Puppy Advice (merged)

Milford_Cubicle

At what age do you expect a puppy to stop biting during normal play etc?

suki1964

Milford_Cubicle wrote: »

At what age do you expect a puppy to stop biting during normal play etc?

Certainly by time its finished teething.

Its as everything, the amount of time and efforts put in from day one will determine how long unwanted behaviour continues.

Im no expert and believe me I have sat bawling my eyes out with pups that nip but not one of them has carried it on past the teething stage. Alfie my cocker I thought I would never ever bond with because I just couldn't handle him without him nipping, but the continuous rewarding of the good and ignoring of the bad got us through and hes the most gentle of dogs now. Ive menetioned before that if hes now got something he wont give up (like my socks) I just slip a finger in the side of his mouth and yelp ouch and belive me he drops the sock like a hot potato. Most things he gives up easily for a swap just seems to have quite a thing for my socks - its a cocker thing

woohoo

Hi,

we have an 18 week old Lhasa Apso pup, which we have had for only 1 week. The previous owners have done a good job it seems with housetraining her, but as a first time doggy owner I just wanted some advice please?

What would the normal stage of housetraining be for a dog of this age?

Currently, if the back door is left open, there is never an accident. However, it is getting chilly now, and too cold to leave the door open all the while. Pup will then wee in the house quite often (has not pooed inside), but will often 'perform' if I take her outside , and say 'wee now'. I always give her a treat and make lots of fuss when she goes outside. If she wees in the house, I show her the wee and say 'no, wee outside' and put her outside for a couple of minutes. Is this the right thing to do? It seems to be the 'telling me that she needs to go' that is not developed yet. She is still quite young - so I am hoping this will come soon. What do people think? If I suspect she needs a wee, I rush her out straightaway, but still she will just do one on the floor at other times.

At night she is crated and holds it from 10pm-7am! What a good girl!

Any tips/advice would really be gratefully received. Thanks for reading.

bellrooster

Hi there

It sounds like you're already doing a realy good job of house training your pup already!!

She's still quite young so don't worry that she's still having little accidents, she will catch on and dogs are so clever it won't take her long!!

I would say, when training a dog praise good behaviour, which you are doing by praising her when she wee's outside - thats realy important as dogs aim to please so making you happy will make her happy and that's how she learns.

The other side is completely ignore bad behaviour, if she wee's inside, just ignore her and clean it up.

You can also get puppy pads, you might already have them, just place them in the spots she usualy wees and they can make cleaning up a bit easier.

She's doing realy well lasting all night, like I say you're doing a great job!! I've always had dogs and the one I have now had me in tears trying to train her!! so you're doing brilliantly!! :T

Good luck and enjoy!

oh and post a piccy if you have one!! I've never seen a lhaso pup

kiwifruit_2

well i think your doing just great!!!!!! 1 week for your pup to get used to you and you her and your doing great.....one thing I would add (and this worked and still works with my manic lab collie cross lol) is only use one word commands - our dog will go to the toilet on command by just saying the word 'toilet'......he goes in the same area outside each time and is always told hes a good boy when done.......it takes a bit of time and patience but is worth it in the long run......so get your brolly and torch out and get ready for a few 10 min jaunts out in the cold lol......good luck and keep perserving

suki1964

You are doing great - as is she

Keep rewarding the good (wee outside) and ignore and wipe up the bad ( wee inside)

It is a bit of a pain but the best way to get the best and quickest result - is don't allow your pup to mess up iin the first place. In this instance - remember it has only a small bladder and take it out every hour or two and use the wee command and praise when she goes.

Never just let such a young pup outside in the garden alone to wee - go with it and stay till it goes. You will soon learn its habits and how long you can stretch it between wee breaks and at what times shes more likely to go

Good luck
xx

Savvy_Sue

At the risk of being shot down in flames, is a dog flap a possibility? Presumably one you can lock when you don't want the dog out ...

suki1964

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

At the risk of being shot down in flames, is a dog flap a possibility? Presumably one you can lock when you don't want the dog out ...

Nothing wrong with dog flaps - for the fully trained dog

Honest if you want a house trained dog then you put in the work at the start - and not just hope he finds his way to the flap and out of it in time. You know yourself with very young children that if that are having a great time playing they wont bother with the toilet unless you physically take them.

Flaps are fine for older dogs who are perhaps left home alone

Debt_Free_Chick

Agree with the others - simply ignore her when she wees inside. Don't look at her, don't speak to her.

To dogs, communication is a reward. So when you say "no, wee outside" she is almost certainly hearing "what a good girl. Mummy loves you ssssooooo much" :rotfl: :rotfl:

Be patient and eventually she'll think "hhhmmmmm ..... that wee only gets me a treat when I do it outside" and she'll stop doing it inside as she's not getting paid for it

Pretty simply things, dogs

woohoo

Thank you all for those lovely replies! You have made me feel very proud of her! Today has been a fab day. I have taken pup out any time she has been by the back door and at times of much sniffing . This seems to have worked as no accidents have happened! I have been using the same word each time so she associates it with weeing and fingers crossed she is dong well. A treat each time which she looks for now too! I will just ignore her then as you all suggest when she does her business in the house. Oh , one other thing.......she weed in her crate :eek: this morning! I heard barking (which she doesn't seem to do in the morning - just waits for us) and by the time I had evicted hubby from bed, to let her out, she had done it. Only to be expected I suppose, but will she start doing it in there regularly now? I cleaned it with multipurpose cleaner and then bio washing powder solution (I read that eliminates the odour of doggy wee) so I hope not? What do you think?

We have considered the dog flap for when she is fully trained as I think this will be a good solution!

As I said, thanks for replying. I really appreciate it! Not sure how to post a piccy? She is cute though !

xx