Learning the Ropes
I picked up Roscoe almost two weeks ago, on 03-14-08. So far it's been a lot of fun and a lot of learning for the both of us. When I got him, I was living with my brother in a home with a large fenced backyard, but this past weekend moved to my own apartment. The apartment area itself is pretty big (two story townhome), and we're going out on the leash when he needs to go out to potty.
This is my first inside dog, and my first time dealing with a puppy. So far it hasn't been too bad, but since I got into the new place this weekend, Roscoe has taken to barking much more. For any reason, be it my attention, or if he's upset at being penned up, or if he doesn't want playtime to stop just yet. He's also up and down with his potty training. I do not have a crate for him yet (will be getting one this weekend), but when I can't supervise him he is kenneled in my kitchen. Yesterday I was with him for the entire day, and then left him alone for 5 hours last night. I expected to come home to a mess, as I had to leave shortly after I fed him, but he had only urinated on a pee pad I left for him, and pottied immediately after I took him out that night. I saw this as a great victory! At night I keep him in my bedroom, with pee pads handy. He's really good about urinating on the pads, but last night he pottied elsewhere in the room, although he did stick to the pee pad for peeing.
So the main issues right now are the barking, random chewing on bad things, learning to not hate the leash, and getting the potty training to stick. I'm mainly worried about the barking, as I worry the noise will disturb the neighbors. He doesn't bark much at night when I'm sleeping, except for a few times when I'm settling down and he wants my attention.
Another issue are the allergies I have apparently developed. I was raised with cats and dogs, never having any problems being around them. Before moving to the Dallas area this past December, I lived in MN for two years with no animals. It seems I have developed dog allergies. I get the sneezing, congestion, stuffy nose, as well as sometimes a tight chest and frequent coughing. I also get a red rash, bumps, and itchy skin for a while when I have contact with him. It's rough going right now, but I have a visit w/ an allergist in a couple of weeks, so I'm not terribly worried. Over the counter allergy meds and wearing long sleeves provide enough defense against the allergies for the moment.
It sounds like a lot, but so far things are going well. I was concerned that I didn't have what it takes to get through puppy training and setting down ground rules, but I think we'll pull through. Any thoughts as to anything I can do to make the process easier would be appreciated! I've read all the guides/tips I can get my hands on so far.
This is my first inside dog, and my first time dealing with a puppy. So far it hasn't been too bad, but since I got into the new place this weekend, Roscoe has taken to barking much more. For any reason, be it my attention, or if he's upset at being penned up, or if he doesn't want playtime to stop just yet. He's also up and down with his potty training. I do not have a crate for him yet (will be getting one this weekend), but when I can't supervise him he is kenneled in my kitchen. Yesterday I was with him for the entire day, and then left him alone for 5 hours last night. I expected to come home to a mess, as I had to leave shortly after I fed him, but he had only urinated on a pee pad I left for him, and pottied immediately after I took him out that night. I saw this as a great victory! At night I keep him in my bedroom, with pee pads handy. He's really good about urinating on the pads, but last night he pottied elsewhere in the room, although he did stick to the pee pad for peeing.
So the main issues right now are the barking, random chewing on bad things, learning to not hate the leash, and getting the potty training to stick. I'm mainly worried about the barking, as I worry the noise will disturb the neighbors. He doesn't bark much at night when I'm sleeping, except for a few times when I'm settling down and he wants my attention.
Another issue are the allergies I have apparently developed. I was raised with cats and dogs, never having any problems being around them. Before moving to the Dallas area this past December, I lived in MN for two years with no animals. It seems I have developed dog allergies. I get the sneezing, congestion, stuffy nose, as well as sometimes a tight chest and frequent coughing. I also get a red rash, bumps, and itchy skin for a while when I have contact with him. It's rough going right now, but I have a visit w/ an allergist in a couple of weeks, so I'm not terribly worried. Over the counter allergy meds and wearing long sleeves provide enough defense against the allergies for the moment.
It sounds like a lot, but so far things are going well. I was concerned that I didn't have what it takes to get through puppy training and setting down ground rules, but I think we'll pull through. Any thoughts as to anything I can do to make the process easier would be appreciated! I've read all the guides/tips I can get my hands on so far.
Comment
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Comment by Sam Tsang on March 26, 2008 at 12:18pm
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Hi Suresh, enroll in a puppy class at petsmart, that will help your pup in many areas. You can also share tips with other owners and get your pup well socialize.
As far as barking goes, your dog is probably thinks that when he barks, he'll get your attention. What you can do is get a can, fill it with pennies, shake it and discourage him from barking, you can also clap real loud to snap him out of it. Any unwanted behaviour you'll need to ignore him, not look at him, so that he will know that by behaving badly, it will not get your attention. when he sits down and be clam, reward him.
Your pup will go through the chewing stage, have plenty of toys, rotate them and keep him occupy, a bored puppy is a naughty puppy, dry wall, baseboard, carpet will become their toys.
Every pup hates it's leash in the beginning, make sure the leash is the right length, don't let him walk you or run wild, remember that you're the pack leader, you guide him where to go. change directions often, so that he knows that when he walks with you he need pay attention to you.
potty training has a lot to do with several things:
Crate - it will teach the pup not to soil their own place, it'll teach them to hold. make sure you adjust the size as they grow.
Schedule - by keeping a set schedule, you dog will be able to learn when you will take him to potty.
Timing - never beat, yell or get mad at your dog when he has an accident. Stay calm, pick him up and immediately take him out to potty. Remind yourself not to leave him out of your sight, when you don't have time to supervise him, even for 30 seconds, put him in the crate. Your pup will not be fully potty trained until 9 months.
cleaning - unless the soiled area is clean, your pup will most likely go back to the surrounding area. Always keep 6 bottles of hydrogen peroxide at home, first soak up the urine with paper towel, make sure there's no more urine and it's completely soaked up. then pour hydrogen peroxide on top, if the soiled area was 1 inch, make sure you get the surrounding 2 inches as well. For tough stains like doo doo, get yourself a bissell little green with heat, it is the best spot cleaner. keep your pup away from the hydrogen peroxide, it will make them vomit.
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Comment by Erica on March 26, 2008 at 12:08pm
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Hello there, your main problems sound like my main problems, barking, peeing, chewing and hating the leash. My Wyatt is a cutie but boy does he have his own personality. I love him to death, the way I deal is consistency. I am always bringing him outside, as for barking he loves terrorizing my neighbors. He hears things I could never hear. We do go to this secluded park where I let him off the leash and he plays with his ball and he does not run away. I just started keeping him on the leash inside the house so I could tell him NO when he starts barking at my neighbors. Good luck to you and your pup.
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