My new puppy!

[eric]

My girlfriend got me a puppy for my birthday. Pure Australian Shepherd - Red Merle Coat with Amber liver spots, one light blue eye and one light lime-green eye. He's absolutely gorgeous! The best gift a man could ask for.

Thanks, babe!

Any advice on potty training and the like is appreciated

 

[TBM]

Aww very cute puppy!

 

[MsSki]

He is so cute!!!! what is his name?
Tara

 

[dgriego]

Potty training is very easy if you are consistant.

Take the pup out every time he wakes up, after he eats or drinks and pretty much any time he stops playing and starts sniffing around.
Use a command when you go outside like "go potty" or "take a piss" the words do not matter just use the same ones every time. When outside as soon as the pup does its stuff make a huge fuss, say GOOD DOG, do a dance, give them a treat, and go straight back inside so they begin to know that the fuss is because you are delighted that they peed or pooped outside.
If you have a accident (and you will) do not get upset, do not rub dogs face in it, if caught in the act just grab pup and run for the door saying no outside! And then put them down, if they finish outside, do your happy dance again.
With time the pup will start heading towards the door himself although when young they may not always make it in time, be consistant.
Also get some cleaning stuff from the pet store designed to remove the smell of accidents.
If I can be of any help please feel free to PM me. I have been working with and training dogs (not as a profession) for 32 years. The time you put into training your pup will pay off with a dog that is a joy to own.

Good luck

 

[SudokuGal]

what an adorable pup!!!

 

[wanderlust]

He is cute. We rescued a mixed austrailian shepherd about a year ago. They are smart and full of energy and seem to be happier when you work/walk them frequently. Enjoy your new friend.

 

[beebopnjazz]

Eric - he's ADORABLE! You will enjoy this highly energetic, intelligent dog! Truly a wonderful breed. My boy is my avi - the best dog I've ever owned. dgriego is right on the money as far as housebreaking goes - Dakota was trained in two weeks- vigilance and lots of praise. One thing though - I don't know if you're crate-training or not (they really don't spend that much time in the crate) - if you're at your computer or watching tv - and he hasn't just come in from relieving himself outside- attach his leash and stick the handle in your pocket or attach to your belt loop, etc. A dog at your feet isn't likely to 'make' where you might step in it.

As this breed is very intelligent- I'm hoping your planning on training in general - Aussies need "jobs" - nothing worse or more destructive than a bored puppy (any breed)!

Good luck with him and let us know what you name him.

P.S. You can PM me if you have any questions, etc.

 

[wv2win]

That last time I potty trained a pup, I used "pee pads" with good success. I put the pee pad beside the door and when our pup went over to the pad, if I caught her in time, I would take her outside and of course praise her for doing her business. And if I didn't catch her in time, at least she did it on the pee pad.

 

[thelook]

Puppy Breath!!!!!!

 

[wv2win]

Eric - he's ADORABLE! You will enjoy this highly energetic, intelligent dog! Truly a wonderful breed. My boy is my avi - the best dog I've ever owned. dgriego is right on the money as far as housebreaking goes - Dakota was trained in two weeks- vigilance and lots of praise. One thing though - I don't know if you're crate-training or not (they really don't spend that much time in the crate) - if you're at your computer or watching tv - and he hasn't just come in from relieving himself outside- attach his leash and stick the handle in your pocket or attach to your belt loop, etc. A dog at your feet isn't likely to 'make' where you might step in it.

As this breed is very intelligent- I'm hoping your planning on training in general - Aussies need "jobs" - nothing worse or more destructive than a bored puppy (any breed)!

Good luck with him and let us know what you name him.

P.S. You can PM me if you have any questions, etc.

I agree 100% as mine is an Aussie/German Shepard mix. I went to dog training (which is really owner training) when Molly was 6 months old. I can actually walk her without a leash if I want, the training was that good. Aussies are very intelligent and high energy. You have to keep them active. When ours was a pup, she would "herd" our daughters and they had to jump on the couch to save their bare feet. The girls still laugh about that.

 

[eric]

Thank you so much for your insight! Now to take him outside.

 

[VRNN]

adorable sweet!!!

 

[eric]

He absolutely refuses to pee outside. I feel sorry for the little guy. I'm keeping him in his crate for 30 minutes before taking him back out each time. Taking him out about 20 minutes each attempt.

