dogon

Thanks everyone for your replies. He has plenty of toys which I rotate. To be honest though, I'm a little cheesed off having spent money on fancy things such as kongs ( Luke, yes I have a busy bouncing buddy and he could take it or leave it ) but I will persist since he's only young. I bought some chicken necks but he won't eat it since I wont let him drag it inside. Sheeesh. He loves my son's 3 dollar plastic toy though I will definitely try a plastic bottle with cap removed. With the hot weather at present all wants is a tray of water to go nuts in. You gotta love em

At the moment I'm on holidays and will be for the next 3 weeks. Then I'll be back at work. I want to give him time in his pen in general so that he gets used to being on his own. If he had his way he'd follow me everywhere and sit/lie on my feet but I don't think letting him do this all the time is going to be good for him in the long term. So I'm weaning him slowly. I'm leaving him everyday for a couple of hours and sometimes during times when at home I put him in his pen. He hates this, when I'm home, but seems to settle ok when I'm out because when I return he's quiet and calm. My usual routine is to feed him in his pen (this is where I feed him always) and then as he's eating I leave. This morning I didnt leave right away and he was fretting when I left. When I returned he had upturned his water and managed to drag the tarp off the floorboards as well and water was all over them It got me to thinking about the kongs. He never seems to have touched them and I thought that if I could make things more exciting in the pen he would not get so distressed. I have other chew toys for him (raw hide pigs ears) maybe this is enough? I do always play with him before I go out - to tire him. Can I throw a bone in? I know it should be uncooked. What types of bones? Thanks Becks, I'll try boiled chicken. He loves cheese when training but doesnt seem interested when alone in his pen ETA for extra thoughts. Yes maybe it's a sleeping thing when I'm away and that's why he doesnt touch the kongs. Then again, he doesnt touch them much when he's playing in general out of the pen. Maybe I need to encourage it more. Overall, I guess I need to know if bones are ok to give him - just as an extra thing for him. So sorry for this ramble. Am I making sense?

Hi all, My pup - 9 1/2 weeks, isn't interested in kongs or kibble style treats. I have tried stuffing kongs with kibble, cheese, peanut butter and even frozen chicken stock into a kong but he just aint buying it! I also have a puzzle ball for him and even though I've tried to encourage him by showing him that treats fall out if you roll it, he tends to avoid it. Too hard for him maybe? He also couldn't give a toss about liver treats either. What he loves is roast lamb! an exy taste! so I use this for training in tiny, tiny amounts. I realise that he's still very little but I would like to try to find what he likes so that I can leave him in his pen and know that he's being somewhat entertained. I've read here that things like chicken necks are ok but then i've also read that they can choke a pup. Can I feed a chicken neck to him as a treat while I leave him in his pen?

ahhh, yes....something to look forward to atm my boy eats, sleeps, sleeps, nips, tugs, growls, eats, sleeps, sleeps, eats and then...um...sleeps! I can't wait for walkies.

Thanks for clearing that up for me JulesP. Perfectly clear!

It's pretty clear to me, though I'm not a dog :rolleyes: I hope it's clear anyhow coz I've been working on a similar version of this today. So far Roddy seems to be over it but he's being a good sport and humouring his crazy human mummy At least he'll sleep well tonight.

ok, so a mark is a 'click' or a 'good doggie' right? Oh heck, possibly I'm just thick but, what's a bridge?

Great story about the snake, Willow- a life saver indeed! My kitchen cupboard handles are happy now coz I told him 'off' and he left them alone. Cupboard handles very happy now.

This is such an interesting topic. As a novice I want to thank Luke for posting this - great educational thread I'm not out to have an agility or obedience dog as such but I am interested in teaching basic manners etc. Even though I don't have anything to add here I did want to make a comment based on an observation by my father who is staying with me atm. In his day he trained working dogs -kelpies and cattle dogs (he worked as a jackaroo) and he couldn't always rely on food as a reward given the impracticability of this from horseback Anyway, he made the observation that I was 'treating' Rodney too much and warned me to use praise/games more than food. I have done this, building up his appreciation for praise and touch by giving these things liberally, and I find that Rodney responds to praise as well so I'm glad that I've started this early. Certainly when starting new behaviours I will treat but I'm quite aware to fade food reliance once he knows. e.g sit is fairly standard now and if he slips I will return to food reward making sure to fade food soon after. Obviously agility and obedience is an entirely different game than sheep mustering but they're some of my thoughts anyway. One question regarding duration of a behaviour: do I treat after the behaviour has remained for the length I require ie several seconds or do I treat the moment he has performed the behaviour and then teach 'wait' then treat again for holding the behaviour. I ask this because Rodney breaks the behaviour and gets antsy if I dont treat immediately. He is still a baby after all. I hope I'm asking this correctly. Sorry if this seems a hijack but I think it is in keeping with the thread.

