Luke W Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Just a reminder - it's imperative that the pup doesn't toilet in it's crate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockerlover Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Congratulations Dogon ,your chioce of breed couldnt be bettered imo :laugh:But do make sure that pup learns from day1 that u r the boss!! they have a way of conning us!!! them cockers If u do decide to wait till yr hols to get bubby ,then start leaving him for short periods @ a time.(dont make a big deal of coming & going either) gradually increasing yr absence ,so that when you return to work he will be used to time alone.Theres nothing wrong with having a bed partner ,but only when u invite him to jion you !! trusting yr cocker will bring you years of joy & its so refreshing to see you taking responsobility before you have yr friend for life. Make sure you puppy proof his area!! they just love socks ,undies ,soft toys,, tissues, tiolet rolls & electrical cords !!!the list goes on so be warned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baileys mum Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 (edited) I think I will use the training pads at night and then place them in his pen during the day. I will gradually inroduce the outside toilet routine as he gets settled in with us. Does this sound like a good idea? My hubby will be taking the pup to work (crated) so I think he will be fine for 2 weeks. Just a suggestion to you, but I wouldn't waste my money with training pads if I where you. Your puppy might be completely different but I bought them for my pup & she ended up just ripping them to shreds!! IMO I think you should just save your money & use newspaper. I also think theres a couple of members on here that have built a doggy toilet using materials from Bunnings. I'm not too sure where the thread is, you might have to do a search. I think it would also be worthwhile introducing him to his outside toilet routine from day 1 , if you want to toilet train him properly, & have the news paper or doggy toilet on hand for emergencies only. Bring your puppy out atleast every 2 hours at the start, or when he has woken up from a sleep, after he has eaten & after he has had a good play. I'm with the others I think maybe you should leave your puppy with his breeder until you start your holidays, as I find that the first 1 to 2weeks of bringing a puppy home is probably the hardest , as they are just settling into your home. I also agree with the crate training, & having a puppy pen during the day, for safe confinement, & for when you just need a rest. Make sure the puppy pen has his toys, newspaper, crate & water in it. Anyway good luck with your pup, & make sure you post heaps of photos of him when he arrives. Nicole. ETA: I don't recommend letting your puppy sleep on your bed until he is properly toilet trained eiother. My Hubby thought that it would be a lovely idea to let our Bailey sleep on the bed with us one night, when he was still a baby. It wasn't so lovely though when we both woke up to a wet bed. Edited November 2, 2008 by Baileys mum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicole... Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 I wouldn't worry about those first 2 weeks being home alone. Our cocker has been home alone through the days since we got her and to be honest she seems to love the routine of us going to work during the week. She sleeps most of the day while we are gone and gets plenty of mental stimulation during the evening/weekends to make up for it. A lot of people (nobody on here of course) tend to think that if you work you aren't entitled to having a dog, but I know for a fact that the quality of the time that we have with Lomani far exceeds what the vast majority of dogs out there get so it isn't an issue. We left her in the laundry with newspaper down one end while we were at work initially. I came home to have lunch with her for the first month or so. Once she was big enough to not escape our yard, we had a doggy door put in and now she has access to the laundry and backyard during the days while we are at work. When it comes to training, phone around the obedience schools in your area to get a feel for the training approaches they use. Trust your gut with the ones that feel good or bad and go along to check them out before committing. Every trainer and dog seems to appreciate different methods so it really is a matter of what you feel comfortable with and what is most effective for your pup. Just remember with cockers that you need to train them early to show them that you are the boss... after only a week or 2 of them knowing how adorable you think they are they have you wrapped around their little paw... trust me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohican Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 I've just come up for air from getting our puppy last Tuesday. I thought I was prepared with a doggy pen, but when we turned around he came running back to us so proud - he could fit through the bars Being a sibe, he looks bigger with all that fur than he really is so we've been tethering him instead and will pen train when he's bigger. "The Puppy Whisperer" has been my Bible Here's what we've been doing: We've car trained with a harness on the way home from picking him up. He had no problems with a 30 min drive as the breeder held off breakfast and my OH fed him small bits in the backseat. One of us is always in the back with him, petting when loud noises or harleys go past to reassure him until he's more trusting. The car is good for socialisation noises and sights too. We also got a crate, but a pop-up canvas kennel (by Petmate) so when we go camping and sledding in the winter he has his own little tent He loves it - after only a week of feeding him only his lunchtime