stef_07

How old is she? It might just take a little more time. If your pup is still chewing, you may need to wait until she has stopped teething until you teach her with a bell. Or you could get a button one (like a front door bell) step one. First you need to teach her to ring the bell. By pushing the bell or button with her nose. Start small and encourage her to sniff it. Say "yes" and reward. Then build up from there until she starts to push it reliably and make a sound. Adter this point, do not reward if it doesn't make a sound. Once reliable, you can introduce a command such as "bell" step two. What are you doing at the moment when she goes out? Do you say something like 'do you need to go toilet'? When she needs to go, go to the door and Say whatever it is you say. Then ask her to 'sit' next to the bell and command 'bell'. She she rings it say 'yes' and let her outside. Repeat. Over time phase out the 'sit' and then the 'bell' command and let her do it by herself. Do not try to race through the steps. Make sure each one is reliable before moving onto the next. Hope this helps, ask any questions if you get stuck.

Hi there, Good on you for asking for advice- this shows that you are taking responsibility for your pup you have only had your pup a week, so please do not thing that things are out of control yet. Adopting a puppy can be difficult for anybody but if you put in the time and effort then you will be well rewarded. Puppys go through what is called their "critical period" (do a few google searches on this). During this time they need to be expose to all different environments (shops, friends houses, the vet, parks, water) noises and objects (thunder, machinery, cars, bikes prams, umbrellas) people (old, young, wearing hats, long coats etc), animals, surfaces, during the night and day. These experiences need to be made positive. This will set him up for life not to fear these things. Do not show fear if you are unsure, IGNORE the dog if they are fearful (ears back, whimpering, running away) and give a big reward when they are confident (food treats, play, toy, big pats). But please introduce him to situations gradually. Eg. Take him out on lead just to sit and watch the trucks from a distance. Do this for a couple of days. Then go a little bit further each day. If you know someone with a truck, ask them if you can show your dog around the truck, to sniff the tires, sit close etc. Puppy pre school would be extremely helpful, for you and your pup. You will be able to ask lots of questions there. Find a reputable school and ask what there course outline is. Start this weekend if possible, the earlier the better!! You will need to google toilet training as well because there are many different methods. But please do not punish you puppy for having accidents inside. Take him out every hour (or two) and take him to the same spot. Give him a command such as "toilet" and the give him a big play when he is done. If you cannot supervise him crate him so that he can not have accidents inside, otherwise it may become a habit. If you kids are too much for him he needs an escape to relax. Perhaps teach your children that when puppy goes to his crate he needs "quiet time" and should not be disturbed. And please have him de sexed Ask your vet about why this is beneficial. 6 months is a good ago and $180 sounds right. Premium food is expensive, but the health benefits are worth it. It does not work out to be as expensive per serve because they eat less. Eg. my dog will eat 2 cups of premium, but will need 3+ of supermarket biscuits. Best wishes and I hope this has been some help. Let us know how it goes At the mo hes sleeping in a crate in our bedroom, and when we go out, hes in the laundry, which has a gate so he cant escape. We do plan on having him outside soon, but our garden isnt secure yet, plus we have a lot of trucks going up and down the street, im thinking the noise (while hes young) may scare him? Basically i dont know if i want him sleepin in our room, but obviously until hes toilet trained, i cant risk letting him roam around our bedroom, and if i keep him in the laundry, that is right next to the kids room, and i dont want him disturbing their sleep, what does everyone else do for lettin them sleep, is it best to have him in the crate? How much sleep do they need as a puppy, obviously having 2 small children, they wont leave him alone, and he practically gets no sleep in the day even though i know hes very tired, should i just put him in his crate away from the kids? although if i put him in the laundry, the kids just run up to the gate and keep him awake, hence the only other place is my bedroom. As for toileting, how is best to train him, i know everyone says to train outside asap, but when he wakes in the morning as soon as i let him out of his crate he wees, no way do i have enough time to get him outside. AND with him being in the laundry in the day at the mo, hes weein on newspaper, so will he get confused? Is it best to have him desexed? whats an average price for it, i got one quote (with a discount ) of $180, does that sound reasonable And what is best to feed a puppy, we got food at the mo what was recommeneded from the pet shop, but its sooo expensive, i normally shop at coles, is there anything i can get there that is good for him. sorry for all the questions, i really just need some advice on how to train him etc, im plannin on takin him puppy school too, any other advice will be great too also do they stop following u around in the end, he wont leave me alone, even if he asleep and he notices im moving he gets up and follow me thanks tracy

The NDTF course is fantastic. Many people who do the course work full time as well. It is a lot to manage but if you are organised and determained then you can do it. The course outline for the "local course" is one weekend a moth of theory and one day a month of practical training (generally pick between a saturday or sunday). You are also assigned a "home centre". This is an obedience club that you attend weekly (once, twice, 3 or 4 times depending on the club and how often you are able to go). For me this is where I have learnt the most as it is hands on and the dogs are unpredictable. The great thing about NDTF is they don't tell you that you have to use a particular method (unlike other trainer's courses), they show you all methods and tell you to use what works best for you. But think about it, why would you want to cut yourself off and say you don't use a particular method? One day you are going to come across a dog where that method is the only one that works and you will need to know how to apply it. Many of the practical or theory days are held by well respected trainers in Australia including Steve Austin and Boyd Hooper. I would highly recommend the local course if you live in Melbourne and have weekends free. It gives you time to take what you learn over the weekend, research more into it throughout the week and then go back with any questions. You also have regular contact with trainers and other students which keeps you really motivated. ***Corvus*** I saw that article as well. All I will say is I was not impressed. Funny how delta who only use positive reinforcement/ negative punishment have frequent paid advertising in there.....