Help me to have a well trained puppy/dog

Hi everyone,

I am a new puppy owner, first puppy that I've ever owned, so things are exciting right now!

We got our new puppy on Friday. He's an 8.5 week old little minature long haried daschund called Toby. He's so gorgeous and funny. I'll post some pictures up of him shortly when I figure out how to upload them!

Just to outline my personal circumstances soyou know a little about me. Now Toby lives with me and my other half, and we both work full time (I have not come on to start a debate over whether we should have a dog because of us working, I have come on for some advice that will help us acheive a well trained and well behaved dog )

My other half works leaves home roughly around about 06.00.
I work in an office, and will be leaving home at approx 08.15/08.30.
I will be popping back home at around about 10.30/11.00 ish to see puppy, let him out, short feed and play session.
Other half is usually back home for some lunch anytime between 12-1.30.
He then has another hour or so at home before popping back to work at about 2.30ish, and is back in the house usually by 3.30.
I will return home at approx 16.00/16.30.
We will generally be home all evening, and if not, puppy will come with us, where he can.

Now as I said we have had Toby since Friday and he has settled in very well. His toilet training is going OK, and he is a little gem at night time. He has a big play session at night time which tires him out. Outside for toilet and then he goes into his crate, snuggled up with a blanket, hotwater bottle and a cuddly toy and a comforting ring to make him feel safe and secure He has been sleeping all through the night and wakes up again between 06.30/07.00 ish. His crate is up all day and he goes in it but isn't too fussed by it.

I'm following the advice I've picked up from reading - control toys, set meal times, take up food in evening, toilet training, handling, examining him, socialising etc and we've started gentle training with him so all these things are going well.

In the day he's happy to lie down to sleep on his own, although he doesn't really go into his crate, he prefers to lie by the baby gate so he can still see us. But he whines terribly and puppy "barks" when he's not with us, even if he can see us through the baby gate. If he whines, we don't go too him, but waits until he stops for a second before we go in the kitchen to him. We try not to fuss him when he is yapping away, and try to keep the interaction with him short and calm, but he still continues yapping as soon as we leave him again.

Now I am off work for a few days and will be going back to work on Thursday and need some tips on how to prepare him for being left over the next few days. This morning, he's been toilet, had breakfast and had a short play period with me. I put him in the kitchen and sat on the sofa where he could still see me and he started yapping. I waited for a second when he stopped, returned to the kitchen and ignored him, which he was happy with. As soon, as I repeated leaving, the same thing happened. He is now sitting by my feet as I type, when I should be ready and ready to head out of the door (if this was a work day)

Any tips on how to work with him over the next 3 days so that I can get to a point on how to leave him without him whining and barking?

I also need to point out, that I will generally be working 3 days for the next 6 weeks, whilst he is so young, so he will be left Tue, Wed and Thur until he gets a bit older. The plan is that as he gets older and is trained better, he will be dropped off at mother in laws, at least one or two days a week on the way to work, therefore reducing the number of days/hours he'll be alone.

Any help, tips will be appreciated as I really want to sort this issue out before the problem escalates. Thanks.

Congrats on your new puppy. I am no expert and I am sure people will correct me if I am wrong, but I think you are doing the right thing to ignore the crying and whining and then go to him when he is quiet and then let him out. All it takes is one time of letting him out while he is crying to reinforce the idea of "ok if I cry they come let me out and give me attention".

Both my husband and I work full time so I am not going to give you any grief there, I am actually a little jealous of you...I don't live close enough to home to go home on my lunch breaks

MOST of us work full time, there is nothing wrong with that...no worries Well, as long as you don't keep your dog chained outside in the snow and rain all day WHILE you work...which I see you don't

You look like a great puppy owner who took some time to reasearch how to properly care for one.

