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Question:

> We have a nine week old yellow lab. I’d like to check on our  methods >and expectations to see if we’re in line with what’s realistic. > Here’s our schedule; >~ 6:30  - let out of her crate to pee/poop outside, then breakfast and >play >~8:00 –  gated in the laundry room with her open crate and newspapers >covering the floor

She needs to pee/poop after breakfast, before you leave for work, as well.  I wouldn’t use newspapers and the laundry room.  I’d crate her for the 4 hours so she learns housbreaking. >Noon – I come home at lunch and let her out and feed lunch, usually go >for a walk

the morning, giving you a chance to praise her for going outdoors! >1-6 – Back in the laundry room

5:15?), but again, I would crate rather than use the laundry room.  Paper training is contradictory to what you’re trying to teach. >6-10:30 dinner/walk/play until bedtime and then return to the crate >for the night. After the first few days, she’s been sleeping through >the night.

>Questions; >- Are the mornings and afternoons too long to keep her in the crate >itself? By lunch, she’s usually peed on the newspapers, but that’s it.

once) and it’s been fine.  I’ve always provided a rather spacious crate (and had puppies who respected that as their turf).  I’d say CRATE for the next several weeks, then try the laundry room WITHOUT newpaper provided, if she seems to do well.  One caution about not crating and using a room – puppies have been known to eat wallboard, chew on cords, and get themselves into more trouble than you can imagine.  With a lab pup (i.e. – very oral), I’d stick with the crate through adolesence. >- She’s constantly jumping and nipping at us(hands, toes, etc.). When >she nips or bites, we’ll give a yelp or growl along with a  No! and >then try to interest her in a chew toy. Sometimes it works, sometimes >it doesn’t. Is this normal behavior? Are we reacting correctly?

get the idea.  Teach her to play fetch and you’ve: given her an activity she was born for; given her tons of exercise; taught her to "work" for you.  Show her how to choose her toys rather than giving them to her. >- Age what should we start her in a puppy class?

Here in MD, I have puppies starting at 8 weeks in my PK. >- We’ve been taking her out on a leash. Is she too young for that?

know if they are disease carrying, and fecal matter transmits many diseases). Keep her to your property, or a safe place like a CLEAN PK, where all of the puppies are required to be on an appropriate shot schedule. >She doesn’t fight it much, but carry it around in her mouth. Is she >attempting to show dominance?

toy, and I pay too much for good leather leashes! ;-D >- Overall, I’m wondering if we’re expecting too much out of her at >such a young age or not.  In some areas she’s shown great progress; >she quickly learned that she must sit quietly for food and to go >in/out of the door. In other areas, though, it’s a trial.

sponges – they learn so much, so easily when they’re young.  Keep it up and you’ll have a great pet! Janet Boss<BR> Best Friends Dog Obedience<BR> "Nice Manners for the Family Pet"<BR> <BR> "Read your question for the obvious answer"

Response:

> Here’s our schedule; >~ 6:30  - let out of her crate to pee/poop outside, then breakfast and >play

She may have to eliminate again shortly after breakfast 15-30 minutes, so if you can’t watch her completely, a lot of people crate again for 15 minutes after breakfast and then take them out again, if they don’t go again, crate for another 15. >~8:00 –  gated in the laundry room with her open crate and newspapers >covering the floor

8 till noon will be likely too long for her to hold at her young age, she will probably only be able to last a couple of hours, if there is anyway someone can come by around 10am to take her out you would speed up toilet training if you left her crated during the inbetween times. >Noon – I come home at lunch and let her out and feed lunch, usually go >for a walk >1-6 – Back in the laundry room

Again if there is any way to take her out for a bathroom break during this time do so. >6-10:30 dinner/walk/play until bedtime and then return to the crate >for the night. After the first few days, she’s been sleeping through >the night. >Questions; >- Are the mornings and afternoons too long to keep her in the crate >itself? By lunch, she’s usually peed on the newspapers, but that’s it.

If she can’t hold for that period of time, which is unlikely given her age and you can’t come during that time to take her out then don’t confine her to the crate alone, she would have to soil her den and that will be hard on her and likely slow down her house breaking. >- She’s constantly jumping and nipping at us(hands, toes, etc.). When >she nips or bites, we’ll give a yelp or growl along with a  No! and >then try to interest her in a chew toy. Sometimes it works, sometimes >it doesn’t. Is this normal behavior? Are we reacting correctly?

