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a2gemini_gw

Getting ready for puppy. Any pearls of wisdom

9 years ago

Hi all,

i have been a regular on kitchens and appliances but relatively new to the pet forum.

We are adopting a Berger Picard puppy in a few weeks. We are excited. It is our first puppy, although we vacation sat for friends over the years.

We are working on puppy proofing the house. We ordered a crate and a few toys today. We are borrowing some gates and a playpen/room divider.

We are identifying a vet, puppy classes, etc

What pearls of wisdom do you have for us?

Thanks

Comments (51)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    A common thumb rule, the length of time your pup can go without relieving itself is its age in months plus one hours.... Two month pup plus one means that 8 week old pup needs to out every three hours.

    That's around the clock!!!

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  • 9 years ago

    SaltiDawg,

    You've conjured memories of when I had my first pup. It was like having a baby, up every few hours until his bladder was big enough to "hold it" through the night.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    When I bred my three Bulldog litters, I was up every 2-3 hours to stimulate, nurse, clean, around the clock.

    My wife taught me not to whine about this to any woman that has had a baby. lol

  • 9 years ago

    Thanks for the hints so far.

    Trance - betting you are a gemini as well. Cord management is a big concern. I want to get some cord wraps or maybe even pipe insulation. We won't allow chewing of cords(swap out a chew toy if spotted) but at least won't be chewing the actual cord until we intervene.

    According to the breeder, house training is progressing well. i bought a few Kong toys to start.

    Zmith - we have The art of raising a puppy, before and after puppy and Cesar's book. We will check out the other one as well. My friend who raises Gordan setters recommended the first one

    Thanks for reinforcing my thoughts on limited house access. We plan to increase house access as puppy shows he is able to behave. This is why I am borrowing my friend'FrontGate system. It should be perfect for our house coupled with strategically located pet gates. I am so happy we can borrow as these are so expensive and I shouldn't need them in the long run thee way our house is set up.

    We will identify a kennel but hoping to do some friendly dog swapping. So far, we have 4 friends lined up to dog sit. 2 have picards.

    SaltDawg- betting you live on the coast. We will want our puppy to swim when appropriate age. Most are good swimmers.

    Been warning DH that the duties are shared. So, when puppy wants to go out, we take turns. Hoping this works. I want to get a bell for the door and teach puppy to wiggle the bell to let us know he wants to go out. I also plan to re-seal the tile as some dogs of this size have excitement leaks. If my husband whines, I will get him some cheese to go with the "wine".

    This is so exciting! Just 2.5 weeks to go! I have to admit that I am a bit nervous. I am hoping that all of our prep work will pay off. At the same time, I expect many hiccups!


  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Not on the coast... my chosen breed was (English) Bulldogs.

    "SaltDawg- betting you live on the coast. We will want our puppy to swim when appropriate age. Most are good swimmers."

    Many suggest that Bulldogs can not swim. Some of mine could, some sank like rocks. I now have a Greyhound, but no pool.

    I do like Kong toys but I also used Nylabone chew toys in the belief that they are good for the teeth. Your pups will have very sharp teeth and want to chew on furniture, cabinet corners, piano legs, your legs, etc, etc.

    I favor the crate when not under my direct supervision, with less emphasis on gates, etc. That said, they certainly have their value. Rather than "gates" I used particle board shelving from like Home Depot. Maybe 14-16" tall, painted white with a contrasting band painted at the top for human visibility. When the Bulldogs were wee, this served to stop them and allowed us to step over the low "gate" without messing with a gate. With time and training and growth, the dogs accepted this as a barrier even tho they physically could hop over. (Thus the cats got to their litter boxes and humans simply stepped over with the groceries, and the dogs knew "No!"

  • 9 years ago

    Too funny and appreciate the advice. I had a friend trip climbing over and broke her femur so think a gate might be good as I trip on anything below my knees LOL.

    We will crate when not supervised but use the room divider and gates to expand their horizons as appropriate.

    This dog will be big enough in time to climb over so will need to learn boundaries.

  • 9 years ago

    For me, the biggest hurdle right off the bat is house training and you have to be 100% consistent and determined to take your puppy out frequently, right after meals and at any sign that they are going to go.

    And reward, reward, reward!!

    Also, I feel you really need to be VERY careful about socializing, as the wrong interaction with other dogs can scar your pup for life.

