iheartmorrison

I've been thinking about crate training Morrison, after watching how he has been inside. Just so he has his own area inside (he's an outside puppy most of the time). He generally does great indoors, it's only when he gets excited (especialy when he's upstaires), so he has somewhere to calm down instead of putting him outside everytime cause we love him. And when we give him something to chew on he bolts to the living room, near the entrace of our house where we can't supervise him - he had to pick the nicest room in the house. I'd like him to be upstaires with me - maybe a crate might help. Also thinking about clicker training. OT: Morrison isn't our first dog, we had a Lab when I was younger, but we were bad owners not ready for a dog at that time. She didn't fit with our family; not the right size, and I don't think there was really a bond between us. Previous dog was training to be a guide dog but didn't make it, so she went to us. Things are different with Morrison, my parents have grown to like dogs; they both baby him, though my mum does it more, for people who say they aren't "dog people". I gey a little angry when they joke about giving him away, well I only have one other experience to go by and I was devastated when it happened. I think we are more suited to smallish dogs. He's only four months old and I want to get him a friend, an actual pom. Maybe in a few years.

They would prefer that I did the classes at Best Freinds, I think the price is one of the main factors for them. I know that being out in the open would be helpful - it's just them that i have to convince. My mum and I were arguing about it today, her argument was that it would be better to be in that smaller class, sister agreed. I pointed out that space would be great, like if he acts up and needs to calm downvaway from the rest of the group (Gee I'm stubourn), and then I said I'd think about the five week course. I'm still (cautiously) thinking about it. She also pointed out that he might be too small - he is the size of a Shih Tzu but his features are clearly that of a Pomeranian, so I don't think he's too small for a class like four paws. Being around different breeds won't just be good for him, It will be good for me too. As a child I used to be weary of dogs i didn't know, and I'm so glad that I got over it -after being around a freind's Jack russel terrier ( Im pretty sure that's the breed). Now I will be the one to handle Morrison, when he's being naughty. My mum and dad aren't consistent with him, and lave it all up to me. I know he's mine, but my dad did agree to take him in. I'd live it if they'd help train him with me. Thanks for the advice, and sorry for the ranting.

They are just worried that I won't be able to handle myself or Morrison in a class where things are more out in the open, worried that I want to jump in the deep end straight away. My head is comming up with all these scenarioes: what if I do book the classes - will it be enough to get him socialised, keep his behaviour under control. what If the classes do turn out to be helpful? I don't want to leave it to late but I don't want to do this if I'm not happy. I hate this feeling - I swear I'm stressing over it. It is my first time raising a pup, so I want him to have the best start that I can give him.

I went to this pet store called "Best Freinds" suggested to me by flycow. They have puppy classes that are held in the store, class sizes are small from what I saw. I just went in to ask about the classes, which run for 5 weeks (costs $50 , so $10 for each session). They take puppies up until they are 16 weeks old - Morrison is 11 weeks, so if I want to book classes I should do it n the next few days. My family is pushing for it (it's close and relatively cheap) but I want to check out other places. And I'm not really sure that five weeks will be enough.

I know right.

10 seems all alright, not too many for me to be weary, but enough for me to feel comfortable. I'll talk to my parents about it when my mum comes back from work. whats the phone number for Four Paws?

hey guys thanks for the suggestions. How large are the classes at Four Paws? Maybe I'd prefer a smaller class (for me), i guess I should go and see how a class is run .

Morrison will be 11 weeks this Saturday and he's got some issues with bitting; he mainly does it when he's excited (i don't blame him for wanting to be with us) and this behaviour annoys my sister, who says he's crazy. His excitment is heightened when he's upstairs, wanting to play (pouncing and nipping). I want him to like coming indoors but be calmer. We don't help the situation by going "Oh My God he's going to bite me" or "Why are you up here?" I feel like no one else wants to deal with him when he's nutty and leaves it all to me cause he's my dog. I don't expect him to be perfect overnight, he's still a kid and he's still learnig. We can only have him inside with his leash on - he's more placid and easier to control but I would really love to have him indoors and for us to control him upstairs. Sorry had to get that out. Onto my actual question. Is there anyone from Melbourne who lives in the wester suburbs (I live in Caroline Springs), and knows of any puppy/obeience classes that are close to where I live.

I've been putting off teaching my boy to lay "down" because I was getting frustrated holding the food out infront of him, he'd leap for it and end up going for my hand. Today I thought hey let's give it another go. I put his leash on, to prevent him from leaping on me, and I just had to keep calm and not get frustrated. I sat down with my left leg bent, and lured him thruogh with some food. At first Morrison was jumping over my leg, and sitting just looking at me like "I'm sitting just give it to me" but I ignored him. Then he started poking his head to get to the food, I was like yay he's getting the idea, eventually he went down in front of me (yay). I tried a second time, he poked his head through again, and then he realised that to get the food he had to lie down. We only did it twice, cause he was getting a bit too excited, and we had been going over sit and stay before we tried "down" so I let him chill on the grass. I know we need to keep working in it, I'm just so proud that he got the idea and glad that I persisted. He's still a bitter, mostly when he gets excited.

TerraNik, persephone - Thanks. Just needed clarification. I put the collar on this morning and he hasn't tried to grab it, too distracted by everything else to even care that something is around his neck. ]stonebridge - I like calling him Jim, Morrison was the next best thing.

The collar fits Jim, it's just that it's kind of long, cause he's still so small. When I put it on, there was a lot of the collar left over just hanging there. Is it okay to thread the rest of the material through the loop? Oh gee I just called him Jim rather than Morrison.

I decided that I'd get Morrison used to wearing a collar. He tried to gnaw and scratch at it, which is what I expected on our first go. Anyway my actual question has to do with the metal loop, where you attach the leash. I put it on him correctly and it fits him. Exchange between me and my dad. Dad - "It's not on properly." Me - "it is on properly, the buckle is fastened." Dad - "Not the buckle the loop." Me - "The material doesn't go through there." And then I showed him what the loop was for, and he still didn't believe me. So all I really need is some clarification on that.