Hi, I'm new to this forum and really dog owning in general and after scouring web page after web page I've finally just decided to ask questions instead of searching for answers and hope I get lucky.
I have a small circle of friends, and they've known for sometime that I've wanted a dog. We'd go into pet stores and I would play with the dogs and get bummed out whenever we left. I really desired a dog, but had no real idea as to how to train them.
About three weeks ago I was chatting with one of my friends online and she mentioned to me that she got me something. I asked her what it was and she told me it'd be a surprise. That I would either "Really like it, or really hate it" and I spent the rest of the day wondering what it was.
Now, I'm nineteen years old and my grandfather is currently paying for my residence in an apartment near where I'm attending college. So suffice it to say, when my grandfather came over to visit at the same time my friend brought over my "surprise" a dog was the last thing I was expecting, and the first thing that I got. A little black six week old lab puppy. I was in love.
The first week was great, we bought him toys and he stayed under the couch sleeping, he played a little bit, never bit anyone and didn't even know how to bark. He had very little bladder control and had accidents abound, but I really didn't mind. It was to be expected as he was just a puppy.
Well, soon Vader (Being the avid Star Wars fan that I am I named him approprriately) got a little accustomed to the apartment and now on my third week with him I'm wondering just what I'm doing wrong.
Vader's problems are pretty much everything I've read that dog's either shouldn't do, or shouldn't want to do.
-He has no concept of the word no, regardless of the amount of times its told to him, be it firm, nicely, surprised, angry, etc.
-I've tried crate training him to the best of my abilities but he just won't associate the crate as his den. I can't convince him to go in of his own will unless there's food or a treat to be had. I've done everything, tied a toy in there, let him explore it on his own for a few days with the door off, just left him in there and ignored him, stayed by his side whilst in there, and nothing just seems to work. As soon as he hears the metal bars lock into place he freaks last night his yelping was so bad it sounded like a woman screaming. I don't know if I can crate train him if his behavior keeps up, he's very loud and I don't need a noise complaint filed by my neighbors who live both above, under, and around me.
-He's very resistent of new people. Anytime a new person comes over, Vader starts barking at them, and then proceeds to nip at whatever part of their body he can get to. Sometimes biting them. It's just annoying now, but when his teeth get sharper, it's going to get alot worse.
-He still bites in general. I have a friend who comes over on an every day basis and Vader still relentlessly bites him. We've tried dozens of methods to get him to stop. From muzzle shutting, to no, to grabbing him by his neck and telling him no. He just refuses to listen.
-I'm still have absolutely no luck with housebreaking him. He simply will not poop outside, even if he has to go. He'll wait until we're back in and on a few occasions, almost instantly proceed to go on the floor. He'll pee right in front of me, and just walk away like he did nothing wrong. I've caught him doing it several times, I've shouted at him no, to startle him to stop, and promptly taken him outside and he still just won't go outside.
Any help on any of these matters would be very much appriciated. I desperately want to keep Vader, but I don't know if I can if I can't train him properly. My friend assures me that he's just being a puppy, but I've read countless online articles about dog's learning things very quickly. Primarily crate training and he just won't do any of it.
I have a small circle of friends, and they've known for sometime that I've wanted a dog. We'd go into pet stores and I would play with the dogs and get bummed out whenever we left. I really desired a dog, but had no real idea as to how to train them.
About three weeks ago I was chatting with one of my friends online and she mentioned to me that she got me something. I asked her what it was and she told me it'd be a surprise. That I would either "Really like it, or really hate it" and I spent the rest of the day wondering what it was.
Now, I'm nineteen years old and my grandfather is currently paying for my residence in an apartment near where I'm attending college. So suffice it to say, when my grandfather came over to visit at the same time my friend brought over my "surprise" a dog was the last thing I was expecting, and the first thing that I got. A little black six week old lab puppy. I was in love.
The first week was great, we bought him toys and he stayed under the couch sleeping, he played a little bit, never bit anyone and didn't even know how to bark. He had very little bladder control and had accidents abound, but I really didn't mind. It was to be expected as he was just a puppy.
Well, soon Vader (Being the avid Star Wars fan that I am I named him approprriately) got a little accustomed to the apartment and now on my third week with him I'm wondering just what I'm doing wrong.
Vader's problems are pretty much everything I've read that dog's either shouldn't do, or shouldn't want to do.
-He has no concept of the word no, regardless of the amount of times its told to him, be it firm, nicely, surprised, angry, etc.
-I've tried crate training him to the best of my abilities but he just won't associate the crate as his den. I can't convince him to go in of his own will unless there's food or a treat to be had. I've done everything, tied a toy in there, let him explore it on his own for a few days with the door off, just left him in there and ignored him, stayed by his side whilst in there, and nothing just seems to work. As soon as he hears the metal bars lock into place he freaks last night his yelping was so bad it sounded like a woman screaming. I don't know if I can crate train him if his behavior keeps up, he's very loud and I don't need a noise complaint filed by my neighbors who live both above, under, and around me.
-He's very resistent of new people. Anytime a new person comes over, Vader starts barking at them, and then proceeds to nip at whatever part of their body he can get to. Sometimes biting them. It's just annoying now, but when his teeth get sharper, it's going to get alot worse.
-He still bites in general. I have a friend who comes over on an every day basis and Vader still relentlessly bites him. We've tried dozens of methods to get him to stop. From muzzle shutting, to no, to grabbing him by his neck and telling him no. He just refuses to listen.
-I'm still have absolutely no luck with housebreaking him. He simply will not poop outside, even if he has to go. He'll wait until we're back in and on a few occasions, almost instantly proceed to go on the floor. He'll pee right in front of me, and just walk away like he did nothing wrong. I've caught him doing it several times, I've shouted at him no, to startle him to stop, and promptly taken him outside and he still just won't go outside.
Any help on any of these matters would be very much appriciated. I desperately want to keep Vader, but I don't know if I can if I can't train him properly. My friend assures me that he's just being a puppy, but I've read countless online articles about dog's learning things very quickly. Primarily crate training and he just won't do any of it.
Congratulations! And Vadar pics please...