meaty bone in his crate he now sleeps in it voluntarily and it's his little safe area. When he tries to take his bones it out of the crate, I point back to it saying 'in your kennel' and he does a little circle then goes back in - very cute. I'm with everyone else on the den being a haven for dogs. He still likes our low table and under our bed to rest and sleep. The first night we didn't want him sleeping in the bed, but to bond we camped out on the floor in my OHs swag It was great and he snuggled at our feet, didn't cry at all. He went to toilet every 3 hours on the dot. Now he only goes once a night at 1-2am, we always hear him as his tether leads clunks on the metal of his tag. We feed him 7pm at night and take away all food, water and treats after 8pm - the routine and regular meals helps regulate his bowels. This morning was the first time we woke to see him sleeping in his crate - laying on his back paws up and bare bellied - v.cute. It's been a week of constant supervision and training though, by 6.30pm I'm brain dead! I took 2 weeks off work to settle him in and this week I'm upping his alone time. I work 2 days a week and might be going fulltime but will be able to take him to work. We've been doing NILIF training (nothing in life is free), TOT (Triangle of Temptation - highly recommend K9s methods and website on the training forum) and toilet training him for outside from Day 1 and it's all starting to work. He's still a puppy and explores and jumps up, but we ignore the bad behaviour and do time out on a short tether when he is full of beans, usually in the morning for a couple of hours. We've realised that because I'm the one that plays with him the most (he loves tug-of-war toys) he seems to jump up and get my attention more, but we're sure with repetitive tug only with the toys and stopping play when he jumps at me will sink in eventually Because of the tethering he's okay with his lead, and even lead training is working using the stop / start method (when he pulls I stop, he turns to look at why he can't move, then I say 'yes, good boy' and move forward - he quickly learnt that he can only go forward to explore when he stops pulling). He's a pretty good puppy, especially for a sibe! Now the cat is another matter might have to call in home training for that one. I so want both of them to be safe around each other. I hope some of that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerraNik Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Mohican - he's beautiful!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohican Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Aw thanks TerraNik. You guys at this forum have really helped me on the steep learning curve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin-Genie Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Mohican, he is absolutely adorable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohican Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Thanks Odin-Genie. I forgot to add his name is Mohican - I named myself after him He's gorgeous, but getting more jumpy, nippy and excited towards me since playing with him every day. And I've just read on the Leerburg website they don't recommend playing tug with puppies It's his favourite toy. I really hope there isn't a link and I haven't made a bad mistake for a high prey-drive breed. Sorry for the off-topic, but if it also helps dogon then good. I'll post another topic incase it helps others too. I did a search but only found where to buy tug-toys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wish_4_cockerspaniel Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 It's my first time on these forums and couldn't believe it when I read your post - perfect topic, did you read my mind?! We are planning for a cocker spaniel too (just got permission from our landlord - hurrah! ) but my biggest worry was balancing her happiness with my work - clearly giving up work and spending all day with her would be my first choice, but those lottery tickets just don't seem to be paying off! However, reading your posts made me feel that it's going to be ok... I'm going to speak to my boss about working a couple of days from home, and on the other days hope to either find someone to pop in at lunchtime, take her to daycare (!) and when she's old enough get a walker. The evenings/weekends will be quality time. We have our fingers crossed for the puppy of our dreams to be born in an upcoming litter... hopefully by the new year we'll have a new member of our family! ;) Appreciate any further advice people have. PS. Barkly is gorgeous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 We feed him 7pm at night and take away all food, water and treats after 8pm - the routine and regular meals helps regulate his bowels. A dog should always have access to fresh water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke W Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Welcome and good luck getting your pup!