So it looks like we will have a dog buy mid-Oct. I need some pointers
on puppy training. We will be getting a pure Golden Retriever (my son's choice) at 8 weeks old and yes, from a breeder because we want a puppy that only knows our family from baby age up (unless we get lucky and find one at the pound). We are letting my oldest son pick because he is allergic to every animal except dogs and he has had his heart set on on GR since he was about 8 or 9 years old. Normally we only rescue animals, but this is important to him so we are following through to a promise that we made to him. U know that there will be those that have things to say about us not going to a rescue or pound, and I understand your point and opinions, but that is not what this post is about.
Now, I need some pointers on house training, obedience training and things like that. I have never had my own puppy- the dogs we had growing up belonged to other family members, so any advice is needed. My son will be in charge of a lot of this stuff while he is here and he has read up and done research on the breed, on working with GR and things like that, but he will be looking to me and dh for guidance. Thanks ladies.
Consistency is key. My mom has special liver treats that are only for potty training. She put him in the bathroom to start with, with a puppy pad, then movd a puppy pad that he peed on outside so he'd get the point to pee outside.
Watch him for cues, and when you think he has to go, take him outside and put him on the puppy pad there.
I have no pointers on puppy training but getting a dog is exciting.. GOOD LUCK!!
We can't use puppy pads. We rent our house and if the dog goes on the carpet or something like that we will be responsible.But the being consistent is great advice.
Quoting AllofFive19:Consistency is key. My mom has special liver treats that are only for potty training. She put him in the bathroom to start with, with a puppy pad, then movd a puppy pad that he peed on outside so he'd get the point to pee outside.
Watch him for cues, and when you think he has to go, take him outside and put him on the puppy pad there.
We are thinking that crate training will be the best way to go because we haven't bought the house yet. We will look into obedience classes in our area. Thanks!
Quoting sleepy_in_va:
I was just consistent when teaching my puppy anything. And he got treats for good behaviors and nothing if he was bad. He was also crate trained and when we would get home I'd make sure to give him a treat for being such a good patient boy. My hubby actually took his pup to an obedience class. His pup knows commands by simple hand movements. He's a very good pup.
Placing the dog into puppy kindergarten and obedience school is a must. I recommend *not* using the classes from a chain petstore, but researching for nearby puppy obedience classes and talking to the trainers, watching a class in action before the puppy arrives if possible to see how good they are.
And your son should be the one attending every training session with the pup, so it learns who it's master is. Of course at home all of you can practice what he and the dog did as well, and learns to follow direction from all of you.
We crate trained our dogs, and they sleep in there at night (with a pillow under them of course) in our living room, and they go in there when we are away from home. It's become their home, and the kids know to never bug them in there. It's saved us from the many headaches of coming home to a destroyed house/yard. For training in that, the only trick is to not give in when you hear the puppy whimper and cry. It'll only last for days, maybe a week or two at most, then it'll realize this is what happens at night and will be fine. You can even say "Crate" or "Home", whatever word you want, and teach the puppy to go willingly in there by rewarding with food until it just learns to follow the direction. But just make sure you take the dog out very frequently at night to pee in the beginning (they have tiny bladders, and can't hold it very well yet).
For training on going potty, take some kibble (dry dog food) and place it in a pocket. Take the puppy out every 30-60 mins, and stay until he/she pees (the time extends as it gets older over a few weeks, can hold pee longer, etc)...then your son or whoever took the dog out rewards the puppy with lots of praise and a piece of food. Soon the dog will realize that peeing outside means lots of love and food, and will happily pee outdoors. If there's an accident in the house, pretend like the dog didn't do anything wrong. Don't talk and especially don't punish. Remain calm, avoiding eye contact, then calmly take it outside to potty. Hopefully it'll pee outside and will get another reward and life is great again. haha Over time you can graduate to taking the pup to the front door, having it sit, rewarding it with kibble, then taking it outside to pee. If you keep doing this each time a potty break is needed, it'll learn to sit by the front door when it needs to go potty, and you can take it outside without wondering if it has to go or not.
Oh my gosh this turned into an essay. I'm sorry! LOL! Hope this helps some at least.... :)
This was some great advice! Thank you so very much, I appreciate it. My poor son is never going to have a life between football and training a puppy, lol, but it's what he wants and if it makes him happy I am perfectly fine with that.
Quoting telecomgirl:Placing the dog into puppy kindergarten and obedience school is a must. I recommend *not* using the classes from a chain petstore, but researching for nearby puppy obedience classes and talking to the trainers, watching a class in action before the puppy arrives if possible to see how good they are.
