Puppy blues and tough time training so taking a clue from LoopyLuna and creating a weekly update thread on training for my pup to focus on the positives and remember the progress being made! 12 Weeks Old- Home for 5 Days Today -Maddie is integrating into our home better than expected for 5 days. She’s already standing by the door to let us know she needs to go out. -Yesterday she climbed up and peed on our bed- which boggled our minds because she hasn’t really had any accidents. -She’s figured out the step on the trash fan opens the lid! She’s been stepping on it and reaching up! We’re in trouble... -Maddie and Bailey are getting along really well. They play and nap together and can even eat side by side! -Maddie wakes up every 2-3 hours throughout the night to potty. Squealing and crying for about 5-10 minutes before she settles down each time. We’ve found a routine of switching off who takes her helps- he takes her at 12am and 2am, I take her at 4am and then when I get up at 6am. This gives us both a solid block of at least 6 hours of sleep. -She looks at me and comes better now when I say her name. For the most part when she’s chewing something she isn’t supposed to we say NO and snap and she stops. -She is so sweet when she’s asleep, and I know the biting will cease eventually. We try to give her a chew toy when she starts biting us to divert her chewing. -Most of all, trying to remember to enjoy her as a puppy as I know she’ll grow too fast. Can’t take her anywhere yet, so feeling a bit trapped- but remembering it’s just temporary.
I Interesting. But the copied entry caught my eye. Such training may encourage your dog to take the remote behind the couch where you can't prevent the fun. It would be better to give her something she can chew at the outset. I note your next sentence. Just redirect her onto the thing she is allowed to chew. I don't see any entries on socialisation. Crucial at this age. You can and should be taking everywhere. Carry her in a bag, if the issue is one of waiting to get vaccinated.
Good input! We do give her other toys as well. She is socializing with the two current girls we have- do you suggest more than that?
@Labmom21818 Absolutely not sufficient. You have just 4 weeks before the socialisation window closes. Please read the following. https://www.thelabradorsite.com/how-to-socialise-your-labrador-puppy/ If you have any questions, then fire away. It is a crucial part of raising a puppy.
It sounds like you are off to a great start in general, well done! But as Michael has said, socialization is about meeting lots more than just your other dogs. If young puppies meet lots of new people of different ages, in various places, it helps them to grow up into a confident and therefore friendly adult dog. Making sure you have plenty of visitors to your house will be really helpful too. It's great to hear how Maddie is getting along, do keep us posted!
Really, you need to be taking your puppy out every day to experience something new in a deliberate and targeted way. You need to ensure your puppy is comfortable at all times whilst doing this and that it is a positive experience for the pup....
So do you all recommend taking her out and just carrying her? It’s Bakersfield and it’s 105-110 everyday, so not sure where I can take her since she can’t go many places without all of her shots...
@Labmom21818 go out early, early morning and early evening if heat is a concern. How many shots has she had so far?
We rescued her from a Craigslist ad- sad story- but the vet had her start all over with vaccinations last week because you never know with craigslist puppies. She’s getting her second round first week of July.
Okay. I have to say though that the socialisation can't wait. Take the dog out in a basket. Pick spots where you think other dogs would not have urinated or defecated. Put a clean towel each time down on the ground --your dog can stand on that. Take your dog in a stroller. Go to rich areas of California, in which people will have vaccinated their dogs. Call a vet and ask whether pardon is a problem in certain areas. The expected costs of not socialising are larger than the expected cost of a possible infection. Have lots of people come to your place. Let them wear slippers. Let the dog have a good times with lots of different people. Children and old people. People with canes. Hats on. If the dog gets overwhelmed then backaway to create distance until the dog calms down. The dog needs to enjoy the experience.
In addition to what Michael suggested, have visitors wear sunglasses, the goofier the better, and large headphones - I saw two dogs over the past few months freak out over men with headphones. Think about your appliances, especially things like coffee grinders, food processors, and vacuums and run them. Grab a friend to trade off carrying the dog and visit parks so the pup sees bikes and kids. You can also search online for puppy socialization checklists. Welcome to the forum
Hey there - sounds like you're doing great. It's definitely a good idea to write down all the positives and it sounds like you have lots after only a 5 days so well done The socialising can actually be really fun even if it feels a bit nerve wracking when they're so vulnerable. We were terrified of carrying Luna anywhere because she broke her paw at 9 weeks, but we still persevered with her leg in a splint and lampshade on her head. She looked pretty darn cute Some ideas of what we did: - Take her to a supermarket carpark (build your way up to a busy Saturday afternoon) and just sit with her in the boot of the car watching people and cars go by. Grab a trolley and walk it past her. You could even put her in it so she gets used to the noise. - If you have kids, ask their school if you can take the pup into the grounds to meet the children - as long as the kids aren't too overbearing or boisterous. Just gauge the situation. - Go to look at horses in fields, and sheep and cows etc - Play sounds of fireworks, gun shots, thunder, sirens etc on your bluetooth speakers. We did this during her dinner times so she got used to the sounds, and gradually increased the volume. - We have a lot of building near our house, so we used to take her to see men in high vis jackets, watch the diggers. - Lawnmowers, hoovers, nutribullet, things that bang. - Go to the pub and sit in the beer garden, then go inside. Let lots of people fuss her but only if she's comfortable. Ideas of what we didn't do that I wish we had: - We avoided having guests to the house because I didn't want her jumping up with her gammy paw. I wish I had done this though because she's really over excited when we have visitors now. I didn't make it normal enough. - Get her used to the sound of motorbikes and other engines. She's scared of them now. - Umbrellas - they really confuse her - We kept the cat and dog separate but should have let them play even if it meant the odd scratch. They both hate each other now. Have fun - you're doing great.
Sounds like you are doing really well but I would totally agree with the socialisation recommendations - we have Dennis who is now 13 weeks and for our first week before he could go down and meet other people we have lots of people come round to the house and meet him, carried him in a back pack to the park, railway station. Now he is down we make sure we go somewhere new every day and try and meet as many people and other dogs as we can. Also taking him to a pet supermarket (where dogs are allowed in) has probably been the best socialisation - lots of stimulation and lots of dog people who know how to approach a puppy.
Socialisation helps to build a confident dog, with nothing to fear despite the disposition to do so. It does not result in calmness around visitors. To that end, other exercises are necessary.
Thanks Michael - that's reassuring, and despite the fact that some of her litter are proving to be a bit anxious, she shows nothing but confidence with people even though we didn't have as many guests as we should have (I'd rather have to rein in over-confidence than to have to deal with fear). We're progressing slowly with the training on this, but it is progress none the less. Just need to work on confidence around umbrellas now though......it's a niche fear, but not a helpful one in the UK
Is it fear when an individual is carrying one, using one, or unfurling one? What are you doing to counter condition?
Thank you for all of this! I’ll definitely gets heard going.- Today we went to grab dinner and I carried her- she loved the car!
