Ahona

Spud, our 9 week old golden retriever is proving very hard to toilet train, though we have only been trying for about 4 days admittedly! We take him out after he wakes, when he's sniffing and circling and after eating and after play for a while. However, for a day or so he just started going out and playing in the yard and coming in and peeing, then hubby fixed it by building an enclosure and putting some of Spuds pee soaked newspapers in a box in it. He's using that to toilet in now. He gets tons of praise after he goes out and we're using the word 'toilet' to indicate that he should. Lately, he's taken to just squatting and peeing in a corner of the house without any sniffing and was about to poo inside today until I caught him in time! He also just lets go when he's excited, just squats and pees with no warning!! How can I fix this before it runs away from me and I have a dog who thinks it's okay to go in the help. Please help!! Another thing is that he is inside in the laundry while we are gone, which is at the back of the house and not really part of it. He has a pee box in there with stained newspapers that he goes in without fail and never dirties the floor. We can't leave him outside because he's so small and our neighbours kids are a bit dodgy!! Thanks a.

Yeah definitely, I'd be too paranoid to let a large breed dog prone to HD jump off a bed!

Spud sometimes climbs onto our bed, doesn't sleep on it when we're there coz' he most often just wants to climb over us and play! We have a futon so him jumping on and off it is no issue at all!

Thanks Erny and Zig! He is almost exactly 8 weeks old (a few days older) and I thought it was a bit young to start humping! It does seem to be when he's a bit excited and he almost always humps just after he's pooed, not sure why?? Thanks Erny We've been doing some basic obedience, teaching him sit and come and making him sit for food etc. He's seemed to have learnt that if he holds onto pees and pees in lots he gets more treats I've been clapping hands and clicking fingers together coupled with a firm AH AH and if he continues and is being really bad, he gets a big growl. That's the only punishment he gets, the rest is all positive reinforcement. He's a good little chap so far, so loving and affectionate.

It's not a problem yet, but I'd like to nip it in the bud before it becomes one! We just brought our goldie pup Spud home and he's been humping things since this morning. Humped his pink plush pig around the living room floor till I confiscated it, then started humping our bed and quilt He's tried humping my leg multiple times. Everytime he's done that, I've said AH AH loudly and have squirted him with spray from a water mister. The last time he got a time out too because he came back for more! I didn't think I'd have to deal with this so soon! How do I stop him humping? How do I assert leadership so he doesn't try to dominate me? Thanks a.

I can only reply as an owner, but not as a breeder/show person. If my dogs hips looked like they were likely to have issues at 6 months, then I would do all I can to ensure that I helped correct that. Curtail exercise, move her/him to a low protein food (eg EP for large/giant breed dogs), fish oil and glucosamine supplements as well! Good luck

What our breeder suggested, is that if the dog starts to bite your hand or arm, push it into the dogs mouth and leave it there for 2-3 minutes, no matter how hard the dog tries to spit it out. 2 or 3 times of this and they will realise that it is no fun chewing and will stop doing it. And it doesn't hurt the dog either!

Powder it in a mortar and pestle and put it into her mouth. The saliva makes it stick to her tongue and mouth and she won't be able to spit it out. Used this method to great effect in the past!

Boiled chicken breast and rice till he's better I'd say If he's not throwing up or in pain, no need to worry I'd reckon.

Hi Vicki I have personally had many chats with knowledgeable breeder friends (hi GL and A2G!) and other experienced dog owners, because I will be bringing my dog home soon and he will just be 8 weeks. All of the advice I have been given seems to boil down to the fact that I need to be careful of taking him to areas like dog parks etc, where there are large numbers of dogs of unknown vaccination status, but also that socialisation is really really important at this age. What you have been doing sounds fantastic and I will probably be doing that as well, taking him around parks (carried), to the shops, maybe Vic market and the Botanical gardens and to friends houses. I will also be taking him to puppy preschool, because there has been no parvo at the vets where we are taking him (I checked yesterday) and no parvo this side of the city. Apparently parvo can also be carried by birds and flies, into your backyard, so it seems to be a bit like an accident, you can do all you can to prevent it, but it may happen anyway. Your dog is gorgeous :rolleyes: a.

LOL. Blessed are you to have a dog who doesn't rip up his toys. Having had a dog who has ripped up her bed, toys and coat as well as MY bed, books and clothes, be very grateful I say

Tess, I'd probably tell the neighbours and maybe take him round to introduce him to them, so they can see he is not a complete monster? I'd also probably get him used to being away from you for a while, in a play pen outside or in a different room in a crate sounds like a good idea.

Yay!! So glad it's not very serious

Good luck!! Let us know how she is! Fingers crossed

Yeah, will be ringing the vet to see if there's been parvo at the surgery before we take Spud in. If yes, we'll find a different preschool for him!

Are you in Melbourne? Is she throwing up as well? I'd be quite concerned because there is parvo going around. I'd try and take her to the vet asap and meanwhile, keep her well hydrated.

I'm well aware of the fact that people take their sick pets to the vet Ptolomy However, I have been given to understand that most puppy preschool classes are held in a sterile room at the vets surgery, feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Scales of Justice, given that puppy preschool is held in a sterile environment and all the pups are immunised, I feel a bit safer there than at the beach, where there are masses of dogs of unknown vaccination status!

No, I'd definitely not be taking her to the beach or the water, even if you carry her, until a week past the week 16 shots. Maybe if parvo wasn't around, then yes, but since it is, it isn't worth the risk IMO. My pup comes home on the 10th of Jan and to help him work off some of his energy, he will be allowed to run around our backyard, we are getting him a clamshell pool and he will be carried around to shops and farmers markets etc. Is your pup booked in for puppy preschool? That might help too!

Styptic powder.

Wow Gayle, that's a very healthy diet! But chicken with tinned fruit?? My tastebuds cannot fathom the attraction of that!

Thanks so much for that exhaustive guideline GoldD! Big help :D GL and Poodlefan, ditto!

Thanks Laffi! Not too concerned about ticks, so I will probably go Sentinel then!

We'll be feeding our bub Eagle Pack and have just bought a big bag of the Large and Giant breed puppy food for him, however, in terms of the extras, veggies, bones, chicken necks and frames, eggs, cottage cheese, how often should I be looking at feeding him these? Thanks! Ahona