Advice for new puppy owner

[SingedVapor]

Hey guys this Apollo. And this is totally a look at my dog thread LOL No but seriously Apollo is 8 weeks old and I got him at the pound. Our local pound is a kill shelter and on facebook they post who is on their potential list (which is actually really terrible now that I've typed it out). My brother saw that at 5:00pm 3 days ago he was supposed to be put down and went and grabbed him and gave him to me. I've never owned a dog before but I've already fallen in love with the little guy especially since he sleeps through the night curled up against my back in my bed. During the day he sits right under my office chair as I sit at my desk on my computer and curls up right by my feet. He is mutt and is shepherd blue Lucy from what I understand. Any of you Vapers got any advice for a puppy dad who basically had no idea what he is doing

(Also I go to work in about an hour so if i don't reply immediately I will as soon as I get back to any and all questions)

 

[NOVA jon]

Good rule of thumb when puppy training, # of months old = number of hours between potty breaks (max time). Pay close attention to find his little "tells" as to when he is looking to pee!!

Will you be crate training when not at home??

Start him on a good quality puppy formulated food. Pick up his water a couple hours before his last pee outing. Any toy, and I mean any toy reguardless of its "toughness" rating by the manufacturer needs constant supervision. Sign up for a basic puppy training class. Find a vet both you and the puppy are comfortable with.

 

[retired1]

When doing crate training, toss an unwashed t-shirt in there with the pooch. Something with your "smell" to it helps calm the pooch down during those first agonizing days of crate training.

I caved with mine, and never really persisted with the crate training. As she's deaf, it was impossible to provide voice reassurance and she insisted on having me in sight all the time. It's all turned out OK. She's an absolute jewel when I leave the house.

Nope. I don't spoil her at all, either.

 

[SingedVapor]

Yes I have been crate training. At night he sleeps in my bed, right next to me and sleeps through the night with no accidents. When I'm at work I leave him in the crate, unless my grandma minds. When I shower and have to leave my room I leave him in the crate. If I have to leave him in his crate for long periods of time I play some soft music for him so he isnt sitting alone in silence. When i'm in here I leave it open so he can walk in and out and think of it as his room. I got pedigree puppy chow, and spent about 150 dollars on him getting a crate and bed and toys and leash and yeah

 

[Rickajho]

I could be wrong, but I'm betting you are going to have a lot of puppy on you hands... in about 6 to 8 months.

Clean up and get rid of that soiled puppy pad! All that does is give a doggy a cue that going inside is what is supposed to be done. Use 'em if you need to but don't leave the soiled ones hanging around. Like NOVA Jon said - watch the tells for when it's time for a trip outdoors - not for a run for a puppy pad. Don't wait either - schedule and do the outdoor trips whether puppy is ready or not - he'll figure it out if you give him the opportunity.

 

[SingedVapor]

I could be wrong, but I'm betting you are going to have a lot of puppy on you hands... in about 6 to 8 months.

Clean up and get rid of that soiled puppy pad! All that does is give a doggy a cue that going inside is what is supposed to be done. Use 'em if you need to but don't leave the soiled ones hanging around. Like NOVA Jon said - watch the tells for when it's time for a trip outdoors - not for a run for a puppy pad. Don't wait either - schedule and do the outdoor trips whether puppy is ready or not - he'll figure it out if you give him the opportunity.

Thanks for the advice. yeah the vet said he was gonna be pretty big

 

[NOVA jon]

Lots of praise when he does his business outdoors, positive reinforcement! Do get mad or raise your voice when accident happen because they will, immediately take your puppy outside and wait until he does his business and praise him for his effort to go outside for his pee and poo!!

Talk to your vet about their thoughts on a good food, not a big fan of pedigree. If you do change foods, you have to ease them from one to another because little puppy digestive systems don't do well with sudden changes in diet nothing worse than a puppy with the runs, they get dehydrated quickly and easily.

 

[cags]

you are probably doing at least some of this if not all, but I'll say it anyway

--never use the crate for punishment
--take him out after he plays, after he wakes up and anytime he looks confused
--I teach mine "go potty" I say it when they are going. it is very handy when you are in a hurry
--no rawhide, no pigs ears and no treats from china
--if you don't catch him misbehaving you can't "punish" him, he will not know why
--make sure all your ecig stuff is where he can't get it (and everything you like and/or is valuable)
--teach him an emergency recall word. I use FAST since I don't use that word very often. they get a VERY SPECIAL treat when I use that word and they come (very special treat is just one they only get at that time)
--I give mine a VERY SPECIAL toy when I leave and then I pick it up as soon as I get home (VST is just one they only get when I'm gone)
--give him lots of hugs and kisses

oh and I never take away water............

 

[Ryedan]

I've never owned a dog before but I've already fallen in love with the little guy especially since he sleeps through the night curled up against my back in my bed.

Congrats on the new family member SingedVapor

My puppy is the one on the right side

<-- in my avatar, but she's not a puppy anymore at seven years

We also got her from a shelter when she was about 9 months old. She had a rough first 7 months and came to us after spending so much time in a restricted situation she didn't walk quite right. The vet thought her leg bone growth plates had closed early and she might continue to walk funny all her life. Luckily that didn't happen, but I did spend a lot of time walking with her and at the dog park. She loves to run (as you can see), she's quite fast and once she had space and encouragement she did very well.

You and Apollo are lucky in that you got him early. Mine has fear issues that I continue to work on with her today. IMO you guys will not have anything to overcome that you don't create yourself.

Apollo is your first dog. I've seen people get a dog and do very well with them. I've also seen people get a dog and not do so well. Dogs are not people and do not react well when treated like people. If there is anything I could pass on to you from my experience with my dog it's this; Do your research on dogs to the point that you feel you're able to understand them.

Get a handle on early training including positive reinforcement, potty training, crate training, socialization, mouthing, collar and leash training and obedience training. If you feel like it, puppy classes are a great way to help you and your dog get ahead of the game and they don't cost much. Then watch out for things like separation anxiety, food aggression and any fear or other behavior issues Apollo might exhibit as he gets older. Any issues that turn up are generally quite easy to handle early on, but they tend to get harder to overcome over time.

Now have fun and enjoy the puppy time, it doesn't last long

 

[WickedSick]

All I've read is good advice. I could only add, that dogs (puppies especially) are creatures of habit and they need stability. Drastic changes in your behavior will be confusing for your little buddy and may cause him anxiety and to misbehave. I don't need to tell you about the joy, the friendship and unconditional love that comes with having a dog, so good luck to you and to Apollo

 

[The Dog Guy]

Really great advice for a new puppy here, Thank you to everyone that posted! As you can see from my name I am late to respond...LOL
Great...Great advice.
+100 on the crate is a good place and NOT EVER for punishment!

 

[daleron]

Start out the way you want to go and stick with it, it's easy to want to "spoil" a new puppy

 

[SingedVapor]

Trust me. The little guy is already spoiled. I have raised cats before. We have three but I never realised how much different they were. I have to say I really enjoy the little guy sleeping right next to me my cats have never done that