Puppy Advice (merged)

Paparika

He's a jrt cross.

and after crying again at 5am this morning and escaping he will be in the crate tonight

Jellicat

Its normal for him still to have accidents. Even when a dog is fully grown, you can expect the occasional accident from him. Remember that even the largest of dogs have systems much smaller than ours and so will need to pee more often.

You could try adding little bits of whatever meat you are eating...chicken, turkey, cooked meat are all fine, yes a little cooked rice too. My mum sometimes puts gravy through ours, but not always because you want the food to help to keep his teeth clean and if he is always eating soggy food that wont happen. Some dogs love bits of veg too... raw carrot and sweet pepper seem popular!

As long as the collar fits it should be fine.

Innocenti

My dog is as soft a mud but I never ever let him off the lead. Mostly because his recall is appalling but most of all because when he is excited he jumps up to say hello and for most people a really big English Bull Terrier jumping up at them would give them a heart attact. He is only being friendly but they dont know that. So he is kept on a lead. We let him off in an enclosed empty tennis court (we have permission) so he can run around but we never ever let him off the lead at any other time.

skylight

Our old german sheppherd was never allowed off the lead (with me anyway!) His recall was 100%, but as I child I was attacked by a big dog and it terrified me. I hated the thought of this big dog bounding up to a stranger if they were as scared as I was - I knew he just wanted to play, but the stranger didn't!

Our Westie is the total opposite. His recall is about as useful as a goldfish! So he does not go off the lead at all. He is only 8months though a still very bouncy. I do leave him with the kids for short spats of time - they need to learn how to behave with each other and I must be honest, the dog is better than the kids sometimes (and the kids are reprimanded).

I will not allow my kids to stroke or walk over to someone elses dog. Again, its about respect and the kids need to learn how to behave with dogs they do not know. They now ask the owner if they can stroke the dog first and usually its okay!

And dont get me started on owners that don't clean up after their animals.....

suki1964

Recall is the most important thing you can teach your dog, one thing that you never ever ever stop teaching. You need to know your dog will stop and return to you as soon as its called cos god forbid there is a time when it gets loose and charges off on the scent of something more interesting.

My cocker is a wee !!!!!! and tends to like to do his own thing which is fine in the middle of the country but there's one command he will react to and thats "WAIT". He might not come back but he stops where he is and waits for me to put his lead on

Idiophreak

Not sure I've ever seen this recall in action...maybe it's because i'm not a dog person, or maybe it's just that I've had a bad run of luck, but in my experience it goes:

1) Dog charges towards me (or, more specifically, my kite)

2) Dog owner: "here Lucifer, here"

3) Dog charges towards me (or, more specifically, my kite)

4) Dog owner: "here Lucifer, HERE"

5) Repeat 3 and 4 several times.

6) Dog jumps on me / kite...

7) Dog owner attempts to show their mastery of their "pet":
"here lucifer! good dog!"

8) Dog jumps on me / kite...

9) Dog owner gets bored and wanders off.

10) 10-20 minutes later dog gets bored and wanders off.

I guess it's one of those things...maybe I just don't notice good dog owners...?

picnic

my dog is as soft as the preverble soft brown stuff.... but he is a huge black alsation / lab. so on a fast run he looks really scarey. he wont come back when called and he can drag me for miles on a walk.... two things that i am not prepared to put with. I have tired to take him to training class's but there are other dogs there and he just gets worse. so rightly or wrongly (and im sure i will get pelted down for this) I am sending him to a training school where he will stay for 3 weeks and they train him. this is going to cost me a lot of money but to have a well trained dog at the end of it will be well worth it.

but even when i can take him for a walk (not a drag) him being let of the lead will depends on where i am and who is about....

every owner has to take responsability for there dogs actions... IMO...

Innocenti

picnic wrote: »

my dog is as soft as the preverble soft brown stuff.... but he is a huge black alsation / lab. so on a fast run he looks really scarey. he wont come back when called and he can drag me for miles on a walk.... two things that i am not prepared to put with. I have tired to take him to training class's but there are other dogs there and he just gets worse. so rightly or wrongly (and im sure i will get pelted down for this) I am sending him to a training school where he will stay for 3 weeks and they train him. this is going to cost me a lot of money but to have a well trained dog at the end of it will be well worth it.

but even when i can take him for a walk (not a drag) him being let of the lead will depends on where i am and who is about....

every owner has to take responsability for there dogs actions... IMO...

Have you thought about doing what I do? I only let my dog off the lead in an enclosed tennis court so he cant run off. Obviously I have asked permission. There is also an outdoor football pitch that is enclosed by a very high fence which I sometimes let him off on if there are no kids playing in it (very rare though :rotfl: )

picnic

where i live there is no where enclosed that i can be dragged (lol) too... he's not keen on car travel so im stuck. and for the amount i paid for him, plus jabs & chip... i want i dog i can take out etc...

bit like having a posh car and not being able to drive,... no point.

i honestly feel me and my dog will be better for this experence he going to go through. and i hope that he will have much more of an active life.

Raksha

Occasional accidents are to be expected - especially as he approaches adolescence and feels the need to 'mark he territory' - you can discourage that by cleaning up with a solution of biological washing powder, letting it dry, they spraying the area with white or surgical spirit.

Personally I wouldn't add anything to a complete meal, because it is just that - complete - balanced protein, fibre minerals and vitamins etc.

Collar - as long as it fits and doesn't rub, he should be fine (just make sure it's not too heavy )