Dose your puppy HAVE to have all her shots to start obedience?

[Roxymama]

My 8 week old Lab is driving me crazy!! I really want to start obedience with her because what Im trying at home, is just not working! My husband is NO help ( mind you she is HIS dog!!! ) and if I dont get her to start listening to me Im afraid its just not going to work out. Im exhuasted and this morning woke up covered in welts, which I can only think is from the stress of the puppy or perhapse allergies to her?? I have no idea. Im sleep deprived because she still gets up once or twice in the night, plus I have a 4 year old so you can kiss afternoon naps goodbye!
I really hate feeling this way, but Im really getting to the end of my rope with her. Its not her fault, and I realize that! We live in an apt. and so its not like I can just let her loose outside. We go for a walk everyday and I try to work with her, but she only seems intersted in listening if I have a treat in my hand and even then its anyone's guess if she'll even do what Im asking.
Im so frustrated right now!!!!!!

 

[ohmai]

Hehe, Lab's are known for their rambunctiousness as a puppy, and even into their adult years. When I first got my lab mix, it was pretty hard on me too. I'd have to wakeup about 1-2 times in the night to let him out, and I had to train him too. Lab's are really food oriented, so training your lab shouldn't be extremely hard. I guess persistance is the key.

Yes, you should have all the shots for your puppy done before going into obedience class. When she is that young, and hasn't had her shots yet, she may be vulnerable to colds or pick up diseases like parvo, from other dogs or dog things. I put my pup in when he was around 14wks, with all his shots done.

 

[Roxymama]

Roxy has only had her first set so far... so two more months and she'll be finished with her shots. Two months just seems an awful long time. She's such a smart puppy but I really dont have a clue what Im doing as far as training goes! Ive read so much about training online, that Ive gotten myself confused, because everyone say's something different.
I keep reminding myself that she is just a baby. But she's a pretty big baby already! I just wish my husband would have waited until we had our own house and yard ( should be this winter ) before insisting on getting HIS dog, which he is no help with! I think that frustrats me the most!
Did the obedience class help a lot with the training?? If I have treats Roxy listens really well, infact we've already mastered "SIT". But outside when it really matters I might as well be talking to myself!
Thanks for the advice

 

[ohmai]

No problem =)
You should try praising her, without treats when she does something you like. You can't go through llife giving her a treat everytime she does sit and what not, yanno? You'd probably be going through a box/bag a week! You should try to start training a bit without the treat, or vary it.

I didn't actually go into obedience class, I enrolled him in a puppy socialisation class. They did teach the puppies some things in that class though; like sit, stay, "off", and come. My pup was already pretty good at those, so I just came to the classes to get him socialised.

Heh, I think it's a man thing! My dad and my brother would not have anything to do with training my pup. My dad just kind of ignores him, and my brother just likes to rough house for a few seconds. Guess they just don't like to handle alot of work, lol.

 

[Roxymama]

I do try to vary it with the treats. I'll work with her until she is coming when called a few times and then I stop with the treats and just praise her like mad. She figures it out real quick she isn't getting fed anymore and starts ignoring me again until I bring out the treats again. She is just stuborn
Im not much of a dog person ( I have my two kitties ) so Im trying REALLY hard here. I love the pup to death, but especially early in the morning I just want to throw my hands in the air and scream LOL I just want to do the right things by her so that she'll grow up into a good dog! She has that potential!! Its just taking a LOT more work then I even imagined it would!

 

[dani12]

I know a lot of people aren't going to like this but I put Jedi and Daisy in puppy school and they still have one set of shots left to get. They are doing really well with their sit, down, stay and come but they have other "issues" we need to work out It has really helped them. And just so you know you are not alone, after having them about a week and a half I thought I was going to lose it also.
And your puppy is adorable!!

 

[Gempress]

Hang in there, Roxymama! Raising puppies is a lot like raising children: everyone has their own methods and ideas on what works. Pick one that seems to work and go with it: there's no right or wrong way (as long as it's not abusive, of course.) Be patient with your baby. Right now, she basically has the mental state of a human two-year-old. They can learn and understand what you're telling them, but that doesn't mean they'll listen.

 

[Whitedobelover]

My 8 week old Lab is driving me crazy!! I really want to start obedience with her because what Im trying at home, is just not working! My husband is NO help ( mind you she is HIS dog!!! ) and if I dont get her to start listening to me Im afraid its just not going to work out. Im exhuasted and this morning woke up covered in welts, which I can only think is from the stress of the puppy or perhapse allergies to her?? I have no idea. Im sleep deprived because she still gets up once or twice in the night, plus I have a 4 year old so you can kiss afternoon naps goodbye!
I really hate feeling this way, but Im really getting to the end of my rope with her. Its not her fault, and I realize that! We live in an apt. and so its not like I can just let her loose outside. We go for a walk everyday and I try to work with her, but she only seems intersted in listening if I have a treat in my hand and even then its anyone's guess if she'll even do what Im asking.
Im so frustrated right now!!!!!!