    We socialized our Bichon at a local daycare/training/boarding facility. They offer puppy social hour on Saturdays, for dogs up to 6 months old. After that, they could no longer attend since play changes as they grow older and interact differently.

    It was great to socialize in a professionally supervised atmosphere, without the risks of dog parks, which you should be very wary of, especially with a puppy.

    I hope this helps!

  • 9 years ago

    Kirby is our first time puppy and the difference between "raising" and adult and puppy is vast!

    I echo what others have said about constant supervision and walks. I had to "childproof" my house all over again. Wish I'd saved all those socket covers. Kirby was not allowed to run freely but just in case……...

    It helps to acclimate to a crate early on. We threw treats and toys in there and left the door open when we were the same room. The puppy could go in and out of his own volition and made it less threatening when we closed the door.

    Never give your puppy the run of the house-Kirby was always tethered and not allowed to jump on couches, beds etc. Watch those wires--our previous dog caused us to miss almost a week of television before the cable company could replace them.

    It's really exciting and rewarding to "start from scratch"--take lots of pictures!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I hope you will post a picture when the pup arrives. I'm sure you will be just fine. All puppies should be so welcomed into their new homes.

    If you have shoes you like to wear, keep them put up above puppy's reach. Also, TP is a lot of fun.



  • 9 years ago

    When your pup is first home make sure with potty training you take him to the same place each time you go out. Give the command "go potty" or whatever you are going to tell him then as soon as he goes a teeny piece of pupperoni which you have in your jacket pocket. A low voice with praise while he is going but not so happy as to distract. Lots of happy praise afterwards. Soon he'll know to go potty on command which makes life a lot easier. No waiting in the rain while he picks just the right spot. Try not to rush right back in the house as he'll get the idea to try to hold it so he gets more fun time outside. Have your shoes and jacket and his leash at the ready...carry him out when he is small so he doesn't have a chance to squat as he goes to the door. He has to go after he wakes, after he eats, after he plays after he chews on his bone...all the time :) If he falls asleep someplace besides his crate gently put him in the crate and close the door. He'll wake there and you'll know and he won't have a chance to pee before you see he is awake. Oh...we've taught a few to ring a bell when they want to go out. Just hang one by the door and *you* ring it as you go out with him...soon he'll do it. It's cure but I did begin to wonder who was in charge as I got up and down for the door all day :)

    Lots of work but lots of love!

  • 9 years ago

    For those of you who are not familiar with the Berger Picard breed -. It was also the breed used in Because of Winn-Dixie but we saw the movie after meeting a few of them. We definitely didn't start out looking for a rare breed - we looked at rescue(DH is not a rescue type of person), most dogs were too big, too little, too hairy, not enough hair, too much shedding, too active, etc.

    When we found the Picard - we knew it was "just right" (from Goldilocks and the Bears)

    Here is a video from the AKC on the breed

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSqIfvDeDlU

    We are signed up for puppy socialization classes and promise no dog parks for now. There are private dog parks around that are not free for all but part of training centers. We have 3 major training centers in town that all use positive training. I am not sure if any use clicker training or not. I am not sure I am coordinated enough for a clicker anyway....

    The puppy will be just about 10 weeks old when we pick him up. Hopefully mom and the breeder have taught him some manners.

    Annz3 - We have identified a spot for puppy to go outside and will give lots of treats! Thanks

    One book recommends going out for 3 minutes - if successful - go for a walk. If not, go back inside and wait 15-30 minutes and try again. If successful, the reward is a walk (and of course some wonderful treats) The idea is to separate the potty from the walk so you don't have to carry a load with you.... Of course, it won't always work.... Interesting on the bell - we have a 2 story house and afraid the puppy might need to go and we won't realize it - so thought the bell would be a good idea - I do know that my DB's dog does overplay the bells at times.

    Socks - definitely will post a picture of our puppy. We are leaning towards the name Gatsby but it is not for sure. When I post the registered name, the name Gatsby will make sense. We have a bad habit of leaving shoes around by the door - we are working on breaking the habit. Fortunately, most of our shoes are casual shoes but definitely don't want our bike shoes to turn into lunch...

    Nanny - We are working on puppy proofing the house. It has been a challenge as we have lots of bike ride sheets etc hidden under the coffee and corner table. Been purging like mad and barely looks like we made a dent. TP - Oh no - I think there was a scene in Because of Winn-Dixie with TP all over the house.

    Keep the ideas flowing! I am sure we will hit items that we haven't thought about.

