Hello, I am new to this site and joined it to get as much information and learn as much as possible before my new lab puppy comes home in three weeks. What is some advice for getting a new puppy? Does anyone have any advice or tips? Where should I start with the training? Just the basic sit, come, and stay and work on that? Is there any books or websites I should read on training and the dos and donts of training a lab? Thanks in advance for everyone's input!
Re: New puppy Hello, welcome to the forum from me and my nearly one year old Chocolate boy Charlie. There are loads of really great articles on the site - the puppy section is a good place to start. I bought a book too (well, several). The best one for me was Ian Dunbar's before and after getting your puppy, but there are lots of good books available.
Re: New puppy Hi, I would recommend cage training we've had 2 labs in the past and this is the first time I have used one it makes it so much easier, our pup now sees it as his space and loves it, never use if as a punishment (you might be tempted) and leave the door open when your home. We use a reward system for training esp toilet training which seems to work well. With lab puppy training it's 2 steps forward and 1 step back you have to be patient, very patient, but they do eventually get there. We've had him 5 weeks and his first walk outside will be tomorrow that's when the good times really start.
Re: New puppy If possible, take some of what will be her/his bedding up to the place your are getting the pup from so that it will take on the smell of the litter. This way it's not such a wrench when it leave them. You certainly don't need to buy books, the web is FULL of advice. I found this quite a good place to start. http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/get...dvice-about-caring-for-your-new-puppy-or-dog/
Re: New puppy Hi, welcome. You will definitely find all the advice you need to start with on here. I think the most important thing is cage training as Jimbo says and toilet training. Once you get those sorted then move onto the other commands such as sit, wait etc Ternaya and Harley (6 month old red fox lab) P.S photos please when you get pup
Re: New puppy Welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll find it as friendly and useful as I have. Totally agree with Jimbo about the crate. I think it is us that has the problems with the crate, we see it as confining our pets, but they don't. Molly (4 months) has just progressed to a larger crate, and her old one is sat in the conservatory. I always wake her up and send her into the garden just before I go to bed. She is usually reluctant to be disturbed (tough, I don't want to deal with a wet bed first thing). On Sunday night after I'd dug her out of her new crate, instead of heading for the back door she dashed into her old crate. Obviously the crate is a good place to be for a dog. I used to send my old dog to her bed if we went out or went to bed, but Holly could be trusted not to trash the place or pee on the floor. Popping a puppy in the crate is just the same. Good luck with your pup. They are darned hard work but so worth it.
Re: New puppy Thats wonderful news. I hope you have a lot of fun with your new puppy. When we picked up Holly we took a blanket with us and rubbed it all over her dam. She thought it was a great game, but it meant that Holly came home with the familiar smell of her dam around her. For the first few days we set up her bed in the kitchen and lived there with her. We kept her in with a baby gate. On the first night we took it in turns to sleep in the kitchen on a camp bed. The next night we moved the camp bed to just outside the baby gate so she could see us. We then moved it around the corner so she could still smell us, but not see us. On the fourth night we went to bed normally. It seemed to work as she never whined at night. Collect old newspapers before the puppy arrives. Newspaper by the back door is a good way of confining the widdle to one spot until their bladder is strong enough and the house training takes over. Have a great time with your new puppy, and PLEASE post some pictures!
Re: New puppy I'm slow saying hi, sorry ;D Welcome to the forum from Dexter and I.hes a 16 month old yellow boy.i wish I'd found the forum before Dex arrived with us,it would have stopped me making a few mistakes....the biggest one being pulling on the lead,I messed up big time.That is something you won't need to worry about straight away whilst your little one is so small,but do read up on the articles on here and get it right from the start,it will save you a lot of heartache ( and arm ache ;D later)
Re: New puppy welcome, welcome! i'm relatively new myself, but have found this a marvelously warm and wonderful spot!!!! post pics, soon!!! lots of warm welcomes from me and my boy, orion (12 weeks old).
Re: New puppy Welcome from me too! We have Lilly, a black girl, aged 3 and 3/4 Pippa has a new Puppy book out very soon, and if its as good as Total Recall, will be well worth it. Looks like 3rd April is the release date, but I know Total Recall was a bit delayed for various reasons. There is a link here......... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Puppy-Handbook-Definitive-Training/dp/0091957265/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391721241&sr=1-2&keywords=pippa+mattinson+puppy There is SO much information on the website, and on the forum, so lots to get you going too! jac
Re: New puppy Welcome to the forum! Hope you really enjoy it here. I am definitely getting that puppy book. Even though I don't have a puppy. Well, Obi is still kind of a puppy in the brain area :
Re: New puppy Thanks for all of the replies! He is a fox red lab and just turned six weeks old! I'm very excited and look forward to the adventure even though I know there will be some trying times with him. Thanks again! I have a lot more reading to do!