His yapping/whining is VERY normal for this age and oh isn't it a wonderful sound! You are doing the right thing by ignoring his behavior (the worst thing to do would be to go comfort him) With this kind of behavior it's really just going to take time for him to mature and realize it doesn't do any good to whine and cry. As long as you are consistant with your ignoring approach, he should get the point as time goes on. Give him PLENTY of attention when he's quiet though and make sure the whining and crying doesn't mean he needs to potty

Patience is key during this time...they DO and WILL grow out of it. I just, again, reccomend sticking with your approach and give it some more time

Kudos for taking the time to read some things before launching into to puppy parenting. It sounds like you're doing everything so well. He's a puppy dog and all this is nomal behavior. Enjoy your pup and let him be a puppy. Growing up takes time and puppy behaviors don't disappear overnight. It wouldn't be proper development if they did. You're doing just great!

Be careful that when she's lying next to the baby gate, lose in the house that you don't take your eyes off her. It doesn't take many accidents to make potty training all the more difficult or other puppy behaviors like getting into no nos (which, of course, she doesn't know) lol. Good luck.

If you want a book that gives you a great idea of how dogs see the world and learn, read Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. You'll get great tips on raising your pup. It's a real foundation. There are other great books too. How to Raise a Puppy You Can live With, by Clarice Rutherford & David Neil is great.

Thanks everyone for your replies, would you believe that this is the first time I've managed to get near the computer since I first posted! The little terror, takes up soooo much time, that I haven't had a minutes peace!

Well good news with the puppy, although he still has little whines if he is left in his confined space, it is no where near what he did the first few times. I started off putting him in his confined space and sitting the other side of the baby gate so that he could still see me. As he was quiet, I moved further and further away, still praising him for being good. He's been doing really well. The big test came when I left him on Thursday to go to work.

We had a big play session, so he was literally begging to be let to sleep and I left him with a frozen Kong filled with some treats to keep him busy. Other half came home at 11.30 and said he was as quiet as a mouse, asleep in his crate (which we leave open in the day) He'd even been toilet on the newspaper we'd left out for him. I also spoke to the neighbours, who didn't even realise that he was at home as he had made no noise whatsoever!! Again Friday followed much the same pattern, so things are looking quite good.

His toilet training is going well. I've started to figure out his toilet patterns and have almost nearly always got him outside to the toilet before he goes in the house. The one that we sometimes miss, is the wee he needs to do, whilst he is playing - the little terros doesn't give us any warning!! But generally he is doing well with his toilet. The crate training seems to work (we only crate him at night) as he will tell us if he needs the toilet when he wakes up, but during the day we let him roam in his safe confined area if we're not home and he has been going toilet on the newspaper, if we are not home.

I have read the How to raise a puppy you can live with and I will have a look at the other one now on Amazon. I am also reading "Its me or the dog" by Victoria Stilwell.

There is another issue I was hoping that people may be able to address. Toby seems to respond to me more than he does my other half. Everywhere I am, Toby is. Even if I leave the room, he wants to follow me, whereas he doesn't have any desire to follow the other half around the house. Does anyone know why this is and is it likely that he will only see one of us, as "Top Dog"? Will this interfere with my partners ability to train him, and for Toby to respond to him?

No, he doesn't see you as a top dog. Dogs, naturally tend to glue themselves to the main caretaker. If your other half feeds him sometimes, asks for a sit first, takes him for some of his walks, he'll bond to him. But it usually happens that whoever does the majority of the care, whoever is with the dog the most, is the one the dog really bonds to because he knows he's getting his food, security etc from that person. As long as both of you share in his care, he'll develop a close enough bond with you both. It takes some time as he develops. However, IMO one person should be the main one to do most of the training. It can confuse the dog with seperate indiosyncracies....signals. One person does most of the training. However, once learned, the other person can certainly give cues for sit or come and ask for a performance before giving the dog some of the things he likes. It will likely be though, that he will tend to obey the main trainer more. Some dogs are more or less that way.

When my husband and I were first married, we got a GSD. I was his main caretaker and trainer. He loved my husband, but he wouldn't come for him everytime. He'd tell me...."Will you call your dog please?" LOL. He was quite the one "man" dog as far as real obedience. But he obeyed my husband for a lot of things.

Our Lab would obey anyone, even our 2 year old. She really didn't lean too hard toward one person over the other.

