[lmm9607]

my 8 week old puppy (adopted 2 days ago) is learning to eliminate on newspaper, as she hasn't had her shots and can't go outside. she is fine with the crate, but she does attempt (though much less now) to poo and pee elsewhere. i've been following her around to grab her when she squats down and take her to the appropriate place. also, i replace her chewing with toys everytime she tries to chew on furniture. however, i feel that i might be creating a situation where the dog is taking lead - as i follow it around.

i am at home all the time (writer) and have plenty of time to train and play - which i do. should i be keeping her in a play pen? or is it ok to follow her around to catch every single mistake she makes? need help. thanks.

 

[hulkamaniac]

Puppies that aren't housebroken should be supervised constantly or crated/confined. Personally, I would not want to spend my entire day following a puppy around the house, but that's my preference. You're not doing any harm by doing it though.

 

[JustTess]

I like the idea of keeping her near you until you can trust her in other areas. The play pen sounds great as you take her outside in regular intervals and praise praise praise. I had a dog play yard and placed newspaper around the entire floor in the area. By slowly removing the area of the newspaper, I was able to get my pup at the time to eliminate on the paper the size of a full sheet. It took me a little time to train him to go outside instead of the paper afterwards.

You'll benefite greatly by catching her everytime she chews the wrong thing and praising her for chewing her toys. I tend to make sure the toys are very different than other objects around the house and they know it is theirs to chew (in other words, I wouldn't allow them to tear up a pillow or play tug of war with a towel.)

Look at the sticky called NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free). I really enjoy this method with my dogs.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

Much of what you've heard about "alpha" is gobbledygook. So don't worry about it. All you need to remember is reward for good behavior when your dog volunteers it on her own and when you're faced with behavior you don't like, teach an alternate behavior and reward that.

 

[FilleBelle]

I tend to think your pup will be pretty safe in your backyard even without its shots, provided you don't have other dogs out there. Just a thought.

 

[lmm9607]

I tend to think your pup will be pretty safe in your backyard even without its shots, provided you don't have other dogs out there. Just a thought.

yeah, except i live in manhattan, so i can't do that, unfortunately. i am starting to take her out in my arms for a few minutes at a time so she can begin to get used to people, dogs, cars, firetrucks, etc... as they walk past.

 

[Allie3985]

Much of what you've heard about "alpha" is gobbledygook. So don't worry about it. All you need to remember is reward for good behavior when your dog volunteers it on her own and when you're faced with behavior you don't like, teach an alternate behavior and reward that.

Gobbledygook it is!

yeah, except i live in manhattan, so i can't do that, unfortunately. i am starting to take her out in my arms for a few minutes at a time so she can begin to get used to people, dogs, cars, firetrucks, etc... as they walk past.

I'm a little confused as to why you have to take her out in your arms. . .but it is SUPER AWESOME to get her used to all those things you mentioned as soon as possible. It is equally important, in my opinion, that she get used to going outside on a leash. Maybe I am too leanient but the only thing I would worry about with a pup who hasn't had shots is interacting with other dogs. If she is outside to poddy for short periods of time and under close supervision (not being allowed to eat poop, drink stagnant water, ect) then she will probly be okay.

 

[traininglabs]

Gobbledygook it is!



I'm a little confused as to why you have to take her out in your arms. . .but it is SUPER AWESOME to get her used to all those things you mentioned as soon as possible. It is equally important, in my opinion, that she get used to going outside on a leash. Maybe I am too leanient but the only thing I would worry about with a pup who hasn't had shots is interacting with other dogs. If she is outside to poddy for short periods of time and under close supervision (not being allowed to eat poop, drink stagnant water, ect) then she will probly be okay.

I agree-- I don't think five minutes on the lawn is any more dangerous to a puppy without shots than to a puppy with. You just have to be careful and watch.