  • 9 years ago

    FOOD! Discuss with the breeder what food Gatsby:) is being fed and purchase that brand. If you decide to transition, do it gradually (mixing it with the old one).

    VET: If you haven't already chosen one, do so before you need a visit. Word of mouth is a good way to start the search. Also, decide whether you want pet insurance.

    TOYS: Do not give inadvertently give items that you will regret. In my case, old socks were cheap and available and I didn't care if they were destroyed. Until the dog failed to distinguish between old and new. Grrrrr.

  • 9 years ago

    Nanny- good points. The breeder uses a mix so we will purchase a small/med amount to start with. The Pet stores have a food vault that looks like it should work for storage.

    Thanks for the reminder about toys. We have plush toys for the grand nephews so will hold out on plush dog toys. And definitely no socks. We don't want Gatsby to muni our merino wall socks!

    Any thoughts on best bowls? The pet store bowls look so cheap and flimsy. I saw some US SS 18/10 bowls that looked good but not sure about the frame.

    Just found a local pet store to check out to see what they carry. They specialize in good food but are a full service pet store as well.

    Saltdawg- going to hunt your toys as well. I also think we had the coast discussion on another thread on fence height.

    Thanks again. I am feeling more confident that we have hit most of the items listed but refreshers are good. We leave in 2 weeks to pick up Gatsby.


  • 9 years ago

    A SS bowl will do just fine. Just be sure it doesn't pit. I would't spend a ton of money on it.

    Not sure you need it elevated.

    I don't think you'll need to address fast gobbling with your puppy, but if he does turn out to hork his food down, you might think about a "slow feed" bowl, such as the Brake-Fast.

  • 9 years ago

    a2gemini, I really like how you acknowledge each poster's comments. Nice to be "heard".

    We had an array of fancy bowls and ended up using a small paper plate layered with a paper towel. Then we throw away the paper and re-use the plate. Who knew?

    We have a baby's plastic bowl for water which was exactly the right size for Kirby. As long as you keep it out of sunlight, it's fine.

    If you have a "gobbler", here's some tips:

    http://www.mypawsitivelypets.com/2014/02/5-tips-to-make-your-dog-eat-slower.html

  • 9 years ago

    Just like babies, puppies and dogs do best with a routine. It's ok to change it up now and then but for the most part, routine is their friend.

    Puppies chew naturally because of teething, but often times, excessive chewing and misbehaving when they pass that phase can be a sign of boredom. I suspect you've done the research and have a good idea about what to expect in regards to the energy levels of the breed. Having some ideas about how you're going to exercise him will help.

    When we got our Lab the one thing the Vet kept stressing to us is "a happy puppy is a tired puppy". She told us about doggie day care and at first I thought it was a crazy idea, but we took her advise and I have to say, she was right! There are so many things doggie day care helps with including socialization with other dogs and people, exercise and manners. I hate the idea of our dog being home alone everyday while we worked. Daycare sort of breaks that up a bit.

    Whether you decide to continue with the food your breeder is using or change it to something else, be sure to do your research. There are so many options and choices that it can be overwhelming. What's key though is to avoid products that are either manufactured in or sourced from China. Those are the products with a large number of recalls and you really want to avoid those problem foods.

    A lot of the chewy bones like raw hides are also not good for dogs and can cause blockage so before you give your puppy anything like that, you may want to talk to your Vet first.


    `

  • 9 years ago

    How exciting for you, A2! I'm glad your Gatsby will be 10 weeks old when he comes home - they learn and grow SO much in those first weeks, so he should be much further along the learning curve on potty training/bladder control.

    You've gotten lots of good advice already. Another book I liked was "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With".

    When our pup was a pup, we would leash him to us in the house. Not only did it ensure he didn't sneak off to get into trouble, it helped us to remember he was there.

    We tried to teach our current dog to ring a bell by the door, but it didn't take (in spite of the fact that he learned lots of other tricks). He lets us know he needs to go out by standing by the door - and if we don't notice right away, he comes looking for us. I wouldn't worry too much about bell training for quite a while, since you'll be taking him out on a schedule for a long time. And it will probably go better after he has learned some basic obedience.

    One of the biggest things is consistency. And make sure everyone in the family knows the rules - you can decide now how you will deal with table scraps, furniture, crating. I like to start out strict - it's always easier to be more lenient later than to take something away.0\ Our pup wasn't allowed on the furniture for the first year - and after that, he only jumped on the couch when invited. And remember to treat him now like a full-sized dog - things that are cute from a little puppy aren't so cute from a big dog.