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohican Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 We feed him 7pm at night and take away all food, water and treats after 8pm - the routine and regular meals helps regulate his bowels. A dog should always have access to fresh water. I, and others in this forum who suggested it to me and 'The Puppy Whisperer' book (who said to prepare the pup for it's first night by removing all food and water after 8pm) disagree. This is working for us and he's not dying from thirst in the morning. At 10 weeks he now sleeps through the night after going to bed at 9pm then does pees n poos at 6.15am when he wakes. Throughout the day he has access to fresh, filtered water. The vet said he is doing great, weighs 10 kilos and will be a big boy. He'll get another check at 12 wks with his vaccs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 We feed him 7pm at night and take away all food, water and treats after 8pm - the routine and regular meals helps regulate his bowels. A dog should always have access to fresh water. I, and others in this forum who suggested it to me and 'The Puppy Whisperer' book (who said to prepare the pup for it's first night by removing all food and water after 8pm) disagree. This is working for us and he's not dying from thirst in the morning. At 10 weeks he now sleeps through the night after going to bed at 9pm then does pees n poos at 6.15am when he wakes. Throughout the day he has access to fresh, filtered water. The vet said he is doing great, weighs 10 kilos and will be a big boy. He'll get another check at 12 wks with his vaccs. I agree with the no access to food bit in the sense that I do not agree with free feeding so puppy would not have access to food after 8pm - which is somewhat artificial time as surely this depends on your own bedtime? He may not be "dying of thirst" but certainly there would have to be dehydration - does the Puppy Whisperer advocate this approach too on warmer/hot nights? My 15 week old puppy has numerous drinks between 8pm and 11pm (or so) as he is active during this time. He generally sleeps from my bedtime through to around 7 unless I get up in the night and then make him get up too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogon Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 It's the OPer here. Well it's been a long wait for my new pup. He wont be arriving until late December now but I guess that means I have a while to read,learn and prepare! Just the other day I went to pets paradise to purchase some bird treats etc when one of the assistants approached me. I was looking at the crates and thought I might ask the price. I was told that crate training is a waste of time and that the puppy pads would be so much more effective for the new pup who should be placed in the bathroom or laundry over night - it will cry initially but will then settle! She had tried crate training with her pup but it cried the whole time and it 'broke her heart'. Now, I have to wonder, if she got her pup from PP then I would expect it to cry in a crate having been locked in a glass cage for who knows how long, forced to wee and poo in it's own bed. I do wonder if those pups come to their owners completely traumatised by enclosed spaces. Anyway, just thought I'd mention it as an interesting encounter in that big wide world of puppy advice. I will still crate train. On the bright side I did buy a great little book called the 'Ultimate Puppy Tool kit' So far it's worth the buy. Oh, and do people have any time passing suggestions for an impatient soon to be puppy owner? I don't know how long I can wait without bursting from excitement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 It's the OPer here. Well it's been a long wait for my new pup. He wont be arriving until late December now but I guess that means I have a while to read,learn and prepare!Just the other day I went to pets paradise to purchase some bird treats etc when one of the assistants approached me. I was looking at the crates and thought I might ask the price. I was told that crate training is a waste of time and that the puppy pads would be so much more effective for the new pup who should be placed in the bathroom or laundry over night - it will cry initially but will then settle! She had tried crate training with her pup but it cried the whole time and it 'broke her heart'. Now, I have to wonder, if she got her pup from PP then I would expect it to cry in a crate having been locked in a glass cage for who knows how long, forced to wee and poo in it's own bed. I do wonder if those pups come to their owners completely traumatised by enclosed spaces. Anyway, just thought I'd mention it as an interesting encounter in that big wide world of puppy advice. LOL - Pets Paradise staff wouldn't know jack about animals! Any opportunity to plug their own stuff. I refuse to shop there (or anywhere that sells animals) - I'd rather go somewhere where the staff know what they are talking about! As for waiting for your pup.... no tips here, I am useless when I am waiting for my puppy to come home and its all I can think or talk about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin-Genie Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Oh, and do people have any time passing suggestions for an impatient soon to be puppy owner? I don't know how long I can wait without bursting from excitement Set up the place for your puppy. Get toys for him. Go and visit the puppy. I still remember the day I got Odin. We had his puppy pen all set up next to our bedroom with his little bed inside. I remember every moment, including how he slept on my lap all the way home It's a special day and worth the wait. Enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogon Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) Set up the place for your puppy. I can just see my OH face when I set up puppy's play pen and crate complete with toys etc next to our bed. Our Pup is six weeks from arriving! great fuel for the claim that I've finally lost it .....but yes, Odin-Genie, I can't wait to hold him on that special ride home Edited November 13, 2008 by dogon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Don't forget to add in the look-a-like toy dog so you can get used to seeing a dog in the pen!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogon Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 Don't forget to add in the look-a-like toy dog so you can get used to seeing a dog in the pen!! Ok.... so, would that be the toy that whines and howls all night or the one that wees and poos continuously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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