Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

i cant get the photo on

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy


IMG_1913 by Fwhitt246, on Flickr

How about now?

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy


IMG_1908 by Fwhitt246, on Flickr

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

wow wow wow beautiful

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

he's absolutely lovely!!

With the crate you need to make it a great place to be - feed him in there leave treats for him to find. You're definitely not alone in this challenge and if you do a search on crate you'll see it comes up a LOT.

This thread has some other good tips. If you do lots of little sessions over the next couple of days you should be able to improve things a bit

The Labrador Forums » General Category » Labrador Chat » feeling like i cant go out help!

It's important not to reward crying or whining so try and make it nice for him in the crate, leave the door open and get him to go in of his own accord for a treat. Then when he's happy close the door and open it again. Then next step leave it closed for a second or two and build up and up. The same with leaving the room - go to the door and come back, step outside and come straight back in all the time praising and treating for quiet and ignoring crying. If he crys wait until he stops to go back to him.

That's a super quick response but I hope you get the gist and there's a lot of info in other threads if he's sleepy enough for you to read them

It will get better !!

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Well, he is just gorgeous What a sweet face.

For a puppy, being left alone is a survival thing. Basically, a baby that loses its family is not going to make it (it thinks), so they get upset if the suddenly find themselves alone - it's just a natural response. Gradual exposure to being left alone teaches them that, in fact, everything is ok. As they come to see your house and their crate as safe places as well, that also helps.

When you leave him in his crate and he howls, don't come back until he is quiet - even if it's only for half a second the first time. Just wait for that moment of silence to re-appear, otherwise he will quickly learn that howling makes Mum reappear.

I think back to some of the incredible noises that my first pup used to make when left alone (a mix of sobbing, howling and general lamentation) and I do feel your pain and stress....

Just take it slow with him and give him practice at being left for short periods and leave him nice chewy treats (e.g. filled Kongs) when you leave him so he thinks that when you go it's actually not so bad because he gets nice treats. Sometimes give him treats in his crate while you stay in the room so he doesn't think "oh no, crate plus treat means they are leaving again!". Could you use Thursday to practise this?

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Firstly Frankie I can't see your little monkey,but I bet he's lovely....

I haven't got any advice about the crate training as Dexter was older when we got him and he'd been crated with his breeder,but it gets discussed a lot on here and their will be articles in the Training section that will help..It will take time though as with most things,it's small steps extending the time left alone and I bet that's frustrating to hear when you have got a deadline looming when he will be left alone.His reaction is telling you 20 minutes is too long at the moment ,you'll need to work up to it but you will be able to.Something of yours in the crate might help if he's stealing your crocs...as a comforter to him.....,what about a stuffed kong with treats inside it( you can freeze it to make it last longer...)it probably won't last an hour but it would buy you a bit of time distracting him until the walker comes in......have you got a compassionate neighbour that could help you out( self serving too as they won't be disturbed by a barking ruck ???) tomorrow.....I'm sure they are things you have considered,thoughts are with you....I missed these early stages so I'm always sorry I can't help....that's why I rattle on about things I have experienced...people have been so kind to me,I want to be able to try and pay it forward x

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Sorry,started replying and got waylaid before finishing I can see Murphy,he's lovely looks just like Dex did when he was little...that's all we had of him,photos sent through!

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Oh Frankie what a gorgeous boy, lucky you. Take all the advice you are given and you will get there. Helen x

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Hi everyone,

thanks for all your advice. Iv spent the day encouraging him in and out of the crate and have been closing the door and walking away out of sight for a bit. Iv got up to the count of 30 and back without him wimpering which was good.

Had to take him to the vet because hes been scratching loads and last night when he woke up seemed itchy and agitated and she thinks he might have an allergy so hes on antihistamine. earlier when I gave him his first one it zonked him out for like 4 hours so I am giving him his next one just before bed and hoping it will do the same! Although my sister and her boyfriend have just been hyping him up in the garden.

Its funny, they have all just taken him for a walk (well carry..) and for the first time in 2 days I am without dog. I was looking forward to having a few mins peace without worrying whether he was eating something he shouldnt or howling, but I feel odd that he's gone..

Just read this back through and my grammar and spelling is terrible - I'm tired! lol

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Well done on working up to 30 secs - that's great He is getting the idea.

They quickly become integral to or lives, don't they?

Hope you get the itchiness sorted. No doubt that hasn't helped.

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Hi everyone,we brought our new lab pup home 2 weeks ago tomorrow,his name is simba. He has been really good,the first night he cried but since then not a peep! He goes in his crate with no fuss. He didn't eat very much and that was worrying us but I do think that was the weather..being so hot!! Anyway my question is.. every morning his bed/crate is soiled. We do take him out before bed,he is great in the day doing his wee's and poo's in the garden where we take him! Any idea's please..simba is 10 weeks old. Nicola

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Hi Nicola and welcome

Since Simba is just a little baby he doesn't have much ability to 'hold it in' (as you have noticed...!). During the night their metabolisms slow down (plus, they are not eating or drinking) so they can last for longer than they can during the day, but not all night long. This means that you will need to get up during the night to let him out of his crate and into the garden so he can wee and poo. He will probably be able to make it through the night within the next month or so but not just yet.

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Hi Nicola,

Simba sounds a little cutie...you sound like you are nailing it,but Rachaels advice is good,pop him out in the night for a toilet break ,you won't have to do it for long.Dexter could go all night when we got him at 5 months ,well 10.30pm -6 am kind of time scale
Angela

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Hi Angela,he sure is a little cutie☺ I will from tonight take him out in the garden. He has water in his crate all day and all night,should I remove the water at night? Thank you for your reply
Nicola

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Hi Rachel,thank you for your reply...yes I will take him out at night now...once or twice enough?
Nicola

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Dexter has never had water in his crate,I didn't even think to put any in ...( hmmm does that make me bad?)his crate is in the utility room and gated off from the rest of the house and his water is in the room with him.not having had a puppy at the same stage as you....my answer is.....I'm not sure.........hopefully you will get a reply someone who has or has a puppy of a similar age,there are a lot of new puppies at the moment.If not try once tonight ....and see how it goes....then you might have to go to twice if he's gone again between the and was up.They are all so different ,but you will crack it though ,best wishes

 

Re: Just brought home our first dog, a lab puppy called Murphy

Hiya,

Murphy doesn't have water in his crate at night, Pippa wrote in one of her articles that they don't need water overnight. When we first got Murphy at 8 weeks we went down every 2 hours to ensure no accidents and just made them later gradually and now at 10 weeks he is down to one trip out in the night which is actually at 4.45 in the morn. He can go from 10pm until then and then he sleeps again until 7ish.

Hope that helps x