We pick her up tomorrow at 10 o clock! Very excited but also very nervous I'll do something wrong and it will affect her forever! I am still undecided on weather to train her with a clicker or treats or just praise! I have read so much I have confused myself! (Sticking to the ladradorsite from now on) How did you start your training and did you change it at any point?
Re: New Puppy Day Dont worry, you'll be fine! Just keep her quite confined to just a couple of rooms to begin with. Yes, she can go in the garden before her first jab. I have never used a clicker, so I cant really advise you on that. But as I understand it, you dont need to start with a clicker right away anyway. First of all you just need to get her used to you, your house, your family. Then you need to start her socialisation program, and potty train and crate train her. That's enough to be going on with!!! How exciting!!!!!!!!!
Re: New Puppy Day How wonderful for you My advice would be to try and relax and enjoy her puppyhood, it flies by so quickly . too quickly for me I think like with first babies ( human ones ) we are so worried about doing the wrong thing that we end up stressed and this will be picked up on , so yes, enjoy her, let her settle in for a few days before even thinking of the more serious stuff
Re: New Puppy Day I agree about relaxing and enjoying - Digby is only 6 months now, but those tiny puppy days last literally that - days. I didn't use the clicker to start with, and don't use if for everything but do find it helpful if I want to break down a more complex instruction. Probably the only "training" I did to start with was toilet training - LOTS of visits outside has obvious benefits. Enjoy!
Re: New Puppy Day Enjoy your new pup and all the laughs I'm sure you'll have I use a mix of clicker and voice as a marker. A clicker can be great for teaching new things as it's clear amd unambiguous and I find that I'm more precise in using it too. But a marker word is great to charge up and have handy, even if it's just for those times when you are out and about and have forgotten the clicker When I had a pup I carried him about to places before he had his first jab - to meet people at cafes and the local shops. He didn't go on the ground (edit - other than in our garden). When he got too heavy to carry in our arms we walked him about in a backpack with his head poking out. We also took him to vaccinated dogs' houses. There is some risk in that, but, personally, I felt that the benefits to be gained from exposure to the world were worth it. If the risk seems too much, then just invite a steady stream of people over to your house to admire your gorgeous new pup
Re: New Puppy Day Hello everyone. Amy is home and looks happy so far! Question....When should we put a collar on her, we just did but she kept pulling at it? She loves her crate but has already had a wee in it, I was watching her like a hawk too! GRRR
Re: New Puppy Day Hi Jade, you don't need to put a collar on her yet, let her settle in a bit. When you do introduce the collar, put in on just before you feed her, and take it off afterwards. The meal takes her mind off the strange thing around her neck and helps to associate the collar with pleasure. She will soon take no notice of it. Pippa
Re: New Puppy Day What an exciting day Jade , with your new baby Amy Just a gentle reminder to take a collar off at night whilst she is young to avoid any accidents . What I also did with Sam was that once he got used to the collar , I would attach his lead and ( under supervision ) would let him trail it around indoors . We then progressed to the garden with the lead , never for long but it helps them to get used to the feel of it before they go out into the big wide world
Re: New Puppy Day Thank you. She is asleep again now. Create door and kitchen doors are both open, but she is staying in her create and crying everytime I leave her sight. ;D She got upset when she saw her own reflection in the oven door too! :'(
Re: New Puppy Day She will be very clingy Jade , just try to be out of her sight for a moment or two and then return without making too much fuss, like its perfectly normal . She will be missing her siblings and so needs to build up confidence, it sometimes takes a time to do this but it will happen . The first few days are all about learning to trust, exploring and settling in . Sam used to bark at his reflection in the greenhouse door
Re: New Puppy Day Ah bless her Congratulations and how wonderful that she likes her crate, she obviously feels safe in there. She'll be nosing into every nook and cranny soon don't worry! Riley is nearly two and I can hardly remember his puppy days (luckily I have plenty of photos to remind me )
Re: New Puppy Day I feel really excited for you! Its just like bringing a new baby home - everything revolves around the pup for weeks LOL! I remember when we brought Lilly home - she was a bit older - around 12 weeks - the breeder had kept her for us as we had been on holiday, and although she had been in and out their kitchen, she clearly hadn't see a TV - she was absolutely transfixed by it for several hours!! (not that we are telly-addicts or anything : ) Enjoy! jacqui PS. No photos yet?
Re: New Puppy Day Oh how lovely! Enjoy this time - and remember her whole world has changed and you and your family ARE her world now! I want another puppy!!!
Re: New Puppy Day ADORABLE!!!!!! What a little cutie, she looks like she's smiling in the first shot. I'm sooooooo jealous, I want a cuddle
