New Parents Of A Labrador Pup Seeking Advice

[Guest D&T6]

My wife and I are the proud parents of a two week old labrador that we will be bringing home in six weeks. We are very keen to crate train him but have read a few different angles on how to approach it and are unsure which would be the best way. If anybody has some advice to help us in giving our new addition to our family the best start it would be greatly appreciated.

Also for the first nine days of having him home I will be home for him but after that I will be back at work. I am the first to get home at about 6pm. We will feed him in the morning and when I get home and some supper in the evening, so we would like to know what the best amount of food to feed him for each meal as we will have him on the BARF diet of raw meat, vegies and rice minced.

Any other useful advice would be welcomed.

[Wazzat Xolo]

Everyone has there own view on crating, but cant the breeder suggest what is best for the dog you are buying, generally the breeder is the best approach!

J

This is how I have done it!!

But I dont fit in a crate!

Crate training is really like the old style DENS that dogs are instinctively used to, like a darkened nesting place where they can feel safe, and their own space.

Crates are not a PUNISHMENT and should not be used a such.

Crates can be good for dogs that have separation anxiety, or house accident problems as in young pups.

A dog of any age can be crate trained.

Make sure when introducing your dog to the crate a lengthy desensitization period is used, praise and rewards MUST be associated with the crate, and plenty of patience. Remember, if you make the crate a good place your dog will see that too.

Select the correct size crate.

Leave it somewhere so your dog can investigate it at her leisure for a couple of days with the door removed. Sometimes taking the top half off as well helps..

Try leaving a favourite treat inside it or a favourite toy, If you have to, coax her in using irresistible treat, or when all else fails (and the crate is big enough), climb in yourself ( have camera ready!!).

Once they been in and out of it a few times, start to feed them in the crate, with the top half back in place, but the door still removed.

Praise and reward always.

Start to close the door and open it again gradually increasing the time.

Then close the door, and shut your dog in, DO NOT make a fuss. Best done when they are eating, point, you can either stand there and wait or walk away, but not so far that you can't hear.

If they start to cry, do not go and let them out, wait until they settle and when all is quiet, then you can open the door and let them leave the crate.

Continue this for a number of days.

Best to have the crate close by at night for the start of the pups new home life so you can get up and take them out to avoid accidents in the crate.

Once you are past the first two or three nights, both you and your puppy should be comfortable with the crate, and your nights will be easier. It won't be long before your pup and you are as one!!

Good Luck

My wife and I are the proud parents of a two week old labrador that we will be bringing home in six weeks. We are very keen to crate train him but have read a few different angles on how to approach it and are unsure which would be the best way. If anybody has some advice to help us in giving our new addition to our family the best start it would be greatly appreciated.

Also for the first nine days of having him home I will be home for him but after that I will be back at work. I am the first to get home at about 6pm. We will feed him in the morning and when I get home and some supper in the evening, so we would like to know what the best amount of food to feed him for each meal as we will have him on the BARF diet of raw meat, vegies and rice minced.

Any other useful advice would be welcomed.

Edited October 8, 2009 by Wazzat Xolo

[poodlefan]

We will have him on the BARF diet of raw meat, vegies and rice minced.

Any other useful advice would be welcomed.

If you're going to feed raw, make sure most of his meat is fed on the bone. Chicken necks and wings are a good size for pups. He needs the calcium from bone to grow properly.

[Seita]

Make sure you get pup used to being alone from the day you bring him home and build him to longer periods of time so that when you go back to work after those first 9 days he won't freak out. Find a good safe area to confine him while at work and start by putting him in there for half an hour or so while he eats a meal, then gradually increase the time so by the time your 9 days are up he will be fine to stay in his pen for the whole day.

Pups usually need 3 meals a day so try giving him a treat ball or something similar to feed him his lunch -this will keep him busy trying to get food out and also provide that third meal. This is a bit challenging to do with raw feeding so you can try sticking a couple of necks into a kong and filling the kong with some stock and freezing it so it's a tasty iceblock for him to play with through the day. I have always done this sort of thing with puppies and now that it's warming up it's perfect to keep them occupied and cool!!!

The only other advice I can give is do loads of research on raising a pup, there are some good e-books title before you get your puppy and after you get your puppy but I can't remember who wrote them - maybe someone else will post the links up for you!

[Bully]

The only other advice I can give is do loads of research on raising a pup, there are some good e-books title before you get your puppy and after you get your puppy but I can't remember who wrote them - maybe someone else will post the links up for you!

Dr Ian Dunbar. Check out the website Before You Get Your Puppy ;) Brilliant website with lots of great articles. Good luck with the new puppy ;)

I feed a BARF diet, but don't feed any cereal. A dog's digestive tract isn't designed to eat cereal. Dog food companies use it as a cheap source of protein and filler. Cereal products are the biggest cause of allergies. If we have a leftover rice or pasta dish I'll give it to Pele, but it's not part of her regular diet

Crates are great! I don't think that we would have survived Pele's puppyhood without a crate. Pele loves her crate and chooses to go in their rather than her basket. If we are at a dog show or obedience trial I have to bribe Pele out of her crate

[luvsdogs]

The only other advice I can give is do loads of research on raising a pup, there are some good e-books title before you get your puppy and after you get your puppy but I can't remember who wrote them - maybe someone else will post the links up for you!

Dr Ian Dunbar. Check out the website Before You Get Your Puppy Brilliant website with lots of great articles. Good luck with the new puppy

I feed a BARF diet, but don't feed any cereal. A dog's digestive tract isn't designed to eat cereal. Dog food companies use it as a cheap source of protein and filler. Cereal products are the biggest cause of allergies. If we have a leftover rice or pasta dish I'll give it to Pele, but it's not part of her regular diet

Crates are great! I don't think that we would have survived Pele's puppyhood without a crate. Pele loves her crate and chooses to go in their rather than her basket. If we are at a dog show or obedience trial I have to bribe Pele out of her crate

That's the website I always recommend to new puppy owners. Keep in mind that young pups up to 6 m/o need 3 meals a day & from 6-12 m/o 2 meals a day.Is there any way you can come home at lunchtime or have someone else feed him in the middle of the day at least for the 1st weeks after getting him.