I'm currently attempting to house break my six (nearly seven)week old GSD puppy. So far she has been excellent and does not mess her crate providing I take her out regularly (I'm trying to be unwaveringly consistent with her routine) she has only peed about 6 times in the kitchen/crate/hall since we collected her this Monday and seems to edge toward the kitchen door if she is playing with toys when she wants to go out. Anyway I dont yet own Mr Frawleys tapes on raising young pups so my #10 correction brings a yelping squeel but I'm not sure that i'm being rigorous enough. On top of that I would love to walk her but don't know if she is ready to go out before her jabs. I know there is plenty of work to be done on the part of my family and I so please advise us on how best to begin

I would go through the motions with the pup. Don't correct it, look at the dog as a small child. Get the pup use to wearing the leash and just go through everything.

Socialize it constantly, start taking the puppy everywhere and expose it. Make sure nothing negative happens to it. (with dogs or people)

Main thing, don't punish the pup at this age. Just put it in the right directions, or say no for corrections. Look at it like a infant. They don't have the mind to know what they are doing wrong most times. When it does something good, give her a piece of hotdog or something.

This is from what I've learned here. I think that would cover it. Other members will post later probably.

romulus,

6 weeks is awful young to take a pup. Most people don't allow the dog to go home until 8 weeks. I would be concerned about getting the pup out in public, especially where there are other dogs until it is 16 weeks old.

Giving a "10" correction to a 6 week old pup will create problems with the dog trusting you. In addition you are expecting way too much of a 6 week old puppy. Get Ed's tape 8 WEEKS to 8 months to get a better idea of what would be reasonable expectations.

Many thanks for stopping me from screwing this up so early on in the game, there seems to be a sharp contrast between the two posts in regard to exposing the pup to (friendly) outside influences and keeping her confined to the back yard for exercise. My wife suggested that I should collect our eight year old son from school and by so doing provide an abundance of fuss and love for the pup. Regarding the level 10 correction, (or what I percieve as a level 10 having not yet viewed the necessary video footage) since I only punished her as I literally caught her in the act and since she has consequently learnt not to mess in the house, I feel that my corrections have not been too severe. I have also read (either here or on a "link" that puppies should be introduced to at least 300 people before they are 12 weeks old, so I don't know about you but I certainly don't have that many visitors so without "taking her everywhere" as seasoned members have advised numerous times on this board

My apologies, I see the harmony between the two posts now. So what you are essentially saying is that I need to up the praise for correct behaviour (something I have found to be greatly appreciated by "Amber")and quit correcting her with anything more than a firm NO, that's not a problem. I will pepper spray any dog that comes near my pup with ill intent. Upon seeing another dog I would pick her up anyway and then take it from there, maybe bend forward a little bit for them to have a sniff from a safe distance, express my concern to the owner so that they hold on to the leash properly etc. You said I was expecting way too much from our puppy at this stage and that I should treat her like a baby, enough said!!!

"There is no such thing as delinquent children, only delinquent parents"

(Derek Prince)

Romulus,

The immune system on a puppy is unreliable until the pup is around 16 weeks. That is why the recomendation for multiple vaccinations. If you ar going to take the pup out stay away from areas like parks, pet shops, and other places that there is a likelyhood that dogs that aren't well cared for will be. To me the risk of the pup picking up a puppy disease is just too great.

A little good socialization will do you better than a whole lot of iffy socialization. Think quality not quantity. A couple of well behaved kids (under supervision of adult) and lots of exposure to a regular busy household. I wouldn't worry about exposing your puppy to older dogs at this age - alot of dogs are not good with puppies and a bad experience at this age can be very damaging. Same goes for people - I only expose my puppies to people I know that will behave! I will not let buttheads impose themselves on my pups, this makes sure the pup will have positive experiences in a controlled enviroment. I hate seeing people mauling, manhandling and gooing over a puppy. Holding off on the expsure until
your pup is a little older will pay off in the end
result. You wouldn't let complete strangers handle and maul and poke at your own small kids or babies would you? Or let him be dominated by older and possibly nasty children or adults? Nope and the same thing goes for puppies. Good luck with your pup and have fun. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I agree with Tiggy. Do simple socialization where there's no danger or confusion involved. Do this for awhile, as it starts getting a few weeks older bring it around bigger things.

Build it's confidence, and always make sure they've been exposed to something light before you give it something too tough. Start small and build their confidence like a building block type of system.

Don't give it Algebra before they've learned to add and subtract. That type of thing.

And like Richard said, get the tapes. The 8week-8month, as soon as you can.

Many Thanks,

This is exactly the kind of tuition I need to get me into good healthy habits for my puppy to grow up strong and secure.

I'm angry with the mercenary breeder that presented Amber (pup) to us in the first place because she obviously doesn't know the first thing about providing a safe environment for her dogs. She didn't even tell me that the pup couldn't be put down out on the street because of infection, or exercised with other dogs, and when I turned up with Amber's crate and her toys she looked at me like I had wasted good money without good cause. I started reading the articles by Mr Frawley about two weeks before we recieved Amber and I realise now that I have clearly mixed up a few points which resulted in my claiming I was giving Amber a level ten correction. What Ed actually says (in so many words)is that if and when you catch the pup in the process of soiling the kitchen floor you should do as mother did, shake her by the scruff of the neck and then tell her in no uncertain terms (profuse praise) that all is well. This has proved effective for me and she seems to know that our regular trips outside are for the purpose of having a stretch and relieving herself.

The breeder also should not have let the pups go so early. I am not sure what future problems this may cause you. There is a post on here discussing pups leaving the litter early that may have some insight for you.