This past weekend my wife and I got a 3.5 month old pup, Zoey, from the SPCA here in town. We are currently trying to soak up and apply all the knowledge we can about crate training, potty training, and obedience training. I just wanted to check in here and see if I can get some feedback on how we're doing.
She is (we think) some sort of rott/hound mix, maybe some lab, were not sure. Shes 32 lbs. She spends most of her time in the house just laying on the floor...she's pretty easy going, and super sweet and a cutie. Anyway, here's what we've been doing:
Crate: Eating meals in the crate w/ the door closed. Giving her a stuffed kong in the crate with the door closed. (sometimes with the blanket pulled over the front...cant tell if she likes this or dislikes it yet. Shes gone to sleep in there, but also gotten scared and antsy.) She has been sleeping in her crate in the living room at night, and doesnt fuss much. She actually slept (or at least kept quiet) all night last night, without peeing. The catch is, right now my wife has been sleeping in the living room in a sleeping bag near the crate and Zoey seems to be comforted by that. Im hoping this is not a bad habit, and that she or I could then move to the couch, and then back to the bed. There isnt really much room in out bedroom for her crate, since its so big for her expected growth. The crate does have a divider to keep it a smaller size for now though. Also, she does not like to be in the crate for more than 20-40 minutes, or she starts to freak out. basically, if shes awake and alert, she freaks out (and usually pees). If shes really tired and can see us (blanket UP), shes ok for a while. If shes asleep in there, shes okay till she wakes up. She is slowly warming up more and more to her crate, though she doesnt go in by command alone yet...still has to be bribed.
Potty: She hasnt had too many accidents in the house. The first day she peed and pooped on the carpet. She hasnt done that since we put a baby gate up to our carpeted area of the apt. other than that just pee on the hardwood once and an accident at our friends house. I think she can hold it longer than most people say a pup her age should. Last night the last time she went was between 7 and 8 and then she held it till about 6:45 this morning. (despite going out before bed at 10ish, and it was the second time she went out in the morning, after her breakfast.) We take her out at least every hour or 2 hours, though many times she would rather lounge or cuddle, and she usually eliminates on walks vs. when we take her out for that purpose. She also pees when she gets excited, like when new people greet her excitedly or when playing with other dogs. Luckily this has been mostly outside.
General: She seems to be pretty lazy. Not that I mind this most of the time! For excersize we walk some, but not too far because she doesnt totally like the leash yet. She LOVED playing with our friend's 2 year old lab and 2 month old lab. Wore her out. BUT, She will just sit down or lay down when we go out to do business, or even on walks. Trying to be patient and just wait her out till she comes along, sometimes I just pick her up and take her inside though. She also often is more interested in sniffing, or other animals, than in even eating treats! Shes done well with our two cats, but sometimes wants to follow or chase them when outside, luckily shes been leashed when this happens. Barking is a big deal for us because we live in an apt and the man below us, who is home a LOT, happens to be the only unfriendly impatient neighbor we have. The first time we tried to let her bark it out, we got some loud banging and a "shut up!" from below...cool. Luckily we can have someone with her at all times this week and next week, but after that we will start having to leave her for at least a couple hours a day. As I said in the crating section, she doesnt like being alone, so this is our biggest concern right now.
1. Is it ok for my wife or I to sleep out by the crate at night and try to over time move to the couch then out of the room completely?
2. Is it really okay to open the crate door after only a second or two of her not whining/barking? I feel like that still teaches her that if she barks she will get out.
3. Is it ok to reward peeing outside even if its because she is excited (other dog or new person?)
4. What should we do when she shows little interest in treats?
thats all I can remember right now...im sure Ill remember some other questions later, and I apologize for the long post. Ill upload some pictures this evening too.
SO, how are we doing? Thanks!
She is (we think) some sort of rott/hound mix, maybe some lab, were not sure. Shes 32 lbs. She spends most of her time in the house just laying on the floor...she's pretty easy going, and super sweet and a cutie. Anyway, here's what we've been doing:
Crate: Eating meals in the crate w/ the door closed. Giving her a stuffed kong in the crate with the door closed. (sometimes with the blanket pulled over the front...cant tell if she likes this or dislikes it yet. Shes gone to sleep in there, but also gotten scared and antsy.) She has been sleeping in her crate in the living room at night, and doesnt fuss much. She actually slept (or at least kept quiet) all night last night, without peeing. The catch is, right now my wife has been sleeping in the living room in a sleeping bag near the crate and Zoey seems to be comforted by that. Im hoping this is not a bad habit, and that she or I could then move to the couch, and then back to the bed. There isnt really much room in out bedroom for her crate, since its so big for her expected growth. The crate does have a divider to keep it a smaller size for now though. Also, she does not like to be in the crate for more than 20-40 minutes, or she starts to freak out. basically, if shes awake and alert, she freaks out (and usually pees). If shes really tired and can see us (blanket UP), shes ok for a while. If shes asleep in there, shes okay till she wakes up. She is slowly warming up more and more to her crate, though she doesnt go in by command alone yet...still has to be bribed.
Potty: She hasnt had too many accidents in the house. The first day she peed and pooped on the carpet. She hasnt done that since we put a baby gate up to our carpeted area of the apt. other than that just pee on the hardwood once and an accident at our friends house. I think she can hold it longer than most people say a pup her age should. Last night the last time she went was between 7 and 8 and then she held it till about 6:45 this morning. (despite going out before bed at 10ish, and it was the second time she went out in the morning, after her breakfast.) We take her out at least every hour or 2 hours, though many times she would rather lounge or cuddle, and she usually eliminates on walks vs. when we take her out for that purpose. She also pees when she gets excited, like when new people greet her excitedly or when playing with other dogs. Luckily this has been mostly outside.
General: She seems to be pretty lazy. Not that I mind this most of the time! For excersize we walk some, but not too far because she doesnt totally like the leash yet. She LOVED playing with our friend's 2 year old lab and 2 month old lab. Wore her out. BUT, She will just sit down or lay down when we go out to do business, or even on walks. Trying to be patient and just wait her out till she comes along, sometimes I just pick her up and take her inside though. She also often is more interested in sniffing, or other animals, than in even eating treats! Shes done well with our two cats, but sometimes wants to follow or chase them when outside, luckily shes been leashed when this happens. Barking is a big deal for us because we live in an apt and the man below us, who is home a LOT, happens to be the only unfriendly impatient neighbor we have. The first time we tried to let her bark it out, we got some loud banging and a "shut up!" from below...cool. Luckily we can have someone with her at all times this week and next week, but after that we will start having to leave her for at least a couple hours a day. As I said in the crating section, she doesnt like being alone, so this is our biggest concern right now.
1. Is it ok for my wife or I to sleep out by the crate at night and try to over time move to the couch then out of the room completely?
2. Is it really okay to open the crate door after only a second or two of her not whining/barking? I feel like that still teaches her that if she barks she will get out.
3. Is it ok to reward peeing outside even if its because she is excited (other dog or new person?)
4. What should we do when she shows little interest in treats?
thats all I can remember right now...im sure Ill remember some other questions later, and I apologize for the long post. Ill upload some pictures this evening too.
SO, how are we doing? Thanks!