  • 9 years ago

    Nanny - my pleasure. I can't acknowledge every point but reading them and making a list.

    I think your idea will be good for some dogs. Probably won't use disposable as working towards no disposables in the house. It started a few years ago when I was having a holiday party and was peaved at the cost of holiday paper products. I happened to be in World Market(the 3rd store in search of cheap paper) and saw their white porcelain plates were on sale and the rest is history. They have paid themselves off already and no broken plates. An added bonus - no one spills the food off the collapsing plate. So now, am working on decreasing "stock" in paper towels. DH uses a lot of them and I bought a lot of cloth towels for him and we have a lot of old towels and microfiber towels for puppy. I am sure some paper will be used

    As far as Gatsby - I think we need some weight in the bowl. They are graceful runners but a bit clumsy around water bowls.

    I did pick up a few gobbler items - not that he won't be a perfect gentleman but using the ideas from Before and After Puppy. A bowl of food is snarfed down in 5 minutes and puppy has 23 hours and 55 minutes to get into trouble. By using slow feeders that require some work - now he has a job to forage for some food.

    Lukki/Annh -in our typical fashion - over researched which is why we are seeking practical hints from the group. DH is reading your book recommendation currently. He struggled with the beginner as it asks more questions than it answers but I told him to stick with it. I liked the developmental stages and soft mouth.

    We have heard a tired dog is a good dog and are identying ways to tire puppy without overdoing the activity.

    Definirely will not buy Chinese dog food. I also read an article on rawhide. The breeder does not feed raw but when teething - she gives the dog a frozen beef rib to gnaw.

    We are retired so may not need puppy day care unless we can't get enough socialization with other dogs. For now, Gatsby is enrolled in 2 puppy kindergartens (socialization classes) and there is a drop in the n one at a local pet store.

    I wasn't aware of puppy day care but will look into it as a back up - Thanks.

  • 9 years ago

    Just a couple thoughts as I read the post above.

    Ask your vet about intense activities to avoid as puppy's growing and you don't want to damage his growth plates ;-)

    Doggy daycare is wonderful for socialization and YOUR freedom for a whole day! Also, it's good to have a trusted daycare and boarding facility just in case you need to drop your dog off. You never know.

    n.b. Many vets have boarding, too. We will use our vet for short boarding, and our amazing country kennel facility for longer, planned boarding.

    Many people have friends and family that they can call upon to care for their dogs while they're gone, but if you're like us and you don't, it's best to be proactive and establish those sort of backup plans, just in case.

    With just our Bichon, we used daycare about 3x a month. We'll probably use it less now that we have a second dog, but believe me, we'll still use it!

    Last week, I got the whole day to myself when I dropped them off. No having to run back home and I could be out and about for hours. Ahhhhh!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Re bowls needing some heft. I've always used SS Bowls as I find them easy to clean and no crevices for stuff to get stuck in. The downsize has always been that they don't weigh much and would get moved around by my Bulldogs when eating and drinking.

    Last year I discovered "DURAPET" SS Bowls when I got my Greyhound from the track in Tampa. Heavy gauge SS with a rubber edge around the base's perimeter. The rubber adds heft and helps to prevent the bowl from sliding.

    Many different sizes. A little more pricey - I think I paid like $10 each for my two. I find they clean as well and as easily as plain SS. Shop around, huge variation in price. Most local pet stores will carry them, so you can take a look if you want.

    In any event, not all SS bowls are made of the same weight or gauge SS. You likely want the heftier ones.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    We tried several bowls...one to make sure she slowed down. It's a non skid that skidded.

    Then we did a heavier and pricier one that wouldn't skid called the Maze. Nice bowl but too small for her to comfortably eat the kibble. I always felt like it was hurting her gums.

    Then we did a simple stainless and she freaked out over the reflections! Would not go near it. So I ended up with a ceramic that is perfection. It cleans easy, it's not too big or too small, it's heavier and does not skid and there's no reflections.

    We raise her water because she tends to get gas when we don't but we don't raise her food because we've been told that a raised dish can contribute to canine gout in larger barrel chested dogs. I'd never heard of it before but the doggie day care told me about it and I did some research. It's definitely something to be aware of.

