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  1. #1
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    Question Stuffed Kongs and Housetraining

    We are bringing home our 8wk old Lab puppy next week, and our family is very excited! It's been over 15yrs since I last had a puppy so have been doing lots of refresher reading of various training books.

    I had a question specifically about advice to leave your crated dog with a stuffed kong to keep him entertained, and in the case of puppies, help them love chewtoys rather than other things (this is from Ian Dunbar's book especially). However, I'm trying to reconcile this with information that puppies need to urinate and defecate right after eating.

    So, what do/did you do with your puppy? Did you leave him with a kong with treats in his crate to help him transition from you leaving until he fell asleep, or use another method? We were inclined to split his morning ration between his bowl and a kong, but now I'm wondering if that's a bad idea. My DH and I both work but will be having a dog walker come in the late morning.

    Thank you!

  2. #2
    Senior Dog ZoeysMommy's Avatar
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    I personally have never given such a young puppy a kong. My youngest is 14 weeks and she just got her first kong 2 nights ago. At 8 weeks the poop comes out as quick as the food goes in. I work 8 to 5 and come home for a hour at noon, I carefully scheduled meals around that schedule so that im available when she needs to go. At 14 weeks she is basically potty trained at this point and isnt showing any signs that she cant hold it at least for a while, now she gets extras. She is easily holding it 4.5 to 5 hours in her crate and 8 to 9 hours at night

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Georgia's Avatar
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    Congrats on your new puppy! I'm from Northern Virginia too. Before I started working from home, I had an excellent dog walker. Let me know if you need a recommendation. Regarding the Kong, I never used one with such a young puppy.
    Last edited by Georgia; 01-15-2016 at 08:52 AM.
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  4. #4
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    Thanks, very helpful. Do you leave an empty kong, or any sort of bone or amusement in the crate when you leave? My last puppy almost 20yrs ago was a spaniel and I'd leave her with a towel as a blanket and a nylabone to chew, but I've never raised a lab from puppyhood.

  5. #5
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    We've never done kongs. Mine are fine in their crates with nothing. One of my pup's lost bed privileges too since she chewed things apart. Nothing in the crate. they'll be sleeping.

  6. #6
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    interesting. i never crate a dog without something. usually a kong or maybe a handful of kibble or some high valu treats. I keep the crate a constant place of good stuff. rewards for going in. Mind you, i've never had a puppy either (5-6 months were the youngest fosters).

    I'd probably be tempted to leave a kong. but not frozen. maybe a touch of pb (since it's a baby really not much) and maybe a small handful of kibble in there.

    I am pretty picky about toys i leave in a crate (the black kong is all I use). some low level chewers may get a nylabone or antler. Bedding again depends on the dog, some dogs get none :P

 



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