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  1. #1
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Lithuania
    Posts
    14
    Thanked: 12

    Wink Can you please give me some advise on how to train my new lab pup?

    Hello everyone, Im Mykolas (you can call me Michael) and Im from Lithuania, Im 18 years old, found this interesting forum, because just 2 days ago, we brought a new member to our family, a black lab pup, and we are very happy about it, and the pup seems to like us too! It was a birthday gift for me, but what is also very funny, is that me and our new dog's birthdays are on the same day .So the dog is currently 2 months old and pees wherever he wants inside the house. Of course, we try to get him to do his business outside and he does, but he is still just making progress by holding his pee when in the house. What I would like to know, is what would be the most appropriate way to potty train him? Of course, I don't scold him if I find a pile of s!#% or a little splash momments AFTER he does it. I only say "NO" loudly when I see him starting doing it and then I take him outside immediately. Should I really just interrupt him like that, or should I wait until he finishes peeing/pooping inside while scolding him lightly? The people we bought him from told not to pamper him too much and be a bit strict with him, which is what I do. But what kind of "strict" is too much? It's very hard to get the dog's attention at the moment, but I try not to scare him (actually, it doesn't seem like he is). He really likes cheewing plants also, which is not very good I suppose? lol. And also, wanted to ask bout mouthing/ playful biting and clothes chewing. Should I let him do it, or should I tell him "NO" every time he tries to playful bite me? Some people find it cute i suppose, but to me it's quite annoying, one time he bit my nose while licking me. Anyway, don't get me wrong, I REALLY LOVE MY NEW PUP and I feel responsible for his well being, I just don't want him to get too many bad habits and I want him to obey me when needed. So just to put everything straight, I want to know your opinion on potty training, scolding and mouthing. THANKS! CHEERS!!!

  2. #2
    Senior Dog
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Williamsburg, Virginia
    Posts
    2,610
    Thanked: 2964
    Welcome, Michael!

    What is your puppy's name? Be sure to post photos when you have enough posts.

    You are smart to work on positive habits for your puppy early.

    1. Potty training. Puppies are babies and have no idea what is expected of them. Until he is house trained, he should always be very closely watched, every second. This is super demanding on owners, so you'll need a place for him to be kept safe when you can't watch him like a hawk. I highly recommend crate training. At his age, the puppy should either be interacting with you, tethered to you, or in his crate. You should be taking him out very regularly (once an hour when he's awake), and immediately after eating or waking up from a nap. You'll also learn his signals that he's about to pee or poop, so you can rush him outside before he eliminates. Since he's a baby, it's your responsibility to get him outside; when he pees or poops inside, see it as your failure, not his.

    2. Puppy biting. Labs are awful biters, so you are EXACTLY RIGHT to not find it cute but to think about how to train him. Labrador retrievers are mouthy breeds. Usually at around 10 weeks old, they start putting everything in their mouths. This is how they explore their new worlds, how they communicate with other dogs, and often they are teething and that hurts. What this means for you is that your perfectly adorable puppy is suddenly a no-fun-at-all biting machine. Those puppy teeth are razor sharp and hurt! Now, some lab puppies never bite, and some stop after a few redirections, but a lot are what we call on this board "piranha puppies." They bite and bite and bite until their adult teeth come in (around 4 months). So first:

    1) Your puppy is not "aggressive." New owners, especially those with small human children, worry that this biting phase means their puppy is unbalanced and evil. No, this is just a (very unpleasant) phase. But also a really important phase, because this is the time you'll be teaching your pup bite inhibition.

    2) Bite inhibition means your dog will learn that as soon as human skin comes in contact with her mouth, she needs to be very, very gentle. Labs have an amazing soft mouth; they can carry eggs shells in their mouths without breaking the shell. But this ability comes with training from you and any other dogs she encounters.

    3) Patience, patience, patience. People with biting puppies often post to the board reporting they tried x, y, or z, and it didn't work! No, this is one of those problems where there's no quick or instant fix. Get ready to settle down and redirect, correct, and train for 1 month+. You'll say "no bite" a million times, and you won't see improvement. But keep doing it, over, and over, and over, until you're saying "no bite" in your sleep. It *will* click. But puppies are babies, and you need to be patient and consistent.

    The most often-used strategies for dealing with a land shark puppy:
    *Yelp when the puppy bites you. This mimics the feedback they get from other puppies, but the noise can actually excite some.
    *Redirect to another toy. When you get bitten, (gently) shove an appropriate toy in the puppy's mouth.
    *Time outs. Put the puppy in a crate or safe place if she is too wound up or overtired.
    *More exercise. Sometimes a puppy needs the opposite of rest and it's time to go run around the yard to release some energy.
    *Come to this board and vent. Many of us have been through this and know the pain!

    The puppy training board here has a sticky (started by me) with lots of great advice: Puppy biting!
    Stormageddon, Princess of Darkness, aka "Stormy"
    Birthday 9-13-18, Gotcha Day 11-11-18
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  3. The Following User Says Thank You to kimbersmom For This Useful Post:

    Annette47 (11-10-2016)

  4. #3
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Lithuania
    Posts
    14
    Thanked: 12
    Hey, thank you for your attention!!! His name is Bekas (Beck in English) I have a photo of him as my profile avatar. Again, thank you for your attention and I am looking forward for this forum!

  5. #4
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    10,985
    Thanked: 6722
    Hello and Welcome!

    Not the best at puppy advise as we home the seniors.

    Love, patience, positive reinforcement, patience, praise, patience, treats, and or did I say patience.
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    Kissing Bandit

 



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