Mogda

Re puppy play pen I have not purchased one as yet as we have just been spending so much time outside, but also I am unsure about how it will stay in place with such a strong fast growing puppy? How do you stabilize them when using them inside without the dog pulling it around. I remember when my children were toddlers and they got to that stage where they could just move the play pen around with them. :laugh:

Yes I was saying that I like the look of the K9 pro trainer Steve somebody who is in Kurrajong and does in house training over so many days. Good idea I might just get money for xmas and see if that adds up to some sessions? :)

Ok yes understand. I am especially glad to not use the chain collar. I only bought the chain collar when the breeder suggested that's what she needed but have always been reluctant to use it. If I was not going to be near a very busy and heavy goods being moved I would not have used it this morning either. Fortunately she only had it on for a couple of minutes and she just sat the whole time because she was scared of the traffic noise. Yes a chain leash will definitely be a bonus as she does chew on her leash. And I will buy a better collar as this fabric type one she has just pulls over her head because it loosens whilst shes pulling so much.When I am walking her I now stop and pull the leash out of her mouth and will not move until she stops grabbing it and trying to walk me. She is a very stubborn pup and just plops down and will not move unless going where she wants to, so I just pick her up and bring her back inside. I then take her back out again in 10 minutes and try again. But going for walks further then around the outside of our house is impossible at this stage. . . it would be me just dragging a pup along the ground behind me.

Thanks for the good advice. I have just put the chain choker collar on her today for the first time as I had to go to my daughters place for something to be delivered and I didn't want her jumping over the people. I have not been confident to use this particular collar as I was not 100% sure of how to use it safely. The puppy classes I have been taking her to each week do not believe in using this type of collar as they say its cruel. The link to that web page you attached was excellent. That trainer looks amazing I wished it was not so expensive and travel distanced and we would be there in a flash. I will have a search later on this afternoon to see if I can see a good web article re correct leash/walking training. Thanks for you info. Mogda

Thanks that sounds like a great idea. I have been suffering a silly reluctance with the crate and feel a great guilt when putting her in but I do know its for her best and that's how I came to use it as time out. I could see when she loses the plot she just cant help herself as she just simply cant calm down and her crazed behavior goes from bad to worse. I was always worried I might ruin the idea of the crate being a good place for her if I used it for punishment too and then she wouldn't settle in it at night. But people have to be able to visit and not be harassed by our very enthusiastic and energetic young pup, so I will definitely put her in the next time someone comes and before I actually let them in. If once she settles in the crate I let her out . . do I then just put her back in if the behavior continues? Mogda

Hi to all again. Busy times in between posts but isn't that everyones lives these days. No need to feel sorry for me its just what happens with owning a very strong willed and energetic young female pup. But thanks for the encouraging thoughts though Sares. Toileting is still about the same . . . shes good if I take her out very regularly . . . but if I am busy with something and not outside as regularly she will just go wherever shes standing. . . so its really just catching it still. . but its good not mopping up and wrapping smelly droppings all day.She is so very clever though as a few times each day she will actually go to the door as if she needs to go out and then when we do go outside she will squat and pretend to go to the toilet, nothing comes out, but will really only want to play! She is growing a lot and has learnt to jump up on the lounge as soon as Im out of the room! She has also learnt how to do the stairs very well and has become a great escape artist when Im out trying to put the washing out. So much stacking of things across stairs now until I can work out a way of blocking them off. But she is an amazing jumper with her strong back legs and fast pace! She sleeps better now at night with some encouragement to stay asleep when she wants to go out early hours. She wakes with the sun and is ready to really go to sleep about 11pm. She still has my two daughters up on the lounge with their feet tucked under when they come over. Although now that she can actually get up onto the lounge the girls aren't feeling quite so safe anymore. We are yet to find a way of calming her when people come to visit. We have tried giving the visitor treats to get her to sit down calmly but as soon as the treats run out shes up and off again. So she usually ends up in the crate having time out. She doesn't really calm down until the visitor/visitors leave. The visitor problem, biting and very poor leash/walking behavior will hopefully be addressed by some expert training to help us with these issues . . .and I'm sure it will make her a much happier pup not being in trouble so often :)

Yes it certainly hasn't made any difference. I will buy some advantage. Thanks

Many people have suggested possums are terrible for spreading fleas and apparently sandy soil, as it was in our yard, is also perfect breeding ground for fleas. I definitely appreciate the calming times and make sure enjoy the puppy side until her jaws lock around my arm or she is aiming for my face. She definitely has become far too dependent upon me so I am encouraging more away time on her own and will separate he into her sleep time in crate at night to be in a room on her own. Shes sleeping probably 3 hrs before needing to go outside so I am sure she will make herself heard.