    I saw you had a good store in your area, but if you get tired of lugging those bags from the store, there is a site called Chewy.com and they have a huge selection, great prices and free 2 day shipping 49.00 and over. If you do a scheduled shipment you can get another 5% discount. Their customer service is pretty super too.

  • 9 years ago

    Mimi- on our vet list to ask about activities. We may limit activity but the dogs love to play and run with other dogs. Not sure how to tell puppy - you are playing too hard. Interesting idea - a friend is going to puppy camp at a place that has day care.

    Salt - I have been ogling some US 18/10 SS bowls but I don't like the holders.

    I have a gift certificate with free shipping at Frontgate - thinking of trying this system. If you have time, please watch the video. I trip on floor items so as much for me as puppy.

    http://www.frontgate.com/neater-feeder-26-23153-system-for-dogs-and-cats/157344

    I looked at the nylabone on Amazon but too many choices so plan to look locally.

    Irish - too funny! I will have to look up the gout issues. It runs in our family but hopefully not puppy's family.

    I did buy a few feeding toys to try

    Amazon came through with our replacement car crate. I am going to order the home crate as well. Initially, I figured we would share the home/travel crate but not as easy as I thought so we will order the adult crate with a divider.

    For starters- I thought I could use some older fleece blankets for bedding that are easy to wash and once we remove the divider, purchase the crate beds- OK?

    Thanks all! I am loving all of the ideas.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yes, our bowl drama is pretty funny, especially when you look at what we started with and where we ended up. Our dog certainly has her quirks and it was sort of funny to see her reaction to the stainless steel bowl.

    I watched the video you provided, what an interesting and well rounded breed of dog. I've never heard of it before but I bet he's going to be a lot of fun. Your mention of feeding toys reminded me of when my daughter got a ball just like this one for our dog. She went nuts over it and it was fun to watch her rolling it all over the place with her nose. For a while that's the only way I could get her to eat; I finally had to hide it.

  • 9 years ago

    a2, just to clarify, I've only used one paper plate in the past 6 months. I change the paper towels after each meal though:)

    Some people just use a KONG for mealtimes. Takes longer and no bowl issues! I've frozen the KONG to make it last longer.

  • 9 years ago

    i say, do not let pup out of your sight till house broken. If you can't give your undivided attention, put him in the crate. Feel free to make a really big deal of doing potty outside!

    be careful about where you take pup off your property till shots are complete.

    what you put into the first year is what kind of dog you end up with.

    enjoy & love the pup! Good luck.


  • 9 years ago

    They do need CONSTANT supervision. Even in the crate, I was checking to ensure that he hadn't eliminated.

    For the first three months, I had "new mother" fatigue. Deja vu brain fog.

  • 9 years ago

    Nanny - thanks for the clarification - glad you aren't killing too many trees (LOL).

    Good idea about freezing the Kong.

    eandhl2(if I got that right as my eyes are playing tricks on me) - hoping we have the right size crate to prevent the issue but will take outside before the need pops until a bit better. So true on the first year investment.

    Nanny - be careful or Gatsby will herd you. Hoping this is a shared responsibility

    You all are great!

    Back to the Michigan game -darn Minnesota just scored!


  • 9 years ago

    I'm not going to provide a definitive answer to raised bowls/not raised bowls for large chested dogs versus bloat.


    For many years many of us looked to Purdue University for direction. They had presented results for a massive study on bloat. (If I had to guess, I would say this was 20 years ago.) Originally one factor in increasing the probability was presented as feeding from non-raised bowls.

    Some of us thought this was BS and ignored this recommendation.

    Purdue, to their credit, has continued on year in and year out continuing the study and amending their findings when warranted. One of the changes that came to pass was that it was thought that feeding with elevated bowls actually increased the likelihood of bloat.

    Lots sold their elevated contraptions and some of us gloated. lol

    If you do a search on PURDUE BLOAT you'll get some help. I will say the study was not written with the average dog owner's understanding in mind. I think its a terribly important document, but it widely misquoted or simply the citer has not kept up to date.

    If a pet owner has fed with elevated bowls for decades, in part bcause of the study, it sometimes is hard to get them to say, "Oops, my dog survived in spite of my approach, but no elevation is the right thing to do."


    Look at those weighted DURAPET bowls.

  • 9 years ago

    BLOAT!!! That's the condition I was actually referring in my earlier post!! Not Gout! Sorry. Thanks for the clarification Salti.