I would stick to the yelp, high pitch, and then whatever command you want to use, you might choose ‘off’ or ‘no bite’ instead of just no, no is a common word and your dog hearing it a lot makes it less effective as a command word.   I think dogs learn not only what we want them to do and not to do by our actions, but they also model their behavior after what we do. So even though if you growl at them, they won’t necessarily growl back at you because they see you as alpha, they may ‘model’ your behavior and feel it is appropriate for them to growl whenever they choose to reprimand someone they do not feel is dominant over them, perhaps a child or another dog that they don’t feel is behaving appropriately.  If you yelp when your dog does something to cause it discomfort you are modelling that yelping is the appropriate thing to do when you are uncomfortable, if you growl, you are modelling that growling is the appropriate thing to do when you are uncomfortable.  I try not to do anything to my dog that I wouldn’t want it doing to someone else, the gentlest approach I can use to get accomplished what I want the better.  I would also work on teaching her what the ‘off’ command means more specifically and make it positive for her to comply. Before she’s had dinner or breakfast and she’s hungry is a good time to train because she will be motivated to work for the food, you can use treats or just her regular kibble as rewards.  Hold the food in your hand so see can smell it but cant get it, she will mouth your hand, say ‘off’ firmly and only say it once, then wait her out, as soon as moves her head away from your hand even slightly, praise and say ‘take it’ and give her the treat. Always say ‘take it’ before you give her anything, and if you don’t say ‘take it’ she doesn’t get it, that way she will learn that she can’t just grab what she wants from people whenever she wants.  Once she’s figured out that ‘off’ means not to mouth, and when she doesn’t mouth good things happen it will be easier for her to build on it.  Giving her what she’s allowed to have to mouth is a really good idea, it sounds like for the most part you are doing things well.  Make sure you are really consistent, develop a set of rules and commands and stick to them and she will learn them quickly. >- Age what should we start her in a puppy class?

As soon as she’s had her second set of shots and you don’t have to worry about her contracting illness from other dogs/pups. >- We’ve been taking her out on a leash. Is she too young for that?

She shouldn’t be going anywhere where other dogs go she can contract disease from comming in contact with other dogs BM’s etc.  She shouldn’t have direct contact with other dogs, or the ground they’ve walked on until she’s had two sets of shots.  If you want to socialize her you can carry her in your arms. you can have her on the leash indoors or a secure yard from other animals if you want her to get use to it, just make sure that you make it a positive experience, don’t pull her around, make it fun for her to follow you, make her happy and excited to come after you, encourage her with your voice and your body language. >She doesn’t fight it much, but carry it around in her mouth. Is she >attempting to show dominance?

Maybe, or she could just be being playful, either way, don’t let her mouth the lead, tell her ‘off’ or ‘drop it’ after you’ve worked on this command a bit, and praise her when she obeys, occasionally reward her.  Do not engage in a tug of war over it, this will only encourage her. >- Overall, I’m wondering if we’re expecting too much out of her at >such a young age or not.  In some areas she’s shown great progress; >she quickly learned that she must sit quietly for food and to go >in/out of the door. In other areas, though, it’s a trial.

I think you are definitely on the right track.  We taught our 9 week old puppy when she came home ‘off’ and ’sit’ right away, and then ‘down’ shortly after, and I think it’s important to establish good manners and behaviors right away.  I don’t think it’s too soon at all.  The puppy, like any infant is a little sponge of learning.  No matter what you do you are training her, so if you let her do what she likes rather than what you will want her to do in the future in a given situation you are training her that doing what she wants to do is okay.  As long as you keep training sessions brief and fun for the dog and do them often, and build on the positive, things should work out. >Thanks for any insight,

Hope you found some of it helpful, there’s no ‘one’ right way to do things, its what works between the dog and their owners.. but these things have helped me.  I’m no expert, just someone that’s tried to figure out what’s best for me and my dogs.  Good luck to you, and congratulations on your new pup! Leila Raven

Response:

 We have a nine week old yellow lab. I’d like to check on our  methods and expectations to see if we’re in line with what’s realistic.  Here’s our schedule; ~ 6:30  - let out of her crate to pee/poop outside, then breakfast and play ~8:00 –  gated in the laundry room with her open crate and newspapers covering the floor Noon – I come home at lunch and let her out and feed lunch, usually go for a walk 1-6 – Back in the laundry room 6-10:30 dinner/walk/play until bedtime and then return to the crate for the night. After the first few days, she’s been sleeping through the night. Questions; – Are the mornings and afternoons too long to keep her in the crate itself? By lunch, she’s usually peed on the newspapers, but that’s it. – She’s constantly jumping and nipping at us(hands, toes, etc.). When she nips or bites, we’ll give a yelp or growl along with a  No! and then try to interest her in a chew toy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Is this normal behavior? Are we reacting correctly? – Age what should we start her in a puppy class? – We’ve been taking her out on a leash. Is she too young for that? She doesn’t fight it much, but carry it around in her mouth. Is she attempting to show dominance? – Overall, I’m wondering if we’re expecting too much out of her at such a young age or not.  In some areas she’s shown great progress; she quickly learned that she must sit quietly for food and to go in/out of the door. In other areas, though, it’s a trial. Thanks for any insight, Andy

Response: