New puppy and school starts Monday?

1002 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Shell, Aug 17, 2012

Douglas Baker

Discussion Starter · Aug 17, 2012

This is my first post and I hope to be an active participant. I lost my 15 year old Jack Russell 'Coach' a month ago and my daughter was heart broken. I really tried to wait until next summer to get a puppy but she seemed to need a new focus so I broke down and got a puppy this week ... And boy is she a sweetie.

Kate, my ten year old daughter, and I went to the library, she did additional research on the Internet and she gave me a list of 5 dog breeds she was interested in.

We brought home a runt female Australian Shepard two days ago and we couldn't be happier. 'Little Bear' named after the tv show character that my 4 year old likes, as well as the fact that we had a mother Black Bear in our front yard the day we brought her home, is trying so hard to be a good puppy. She has not had an accident in the house and has slept through the night in her crate.

I know this message is too long so in the future when I have questions I will stay on point ... Here is my concern and where I am seeking advice.

1. I know about the demands of this breed, high energy, intelligent, herder, etc... So I really am looking for advice in keeping her busy when we start school.

2. She really seems to like being outside ... I have a fenced in area with an in the ground swimming pool, grass, and deck ... I would like to leave her outside on days when the weather is not an issue but I am concerned about her being by a pool unsupervised. I do have a large garage where she could stay and a play house shed if
the first option is considered too dangerous. I'm looking for advice.

3. Little Bear will be home by herself from 8 until 3:30. She already travels with the family to soccer games and I plan to take her to nearly every evening event. I certainly wish I could have had the whole summer to train her but I am well aware of what I face (it was 15 years ago that I worked with a high energy Jack). I anticipate the help that members are willing to supply on the forum.

sincerely,
Doug

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Shell

· #3 · Aug 17, 2012

I wouldn't leave a puppy outside alone and I especially wouldn't leave them around a pool.

Puppies can't regulate their body heat as well as adults (and all dogs are more sensitive to heat than humans) so a climate controlled area is best. A garage can get very hot on a summer's day plus there are a lot of dangerous chemicals and items in most garages. Outside, if she's small, there is also the danger of animals like hawks or foxes or even just other dogs (if your fence is only 4 ft).

I would probably set up a crate + ex-pen in the kitchen or another room with tile or vinyl flooring. If possible, have someone stop by midday to take her out.

If you decide you really need to keep her outside during the day, I would get a welded wire kennel with a roof and put it in a shady, breezy spot along with a tip-proof water bowl.

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Shell

· #6 · Aug 17, 2012

I would say keep a consistent area. They are so much creatures of habit so the more routine you have, the easier training will be.

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