  • 9 years ago

    Anti-herding training - good point! Our 10-week-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi (Topper) wanted to herd our children right from the start. But herding dogs are also smart - he quickly learned that nipping at human heels was a bad idea. But the herding instinct is so strong - he would fetch a soccer ball by batting it with his nose and paws; he played with 3 golden retrievers, and he would herd them all over the yard. It was a wonderful symbiotic relationship - Topper wanted to herd, and the goldens were thrilled to follow directions!

  • 9 years ago

    Hi, again, A2G,

    Puppy kindergarten is a good way to introduce obedience and manners. Doggy daycare is the only way I've remained sane with my boy. He has 1000x more energy than I do. He comes home well-exercised and hungry. :)

    For crate bedding I use an old comforter piece that I cut to size and hemmed. It's machine washable. You want to use something that's easy to launder. Now that the weather is getting colder I've added a fleece blankie. He molds into a kind of bunker in his "room."

  • 9 years ago

    Salt - great information! Thanks. I will look up the information on the studies. I didn't order the Frontgate contraption and looking at your suggestion and a few others.

    I went to a local pet store and picked up the nylabone toys. I did refuse the pacifier toy.

    Lukki LOL - I was wondering how eating position would cause gout. Thanks for clarifying.

    Szmith - always welcome more comments. Glad my fleece idea works for you. I will try it with Gatsby.

    Ann - we are going to socialize with our friends kids to break the herding nips(when safe to do so and controlled). I have stuffed animals for the kids.

    For the adults- plenty of treats.

    Wow - less than 2 weeks to go!

    Next questions - who makes the best dog brushes and who brushes teeth

  • 9 years ago

    If you are going to brush teeth, make it the first thing you do! Even just rubbing the puppy gums to get him used to having hands in his mouth. Also some tips to prevent resource guarding, which is especially important if children will be around him.

    • Hand feeding: Start your dog’s meal by giving him food by hand, and use your hands to put the food in the bowl, which will give it your scent. The goal is to get your dog used to eating while your hands are around his face, and to have no aggressive reaction if you stick your hands in or near the bowl while he’s eating.

    • Treat tossing: Drop your dog’s favorite treats into the bowl while she’s eating so she’ll learn that people approaching the bowl is a good thing and not a threat. You can also put treats into the bowl when you walk near it and she’s not eating. This reinforces the connection in your dog’s mind that people near her bowl is good.

    • “Trade-Up”: When your dog is eating their regular food, approach them with something better, like meat or a special treat. The goal here is to get your dog to stop eating their food to take the treat from you. This teaches your dog several things. One is that no one is going to steal his food if he looks away from it. The other is that moving his attention away from his food leads to a reward.

    (Per Cesar Millan)







  • 9 years ago

    Nanny - great suggestions from Cesar. I am reading Cesar right now - well technically not this very moment.

    How common is brushing? Are the dental toys just as good?

  • 9 years ago

    Most likely part of the area the breeder keeps the litter is papers/p pads. You can use one of what they are using near the exit door. This is not for the pup to use, it is for you to notice. When pup goes sniffing near the paper/pad take the pup out.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Cesar is great, our dog Ellie loves his program. :c)

  • 9 years ago

    Lukki- thanks for the Cesar testimonial. One of our friends went to a multi-day dog handler class with Cesar. Looks like Ellie likes TV - we are hoping that Gatsby doesn't try to hug the TV - no Tellatubbies for Gatsby. There are 2 picards named Ellie as well. One is currently PG!

    ehandhl2- according to the breeder, the pups are using the toilet area 100% of the time and are asking to go outside so almost housebroken already. Hurrah!

    1.5 weeks to go!

    Loving the ideas. Thanks

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Brushing teeth is necessary and part of regular grooming. I don't think any dental chew can do the same job, although I do give them to my dogs.

    Getting puppy slowly started right away (even without doggie toothpaste) will help acclimate him and hopefully, make it a "no big deal" when you brush.

    Give a "high value" treat after!

  • 9 years ago

    She's spoiled, no doubt about it...wow, house broken already that is so ideal. I don't know how you're managing to wait so patiently, its so exciting!

    In regards to treats...there are so many posts, I don't know if any treat info has been offered. After she got smart and realized her treats were just kibble, I switched to non sugar banana chips. They're made by a local shop in our area, Healthy Dogma and available on Amazon.com. The price seems high but they last a long time and the calories are low.

