New puppy owner seeking advice

[Doberluv]

Punishment when it is harsh has a lot of bad side effects even with adult dogs. A tiny puppy cannot understand what you mean and usually learns only to fear and distrust you. Explicit trust in the relationship is the most important training tool you can have. Punishment does not show the dog what you want him TO do. It's much more effective to show the dog what it is you do want than what you don't.

Yes, she could have a bladder infection or simply a full bladder. In fact, a pup that young probably doesn't feel it at all until the very last second when she has to go. Do you see why punishment would be very detrimental now? At her age, the ability to control is just barely, if at all present. As she gets a little older, the concept to go outside will take time to learn. Sterness is not going to teach her. Showing her and making it better for her to go outside than inside will teach her. Preventing accidents by your proper supervision will help teach her. If she has an accident, it is not her fault. Its the owners'.....always.

Harsh punishment often backfires as it is sometimes associated with a behavior that you aren't targetting. This can cause real damage.

There are very effective ways to train without using aversives.

 

[keabird]

I get what you mean about the punishment. Is it ok to say no in a stern voice though? I have to do it when she is chewing on wires and biting our heels, but it seems like at least showing displeasure when she goes inside wouldnt hurt. I know that when she goes inside it is my fault but it is hard when after she pees outside, we come in and 5 minutes later she pees on the floor. I have a life to live and work to do and cannot take her out any more than once and hour or whenever she is giving the signals.

 

[otch1]

Hello Keabird... have you made your lattes' doubles yet, to get through the work day? lol This may take a week or two, don't give up. You bought your pup a little "young". I like to see med. and large breeds go at 8 weeks, Toys between 10 and 12 weeks. This is as much for health reasons, as it is for socialization. Your puppy still needs the comfort of a "warm body" at 6 weeks. This is why you'll hear so many new owners say, "my pup has to go potty every 3 hours, even though I'm resticting food and water after a certain hour. It still wakes me up though or has accidents in the crate. So, I gave up and put him in bed with me and he slept through the night. I needed the sleep too!" The key is the pup when comforted and warm, was able to have a deeper, longer sleep and "hold it' longer. So, you need to simulate that for him when he's in the crate alone, for the night. Try this weekend, when you don't need to go to work. Give the puppy a good long playtime and elimination period at 11:00 pm. Then put him in the kitchen, a room he may already associating with mealtimes? Play the radio quietly for him, put smaller stuffed animals in his crate for him to snuggle into, arranging them like litter mates at the back of his crate. (3 or 4 of the sheepskin toys from Petsmart would do.)Crate should be small enough so it feels like a little "den". Not a room he can go and use a seperate corner in to potty. Put him to bed. No talking to him or going to him until 5:30 am. Set your alarm!! This gives you 6 1/2 hrs of sleep. Go to him at 5:30 and get him out, even if he's not awake yet. Pick him up, take him outdoors, offer a quick drink of water while he's outdoors and then pottybreak. It's not playtime, don't talk to him. He needs to understand at that hour he has a job to do. Once he's gone potty, give a soft cookie/ treat, quietly pick him up and put him back in his crate with a second treat, then go back to bed. Try to get in another hour and a half, until 7 am yourself, then it's puppies breakfast time. Puppies will wake from hunger, they also can't be expected to "hold it" more than 4 hrs normally, at this age, but if relaxed, warm and with a little food verses a full stomach, just a little to get him thru to breakfast, you'll start getting 6 hrs out of him without causing too much stress. (For you or the pup!) You live relatively close to me. I'm just above Woodinville in Snohomish. Have some good reccommendations for trainers right in your neighborhood when you're ready. Good luck!

 

[Herschel]

She's a very, very young puppy, an infant. You have tried many different things in a short time. That may be adding to her confusion and you're not giving enough time for anything to work. She'll keep trying as long as she thinks there's a chance. My advice is to put the crate in your room, put her meals and water in there so that's the only place she gets food during the day. Leave the door open so she can come and go without feeling trapped....at first. (but don't forget to supervise so you don't have accidents) When she falls asleep, close the door. Don't open it while she is crying. Wait for a lull. Make sure to take her out to potty every hour at least...unless she's soundly sleeping. Give a stuffed Kong for her to gnaw on. Never use the crate in association with punishment. (which she shouldn't have anyhow as such a young pup) Stick it out, don't change locations again. Don't stick your hands in or talk to her when you want her to quiet down. That will reinforce her crying. She knows you're there and that will, in time be enough. Remember, she is awfully young to be away from her littermates and Mom. She's in an adjustment period. Give her some time. You might want to use ear plugs when you need to sleep. Its just one of those things when you have a new baby....dog or human. LOL.

+1.

I don't think being confined is her problem--I think she is just in a new place and she needs you to be there for her. Doberluv has given you some great wisdom here...

 

[keabird]

It has been a while and I wanted to update you all on our progress. Kea finally stopped crying after about three weeks. The trick was to keep her in the crate in the office with me while I worked. She got used to being in there. Finally we brought the crate in the bedroom with us and as long as we were in the room she was quiet. It took another few weeks before she stopped barking when we left the house, but now she is content to be in the crate. She has been a lot of fun and now we are ready to start teaching basic obedience, especially loose leash walking! I will post a couple of photos here soon.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[keabird]

Here's Kea at about 4 months old. It is tough to get a good photo of her tail as it is alway wagging!

 

[josiepup]

We have an 8+weeks old Great Pyrenees pup, whom I am trying to crate train. Is that too young? She sleeps in a plastic crate at night in our bedroom and does just fine. We have large wire crate in the family room, with a divider to make it small enough for her now. I have been introducing her to the crate for several days now, and she will go in willingly. She just won't stay for long! What should I expect of her at her age?

 

[makka619]

Here's Kea at about 4 months old. It is tough to get a good photo of her tail as it is alway wagging!

Aww she is such a sweetie!

 

[makka619]

We have an 8+weeks old Great Pyrenees pup, whom I am trying to crate train. Is that too young? She sleeps in a plastic crate at night in our bedroom and does just fine. We have large wire crate in the family room, with a divider to make it small enough for her now. I have been introducing her to the crate for several days now, and she will go in willingly. She just won't stay for long! What should I expect of her at her age?

I have no experience with crate training, but from what I have read that sounds pretty good to me for such a young pup to go in willingly.

 

[Whisper]

Here's Kea at about 4 months old. It is tough to get a good photo of her tail as it is alway wagging!

She's a beautiful girl!