Welcome bozthepup You've come to a great place for advice. I've got a 9 weeker too and boy are they exhausting but it's worth it. Just to let you know crate training is a breeze if you stick to it. I only do it at night but he has a pen in the kitchen where I also put his crate during the day. at the moment I'm on holidays and he spends no time in the pen unless I'm going out. But I have my eye on him 24/7. If I can't he goes in the pen. Perhaps you could try him in a doggy pen inside for a while,\ - at least while he's so small and training is optimal. Fill it with all the things you want him to chew. My OH was dead against the pen and crate but I gradually worked him around and now he can see that it's a good thing. Confinement (as opposed to being outside) will keep him from learning bad habits, at least when he's small so when he finally goes outside he will have learnt that his toys are what he chews. For example if he's outside and you're not there he won't know that he can't chew the hose, your shoes or that rare shrub! unless you teach him first. Essentially don't think that by leaving him outside that he will be out of mischief or toilet in the right spot. It takes time but I think all pups get there in the end. Just some thoughts anyway Good luck with him!

cool! That's exactly what I'm doing....I must be thinking right then. Cheers for that Luke. Its always great to get your take on a matter. Our little cocker fellas are such gorgeous doggies, aren't they!!!

Thanks Kelpie pup. Well, I guess I would like Roddy to be looking at me during training but also in general because I think it is a good idea to have a dog focused/tuned to his handler - especially if danger is approaching ie. car etc. Any advice is good I have read about the TT method but I'm not so sure that I want Roddy to be exclusively focussed on me as he will have OH and my son to obey as well. Does this make sense? Regarding recall, I have made the mistake of calling him once when he was asleep under a chair - fat chance of getting him out from there in puppy slumber mode I hope this one incident didn't cause his little habit of assuming recall to be an option

Thanks Luke. Actually no, I'm using Gwen Bailey's book 'The Perfect Puppy' but I read it ages ago and remembered the lure part but not the hand signal part. She teaches a voice cue first and then adds in the hand signal for DOWN. so I guess it is flexible. (suppose I could have checked that before posting here, duh!) What book of Dunbar's teaches commands. I don't remember it in 'Before you get an alligator...oops...I mean Puppy' Anyway, Good news! I just tried using a pointed finger with the dog as I was commanding sit and he sat then I gradually left out the vouce cue and just added a pointed finger - he got it straight away. Clever Pup! Now I'm luring the down with a treat in a face down palm which I sweep down in front of him. I'll do the same and gradually leave out the voice cue. Wish me luck! Kelpie pup I will def use a flat palm for stay - that is easiest I think. We aren't up to stay yet since recall needs massive working on as he decides when he wants to come atm naughty pup I'm also trying to get him to focus on me at all times using a lure - as in eyeball to eyeball- but I think he's a little too wee to be able to look up at me. Should I get down to his level or just persist from a low crouch? Thanks again guys - your advice is awesome

Another question, sorry. I'm sort of clueless about hand signals. If I use a closed fist with the word OFF then would that be the OFF hand signal? What should I use for DOWN - a flat palm making a down motion? What is a good hand signal for DROP? Hmmm...maybe I need to go read up on this a little further. I hope I don't confuse the dog!

Oh, ok thanks GayleK. Um...so is it too late to change verbal commands. I like the idea of using 'drop' instead of 'down' mainly because 'down' is an instinctual word when a dog is jumping up. Ok...now I'm a little can I change things or will this just pup ? Not interested in trialing obedience but am interested in having a well mannered doggy. Who isnt I just want to keep it simple ETA: I posted this before others posted so thanks to LL and TG for your thoughts It seems that the rule is 'whatever works'. But yes, I will def. persist with a firm NO for nipping. We call him the Rodinator now coz he's a Rodney alligator

