We're getting our puppy next weekend and we're really excited but nervous too. I've never trained a new puppy before. Any advice from all you dog owners out there? On crate training, housebreaking, chewing etc?
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When it comes to chewing, my mom broke her dog's chewing habit by spraying this stuff called 'Bitter Apple' all over everything. It's not harmful to dogs or what you spray it on, but apparently the stuff tastes terrible to dogs, so they'll stop chewing.
be firm and don't get distressed if puppy cries in his crate. Leave him in for short periods and gradually get longer. Make sure he has blankets, water and toys to play with. Make the crate a happy place, sometimes take him to sit in the crate with the door open and sit with him and play and pet him so he understands that its his little house and not a punishment. Leave the door open all the time so puppy can go in if he chooses when you are around. Don't use the crate as a punishment.
be firm and don't get distressed if puppy cries in his crate. Leave him in for short periods and gradually get longer. Make sure he has blankets, water and toys to play with. Make the crate a happy place, sometimes take him to sit in the crate with the door open and sit with him and play and pet him so he understands that its his little house and not a punishment. Leave the door open all the time so puppy can go in if he chooses when you are around. Don't use the crate as a punishment. HTH congrats on your new pup!
I 2nd all of this advice. As for chewing, make sure he has LOTS of toys with him at all times. Keep a toy bucket in any room you spend a lot of time in (we have one in the family room, the den & our bedroom). If you see him chewing on something, give him a firm "NO" and then quickly replace whatever he's chewing on with one of his toys. When he starts chewing on his toy, lavish him with praise in a high voice (they love this).
I have lots more chewing tricks, too (my dogs are big-time chewers), but that advice should work for most dogs. Hartz(?) I think, makes a really cool puppy teething ring that my dogs love (I still buy it for them).
What kind of puppy is it? Any pics? CONGRATS!
ETA: someone in here recommended the iDog.com message boards to me-- those have been a huge help!
-- Edited by halleybird at 17:49, 2005-07-22
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