And when she's inside, I would definitely have her in the crate all the time, especially when she's just starting out on house training. So many people think that confining a dog to their crate will make the dog hate their crate forever, when it's really just the opposite. By keeping your puppy in her crate, you're likening the crate to her den and she will equate it with peace, shelter, and solitude forever. (Just make sure to make her time in the crate somewhat enjoyable-- a kong or some other toy will do the trick). By giving her full reign when she hasn't shown you that she can handle it, you're only inconveniencing yourself.

 

[wvasko]

In IL we have squirrels, racoons, etc that can also do the Parvo thing. It's not necessary to interact with dogs as dogs strolling by can carry it on paws etc. I don't think you got much wildlife problems where your at, just thought I would confuse the issue a tad.

 

[Elana55]

however, i feel that i might be creating a situation where the dog is taking lead - as i follow it around.

Been watching a little too much Dog Whisperer have we?

This dog is a BABY. Do not worry about the Alpha stuff or the dog taking the lead nonsense. At 8 weeks and 2 days old just 7.5 weeks ago her eyes opened. Just 4 weeks ago she started to wander away from her mom. Just two weeks ago she was agile enough to play with her siblings and only two days ago you took her home where all she has is YOU. Give her time and work on house training and the rest. Play with her. Crate train her. Get a play pen. Use puppy wee pads (I think you can get ones that are pheremone laced sot he puppy will WANT to use them). I never paper trained or puppy pad trained a puppy.. always taught them from day 1 that outside was the bathroom happening place.

And, FWIW, my German Shepherd walks ahead of me on walks (I had a neck injury and ahead of me is much more convenient). She is just over 2 years old and is mostly off leash now. She is really very well behaved. I have never alpha rolled her, never worried about her thinking about being the Alpha (living with 5 cats we all KNOW who the alphas are here and it ain't the human OR the dog!) and never worried about her 'dominating' me.

You have an 8 week old puppy. The LAST thing you need to worry over is her dominating you or being an alpha etc.

Fact is, as old as I am and as many very good dogs as I have had/trained, I never even HEARD about dogs "dominating" or being "alpha's" until I watched Nat. Geo. dog training clips.. and that was about 2 years ago. I found it all pretty amusing. I never in my life even considered a dog "dominating" me.

First time I heard about dominant dogs being alpha's on TV I did a double take.. I thought they were talking about something very weird and certainly not meant for family viewing!!

 

[lmm9607]

first things first. THANKS SO MUCH to everyone that responded to my thread. there's really not much i can do to train her to potty outside at the moment. this is manhattan, and there is dog pee and poo everywhere... it's just unavoidable. also, she is sick with diarreah, and her immune system is that much lower. i'm not sure i can take that chance at the moment.

luckily, she has no problem going in her crate, and in just two days she is already getting "go to your crate" (at least 85% of the time... blessing, i know). she's peeing in the crate, but i'm working on that. she is also going to the newspaper for pee about 95% of the time now... but is still working on poo in the newspaper. believe me, i'm dying to take her outside for potty!!!

i'm not at all following much dog whisperer advice. i've read a couple of books by pamela dennison, and mostly following ian dunbar's advice on the website. along with other positive training books, videos and strings on this and other sites. i've started her on the clicker - though i've figured out she's simply not ready due to her new surroundings, diarreah, and bonding/trust. so i'm gonna put it on hold until i can get her chewing, housesoiling and belly working right again. that's my plan... unless others can comment otherwise.

i'm handcuffed at the moment to newspaper, but i will click train her to go outside. i have plenty of time for that, and i think the transition might go smooth... hopefully. but it seems that following her around isn't such a bad thing at this age from all the comments you've all made. thanks so much again.

 

[Elana55]

GREAT! Let your little puppy get used to everything and his poor little tummy setlled. When does he have his first vet visit?

And now, for the important part, DO YOU HAVE PICTURES????

 

[Allie3985]

Sounds like your doing a great job!

 

[lmm9607]

GREAT! Let your little puppy get used to everything and his poor little tummy setlled. When does he have his first vet visit?

And now, for the important part, DO YOU HAVE PICTURES????

LOL. I uploaded one in my album, but i don't know how to make it my profile picture??? how do i do this?