How old?

butterfli · 07-06-2007, 03:27 PM

I hope I am asking this in the right place. I got Jake on Tuesday. He is a coonhound (he could be a mix...I'm not sure...but is mostly coonhound). I took him to the vets yesterday and Dr. Dunn said he looked to be between 4 and 5 weeks old. Is he to young to start the training for not biting? I searched your forums and found some great tips I want to use for his training but I'm not sure if he is to young. I want to teach him the basic commands sit, heel etc. His attention span isn't that great. I wasn't sure if I should just start with getting him to stop biting and wait until he is a little older to do sit and heel. I just didn't know if I should let him be a puppy and wait until he is a few months old to really start training him aggressively (I mean aggressively as a few hours or more each day) or if I should just correct him now during the caught in the act moments and play times instead of sitting aside a few hours a day to work on obedience training.

Curbside Prophet · 07-06-2007, 03:33 PM

4-5 weeks? I wouldn't expect much in the way of results, but yes, train whatever you like. Just keep it fun, be consistent, and have patience. Emphasis on keeping it fun.

It's best not to train any dog hours at a time. Dogs can mentally fatigue just like humans do. So, keep the sessions short and just spread them out over the day.

borzoimom · 07-06-2007, 04:21 PM

4-5 weeks old is barely even weaned. He needs to grow up a little. He hasnt even had his first shot is my guess. .. Alot of patience is going to be needed as he is such a baby.

bluesbarby · 07-06-2007, 05:26 PM

Just make your training sessions short. Riley is 8 months old and 30 minutes is pretty much the max, then we play. But you can do more than one session a day too.

butterfli · 07-06-2007, 05:37 PM

Thank you...I wasn't sure what to do or where to start with him. He did get a parvo shot yesterday. Dr. Dunn then wants me to bring him back in about 3 weeks. I just want to do what's best for Jake. I don't want to let bad habits get started and then he suffer for them later on. He is my first pup that I'm completely responsible for and I don't want to mess up. I always hear to start young...but when is young too young.

Inga · 07-06-2007, 06:22 PM

Keep training to just a few minutes at a time several different times a day. Where did you pick up such a young puppy? Hopefully you will work real hard on social skills too. He would normally be learning this with mom and his litter mates over the next few weeks. He will need lots of patients.

butterfli · 07-06-2007, 06:33 PM

His mom died along with some of the puppies. There was about 6 to 7 left from the litter. The lady who had them was going up the street trying to get rid of them. She said that she had taken them away from her neighbor (with his wife permissions) because he was abusive towards them. If I could have taken them all I would have. I have been working on the no bite part and been after everybody who has contact with him to be consistent about that too.

Inga · 07-06-2007, 06:39 PM

Well Bless you for giving him a good home. I hope all the others found them selves in good homes too. That is very sad that his life started out that way. I hope someone reported the abusive man, or at the very least he never gets another dog. It certainly sounds like you want to do right by him. I think a great thing to do would be (when he is a few weeks older) sign him up for an obedience class. That will help with that socialization part too. Good Luck with him.

Jen D · 07-06-2007, 07:54 PM

That is great you have him! I would do short training sessions with lots of praise and fun. When he is biting you do need to teach him like the mom would of what is to hard. A good book I read not having a pup at the time was the Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete. I hope you have a great time with the new pup.

borzoimom · 07-06-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterfli

His mom died along with some of the puppies. There was about 6 to 7 left from the litter. The lady who had them was going up the street trying to get rid of them. She said that she had taken them away from her neighbor (with his wife permissions) because he was abusive towards them. If I could have taken them all I would have. I have been working on the no bite part and been after everybody who has contact with him to be consistent about that too.

Ouch I am sorry to hear that. At that age just sit and follow me.. And remember the pup is really teething at this age. I found rubber bones in the freezer are great pacifiers for aching gums. Also rope toys help as it acts like dental floss to help the teeth cut through.

Jen D · 07-07-2007, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borzoimom

Ouch I am sorry to hear that. At that age just sit and follow me.. And remember the pup is really teething at this age. I found rubber bones in the freezer are great pacifiers for aching gums. Also rope toys help as it acts like dental floss to help the teeth cut through.

So true lots of safe toys and when he does bite replace your hand with a toy.

butterfli · 07-09-2007, 11:05 PM

Thank you everyone for your advice...it has been really helpful...I'm now trying to get him to like his baths...he has had two so far and has freaked out on both.

Jen D · 07-10-2007, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterfli

Thank you everyone for your advice...it has been really helpful...I'm now trying to get him to like his baths...he has had two so far and has freaked out on both.

Get a small kid pool and float lots of toys in it for him, and keep the water level low.