Post by Allison Allen on Oct 18, 2003 7:53:41 GMT -5
1. Socialize NOW. Your pup should be hand fed by at least 100 people before
she is 12 weeks old. Bring her any and everywhere with you. Encourage a lot of
children to play (nicely) with her and feed her.
2. Enroll in a puppy kindergarten class that uses reward based training.
3. Biting on you: This is known as "mouthing" and is very normal but annoying.
It is instinctive and how they play with each other. It is however the
opportunity to teach bite inhibition which is a critical to the safety of your
dog and others as socialization. When the puppy mouths too hard yelp or exclaim
"ouch!". (like dogs do to each other when they play bite too hard) When she
has learned to only bite gently yelp or exclaim "ouch!" when she applies any
pressure at all. (It won't really hurt, but you have a 4 year old, you're used
of pretending.) This teachers her the strength of her own jaw and to have a
very soft mouth.
You will no doubt be advised (not on this list but somewhere) to hold the pups
muzzle and say No! when she mouths. I STRONGLY discourage my clients (and
anyone who will listen) from this. Your dog will never learn her own jaw
strength and that makes her a very dangerous animal.
4. House training - this is exhausting but if you are diligent it won't take
very long. First your puppy should be supervised at all times. If you cannot
watch her place her in a crate or ex-pen or other confined space with a hard
floor.
Since she is so tiny she probably can't hold it more than an hour or so (less if
she is playing, chewing, or just poped up from a nap). Take her out frequently
to the same spot in the yard. The potty smell will prompt nature to kick in.
Wait out there with her and praise her when she begins to potty. Give her a
cookie the second she stops. Do not leave her in the yard and assume she's
gone. Watch and praise the act.
If you catch her in the act of going potty inside say "NO!" is a firm (but not
scary) voice. This will startle her and she'll stop going. Pick her up and
race outside. Have her finish going in her potty spot in the yard and praise
and reward her lavishly.
If you find a mess (which you should not since she will be confined or
supervised at all times) clean it up but do not punish the puppy. If a
reprimand is after the fact she will not understand it.
Ensure all accidents are cleaned up with Nature's Miracle or other cleaner
designed to eliminate the smell. If you are unsure if she has had other
accidents in the house steam clean all the rugs to be sure. This sounds extreme
but it is a lot less effort than a prolonged house training period because the
pup keeps smelling it inside the house.
Take her out the minute she gets up from a nap, after play sessions (or during
if they are prolonged) and after meals.
Timed feedings can help you time when she is going to have to potty so you can
be ready. I personally believe in keeping water available at all times for
health reasons even though it makes house training more tricky. There are
trainers that disagree with me on that point however.
Anyway, good luck! Have lots of fun. They don't stay this little and cute for
long so enjoy it while it lasts, even if you go to bed exhausted each night!
she is 12 weeks old. Bring her any and everywhere with you. Encourage a lot of
children to play (nicely) with her and feed her.
2. Enroll in a puppy kindergarten class that uses reward based training.
3. Biting on you: This is known as "mouthing" and is very normal but annoying.
It is instinctive and how they play with each other. It is however the
opportunity to teach bite inhibition which is a critical to the safety of your
dog and others as socialization. When the puppy mouths too hard yelp or exclaim
"ouch!". (like dogs do to each other when they play bite too hard) When she
has learned to only bite gently yelp or exclaim "ouch!" when she applies any
pressure at all. (It won't really hurt, but you have a 4 year old, you're used
of pretending.) This teachers her the strength of her own jaw and to have a
very soft mouth.
You will no doubt be advised (not on this list but somewhere) to hold the pups
muzzle and say No! when she mouths. I STRONGLY discourage my clients (and
anyone who will listen) from this. Your dog will never learn her own jaw
strength and that makes her a very dangerous animal.
4. House training - this is exhausting but if you are diligent it won't take
very long. First your puppy should be supervised at all times. If you cannot
watch her place her in a crate or ex-pen or other confined space with a hard
floor.
Since she is so tiny she probably can't hold it more than an hour or so (less if
she is playing, chewing, or just poped up from a nap). Take her out frequently
to the same spot in the yard. The potty smell will prompt nature to kick in.
Wait out there with her and praise her when she begins to potty. Give her a
cookie the second she stops. Do not leave her in the yard and assume she's
gone. Watch and praise the act.
If you catch her in the act of going potty inside say "NO!" is a firm (but not
scary) voice. This will startle her and she'll stop going. Pick her up and
race outside. Have her finish going in her potty spot in the yard and praise
and reward her lavishly.
If you find a mess (which you should not since she will be confined or
supervised at all times) clean it up but do not punish the puppy. If a
reprimand is after the fact she will not understand it.
Ensure all accidents are cleaned up with Nature's Miracle or other cleaner
designed to eliminate the smell. If you are unsure if she has had other
accidents in the house steam clean all the rugs to be sure. This sounds extreme
but it is a lot less effort than a prolonged house training period because the
pup keeps smelling it inside the house.
Take her out the minute she gets up from a nap, after play sessions (or during
if they are prolonged) and after meals.
Timed feedings can help you time when she is going to have to potty so you can
be ready. I personally believe in keeping water available at all times for
health reasons even though it makes house training more tricky. There are
trainers that disagree with me on that point however.
Anyway, good luck! Have lots of fun. They don't stay this little and cute for
long so enjoy it while it lasts, even if you go to bed exhausted each night!