=articles&thread=1084255326Housebreaking and crate training involves a total commitment for a few weeks invested to pay back for a lifetime of good behavior. You can succeed only if you watch the puppy 100% of the time. Remember trigger times of after sleeping, after eating, after playing and after everything. At 8 weeks your puppy will need to eliminate at least every two hours, so hello sleep deprevation. That the job you get when you get a puppy. With crate training, the secret is to never let the puppy out of the crate when she is noisy. Only let her out when she is quiet. Even if it's 3 am and the neighbors are rioting at your door, the puppy does not get out of the crate for making noise. The nipping is normal puppy behavior. To stop it, when she nips play stops. You stand up, trun your back on her, cross your arms and stare a the ceiling for a few seconds. Then play again. Nip happens, turn your back and ignore the puppy. Everyone must do this every single time, even the children. She'll only learn that nipping has a negative outcome if play stops every single time. If she nips three times, put her in the crate for a few minutes with an appropriate chew toy. Keep a number of chew toys strategically placed around the house so that you can redirect the teeth onto a toy. She'll need to chew for several more months, but nipping should be nipped in the bud, so to speak.
|
|