And your son should be the one attending every training session with the pup, so it learns who it's master is. Of course at home all of you can practice what he and the dog did as well, and learns to follow direction from all of you.
We crate trained our dogs, and they sleep in there at night (with a pillow under them of course) in our living room, and they go in there when we are away from home. It's become their home, and the kids know to never bug them in there. It's saved us from the many headaches of coming home to a destroyed house/yard. For training in that, the only trick is to not give in when you hear the puppy whimper and cry. It'll only last for days, maybe a week or two at most, then it'll realize this is what happens at night and will be fine. You can even say "Crate" or "Home", whatever word you want, and teach the puppy to go willingly in there by rewarding with food until it just learns to follow the direction. But just make sure you take the dog out very frequently at night to pee in the beginning (they have tiny bladders, and can't hold it very well yet).
For training on going potty, take some kibble (dry dog food) and place it in a pocket. Take the puppy out every 30-60 mins, and stay until he/she pees (the time extends as it gets older over a few weeks, can hold pee longer, etc)...then your son or whoever took the dog out rewards the puppy with lots of praise and a piece of food. Soon the dog will realize that peeing outside means lots of love and food, and will happily pee outdoors. If there's an accident in the house, pretend like the dog didn't do anything wrong. Don't talk and especially don't punish. Remain calm, avoiding eye contact, then calmly take it outside to potty. Hopefully it'll pee outside and will get another reward and life is great again. haha Over time you can graduate to taking the pup to the front door, having it sit, rewarding it with kibble, then taking it outside to pee. If you keep doing this each time a potty break is needed, it'll learn to sit by the front door when it needs to go potty, and you can take it outside without wondering if it has to go or not.
Oh my gosh this turned into an essay. I'm sorry! LOL! Hope this helps some at least.... :)
You're welcome :)
Oh my goodness, he's going to love having a dog! It's only hard work for a little while, then once all the early training is in place, the dog will be so much fun for your whole family!
I can't wait to see pictures of the puppy when it comes into your home, and hear of the fun adventures you all have with him/her :)
Quoting psych_mom:This was some great advice! Thank you so very much, I appreciate it. My poor son is never going to have a life between football and training a puppy, lol, but it's what he wants and if it makes him happy I am perfectly fine with that.
Quoting telecomgirl:Placing the dog into puppy kindergarten and obedience school is a must. I recommend *not* using the classes from a chain petstore, but researching for nearby puppy obedience classes and talking to the trainers, watching a class in action before the puppy arrives if possible to see how good they are.
And your son should be the one attending every training session with the pup, so it learns who it's master is. Of course at home all of you can practice what he and the dog did as well, and learns to follow direction from all of you.
We crate trained our dogs, and they sleep in there at night (with a pillow under them of course) in our living room, and they go in there when we are away from home. It's become their home, and the kids know to never bug them in there. It's saved us from the many headaches of coming home to a destroyed house/yard. For training in that, the only trick is to not give in when you hear the puppy whimper and cry. It'll only last for days, maybe a week or two at most, then it'll realize this is what happens at night and will be fine. You can even say "Crate" or "Home", whatever word you want, and teach the puppy to go willingly in there by rewarding with food until it just learns to follow the direction. But just make sure you take the dog out very frequently at night to pee in the beginning (they have tiny bladders, and can't hold it very well yet).
For training on going potty, take some kibble (dry dog food) and place it in a pocket. Take the puppy out every 30-60 mins, and stay until he/she pees (the time extends as it gets older over a few weeks, can hold pee longer, etc)...then your son or whoever took the dog out rewards the puppy with lots of praise and a piece of food. Soon the dog will realize that peeing outside means lots of love and food, and will happily pee outdoors. If there's an accident in the house, pretend like the dog didn't do anything wrong. Don't talk and especially don't punish. Remain calm, avoiding eye contact, then calmly take it outside to potty. Hopefully it'll pee outside and will get another reward and life is great again. haha Over time you can graduate to taking the pup to the front door, having it sit, rewarding it with kibble, then taking it outside to pee. If you keep doing this each time a potty break is needed, it'll learn to sit by the front door when it needs to go potty, and you can take it outside without wondering if it has to go or not.
Oh my gosh this turned into an essay. I'm sorry! LOL! Hope this helps some at least.... :)
Last week of school?
- psych_mom
on Aug. 18, 2012 at 6:05 PM