    Another healthy treat I found are called Fruitables, also on Amazon, they have lots of flavors, Ellie's favorite mix is pumpkin and pecans or apple and bacon flavor. Both are made in USA with healthy ingredients.

    Another thing I don't recall being mentioned is harnesses. We invested in several when I was training Ellie and she'd just wiggle out of them. She was pretty wild on a leash and I didn't like that the collar would choke. I finally found the Freedom No Pull Harness and though pricey, it's been the perfect answer in regards to fit and use. When it came to training, it really helped.

    Freedom Harness

  • 9 years ago

    We've used little pieces of carrot to train our dogs. They love them, they aren't terribly messy in your pocket, and they are good for the pup (and cheap!)

    Our dog loves his nylabones; we also give him real bones (from the pet store). We have a couple of these that are on their third dog - definitely worth the money. Oh, and last summer I gave my dog a deer antler that I found. It isn't his favorite chew toy, but he does chew on it, and he thinks he's hot stuff when he carries it around.

  • 9 years ago

    The antlers haven't gone over big with my dogs either. The yak(?) milk bars are pretty good, but expensive and I don't think necessary.

    Pizzles are where it's at! OMG, to get my puppy to just sit still and occupy himself, these are a Godsend. Be sure to buy American products, not just "made" or distributed in America.

    Costco has bags of about 2 dozen (American) for an unbeatable price.

    We're once again going through intensive clicker training with our new rescue dog, and we've found Zukes minis to be the perfect training treat.

    Hot dogs of course rule, but they get messy and are kept as a "high value" treat when training.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I've found that "soft" treats (cheese cubes, hot dogs) are best for training during walking. They go down easily and the dog doesn't have to stop to chew so the training is uninterrupted. They are messy so I just pack them in a baggie and grab one out of the frig for our walk.

  • 9 years ago

    Hi all, I did not have Wi-Fi for the last few days as I am helping my mother downsize to a smaller apartment and we have not set up the Wi-Fi yet.

    I am staying with a friend and he finally found his pass code for his Wi-Fi.

    Thank you for the information on toothbrushing and treats. I will have to look some of them up as I'm not familiar with a couple varieties. The one puppy class recommended Hot dogs and cheese as well. I gave up hotdogs for myself a few years ago, so we'll have to figure out how not to feel funny feeding the puppy hot dogs.

    I originally wrote a longer message but accidentally clicked on the link in Gardenweb and it took me off the page and I lost my longer message. Thanks again for all your help. We pick up the puppy next weekend. Stay tuned!

  • 9 years ago

    I don't like feeding hot dogs either. I tried the jarred baby food meat sticks and then just used cheese cubes. The dog's not picky. In his mind, all food=treats!

  • 9 years ago

    Hot dogs- dogs love'em, but get turkey or chicken dogs. Beef and pork are greasy as heck.

  • 9 years ago

    Cesar is great, our dog Ellie loves his program. :c)

    *******

    Aw, she looks like our yellow lab rescue!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Many years ago when I was exhibiting my (English) Bulldogs I used a liver concoction as bait. I switched to, are you ready, simply dry kibble.

    Yup, dog food. Readily available, cheap, not messy, and contains zero new ingredients that might cause an allergy or similar issue.

    If anyone thinks my girls would not absolutely die for a couple of pieces, they would be mistaken. If they even thought I had a piece of dog food in my hand they would start drooling in anticipation - as only a Bulldog can do.

    I now have a Greyhound and she doesn't drool so much, but she becomes 100% fixeated on my hand as she is highly food motivated. :-)

    YMMV

  • 9 years ago

    Yup - treats are treats. For the training classes, they recommend soft treats to speed up the process but will try dog food as well and save the high end treats for specific behaviors such as house and soft mouth training

    Nanny- I have a snowbird friend migrating to Texas who had a recent party with a big block of leftover cheese she is going to give me

    Salt - these dogs smile, so good mouth control and no drooling, although the beard can get wet while drinking.

    Mimi - wait until both ears pop and then they start looking like a Cairn terrier on steroids. We will use some of Cesar but some other techniques as well.

    I am not sure about clicker training and haven't found anyone using in our area.

    Tick, tick, tick....

  • 9 years ago

    Hi all,

    We drive down tomorrow to pick up our puppy.

    Thank you all for your pearls of wisdom!

    i promise to post pictures when we return.

    Thankd again

    A2 gemini