Yes poor little pup, alathough shes becoming less piranahaish Yes I washed her 48hrs previous and I am aware you should not wash them too much so I know that's not a solution. The flees are very visible and moving around very visibly. They are black and she has so many The frontline has not made any difference they have worsened over the last couple of days. I think the heat along with the humidity makes the fleas breed more.

Hi to all. That youtube video was somewhat familiar. Mirana is starting to have some more calmer times in her day and the toilet training is working if I am absolutely diligent with the very regular visits outside. The jumping and the biting is still happening but we are very strong with letting her know its a very bad thing and slowly seeing some little changes with her responding to our voices and words. I have another issue at the moment that I am struggling with and thought you may be able to offer a little info for me. We have very sandy soil and a family of possums that live in trees next to our front verandah/door and surrounding trees. I am told this causes a lot of trouble with fleas. Because of such regular visits outside with toilet training I have found that our pup is covered in fleas. We have polished floorboards. I have set fleabombs in each room of the house and the pup has frontline plus treatment on. Today she was so itchy I have given her a capstar flea tablet appropriate to her size, I have washed all her bedding etc. Does anyone have any suggestions as what else I can do to try and eradicate these horrible fleas and help the poor puppy to stop itching. Mogda

Hi to all. . . funny posts. . . I have noted the fast running as she always seems to know when ive dropped the leash whilst out walking and off shes gone fast as lightning! Shes off to puppy school again tomorrow hopefully she will be a little better behaved this week. I'll give it a go returning the spray when I'm there. :)

Hi to all who have offered great advice and encouragement. I have surfaced again to quickly respond to your posts and update on our puppy. With toilet training taking her out very regularly with a treat and when she actually goes she sits and waits for her treat. Shes not big on praise or fuss its all about the food treat. Its a very slow process and basically its just really catching it at this stage, as if Im busy and miss any cues whatsoever she returns to one of her regular spots. I bought some of that spray that you put on the spot she goes and its suppose to deter the dog to return . . it was expensive and useless! Re the biting and jumping Im still working with the push down the loud growl and no telling her to sit and then rewarding when shes sitting quietly. That's sill a work in progress but the entire family walk around with treats in their pockets ready for when she jumps and bites. She is particularly bad when my two older daughters come over and they end up jumping up onto the lounge and tucking their feet up under them so she cant bite. She has the situation worked out! Puppy training school was a bit of a non event as our puppy ended up being the naught student having to stay on her leash for the class after drawing blood when biting a staffy in the class. She was the biggest by far and had no idea of her size and when the others played she got serious! A trainer is rather expensive I didn't realize quite so expensive, so I am working towards that. In the meantime she has consistency, plenty of toys outside play/exercise, love and discipline. The bones ordered from the butchers finally came through last night but they are huge so have to work out today how to get them a quarter of the size so she can actually pick them up. . . but I am sure she will love them. Sleeping hasn't changed much still only tiny catnaps during the day and one short stint in the crate in daytime hours when shes exhausted but wont give in. She goes to sleep about 11/12 at night and up again at 3 to outside toilet trip and then back to sleep until 5.30. I don't get much of a chance to get on computer as the days are full and the nights are late, so when shes settled during the day I have much to do and then by late at night I have to think about sleeping myself. Thanks again for all help and info and Ill be back on when I get another chance. Mogda Oh by the way the puppys name is Mirana :)

Hope the photo loaded.

We are having a go on the weekend to fence off a safe part of the yard for her to be able to play alone. At this stage the grassed area where I take her now for play/toileting is not fenced off, and on the other side well its fenced and gated but is terraced gardens that are quite high in places, so not safe for her to be out there on her own. She has been enjoying playing with empty milk plastic 2ltr bottles, small cardboard boxes, paper towel rolls and when shes able to play outside on her own she will play with them there too. She has beef back bones available for us to pick up tomorrow and I will be giving her one of those to have a good chew on.

I fed the pup in the crate tonight as was suggested in an earlier post. l will wait until shes a little more use to the crate before I try bedtime in the crate. I am trying to add photo of puppy for people who have asked for me to include one but cant find how to insert/attach photo. . . could someone explain how to please? Mogda