Meet the newest member of the U2 household....

[bernardos70]

Originally Posted by Silk Smoov

Forget the camera, what kind of glass is that?????

FYP

He posted it already, it's the kit 17-85mm.

[u2sarajevo]

Very interesting monkey. That sounds logical now that you explain it.

And silk, that's St. Augustine.

And Louisiana dude, that isn't a cage.... the previous owner had that fence installed so she could have friends over outside on the porch and keep her dogs away and confined to the rest of the back yard. It's useless and ugly to us, but I haven't gotten around to removing it yet.

I haven't ever raised a puppy before, but so far it's pretty fun. And most importantly the kids are getting a good experience out of it as well as a companion.

[Ummmmm Ok]

Originally Posted by u2sarajevo

Man, last night was great. I only heard her once.

As to furniture chewing, chicken wire is the key (use it as a barrier around furniture that would be hard - or expensive - to replace). We were given this tip by the breeder, and told that after 8 weeks it would be safe to remove. Supposedly she learns the behavior to leave that furniture alone. So the only thing she is exposed to that would be hard to replace is our couch. And she hasn't done anything with that (yet) other than lounge around.

Quick question, if you don't mind, on house breaking. I don't have experience with that because our last doggie we rescued and was already house broken. So we were told to keep her in an enclosed room at night with cardboard for her to do her business on (and of course, taking her out before bedtime to do her business). We are doing that, and it's working great so far..... she only goes on the cardboard at night and we have had no "accidents" yet. Is that a good way? I don't get how she will learn to hold it at night until I take her on her morning walk if she is given something that she will see that we accept her to do her business on at night. Maybe I am overthinking this.

I have a doggie door in my back door and I have (2) other dogs, so house breaking was easy. She just did what the other dogs did.

Easiest way is to just take the dog outside every 2-3 hours to use the restroom. Try your damndest not to let the dog go inside if you can avoid it. My opinion, i have never liked the whole cardboard/paper business. Seems to say that its okay to go inside, and it makes it harder to break later on. Just really hard for the next month as you are up every 2-3 hours at night. I usually never give a dog the chance to ever go inside my house.

But just like monkey said, if the dog does, reward them for going outside, not for punishing them for going inside. Just try to catch it, before the dog does. Giving treats to the puppy for going outside usually works.

Just my 2 cents.

[Big Boy Laroux]

Of course i knew it wasn't a cage. But that flowerpot sure looked like a child...


As for house-breaking - Have you read up on crate-training? I'm with Ummmm OK - anytime you allow the dog to go inside the house (whether it's on cardboard or not), will set the process back. Dogs WILL NOT use the bathroom where they sleep. So with crate-training, they sleep in the crate. They won't go to the bathroom in there, as long as the crate is a relatively normal size for the dog. If the crate is big enough for them to walk to another side and use the bathroom, the crate is too big. Most of the time, the dog even begins to see the crate as a sfae haven, and will go to actively seek out the crate to sleep in.

You do need to be dilligent in taking the dog outside during the day (as ummmm ok said, about every 2-3 hours). You don't keep the dog in the crate during the day, just at night. monitor the dog's behavior. You can even reward it when it goes to the back door. You can even teach it to ring a bell (ours just paws at the back door to go out). Another good rule of thumb is to take the dog outside after every nap. As soon as it wakes up, take it outside.

During the night, when they wake up and whimper (hopefully not every 10 minutes - our dog would wake up every 4 hours or so), you need to take them outside to use the bathroom. And always remember to PRAISE heavily when they go outside.

My aunt (again, who has been breeding goldens for YEARS) always recommends crate training. Look it up online for some more guidelines.

[mary]

Originally Posted by Big Boy Laroux

Of course i knew it wasn't a cage. But that flowerpot sure looked like a child...


As for house-breaking - Have you read up on crate-training? I'm with Ummmm OK - anytime you allow the dog to go inside the house (whether it's on cardboard or not), will set the process back. Dogs WILL NOT use the bathroom where they sleep. So with crate-training, they sleep in the crate. They won't go to the bathroom in there, as long as the crate is a relatively normal size for the dog. If the crate is big enough for them to walk to another side and use the bathroom, the crate is too big. Most of the time, the dog even begins to see the crate as a sfae haven, and will go to actively seek out the crate to sleep in.