My Dobe is quite one person oriented, but will obey my son who lives here. The other dogs are again.....not so strong toward being a one man dog.

It sounds like things are coming along. Personally, I'd lose the newspapers and teach him to ONLY go outside. It can be confusing if he's allowed to go inside (even if it is on newspapers). Inside is inside.

I'm so glad to see someone who is interested in reading and learning. You'll end up with a terrific dog and you'll be so much more fulfilled that way. So many people have so many problems, but they refuse to read some of the fantastic books out there. Culture Clash, IMO is the most important dog book ever written. So is Dogs, A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution, by Ray and Lorna Coppinger. I loved that book...fascinating. It's not a training book persay, but it sure sheds a compelling light on the subject of domestic dogs.

Can't wait to hear his progress. It sounds like he's doing great!

Thanks for that doberluv. I've just posted some pictures of him on the forum for all to see!

The newspapers are really down for when we aren't in, mainly when we are out at work - theres no other solution until he can hold himself a bit longer. He's got no problems going outside though when we take him outside. I do agree that newspaper and puppy pads probably do confuse him, as both have been used. In hindsight, I probably wouldn't adopt that method again.

You are right, in the sense that I have been his main carer, so I guess it makes sense that he will stick to me more. We will work on sharing the care more, so that he feels just as safe with whoever he is with.

We've done some sit, come, down and paw training today, all of which he does well, providing I have treats in my hand! I also started grooming him yesterday, but he tried to eat the brush, so I'll save that again for when he's too tired to play.

He's been out in the car quite alot, and is generally very good sitting still and being well behaved. He has a bean bag which we take in the car for him to sit on. The idea is that we will take the bean bag with us whereever we go, so that he can be taught to settle on it when we are out at other peoples houses. He does actually settle on the bean bag at home, when he is in the living room with us, so thats going well too.

As with the reading, it makes sense to do a bit of research, after all you wouldn't try raising a baby without looking into it first would you?!!!

When pups are first learning, it's a great way to get them started on sit, down etc to lure them into position with a treat. But, as soon as you can, try to fade out having the treat in your hand and keep them in a pocket or on a nearby counter top or table. (very near by. lol) Have one or two in your non-luring hand ready to dispense. Lure with your empty hand and see if he'll plunk into a sit. Then with your other hand, give him the treat. After that starts working, retrieve them from your pocket quickly when it's time to reward. In other words, mix it up so he doesn't know positively where it's coming from....that it still comes when he sits regardless if he knows where it's coming from. Instead of working then, as a bribe, it is an honest to goodness reward. When learning a new behavior, it's important to reinforce every single time he gives a correct response.

Anytime you start out with luring, always try to fade the use of the lure asap or else that becomes the cue to the dog. It's not because he's "stubborn" (lol) and won't perform without seeing treats. ("I'm not gonna do it!!!! Not unless you give me treats. I want treats. I want treats!!!") It's because that sequence, that body language and the treat very conspicuous becomes the dog's cue to perform. He won't perform without it because it only makes sense to him when it's present. It's been cemented or tied to the behavior. So, gradually you make the lure into a more subtle hand signal and you stop showing him the treat ahead of time. But not till he's ready.

Then, way down the road...when he gets really good at following your visual and/or verbal cue (preferably either or) you can make the hand motion (signal) more subtle....however you like. With my Doberman, I sort of barely flick my wrist with my index finger sort of pointing.....very sloppy and not too noticeable. It's fun that way. People sometimes can't even see me doing that and wonder how he knew to sit so pertly and quickly. He sits straight up with his ears up and looks so obedient and alert. LOL.

And you can start varying the number of sits required for him to get a treat. (but only when he's become very reliable and regular with it) It's not a total random delivery. Delivery is based on an average number of sits like a slot machine delivers pay outs. You want to reward him before he regresses to the point of giving up and not trying anymore, but you want to keep him guessing. In other words, there's a good chance he'll get a treat. He always has before. So, even if you skip a few times, he'll try and in fact will try harder and one time (probably just before he's about to give up) it will be that he tries so hard, he's going to give it all he's got (extincton burst) that his sit will be straighter or quicker than before. He's trying desperately to figure out what to do to get that treat since the same old, same old isn't working anymore. That's when you jack pot him. You are witholding the reward for the sloppier sits. This is how you shape and get behaviors more precise.

