Hello everybody, I've ordered the 8 weeks to 8 months DVD of Ed's but just some more insight. My 13 week old pup is doing very well with things in general but there are just a few things I'm struggling with...firstly house training...what is the average age a pup is house broke? (providing you watch him like a hawk and do the appropriate work for it)? I ask because this weekend I was visiting my parent's and everybody was giving my husband and I hell for asking our pup if he has to go potty constantly. It was a new home with all new smells so he was sniffing all over, making me nervous...so I was just trying to be causious. Am I not giving him enough of a chance to let me know he's potty trained? At our own home he always seems to run up to us and jump on us when he has to poop, and often time he sits at the door when he has to pee, there are the occasional pee accidents...(which are normal right??)...but other then that, are we doing things okay?
Also, I am actively doing marker training for basic obediance and he has got sit down cold...but lay is more difficult, I can't really lay him down because he is just resisting and getting confused and as soon as he is down I'm trying to mark and treat quickly but he's having trouble understanding my request...any tips?
I've read some bad things about choke collars, if my pup isn't a huge "puller" do you think a choke would be good to use to teach him to walk better? Right now he's swerving in and out of my legs, and sometimes he gets weirdly nervous and scales up my legs..???. I want to keep it fun but I also don't want him to learn the wrong way. (I'm ordering basic obediance DVD too, Xmas present <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Sorry for the long post but I just like opinions on whether or not my pup is on the right track. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> He is so awesome by the way... <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Congratulations on getting Ed's DVD - it will help you temendously. In the meantime, Ed has written some excellent articles on every aspect of dog training, especially puppies. At the top of this page is a heading called Dog Training Categories. Click on this. Then click on the Dog Training Table of Contents on your lefthand side. There you will see Puppy Training. Here is where Ed explains housebreaking your puppy in much detail. Good luck. (If I were any good at this, I would post the link for you, but I always seem to miss a step!)

Here's the LINK...

http://www.leerburg.com/housebrk.htm

I think you are doing fine from your post. Good job, getting the LB video. You will want the Basic Obedience, too, after you view 8 Weeks to 8 Months, so good idea that you are asking for it for Christmas. :>

My opinion about asking often if he needs to go: GOOD PLAN! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> And while he is in a different house for a visit -- EXCELLENT plan!

It sets him up to succeed, when you hardly give him a chance to fail. I think it's much better to give him too much opportunity rather than not enough. JMO!

I have not had a baby puppy like this, but I have found with older dogs that moving along at a good pace (for his age and size, I mean, not dragging him....) keeps the dog focused better. Maybe if you moved along a little more briskly, then there would be no opportunity for weaving around your legs or climbing them. But others should hop on here, because I don't really know when a puppy can walk at a good pace.

Here's a list of puppy Q and A:
http://www.leerburg.com/qapup.htm

and housetraining:
http://leerburg.com/housetrainingproblems.htm

I've read these articles thouroughly, thanks! Its just, I'm wondering if we are taking my pup out excessively. Like, it would not be uncommon for us to take our puppy out, have him pee, bring him in and take him out 5-10 minutes later...it's almost like he's not getting it all out the first time, like he cuts it off. Sometimes I stay out there with him for a while and he'll go twice, do you think with age he will start to get it all out at once? These numerous trips seem like its too much... I can handle it, but I want him to take his time and get all the pee out! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

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I've read these articles thouroughly, thanks! Its just, I'm wondering if we are taking my pup out excessively. Like, it would not be uncommon for us to take our puppy out, have him pee, bring him in and take him out 5-10 minutes later...it's almost like he's not getting it all out the first time, like he cuts it off. Sometimes I stay out there with him for a while and he'll go twice, do you think with age he will start to get it all out at once? These numerous trips seem like its too much... I can handle it, but I want him to take his time and get all the pee out! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Well, I'd check for a UTI, and then I would keep him out a little longer and let him run around a bit. Even older dogs will often go the second they get out and then go again after a little exercise. And pooping often requires a little exercise to get it moving along.

In my own experience, I've found that even an adult at first, before s/her is familiar with the routine of outside and inside, will neglect to "get it all out" and have to go back a few minutes later. At the age of your puppy, I think this is probably common. As long as you know there is no UTI (urinary tract infection), which you will want to check (by dropping off a clean catch at the vet's), then I think his bladder will grow up.

But my youngest dog ever was almost two, so I have no firsthand puppy experience. Anyone else?

Thanks a lot, I got a little chuckle out of imagining myself getting "a clean catch"!!! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'll look into that. He seems to trickle a little pee once in a while when he gets really excited, for example, this weekend we had just let him out into the yard and my cousin ran up to pet him and he rolled over on his back to get his belly rubbed and he peed! This young bladder is just a process I'm afraid.

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I've read these articles thouroughly, thanks! Its just, I'm wondering if we are taking my pup out excessively. Like, it would not be uncommon for us to take our puppy out, have him pee, bring him in and take him out 5-10 minutes later...it's almost like he's not getting it all out the first time, like he cuts it off. Sometimes I stay out there with him for a while and he'll go twice, do you think with age he will start to get it all out at once? These numerous trips seem like its too much... I can handle it, but I want him to take his time and get all the pee out! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hi Amy! I ditto the congrats on reading Ed's information and also checking out the DVD's. I have made more than my fair share of mistakes with pups, so I applaud you for taking your pup out more, rather than less. Especially in strange surroundings. Your little baby has an easier time figuring out where YOUR door is, and asking YOU to go out, than doing the same at someone else's house. But IMO, the socialization is good, and I wouldn't worry at all if others tend to think you are "paranoid" or something.

I really believe that the less mistakes occurring INSIDE (at anyone's house, including yours) means a faster track to a youth dog who is very reliable.

I say keep doin' what you're doin'.

I would much rather deal with a "training problem" of a young pup/dog giving me false alarms, than with a young pup/dog not giving me any warning. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Best wishes, and keep it going!

Just my 2 cents..

Beth

That roll-over-&-pee routine is called "submissive urination" and is a separate issue from basic housebreaking -- Maybe you already know that, and it should not be corrected, but just ignored & deodorized...

Sounds like things are going well....my GSD puppy is 19 weeks now, though we have only had her for 6 weeks, took a long time to potty train but it's because she never had to hold it in her previous home. It just didn't make sense to her and I had really bad timing too. I know her schedule now and she has finally crossed the housebreaking finish line!

Good luck with your pup...mine is a pistol. Just when she learns not do to one thing she shouldn't be doing, she figures out something else to get in trouble over! LOL! But we're getting there slowly but surely...

-Melissa