You do need to be dilligent in taking the dog outside during the day (as ummmm ok said, about every 2-3 hours). You don't keep the dog in the crate during the day, just at night. monitor the dog's behavior. You can even reward it when it goes to the back door. You can even teach it to ring a bell (ours just paws at the back door to go out). Another good rule of thumb is to take the dog outside after every nap. As soon as it wakes up, take it outside.

During the night, when they wake up and whimper (hopefully not every 10 minutes - our dog would wake up every 4 hours or so), you need to take them outside to use the bathroom. And always remember to PRAISE heavily when they go outside.

My aunt (again, who has been breeding goldens for YEARS) always recommends crate training. Look it up online for some more guidelines.

I just read this post and wanted to give a big thumbs up to crate-training. Growing up, we only raised outside dogs - and truthfully, they were more like a bunch of "animals" than "pets" if you know what I mean. They lived outside, and we fed them, but other than that, they pretty much had to make it on their own - just like the rest of the animals we had.

So when I got a couple of chihuahuas earlier this year, they are really the first true pets I've ever raised. The lady told me to buy a crate and use it for potty training. After a year, I know that I would never have another dog without crate training it. It has been incredibly useful and beneficial. My babies LOVE their crate. I have a big one that fits the both of them and they willingly go in there whenever its time to sleep or travel. Its really convenient for the car, and it keeps them safe and secure.

A few people have given me a hard time about using it, but all of the "qualified" opinions I've read say that crating is not cruel to the dogs. They mostly stay in there at night (when they're not sleeping in the bed). I also take my dogs to work with me, and crate them whenever there are times that I don't need two crazy dogs running around the office. They never complain or whine, and really prefer it to being confined in a bigger space.

Here are my babies (minus the fancy camera work...I believe these were taken with a..um..cell phone . )









And yes, I like my dogs more than most people.

[jthig32]

And don't forget Mary's recommendation of buying re-branded, more expensive child play pens for dog pen.

[mary]

Originally Posted by jthig32

And don't forget Mary's recommendation of buying re-branded, more expensive child play pens for dog pen.

ha!

I don't even use that damn thing.

[mary]

Also, I don't know how you feel about dog food, but here's a good website that does a nutritional analysis of just about any brand you can think of. Alot of the so-called premium brands are not that much different than Alpo.

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by mary

Also, I don't know how you feel about dog food, but here's a good website that does a nutritional analysis of just about any brand you can think of. Alot of the so-called premium brands are not that much different than Alpo.

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/

Thanks for the link - I've always wondered about those premium brands (especially since the only factor making it "premium" is it's nutritional value - I don't think "taste" factors in much, considering some dogs will eat their own feces...)

[Mavdog]

[QUOTE=mary]A few people have given me a hard time about using it, but all of the "qualified" opinions I've read say that crating is not cruel to the dogs. They mostly stay in there at night (when they're not sleeping in the bed). I also take my dogs to work with me, and crate them whenever there are times that I don't need two crazy dogs running around the office. They never complain or whine, and really prefer it to being confined in a bigger space.
QUOTE]

got to admit that I did the very thing to friend when he bought a dog and crated it.

I argued that it was not humane to the dog, etc etc. then I went over to his house and saw how the dog acted.

the dog loves their crate.

after reading more about the issue, it seems that dogs like to have their own place, hence their affinity for their crate.

however, it also is dependent on size. the smaller the dog the more likely the crate works for them.

larger dogs need to be able to move and stretch during the night. so the crate doesn't really allow for them to do what comes naturally.

crate smaller dogs. don't crate larger dogs.

[Mavdog]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Thanks for the link - I've always wondered about those premium brands (especially since the only factor making it "premium" is it's nutritional value - I don't think "taste" factors in much, considering some dogs will eat their own feces...)

there is one really good reason (besides the healthier ingredients) to use premium brand food....there is less stool produced when less "filler" is put in the food.

I've used nutro for years. it works. less poop makes me a happier person cuz I'm the one who has to pick it up.

[Big Boy Laroux]

Originally Posted by Mavdog

however, it also is dependent on size. the smaller the dog the more likely the crate works for them.

larger dogs need to be able to move and stretch during the night. so the crate doesn't really allow for them to do what comes naturally.

crate smaller dogs. don't crate larger dogs.

Well, they make crates of ALL sizes. Even big enough for great danes to stretch out.