Roxy you sound like my house... but take your puppy and times it by two here.... i have two dobermans... what i do is put one in a crate and take the other outside... no distractions no toys nothing but a pocket full of treats for her or him... so far it works...

your baby is way to young ot put in class... let her be a kid.... until she is six months... then put her in because she wont retain anything till 12 weeks anyway but even at that you want her to be a kid till she needs to grow up... just like your 4 yr old...

another thing... between 8-12 weeks are not to horrible... wait till she is in terrible twos... aaaaaaaah!!!! im replacing my carpet now.... PEEEE everywhere... crate train her... that way when you are working, i mean cleaning house she is in her crate sleeping... then take her to potty and right back in she goes... i have a websit if youd like that may help...

then turn around that will teach her to potty out side plus give her a safe place to sleep.... but she is to young to retain to much... start with sit... and work with her for weeks with that to perfect it... then... go from tehre. and hit stay come heel... that kind of thing... i hope i could help you out a little

 

[Roxymama]

Thanks everyone!!

Dani12.... Your pups are sooo adorable. Ive had Roxy just a little over a week now, so sounds like you've been where I am!

Whitedobelover..... OOHHH lordy. Sounds like Im in for the long haul!! We are crate training Roxy, which is helping w/ my sanity a lot... but I just hate feeling like she is in there all day! I really dont want to hear about loosing a carpet LOL We are in an apt and that is the LAST thing I want to worry about. However housetraining has been pretty painless so far. That is unless I leave her in the care of my husband! He dosn't seem to understand the concept of "WATCH HER!!!" I'd be very interested in that link for crate training tho if you wouldn't mind posting it!!
Thanks a ton

 

[dani12]

We are crate training as well. We only really have them in there when we aren't home (which isn't that much) and at night. What worked with potty training for us was too limit where in the house they were permitted. We started out with just the family room and when they were trained in there which didn't take very long we moved the gates and now they have the family room and the kitchen/dining area. They peed maybe once or twice in there until they realized that was their area too. When they would have an accident we would just immediately put them outside and say go potty outside. Seems to work so far. We are hesitant to let them have another room though b/c right now we can keep a pretty good eye on them!

 

[Roxymama]

I put her in durring nap times, so that I can take the gates down and have my house all to myself again That is also when I get my cleaning done or my computer time in. But I try not to keep her in for too long. Usually when we leave its only for a short time, I try to keep it under and hour. But usually if we can, we take her with us. Then she also goes into her crate while Im cooking dinner and we're eatting.
There isnt a whole lot of room, so she gets under foot pretty easily. I keep her quarantined to the livingroom so that the kitties can have run of the bedrooms and I dont have to keep all the doors shut and risk shutting one of them in there.

 

[SallyandPippa]

I know that it must be hard in a confined space with a Lab as they have soooo much energy, both physical and intelligence wise. I have a nearly 8 week old Border Terrier and she pretty much sleeps 20 hours a day when she isnt biting my feet! All I can say is try and remember that, as you said, she really is just a baby and she is going to grow up sooo fast just try and enjoy her puppyhood and allow her that too. Although I have started training Pippa it is for about 5 minutes in the morning and then another 5 in the afternoon, puppies attention spans are like that of a 3 year old child so don't expect too much too soon. My advice would be to spend as much time as you can playing and having a rough and tumble, if she is tired she won't be able to cause so much mischief! She is bound to be a very intelligent dog but in my own humble opinion I think it is important that training should be fun, if you are sleep deprived and stressed that will come through in the way you interact with the dog and might cause your pup to respond in a way different to what you would like. If she is your husbands dog and he isnt taking his fair share of the responsibility then it is important that he realizes how much pressure you are feeling, maybe you can suggest taking it in turns to take the pup out during the night, and suggest he joins you in your training with puppy. If worse comes to worse you may have to say that you cannot cope on your own taking full responsibility for the animal and that unless he starts helping you think it is time to look at rehoming options....that might make him a little more enthusiastic about 'doing his bit'!

Good luck with it all!

 

[Roxymama]

I dont want to rehome her, honest I do.... even though I think about it a LOT when Im up with her in the pre dawn hours! LOL She will be such a good dog when she grows up and she is sooo darn cute as little as she is.
Hubby and I had a quick talk today and I told him I was getting way more upset then I should be. So we'll see. In the last day or so he's been better, but still not taking his share.
I really appreciate all the advice Ive gotten here so far It helps to know that others have been where I am and thank god the puppy behavior dosn't last forever!! Although 2 years for a Lab seems really long LOL But we'll manage Once we get our house things will be a LOT easier!! Since she'll have a big yard to run in!