2 weeks until my lovely Louis chocloate lab puppy is coming home Of course I want to give him the best life possible. What are your 3 keeps and 3 changes for the first let us say 2 months with a lab puppy? What would you have done differently and what would you do again? He is 9 weeks when he comes home
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change Keeps: crate, socialize, train, lots of love Change: have him do his business in the location I ultimately want him to do it in (I got him when it was very cold and let him start going outside on the deck), train him 10 or 15 minutes EVER day (I didnt), be more strict (he is a good manipulator!!) Through all that, just enjoy every minute of puppyhood! It is so true....they grow up sooooo fast. Mine is almost ten months old AND weighs almost 80 pounds so you can see how fast they grow......they are wonderful pups.
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change Keeps 1. Take lots of photos, they grow so fast. 2. Simple Solution for cleaning up wees - a life saver! 3. Carrying the pup everywhere before vaccinations to get them used to people/traffic/sounds of all kinds. Change 1. Anything you don't want a 28Kg dog to do, don't let a pup do. I have a few regrets with my first, but learned the lesson and have none with my second. The things they play as a pup have extra special appeal later on. 2. Don't worry too much about early morning get ups - just snooze with them 'till 'proper' morning - it very soon passes. 3. I don't teach 'give a paw' or high five or anything else which involves paws up any more. SO much easier to teach 'feet on the ground' at all times. My Gypsy (6 months old) is a Guide Dog puppy and they have this rule - it works brilliantly! Most of all, remember they are all different and don't be worried if someone else's pup is doing things yours isn't. They are people imo, all with different personalities and quirks and loveable habits.
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change Keep, socialising, socialising socialising Change, don't let puppy copy the Chihuahua she will be living with, won't be long before it becomes dangerous ! Take more pictures, she grew so fast ! Relax she won't be keeping you awake for ever.
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change I think I'd keep the extensive socialisation that I did - although it isn't without disadvantages. He was socialised in London, and on Wimbledon Common. He is pretty much bomb proof. A bit over keen to meet people and other dogs though. I think that's a necessary part of having a dog that is happy to travel on a rush hour tube and go to a firework party outside, rather than something I could change and keep the rest. I'd definitely do more effective early training than I did - I did a lot of training, but through inexperience didn't do enough of the right stuff, in the right way. Charlie doesn't have great manners around people - but that's because I can't be bothered, and don't care that he licks my ears and jumps on me on the sofa, so he does that with everyone. I'd like to say I'd change that with my next pup, but I probably won't.
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change Keep. 1. Socialization, the more and varied the better. 2. Recall Recall Recall (nuff said) 3. Crate. Change. 1. Dont buy expensive bedding. 2. Dont play with empty pop bottles with the pup, I did & now I cant keep him away from them when I am out walkies. 3. Dont take him anywhere near water if you arent prepared to get wet yourself.
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change Keep: 1. Socialisation - and lots of it. The difference between Willow who was socialised lots in that important window and Shadow, who we got afterwards, is huge. 2. Recall - trained to the whistle from before weaning, so I can't take all the credit for that, but keeping up with reinforcing it. 3. Reading, reading, reading. Without that, I wouldn't have known anything about having a new puppy, positive training methods, how to use a crate, dietary information and much, much more. Change: Is it bad that I can't actually think of anything? I certainly don't have perfect puppies and I've not done a perfect job, but informing myself before as much as possible and finding this forum for all my questions, I don't think there have been any humdingers.
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change Keep: 1. Giving in to going on sofa and sleeping upstairs 2. Training recall from day 1 3. Socialisation Change: 1. Train no jumping earlier 2. Not allow hubby and daughter laugh when she barks at the hoover from day 1 3. Research food prior to getting her and not just go with the breeder'a choice of food
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change Keep: 1. Socialising from day 1. 2. Toilet training from day 1. 3. Recall training from day 1. Change: 1. She only needs a few toys. 2. Be more consistent about jumping and paws. 3. Take more pictures because the cute stage doesn't last long.
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change [quote author=Hollysdad link=topic=9209.msg132160#msg132160 date=1419349862] 3. Take more pictures because the cute stage doesn't last long. [/quote] Sacrilege! It lasts FOREVER!!
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change I'm still in the early stages with Bella at 15 weeks...but here's my input Keep: day time crate training clickers socializing Change: night time crate training until she sleeps through the night : Sleeping with humans should be a privilege not a right protect the recall word make hubby read the clicker articles so that he understands the theory : Hubby is still a bit old school and does the repeat the command 47 times until the dog does it....and he isn't interested in training more than tricks with her - so doesn't reinforce any of the basic obedience training I'm working on...like walking on a loose lead, jumping up, etc. And she KNOWS what she can get away with when he is there....she plays him like a fiddle...it's hilarious actually.... ;D ;D
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change Keep: 1. Crate training 2. Using the whistle for recall 3. Stinky treats for training Change: 1. Don't worry if things go wrong, you can quickly get it back on track again 2. Don't let your puppy train you - we currently have a situation where Inca literally makes puppy dog eyes at us until we sit on the floor for her to sit on us. It works! 3. Take more photos - they grow up so quick!
Re: 3 keeps and 3 change Keeps 1. The Crate 2. Early on taught "wait" for feeding 3. Four paws on the floor rule Changes 1. Recall from the beginning 2. Socialising all over including in towns from the outset 3. Be more strict regarding jumping/stairs etc to protect joints [4. I would have read everything on this site and been better prepared] Good question.