I crate-trained my golden. Started with a smaller, puppy-sized crate, then used bigger ones as he grew. But he no longer uses the crate at all. He hasn't out-grown it in size, he just doesn't need it anymore. He used to love to sleep in it, but as he's gotten older, he prefers the cold floor (kitchen, bathroom, marble piece in front of the fireplace).

[Flacolaco]

My parents did the crate thing with me and I loved it.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

My parents did the crate thing with me and I loved it.

I knew it!

(that explains sooooo much about you...)

[Ummmmm Ok]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

My parents did the crate thing with me and I loved it.

[GermanDunk]

Originally Posted by mary

And yes, I like my dogs more than most people.

Uhm, but that are cats !!!

[u2sarajevo]

As an update.... she is pretty much house trained now. She hasn't gone on the cardboard for 4 nights now. And we have given her treats when she goes outside.

The only "drawback" we had was when it rained the other day. She is apparently scared of rain and especially lightning. We were on a walk Monday morning and it started raining and she freaked out, whimpering and stuff.... acting abnormal. Once we got back home, she wanted no part of the exterior portion of our house and decided to relieve herself on our tile instead. But the last 2 days she has gone back to the previous routine. So now I have to figure out how to handle rainy days? Any advice?

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by u2sarajevo

So now I have to figure out how to handle rainy days? Any advice?

Toss her ass out in the rain - she'll cope...


(I know - I'm a heartless S.O.B.)

[GermanDunk]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

My parents did the crate thing with me and I loved it.

wat

[mqywaaah]

Very cute indeed! Congrats u2! You make great puppies!

[Windmill360]

Originally Posted by u2sarajevo

So now I have to figure out how to handle rainy days? Any advice?

tssst!

[Kirobaito]

Originally Posted by u2sarajevo

As an update.... she is pretty much house trained now. She hasn't gone on the cardboard for 4 nights now. And we have given her treats when she goes outside.

The only "drawback" we had was when it rained the other day. She is apparently scared of rain and especially lightning. We were on a walk Monday morning and it started raining and she freaked out, whimpering and stuff.... acting abnormal. Once we got back home, she wanted no part of the exterior portion of our house and decided to relieve herself on our tile instead. But the last 2 days she has gone back to the previous routine. So now I have to figure out how to handle rainy days? Any advice?

Our 13-year-old housebroken dog (though he wasn't housebroken until he was about 11, when he became an inside dog) is also scared of the rain. I put a leash on him and take him onto the porch. He knows that he's supposed to go, so he goes to the edge of the porch and pees off the side onto the grass. This will be a bit different for a chick dog, as they squat. Snap can just hitch up and spray.

[Smiles]

Originally Posted by Mavdog

there is one really good reason (besides the healthier ingredients) to use premium brand food....there is less stool produced when less "filler" is put in the food.

I've used nutro for years. it works. less poop makes me a happier person cuz I'm the one who has to pick it up.

She is most adorable, and quite intelligent considering she's already housebrolen! I LOVE Goldens!!! Lucky kids!

Maybe you could get the "Dog Whisperer" book from the library? My friend said it was a really great book for starting out on the right foot with a new dog.

I just love Goldens - she's completely precious.

[chumdawg]

How 'bout some updated pictures of this mutt?

[fluid.forty.one]

Originally Posted by Windmill360°

tssst!

hahaha

+pretend rep

[raefformvp]

cats rule, dogs drool.

you have already seen with pics of my little man that I am an attention whore, so I am going to post a pic of my other two babies:



and yes, cats can stink, but if you take care of them, then there won't be a problem. I'm a cat person. I'm allergic to dogs and don't much care for them, but U2, that is one adorable puppy! too, too cute! and Erica, yours is pretty cute too!

[ty]

Get those cats outta this thread.

Cats give me the creeps.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by ty

Get those cats outta this thread.

Cats give me the creeps.

[MavsX]

Originally Posted by raefformvp

cats rule, dogs drool.

you have already seen with pics of my little man that I am an attention whore, so I am going to post a pic of my other two babies:



and yes, cats can stink, but if you take care of them, then there won't be a problem. I'm a cat person. I'm allergic to dogs and don't much care for them, but U2, that is one adorable puppy! too, too cute! and Erica, yours is pretty cute too!

LOL

i like how your baby is laying. it's like he is just chillin. awesome!


EDIT: dammit, i guess your sig is the man and the baby!, i haven't been on here for awhile! sorry!

[MavsX]

maybe i'll upload pics of my english bulldog puppy!