 

[VRNN]

You have patience...
but sooner or later he will learn good hygiene!

 

[beebopnjazz]

I agree 100% as mine is an Aussie/German Shepard mix. I went to dog training (which is really owner training) when Molly was 6 months old. I can actually walk her without a leash if I want, the training was that good. Aussies are very intelligent and high energy. You have to keep them active. When ours was a pup, she would "herd" our daughters and they had to jump on the couch to save their bare feet. The girls still laugh about that.

My first granddaughter has been "herded" a number of times- we have to remind him - "no pinching" as he gives the evil eye to the back of her neck- he's better about it now though...but we watch him! His mother was well-known for herding children at the playground - all strangers to the dog and her owner. 8-o

 

[beebopnjazz]

He absolutely refuses to pee outside. I feel sorry for the little guy. I'm keeping him in his crate for 30 minutes before taking him back out each time. Taking him out about 20 minutes each attempt.

Take whatever you cleaned up that mess with - outside - plant it in your yard - let him smell what he did - outside. Gently tell him to "go potty". Only a freshly relieved dog has freedom (for a short while). Like I said before, attach him to you when he's not eating, or playing with you and not in his crate...not likely to pee on your foot.

Also, within a few minutes of eating - will trigger the "I have to poop" response - immediately upon finishing it's time to go outside. Once he figures it out, what you want, he'll do it. Once he has your praise for going outside, you'll see his little "wiggle-...." [they do have that nickname]- and he'll do anything for you to praise him again, and again.

 

[scoobydoonut]

Aw take lots of pictures they grow up soooo fast enjoy them

 

[SpottedPony]

He is just too cute! Great breed...none finer except...aussie kelpie cross.

Anyway...as to potty training......the one thing that really assists in the process - guaranteed is...at night have him sleep right next to you and when he has to "go" he will move...so "command yourself" to wake when he moves around. Wear clothes to bed that you can go outside in (for a very young pup I do this by an outside door on the sofa with my sweats on). The minute they start "rooting around"...pick them up and carry them outside - put them down and wait till they go potty. Repeat. This makes potty training go ever so much more smoothly and speeds up the learning curve hugely!!!!!

 

[beebopnjazz]

He is just too cute! Great breed...none finer except...aussie kelpie cross.

Anyway...as to potty training......the one thing that really assists in the process - guaranteed is...at night have him sleep right next to you and when he has to "go" he will move...so "command yourself" to wake when he moves around. Wear clothes to bed that you can go outside in (for a very young pup I do this by an outside door on the sofa with my sweats on). The minute they start "rooting around"...pick them up and carry them outside - put them down and wait till they go potty. Repeat. This makes potty training go ever so much more smoothly and speeds up the learning curve hugely!!!!!

I have done this with other breeds - carry them like footballs to the door!
I crate-trained Dakota - he never even thought about ...... in his crate - which he slept in all night until he was older. He's such a bed-hog now!~

 

[River]

Potty training is very easy if you are consistant.

Take the pup out every time he wakes up, after he eats or drinks and pretty much any time he stops playing and starts sniffing around.
Use a command when you go outside like "go potty" or "take a piss" the words do not matter just use the same ones every time. When outside as soon as the pup does its stuff make a huge fuss, say GOOD DOG, do a dance, give them a treat, and go straight back inside so they begin to know that the fuss is because you are delighted that they peed or pooped outside.
If you have a accident (and you will) do not get upset, do not rub dogs face in it, if caught in the act just grab pup and run for the door saying no outside! And then put them down, if they finish outside, do your happy dance again.
With time the pup will start heading towards the door himself although when young they may not always make it in time, be consistant.
Also get some cleaning stuff from the pet store designed to remove the smell of accidents.
If I can be of any help please feel free to PM me. I have been working with and training dogs (not as a profession) for 32 years. The time you put into training your pup will pay off with a dog that is a joy to own.

Good luck

+1 Impressive advice, good job.

so good that I have nothing to add other than to stress how important it is to ignore accidents. You don't want the puppy sneaking off to do his business. Better that it's in the middle of the living room floor than behind the couch or in a room you are not in. Also great is hitting on the NO NOSE RUBBING THING!! Very unhealthy and in a few rare cases FATAL.

I tend to tell people to overdo it on the going out thing, it's easy to fix the problems that taking the pup out to much causes and you can fix those when you know for absolute certain the dog can hold it.