Anyhow....I'm just rambling.

When you're grooming him, you can do it when it's his meal time and set his bowl where you're grooming him. Like you say, when he's a little tired and hungry, that's a good time to brush. You can make the sessions short at first just to get him use to the idea. If he does start mouthing the brush, don't let that become your cue to stop brushing. Dogs can train us too. LOL. Only stop when he's doing well. You're doing everything right. I'm so happy to hear how he's being well socialized (so unbelievably important) and has his own bean bag bed to signify a place for him to go.

Yes, it makes sense to read before getting a puppy or a baby. People read all about the car their thinking about purchasing or they research furniture or a house. But somehow, far too many don't look into how to raise a puppy and have so much trouble. Then the puppy suffers.

I'll go look for his pictures.

You sound like you're doing a great job with him. There's lots of useful info on www.siriuspup.com & you can download 'Before You Get Your Puppy' by Dr Ian Dunbar for free. He also wrote 'After You Get Your Puppy'. Go to new puppy section. There's also lots of info in Behavior Problems for things that may come up in the future.

Thanks for that luvdogs, I will download it in a minute whilst wee Toby is asleep!

I've just been introducing his collar to him over the last few days and he's not bothered by it at all now - even if it is slightly too big for his little neck! I'm put his lead on him for a few minutes today and let him wander around with it on whilst he was playing. i've sprayed it with bitter apple, so he doesn't want to chew it either. Gradually plan to increase the time he has his lead on, as his 2nd lot of jabs are a few weeks away still.

He is good with alot of the normal household sounds but he seems to be frightened of the hoover / vacuum - anyone have any ideas as to how to reduce his fear. He doesn't bark at it - he just has a fearful look and goes to his crate to get away from it when I'm hoovering. Any suggestions as to how i can help Toby stop being frightened of it?

I've also noticed he seems to be sleeping alot more over the last week or so. When he first came home, he seemed to nap, play, feed etc but over the last few nights he has been falling asleep at 8pm and not getting up again until the morning - 6 or7ish am (apart from late night toilet break at about 10.30 before we go to bed) Is this normal or should I be concerned at the change in his sleep pattern?

Thanks for everyones help - it really is useful!

I wouldn't worry about the sleeping as long as he seems to feel chipper and playful during the day and doesn't show any signs of illness. Puppies go through growth spurts and they just get worn out sometimes.

My girl Chihuahua has never completely gotten use to the vaccum cleaner. She isn't terrified, but she gets as far away as possible every time and sort of looks worried.

My old Lab who is not with me anymore was so opposite, I could vaccum right up to her feet and body, within an inch... if she was lying down. I'd go around her and she wouldn't move unless I asked her to. LOL.

My other dogs aren't nervous about it at all, but Chulita is still and she's going on 7 years old. As long as your pup is able to go away if he wants to, he'll be OK. Don't over do the comforting. You can, if you wish, toss him a treat when and if he shows a moment of relative calm, like if he's at a distance. Don't give a treat or pay much attention to him if he's feeling scared as that can perpetuate it. I don't do anything special with my Chi....I just vaccum and if she wants to leave, she can.

It sounds like you're doing great with conditioning him to the collar and such. Great!

Even though his 2nd set of jabs aren't due yet, are you getting him out and about? I know that you have to be careful about diseases and getting around too many dogs or places where a lot of dog frequent, but on the other hand, it's really important to get your pup out to see new people or all shapes and sizes and healthy, friendly dogs that you know are vaccinated....various environments and machinery and all kinds of stuff. It's so important to do loads of this before he's about 5 months of age. So, reasonable precaution about diseases is important, (you can even ask if there's been parvo cases in the area that anyone knows about) but without lots of socialization, the pup won't be well adjusted mentally. So, it's a weigh and measure thing, socializing being a high priority. Make sure his encounters are all pleasant and not overwhelming or frightening. Take treats along and just have fun....a little bit every day.