My 9 weeker Rodney has learnt the 'off' command (when presented with a treat in a closed fist) and I was wondering how people utilize it in everyday situations. I imagine that I can use it whenever I want him to desist an action or resist a temptation. Rodney has also learnt 'down' from a 'sit' but I don't know if I can use 'down' for example when he is jumping up on a chair or on me. I've started using 'off' instead. I also intend to use 'off' when I want to stop him nipping which is, atm, all the bloody time Am I on the right track? I feel fairly confident in most things so far but am just a bit confused about commands. I know that any word would do but I guess it's a matter of being clear in my head what a command is being used for and so I thought 'down' is used to control movement and 'off' is for terminating an unwanted behaviour. I'm interested in what people do and how they wrap their heads around training with commands. When, for example, should I begin to use a hand signal along with a verbal command? Thanks for your thoughts

Thanks guys. I should mention that pup scratches when he has no collar on. He's doing it now! It's just like he has fleas :rolleyes: BUT I can't find any

I was wondering about a few things and thought I might check in with DOLers. The first one I'm not really concerned about actually. Rodney makes these cute little grunting noise when we pick him up. He sort of snuffles in and grunts away. Soooo sweet. :p What's going on in his little doggy body? Is he uncomfortable or just being sooky? Which reminds me to mention that when I held him when we first got him he pointed his snout upwards and sort of went off into a dreamy trance like state. He doesnt do this now so I thought that maybe this is a doggy behaviour displayed when scared/unsure or submissive behaviour of some kind. He's a cocker spaniel so maybe it's specific to his breed? The second thing is scratching. He seems to do this a fair bit. I've checked him over for fleas but can't find any. I remember reading somewhere that dogs scratch when they are unsure about things. Is this what's making him scratch or is something more sinister going on? He has a collar on periodically (I take it off when he's in his pen) and he scratches then but I think that's due to discomfort of the collar more than anything. Any thoughts?

Exactly! Divorce has been a serious option due to this issue :p Anyway, great news! I finally persuaded OH to get Roddy into a crate and last night was a relative dream run. He just seemed to understand what we wanted and, although he whinged a bit, they were somewhat halfhearted before he settled with only two wee stops during the night I hope this thread is useful for all those out there who are in two minds about creating! You'll reconsider and, as OH has done, eat your own words regarding crating and cruelty

Careful what you wish for, claireybell

This is our new cocker spaniel puppy, Rodney. he's 8 1/2 weeks old Loves: Sleeping and biting Hates: being on his own

Hi Mandy L I'm new at this puppy thing too. We're going through the biting legs and pants stage atm. I just roll up my pants and I get others to do the same. Myself and other family members (small child included) have been *instructed* (coz I iz the boss) to either 1.remove themselves from the pup if he bites 2. make a high pitched yelp and remove themselves 3. replace leg with a fave toy I always try to return after about 30 seconds and reward him with pats if he leaves my leg alone. Like I said, I'm trialing this atm so hopefully it will work for you as it seems to be going well enough for me. Hope this helps and good luck.

Stella1: thankyou for that. I thought it was normal to sleep a lot but I had a desparate hope that I may be able to do something! ETA: 12-13 weeks is right about the time I go back to work so I had better start getting him used to being at home alone if he's going to be awake for longer. BigBen: yes, I think he's hot too in the box. My OH won't let me crate (i know, i know-just can't convince him AND it sure doesn't help when pup lets out that blood curdling scream and OH thinks I'm the most cruelest person alive. When I try to explain that it 's essential he just won't buy it ) but he's going away soon so i'll begin crate then...hope it wont be too late Now I just have to hope he won't cry all night in the crate instead

Hi all, Our new pup, Rodney (8 1/2 weeks) seems to sleep pretty much all day. I know that their peek periods are dawn and dusk and this seems true to form for him but he really does seem so much more restless at night. At present he's in a high sided box by my bed. He sleeps for about 2 hour stretches then wants out (for toilet) but then when I put him back into bed he wants to scrabble about and play. When I take him out to toilet I ignore him, no speaking-nothing, yet often he still thinks 'playtime'. I do lean over and scratch his belly softly which can send him to sleep sometimes but not always. If I ignore him he cries -loudly .I guess I'm asking for any tips people might have. Should I try to wake him up more often during the day? When he's awake he mostly follows me about or spend time in his pen when I cant be with him. I do training with him (he understands sit and down so far) about 3 times a day for about 5 minutes and I play fetching games - but these never last long because he likes to just flop down and snooze. It is hot atm so maybe this is a factor Overall, so far he seems like a great little guy...but some sleep would be nice this is probably way too much to ask!

Surely that's a 'puppy thing' not exclusive to the little cockers