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My dog is inside when I choose. She spends most of her time outside, and that's largely because that's where we are! We live in a sub-tropical part of the country. For most of the year we eat every meal on our deck, read out there, talk out there, we even have a TV out there! This only really stops for about 2-3 months of the year, and even then, we go out to sun ourselves in the mornings and on the weekends. Why would the dog be inside when we're not? She does come inside in the evenings it we do, mostly because she likes to chase the toads. She sleeps inside in her crate. As for walks, she's only a pup at the moment, and is still learning, but I do twice daily "excercise". This could be a short walk, a trip to the nearby park or beach or a session of fetch plus some training. We have an average suburban yard. I work a "regular" day so I fit this in around my schedual. My husband is a shift worker, so depandant on his roster she might get extra play/walks/stimulation from him at I think that people will work out what suits them and their dog. It's not a one size fits all kind of thing.

I'll play. This is Millie the day we brought her home - just over 8 weeks. And this is her at 16 weeks (two weeks ago now)

Thanks for the advice everyone. Lots to think about. Beagie, I am doing some reading on clicker training. It could be the way to go for us. I'm also going back to the flat collar. I don't think this class is for us. Mrs Rusty Bucket, thanks for the DVD recommendations.

It's so unhelpful. Especially since the club in question is supposedly promoting responsible pet ownership (it's on all their flyers). So I'd bother because it's the responsible thing to do, right? It was another trainer at the club, not mine, but yeah, I wasn't impressed. I thought of you actually! And, I had a little chuckle when 15 minutes later his dog wouldn't come when called. I tried it a few times before I started the classes and I think I will go back and give it another go. I also had a look at the K9 training program and I will go back and have another closer look. Thanks, she's adorable. That could be part of the problem! This is what my gut is telling me. She needs to learn to focus first. This is why I was interested in a class - because I thought it would teach me how to teach her. But I'm not sure that it is. I just feel confused and frustrated. I keep missing the instructions and the whole thing is going to fast for me. Unfortunately, my options here are limited. Thanks, this is how I feel. Really, I just want the basics - walk on a loose leash, a good sit, a good stay and (hopefully) a good recall. I have taught her a few things using food as a lure, then reward. Things seemed easy then! Thanks for the advice everyone. I am feeling a little better.

I started attending a local dog obedience club for beginner lessons with Millie. We attended our second lesson this morning. So far I am finding the whole expereince frustrating and I'm wondering if I'm doing the right thing. The club supplied us with a collar - the trainer called it a martingale collar, although it looks different to others I've seen. I think it works on the same principle. This is it here http://www.vasquezcollars.com.au/shop/blac...bing-dog-collar Now, Millie is a beagle and I am perfectly aware that the breed is stubborn, obsessed with its nose, one-track minded etc. This morning one of the club trainers made a comment to the effect of "fancy wanting to train a beagle", which got me offside from the beginning. Millie is just over four months old and has very little focus on me when we leave our yard. The instructor says I need to correct her with a pull on the lead then call her back to me and reward. I'm finding this very difficult to achieve. This morning she gave me a demonstration and I had to hold her big dog's lead while she did it. I don't feel comfortable with other people's bigs dogs so this was a bit uncomfortable and confronting for me. The instructor seemed able to achieve what she wanted, but I can't, and I feel totally incompetent. I'm not opposed to correction checks, but Millie seems to need constant repeated checks and this doesn't feel right to me. The instructor told me not to pull her back to me, but I can't seem to achieve what she wants me to without doing this. The class moves quite quickly and I find that by the time I have worked on maintaining Millie's attention I've missed instructions/demonstrations. I feel like I am just yanking her along. Today was very windy and she was constantly distracted by blowing leaves. I also feel that the collar is too big. Today the instructor tried to tighten it when she was demonstrating to me and couldn't because it's done up as far as it will go. Then she said Millie would just have to grow into it. This doesn't sound right to me. The instructor seems quite compentent - although a little abrupt at times. I just can't shake the feeling that this class is not right for me. But I am worried that Millie will develop into an unruly dog who pulls on her lead and won't focus if I don't continue. Who am I kidding, she already pulls on her lead. I live in a regional area, so training options are limited. There seem to be two obedience clubs in town and a fly ball club and that's about all I have been able to find. Should I stick with this? Is Millie to young for this kind of training? Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Videos? Anything? PS. recent picture, as a thanks for reading.

Good luck! Millie had a lot of fun at puppy preschool and she learned a number of good things. I'm glad I took her.

Puppy preschool graduation and each of the pups in the class are showing what they know (we'd been learning/practicing sit, drop, rollover etc). Millie was last. So by the time it was our turn there were bits of chicken all over the floor and 10 other excited puppies ( 4 small white fluffies, 2 labs, a golden retriever, 2 bull mastifs and a german shepard) wriggling around cause they'd been sitting still (or trying too) for a long time. I was sure Millie would just run off trying to play/hoover the chicken bits, but I was wrong. Three perfect sets of sit, drop, rollover! I might be biased, but I think she was the star pupil. My stubborn little beagle sure showed them! I was so proud, and, pleased to see that I am capable of teaching her something! Just wanted to share. :rolleyes:

Hi everyone. Thanks for all the advice. We're working on things slowly. I just wanted pop back in so people didn't think I was ignoring your contributions! It's been a busy past two weeks.