Best of luck!

Thanks for that response - I'm perservering with the hoover/vacuum. I hoover most days (especially now with one puppy who likes nothing better than to chew up newspaper and cardboard on the floor ) so he will have to get used to is. Like I say, I'm not bothering with him when I hoover, as I don't want him to think that it is OK to be scared (god thats sounds cruel) I think I will start leaving the hoover in the room and lure him to investigate it with treats, so he can get used to it.

Collar is going well, although it is slightly too big for the poor wee man, and I've attached the lead very briefly whilst we've been playing. He does try to chew it and it gets tangled up in his feet, but thats only cos he's too eager to get to his toy thats dangled in front of his nose!

He's doing very well, he's had a couple of accidents in the house today, but thats mainly because I've not put him out often enough, so slapped hand for me.

I am trying to socialise him where I can. I have taken him to the vets, in the car (which he is a good little thing in) he's visited various different relatives houses and met children and new adults, although he is very timid with new people and new homes. He's been out in the car to the pet shop with me today and I carried him around the block and briefly through the town centre today so that he can encounter new and different people. I haven't socialised him with any dogs or kittens yet, because of his jabs. They are not due until the 30th July, and I was maybe hoping to take him to a puppy socialisation class, if I can find one in my town.

We have 2 dogs next door who are small jack russells, who he can hear through the fence and seems ok with and the only other dog I know is a big boxer dog which I think would frighten him to death!

My friend has just bought a new kitten - do you think it would be a good idea for them to meet - I don't think that the kitten has been fully vaccinated yet either? Are there any problems with this do you think? I'd like him to like cats, to reduce the risk of him chasing them when out for walks!

Forgot to add, when he is awake he is certainly himself and ready, willing and wanting to play hard, so I guess I shouldn't be worried. The only real time we get worried, is when he falls asleep at 8pm - we worry that he won't sleep through the night, which he has done every since we bought him home (I'm taking the credit on that one, for making sure he was settled in properly - other half just says we're lucky!!) But thats us looking out for our own welfare not his!!

I've certainly noticed a difference in his size, each day that passes, the hair on his ears gets a little longer! He seems to grow before my eyes.

He's been weighed in the pet shop scales today and he weighs 1.9kg, 2 weeks ago he weighed 1.5kg - so he's gaining weight. Is the weight gain consistent or too little or too much?

I would steer clear of pet shops because you don't know if the dogs who have passed through have been vaccinated or could have been sick. That's a place that is heavily populated with all kinds of dogs. But if you know friends who have friendly, healthy dogs who have had the vaccines, that would be good to get him around them. Dogs that have problems with other dogs when they grow up are usually naive about how to "talk dog." My own dog is reactive with other dogs when on a leash especially. So, the more you do early on, the better. I don't think cats and dogs pass things to each other but you might check with your vet to make sure.

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about him biting or playing with his leash. I know a lot of people do, but I never have. If they want to play a little, it means they like their leash. LOL. You can teach him a replacement behavior as you go, like carrying something in his mouth, teach him "leave it" and get him learing other stuff so he will lose interest in it...distract himonto something else. Let him be a puppy.... and he'll stop doing that after a while.

When my nearly 4 year old Dobe does something really wonderful sometimes or I get really excited with something he just did or if he does something fun like leap over a big mud puddle when I tell him, "go jump," he gets really excited and takes his leash which I let go of and he shakes it back and forth, trying to kill it and his paws prance around pawing the air. He just has a wee of a time. Then I tell him, "Ok....enough, let's walkies." LOL. And he does just fine and leaves it alone. It's sort of reward for him and gives him some fun inbetween practice. But, I know a lot of people who are more serious than I am would not approve. I'd be in big trouble. LOL.

I think you're doing great, probably taking care of all his needs and just taking things in stride. I know my Dobe slept through the night at a very early age, not long after I got him.

I don't know about the weight gain thing. I'd just ask your vet if you have any concerns. It sounds like he's doing great though.