Need Help with a New Puppy!

[Sandy Eggo]

Congratulations on the new puppy, Gryphon. PH is right, time up front will make him a happier pet and you a much happier owner.

Benji was like that on the leash as well, but does fairly well now. One thing I've got to correct is sometimes he'll get "happy" right in the middle of our walk and start darting and jumping and spinning. It's difficult to hold on to him. Normally, I grab his collar and sit him down and look him in the eyes (really stern-like lol) until he calms down. I haven't been as consistent w/that as I should be.

Benji was crate trained and did extremely well with it. Although now he has the run of the house and he's really good. No accidents and although we have to keep things up and off the floor (shoes, etc) he doesn't tear up anything. I feel better about leaving him in the house rather than a crate, but  I had a previous dog that considered the crate her home and would lay in there even when we were home. So, it's whatever works for you.

What type of dog did you get?

[tallulahdahling]

PH is right about correcting dogs with a calm but firm demeanor -- they call this "respectful coaching" in the AKC field.  Some dogs respond better to stern discipline and others with respectful coaching. 
Anyway, it sounds like you have a great puppy there, Gryph--congrats on adoption!  Adoption ROCKS!   

[rbn]

Cool, another new puppy owner. I got one as well when he was only 3 months old. Harley is now almost 9 months old and spoiled rotten. One thing that helped us with Harley is , we have another dog (Princess Diana, my 11 year old Baby), who he has learned a lot from. Especially the potty part. He also follows her everywhere.

As far as the crate training goes, we did not do that for long with Harley because of the crying. He now sleeps in the bed with us as he is only a Malti-Poo, 11 lbs.

I know we should better train him but they are both treated like our kids. They are both spoiled and get almost anything they want. maybe a play mate would help out as well.

Good luck with the new addition.

[Gryphon]

Great advice guys!
So far...knock on wood...he has been GREAT. Four days...no accidents! Hasn't been whining in the crate like he did at first. Seems content to run around for a few minutes and then take a nap at my feet.
He's a little mutt...mixed with Dachsund and who knows what else. (His litter mates looked like little golden retrievers or something).
I'll get a picture up if I can get him to sit still long enough. So far, when I try to get a shot, he runs right at the camera. Ill work with him and the leash some this weekend....will be good when I can get him to follow through the neighborhood and wear himself out.
PIYA...how long did it take before you were able to give your pup run of the house? Ideally, Id like him to just sleep in the crate and feel free to roam around when Im out...I hate leaving him crated up for long stretches. Did you do it gradually? Containing him to one room at a time?

[Sandy Eggo]

We tried it for short periods of time at first,  left him lots of toys out and the tv or radio on for company. I don't think he watches/listens to it, but I'm hoping the voice/noise is comforting. We have a deck that he can't get off of so most of the time if the weather isn't rainy, I can leave the door open and that way he can watch what everyone's up to, which he loves to do, even when we're home. He's pretty remarkable in that we haven't had any problems with him at all. Once in a while, someone will leave something out on the floor or where he can get it and of course, he shreds it, but I'd rather be vigilant regarding that type thing than think about leaving him caged up for 8 hours.

For us, exercise is highly important. Walking him is okay, and I do a short one in the morning and a long one at night,  but he needs full out runs to get his ya ya's out. He's extra mischievous if he hasn't been worn out at least once a day. We have a small dog park in our complex which will do on busy days, but we try to take him to a dog park here in the town we live in a few times a week and the beach or hiking on the weekends. At a minimum, he's in the car w/us on the weekends and goes most every place we do and that seems to make him happy too.

For me, he's like having another kid and just like you'd see to every need of a child, that's what I try to do for him. The downside is that he can't talk and tell me what he'd like, so I have to guess and he has ways of letting me know when he's happy. Your lil' guy will too.  

We didn't try it at all until we were sure he was completely housebroken. Benji would explode before he'd go in the house. I've been thinking about one of those boxes w/turf in it for the deck so I don't have to worry that he's holding it while I'm gone. I think that I saw them on Craig's list, but someone mentioned Home Depot. The turf is real grass that you can "pick up" as needed and replace ever couple weeks for a few dollars.

