1st time owner! Puppy Questions Please help!

[mrdigby]

Also, pay close attention to the pooch when he is exploring his new house. He/she will have "tells" that will clue you in that its time to go outside. And keep in mind that their bladders are probably the size of a peanut at this point, so don't blame him if he gives you the "tell" 3 seconds before its go time.

[jertom]

welcome.
here's a book that I happen to like, I'm sure there are many others.
"Good Owners, Great Dogs" by Brian Kilcommons
best of luck with your pup.

[doubledip1]

Welcome! Lots of useful threads here.

[SnappinSami]

Also, pay close attention to the pooch when he is exploring his new house. He/she will have "tells" that will clue you in that its time to go outside. And keep in mind that their bladders are probably the size of a peanut at this point, so don't blame him if he gives you the "tell" 3 seconds before its go time.

This made me chuckle. Tucker's tell for pooping was that he'd start circling 4-5 times and then squat. The first time, we thought it was funny, until he went on an area rug. After that, we knew when he started his "poop dance," we needed to get him outside FAST.

He still does the poop dance outside. And it still makes me chuckle.

[jmwoody]

Congratulations.
Some play things
-an empty plastic water or soda bottle (make sue cap and tap or off) as a puppy this is free and will last a day(then give the pup a new one ) take it away once a tear gets in
-elk/deer anthers ( cost about 20 to 30 bucks) but will last months
-Nyla bone ( some dogs like them ) some don't
-Kong toy (get the black one shaped like a snow man fill it with his food/kibble with in a little plain yogurt to the kibble to keep it frozen and freeze it overnight
Hey every dog need a squeaky toy (go for the softer plastic ones they last longer for some reason)

Crate training (get a crate)
I train my dogs in less then one day to house break(my training is crap on other things(but I am the potty whisperer)
Try to get your pup on the weekend (even better take Thursday and Friday as vacation days)
Go in and outside with your pup as much as possible
When you are going out carry them out ,,don't let them touch the ground till you are outside.
Get a crate with a divider in it..the first day make SHORT TRIPS out(say no more then a half hour) and put you pup in the cage
When you retun again CARRY the pup out never let them touch the ground when you are outside
Also when you pus pees or poops congradulate the HELL out of them ,,clap jump up and down tell them how good they are
The next day leave for 2 hours,,,if no mess in the cage then extend the cage.
I always let mine sleep with me from day one..
If I got in the middle of the might..i would CARRY then outside again don't let them touch the ground till you get outside
If you keep them in a crate at night I would still take them out if you get up in the middle of the night again CARRY THEM out
Remember at a young age they can not hold it in for too long,
I would get up at least 2 times a might
Yeah it was hard to get up..but I was not on my hands and knee's clearing up poop and pee throughout the day

Good luck

Hey- Thanks!
So far our pup has been crying and howling and barking all night in his crate. We have it close by us so he can see us and even put our hand down to be closer.. doesn't seem to phase him We are on night 4 with him. Is this normal? Also, during the day when he falls asleep I pick him up and place him in the crate. Immediately he wakes and finds a spot outside of his crate. When I have a quick errand to run and am out anywhere from 30 mins to an hour I put him in his crate. I come home to him standing up barking and whining. When can I expect this to pass? Thank You!

[Jimbo B]

Make him LIKE his crate
When Moses was a pup I feed him in the crate For at least 2 months
The crate door was opened and I would just put his food dish in the crate,
When I would leave I also put a little snack or kibble in the cage .
I never left food or water in the cage when I left (but did give Moses a snack in the cage.. and then close the door

Never had a problem with any dogs whimpering at night that is cause I let them in bed (not saying that is the right thing to do)

But I am sure the crying is just a stage and it will pass soon

How is his potty training going..?