Training a new puppy

[zyzz]

I know CP will be able to provide me with great info. Just got a 8 week old pup, he's a small dog shouldn't be more than 10 pounds fully grown. I've googled most of this and read articles just want to see what's worked for other people.

How often do you feed them? I've just been leaving food out and he picks at it when he's hungry.

Training on pee pads as we live in an apartment and the elevator ride takes forever. After his naps we take him right to the pad, he's used to twice, other times on the floor

How much sleep should they get? Yesterday we spent a good portion of the day playing and running around. I've read they need 15 hours of sleep plus.

My biggest question is about crate training. He's a cute little bugger and I don't mind him being a lap dog. However I need to get him used to his crate. So after playing for a bit instead of letting him sleep on my lap I put him in his crate. He cries for a bit then stops. I have him on the floor about 5 feet from the couch I'm laying on. Is this the best way to go about it? Is it okay to let him have a few naps out of the crate?

[metallicat]

Look up books by Dr Dunbar. Best dog books I've read. He's the complete opposite of Cesar Milan who I personally disagree with when it comes to how to train and raise dogs.

[aaronck]

I can't reccommend this puppy socialization class enough, it was great, and free! They give lots of tips and the best thing you can do for a dog is make sure it learns to interact with other dogs properly. I also went though additional classes and founf them very helpful.
http://www.dogmatraining.com/trainin...p-classes/pups

As for crate training, I have always only crated my dogs when leaving the house or going to bed (both of which get paid with a treat). Maybe I have very food motivated dogs, but I've never had issues

[REDVAN]

I took my dog to Sit Happens off 16th and Barlow... was a great place 6 years ago when I went.

[MrPlow]

Read Cesar Milans puppy book, it has helped us soooo much (I'm the pillar opposite of oilers-fan)

We just got our dog on the 18th. It also helps that my wife is home all the time and we have a yard, but the biggest thing is being consistent and paying attention to the pup.

Our breeder began crate training, so it seems almost too easy for now

Moxxi usually plays for 40 minutes, then sleeps for 20. Through the day. We let her eat as much as she wants ( food is out for 15 minutes at a time) more or less until 6pm, then we stop feeding her. It's inportant to monitor when they eat and drink so you can time their bathroom breaks

[GoinAllTheWay]

Pics of said puppy, please

[shane_c]

Next time he leaves a mess on the floor soak it up with the pee pad and clean the floor good to remove the scent. Show him where he should be going and praise him when he goes on the pad. Eventually he'll learn to go on the pad because that's where the scent is.

[To Be Quite Honest]

To clean properly used vinegar to remove the scent.

Put drops of ammonia on the designated piss space.

I'm big into schedules for animals. For my roommates dog she gets fed once a day at a specific time and I always eat first unless I'm not eating around that time. She's let out at specific times of the day. When I take her for walks I tell her when she can pee by giving slack. I'm the first to leave the house and the first to enter. During walks she has very little slack and she must walk behind me this stops dogs from jumping AND forces people to ask permission before petting. I am the boss and there is no confusion. The dog does what she is told, well she does what I tell her to do. My roommate is a suck and pampers her dog so she has issues with her dog and listening. I think there are status confusion issues because of it.

Dogs are also den creatures. Crating is not mean because it gives them a place to feel safe.

[chid]

I'd be careful about leaving food around and letting him just pick at it. Schedule and routine is important to training and discipline. The habits you let the puppy form are not easy to break once they get older. It's super hard when they're so cute but stick to the crate training too because it will pay off when your dog is older. You're essentially activating his den instinct by crate training and your dog will love having his own den to go to when he wants to be left alone and sleep.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Pics of said puppy, please

Yes, this is important....so we can give you the best advice

[OMG!WTF!]

Dogs are also den creatures. Crating is not mean because it gives them a place to feel safe.

Please stop promoting this nonsense. It's very much untrue. People love to believe this because it makes them feel better about using a crate as a convenient storage facility. Reference "Dogs Hate Crates" by Ray and Emma Lincoln.

We just adopted a rescue last week (we lost one of our dogs at Christmas...) and the rescue foundation that we adopted from used Dogma Training. This dog (4 months old) is so well behaved! Not sure if it is the dog, the foster or the training... but I'm sure the training helped. Ronin is 4 months old and on his way to being a big dog.

[Bagor]

I used the crate for training purposes only knowing that they don't want to soil or pee in their own den.

Then gradually she was allowed outside the crate in the main level of the house when I wasn't there for increased periods of time up to today when she has free roam of the main floor whilst I am at work. Crate is never used now at all and is gone.

IMO crating is not mean ....... as long as the door of the crate is left open and the dog can come and go as it pleases. Once it is closed and the dog is confined there it becomes a cage.

[metallicat]

TBQH, does the dog ever get to have fun and be a dog?

[chid]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

Please stop promoting this nonsense. It's very much untrue. People love to believe this because it makes them feel better about using a crate as a convenient storage facility. Reference "Dogs Hate Crates" by Ray and Emma Lincoln.

We never used our crate as a storage facility. One book doesn't make your argument fact either. My dog loves his crate. There is no door on it, and he goes in there frequently for a nap or because he is annoyed with us. I don't have some random book to refer to but anecdotally my dog doesn't hate his crate.

[OMG!WTF!]

Mod edit- removed.

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

Please stop promoting this nonsense. It's very much untrue. People love to believe this because it makes them feel better about using a crate as a convenient storage facility. Reference "Dogs Hate Crates" by Ray and Emma Lincoln.

I have a great dog that is pretty well trained but at this point, if I left her out while I was at work my house would be destroyed when I got home. All of my dogs have always gone in willingly, and also just go in to rest. Should I write a book about it so it becomes a fact SOME dogs like their crates?

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by aaronck

I have a great dog that is pretty well trained but at this point, if I left her out while I was at work my house would be destroyed when I got home. All of my dogs have always gone in willingly, and also just go in to rest. Should I write a book about it so it becomes a fact SOME dogs like their crates?

Did you train your dog to go in the crate? Or less specifically, what does it mean when people say "crate train"? Also, when you're away and the dog is in the crate, how do you know he is happy and likes being in the crate?

Also, there is not just one book on the subject. Google search anything to do with dogs and crates and you'll see that not just most, but essentially all the information available is the same. It's good for any dog to have a place of his/her own, but there is no natural affinity or need for a small box with a closed door.

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

Did you train your dog to go in the crate? Or less specifically, what does it mean when people say "crate train"? Also, when you're away and the dog is in the crate, how do you know he is happy and likes being in the crate?

.
I just say "go to bed" and she goes, and I reward her with a treat. The door is only closed when we leave the house or go to bed for the night. She often goes in herself to relax or hang out when we are home and she just wants a break, so I don't think she dislikes or is afraid of it. When she has less destructive tendencies I'll give her the run of the house, but until then this works for everyone.

[MrPlow]

My wife is a canucks fan. She's not happy that Moxxi looks great in red

... https://instagram.com/moxxidoodle/