Raising a Puppy

Read all you can.
Take classes and have him go to class hungry with a new treat that he does not get at home.
Positive reinforcement for ANYTHING/EVERYTHING he does well.
Babyproof the house.
Use babygates for areas you want him to stay away from.
Get tons of chew toys.
Crate train and don't be afraid to use it when you need a little break. He needs to sleep, too.
Puppies learn with treats.
You need to be the alpha and you can do that in a calm/assertive manner.
Be consistent between family members with the words and signals you use for training. (One person can't say "off" when he jumps and the other says "down".)
When very young take him out to potty after every nap, after eating, drinking, and playing. Yes, that means ALL the time.
Set him up for success, not failure.
Have PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE.
Take lots of pictures!!

I have a 13 wk old golden retriever. I am trying with all my heart to have fun with this crazy stage and look at this time as an investment in the future.....................and sometimes I just want to scream.

Adopt an older dog.
Far less work.
They come trained to do their business outside.

We had lab puppies. Oh so much work!
Ours never seemed to grow up.
They do make excellent floor cleaners...

Good luck!

Read "The Art of Raising a Puppy" by the monks of New Skete. Very helpful.

Adopt an older dog.
Far less work.
They come trained to do their business outside.

We had lab puppies. Oh so much work!
Ours never seemed to grow up.
They do make excellent floor cleaners...

Good luck!

Positive reinforcement training. Control unleashed is awesome. Lots of exercise, socialization too many this things, people, etc. Remember to have fun with your pup and take time to bond. Find a vet you like and trust if you do not already have one. Good quality food. Don't get mad about bad behaviors, ignore and redirect. Above all have fun together. Sorry that jumps all over and there is so much more.

Need a bit more information to help you out. Did you just get the puppy & need help with housebreaking & basic manners, are you planning on getting a puppy or do you have one that you are having trouble with?

If you'd like to give me you email (Private message) I can send you a document I have prepared for my puppy owners (I breed Rhodesian Ridgebacks) that goes over a lot of information on introducing the puppy to the house, help with housebreaking, etc.

Any specific questions you can also message me about, or post in your SWH update.

T. =-)

Lab puppies (ALL puppies, actually) need a lot of attention - whether it is potty training, obedience training, or general keeping them out of things you don't want them in. Along with the training, they need exercise. Labs are a "high energy" breed and therefore need ways to get out their energy (exercise) or they might exhibit "destructive" behaviors (chewing up your favorite pair of shoes).

It certainly is like having a new baby/toddler in the house - they need to be watched and paid attention to!!!

Having a puppy was like having a new baby. At least it was for me.

I always took the pup out after she ate, slept and before bed. I always kept my pup on a leash !

She choked on rawhide. I had to switch to bully sticks--- and dog toys made in the USA.

Some kind of heartguard is a must (check w/ the vet). Very high quality food is a must ! I feed my dog organic food only---no corn, soy, fillers--junk. *Most of the dog food in the grocery store is scary !

A friend of mine has a neighbor who was obsessed w/ a green lawn. Her neighbor's lawn service treated the lawn w/ chemicals every couple of weeks. The grass was gorgeous. Yet, very sadly, the dog passed away. My friend, who is the nicest and sweetest person, lost it and told the neighbor that she killed the dog with all the toxic chemicals. The dog was only 4 yrs old and healthy otherwise!

Grapes, onions, chocolate, etc...are toxic to dogs. The vet will give u a list of all the things not to give a dog.

My pup is a tad older now. I walk her everyday. She knows the word leash !

My "puppy" is now a little over a year old. We had him since he was 8 weeks old. How old is your puppy?
Mine is a shih tzu and can still be challenging at times, but is getting to be a pretty well behaved little guy. There are a lot of things I could suggest, but not sure what exactly you're looking for.

One of my most basic suggestions is to take him out very frequently to potty, like every hour if you can when you're home. When you're gone or can't watch him, he should be in a crate. They catch on pretty quick to potty training if they're taken out a lot from the start.

Other big thing we did that was a huge help was have him in a 6 week puppy training class. I've had other dogs and never felt the need to do a class and didn't really know if it would be worth it, but it totally was.

We learned a lot and it has really helped his behavior by being consistent with the things we learned in that class. Also, make sure your puppy gets spayed/neutered when old enough if not already.

Look at it from that perspective of having a new baby in the house.

They need lots of TLC and are much like a new baby in the home. Of course they need to play and learn but they also need some down time to rest. Expect to go out with the pup at night in the beginning while you are training.

If you are at home with the pup, I suggest going out every hour and praising him/her when they potty. What is funny now for us is that our 3 dogs, 14, 8 & 7 will go out to potty and come in expecting a treat. It works!

A basic training class is also helpful. You can do this through a local PetsMart or a professional.

Good luck!