As for walking him, he'll get it. They all do. PH gave some awesome advice. I'd keep a pocket full of tiny bite sized treats too. You can take a larger treat and break it up, that way you don't give them TOO much, but sometimes a reward  helps.

[Palehorse]

We used to crate Max all day long while we were at work, then let him out as soon as we got home. We did that for about 10 months and were leaving him out all weekend while we were at home, and only crating him when we went out for anything longer than a run to the store, or to sleep at night.

When we moved to the new place 6 months ago, we started letting him have the run of the house since it is 3 times the size of the old house. He has done very well since, although he has a fetish for the couch pillows in the living room and sometimes will throw them all onto the floor if he is upset with us. . .  (This typically involves us forgetting to give him a greenie before we leave. Which he doesn't eat until we get back). 

He had made friends with the post-lady at the old house, and she has stopped by here a couple of times to say hello to him. The UPS guy stopped by yesterday to say hi to him while we were out clearing the driveway of snow.  (He has got out on him a couple of times since we've been here and they've become friends). 

You'll have to use some judgment when it comes to stopping the crating. But just remember that it is a lot easier on those who you may call upon to watch pup when you are away, if they are trained to sleep in the crate. 

[Gryphon]

you guys are the best!

Yeah, my hope and plan is that he will ALWAYS sleep in the crate at night. But I would lke to get to the point where he can have the run of the place when Im not home. Ideally, a doggy door would be great too...but all the doors that open into the fenced portion of my yard are French, so I dont think thats possible.

[Dexter Morgan]

How's the new puppy doing Gryphon? 

[Gryphon]

How's the new puppy doing Gryphon? 

So I thought I was coming down with the flu...so I went to the doc. Turns out, the childhood allergies I thought I had outgrown are there after all and it was the pup that made me sick.
The lady who runs the rescue I got him from emailed me to see how he was working out, and I told her he was a great dog, but I was allergic to him and not sure if I was going to be able to keep him. Turns out, the family that adopted his littermate last weekend called her back to see if my pup was still around, they had decided to get him too if he was. So...long story short, knowing that he was gonna be able to go live with his brother, and knowing I wouldnt have to have allergy shots, I decided to give him up.

[Sandy Eggo]

Oh, bummer Gryphon. I know you'll miss him.

[smokeykat]

at least he will be going to people who will care for him.  They already have his brother and now they can run and play together.  Nice thing you did Gryphon....

[Dexter Morgan]

So I thought I was coming down with the flu...so I went to the doc. Turns out, the childhood allergies I thought I had outgrown are there after all and it was the pup that made me sick.
The lady who runs the rescue I got him from emailed me to see how he was working out, and I told her he was a great dog, but I was allergic to him and not sure if I was going to be able to keep him. Turns out, the family that adopted his littermate last weekend called her back to see if my pup was still around, they had decided to get him too if he was. So...long story short, knowing that he was gonna be able to go live with his brother, and knowing I wouldnt have to have allergy shots, I decided to give him up.

I know a little about allergies to animals. I really don't have much of a problem, but if one of my long haired cats rubs against my nose, it starts to itch horribly. After I wipe the fur off it stops itching. I think it is a contact dermatitis. Otherwise I'm fine. Allergies to pets is not something to ignore. A lady I used to know worked at a vets office for years. She all of a sudden starting getting flu like symptoms, fever, body aches, itchy eyes, and throat,and an uncontrollable runny nose. They thought she was just sick with a cold or Bronchitis, so they medicated her with antibiotics, and antihistamines. She never got better, and I mean she was deathly sick, come to find out, she had a sudden onset to animals allergy. It was bad because she had worked at the vets office for 15 years,and she had to quit. She also had to get rid of her pets at home. It was extremely hard for her.

You're doing the right thing by getting the puppy another home. Like I said ,animal allergies can be severe,and you can't jeopardize your health. It sounds like the puppy is getting a good home, and being reunited with its litermate. So, alls well that ends well.