Millie is 14 weeks tomorrow. We have been working on stopping biting/mouthing using "owww", removing hand and offering toys when possible, followed by ignoring/stopping play if it continued. In the past few days we've had an issue with her biting while being held - as if she's figured that during play it stops us, so we'll stop restraining her if she bites. Usually she isn't released unless she is calm. Example: Yesterday we drove to the beach (about three minutes, but too far for her to walk at the moment). We were in my husband's ute and I was holding her to prevent her getting under his feet. She started mouthing at my hands. I've read suggestions about applying pressure between tounge and jaw on here, and a freind has suggested it as well, so I tried this. Perhaps I didn't do it correctly, but the result was her biting me harder after I stopped. She also tends to throw her head around with her jaw open and she got my husband on the nose with her teeth on Saturday and me on the lip this afternoon. I am quite concerned about this. Does anyone have any thoughts on what we're doing wrong? Any ideas on things to try? She seems to have stopped any mouthing during play, just in these circumstances. Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks for the responses, you are all basically confirming my first instinct which is that the first dog should be well established first and then we might think about another. Millie is a pup. I am prepared for a naughty adolesence, but I think my husband has this idea that it she has company she won't cause as many problems. I am not convinced of this. Two puppies just sounds like more hard work to me. I also think he wants two to make himself feel less guilty about going out when I am not there. Thanks for the confirmation that my gut feeling is right. Husband has been actively trying to convince me to get a second pup right now. I've talked him back to six months and I think with further ammunition I can talk him back further.

So, my husband and I adopted our first dog a few weeks ago. Her name is Millie and she's a beagle. We love her to bits. We got the dog because my husband is a shift worker and I really wanted a companion for the many afternoons/evenings/weekends I spend home alone as I work regular hours. Obviously, this means that Millie doesn't spend eight hours home alone five days a week as my husband can be home mornings and frequently has his days off mid week. However, she will spend a couple of days each week at home for a full day by herself. When we researched beagles were were aware that she might be happier with another dog and discussed getting two puppies right from the start. I wasn't keen on this, because I felt we should concentrate on training the first dog before bringing home the second. My husband, on the other hand, is a big softy and doesn't like to think of her being lonely. I was wondering what people think about getting a second dog. When is the best time? What should you consider before bringing home man's best friend version 2.0?

Thanks. I'd pretty much already decided on the alarm system, although I need to move faster it seems! The incident this afternoon concerns me because she could have gone somewhere else. The crate was open. We had a few old pillows lying around so we thought we'd use them. She hasn't ripped them up yet, which I thought she might have by now! Surprisingly she hasn't had a go at the towel yet either. The red toy is her "crate toy". Yes, she is a spoiled puppy.

Thanks Aussielover. We love her to bits. She's such a confident, happy little thing. And she loves her crate - but this is worrying me. Puppybreath - the crate is sectioned off (you can see in the picture), although I could section it off further, I suppose. Also, she appeared to have no problems sleeping in the soiled section today. I think that I will go back to a very strict routine with it, alarms set all the way.

Bumping this as I have an issue I'd like help with. Millie really likes her crate. She sleeps in there in the day with the door open. Chews her toys and dozes in there while in the living room with us at night and has been sleeping quite well overnight - we've had no major crying issues. But after a good start she now appears to be peeing in her crate. The first night (last weekend) I set an alarm, but I heard her when she wanted to go to the toilet, and everything seemed fine with the process for the first three or four nights. On Thursday night I took her out for the toilet about 10pm, then put her back in for sleep and I went to bed. Didn't hear from her until 5am. I thought this seemed a long time, but I couldn't find any evidence that she'd been to the toilet in her crate, so I didn't worry. On Friday night I took her out for the last time around 11.30 and I went to bed at 12. Didn't hear from her again until nearly 6. Later in the morning I was shifting her crate and I found a damp patch on the towel in there. So I decided to needed to start setting an alarm again and getting up to her. That's what I did last night, although she woke me around 12.30am and by the time I got up to take her out she had already been in her crate a little bit. I changed the towel and she went back to sleep. Now, she's been in her crate in her puppy play area while I went out for an hour and a half and I've discovered she went in there again. The other times are my fault for not being up to let her out, but this time she wasn't locked in. She could get out and go elsewhere. And, she was sleeping in it I got home. Each time I've washed the towel that was in the crate and then sprayed it with one of those anti-soiling products. I've also sprayed the mat in the bottom of the crate. I got a crate for her to grow into, but the back end is blocked off with a cardboard box. I'm quite worried now that we're going backwards with her and the crate training. Does anyone have any tips of suggestions here? I really don't want her going in her crate continuously. Thanks in advance. Here's a picture of her sleeping in her crate:

I'm trying to find out about the options for puppy preschool and basic training in my area. I've been asking friends. ringing around etc, but it is hard to tell what's good and what's not. I know it's a long shot but I wondered if anyone had any experience with anywhere in the Bundaberg area and could recommend (or recommend to avoid) anywhere? My pup is a 9-week old beagle named Millie. I'm eager to get her the best start in life possible.