I admit it. 8 - 7 week old GSD puppies are kicking my butt! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I have an extra large crate which I have been keeping them in when they are not outside using the bathroom.

The snow here is melting and these pups are loving it...toooo much!

I entice them with treats to keep them in order and to come to me. Yet, the 'call of the wild' is in them and they want to scatter. The puppy pen is just to muddy right now for them to romp in and my laundry room gets to many 'puppy left overs' which they tend to roll around in if left to themselves in it.

So. My original plan was to fully vaccinate these guys and gals, and sell them when they are about 10 weeks old. Yet, how am I going to do that when they are over-powering me with their desire to run everywhere?

They need their exercise. I have been giving them LOTS of attention and love, now how do I let them use the bathroom without loosing one?

Also, I have one male who refuses to listen to me. He loves me, but would rather never go in the crate or come in the house. What to do, what to do.

By losing one, I take it that you live on an unfenced property then. You might try putting them in the puppy pen only to relieve themselves, or you might try putting some mats on the floor of the pen to reduce the mud (but come to that, mud is something that you can wipe off afterwards), that would do them pretty well.

10 weeks might not be in their best interests if you're finding it hard to keep up with them as they may start to be more interested in one another for companionship than in people. If you've got good homes available you can start letting them go from 8 weeks.

In any case, please make sure to work with each of them one on one for 10-15 minutes a day (at least). Put puppy on the table, groom it, handle it, maybe lure it to sit or stand, etc all very nicely with lots of treats. Preferably with very desirable treats that don't come at any other time. This is most espeically important for the more independent puppy. Imprinting the idea of obedience, even as an informal fun game, is something that will serve them well for life.

Good luck,

Dei.

Thanks, I am doing all that you have suggested in terms of attention and obedience, they are good pups. I may have to use that muddy puppy pen if things don't dry up soon!

Another thing I have taught them is to turn back from where they are going. I use the word "go" with a clap of my hands and heard them to turn around from where they were about to go to. This morning all I had to do was say 'go' with a clap of my hands and they stopped wandering to come back to the back porch.

As with everything, there is one pup who will not respond, she lays there submissivly as I try to nudge her along. I end up having to stand her up to encourage her to walk to the back porch every time.

I agree, start sending them to their new homes sooner, since you are actually making it HARDER to house train them by letting them poop all over the laundry room.

A puppy must be at minimum 12 weeks to be fully vaccinated.

Buy a lot of pine bark or something to put in the puppy pen.

Take them out in groups of 1 or 2.

If you ever even THINK about trying to make money breeding your female again, kick yourself extremely hard <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> .

Sell them ALL with limited registration. It is the only way to go. It is more likely than not that one of the parents had HD, since I don't think either were OFAed (minimum 33% chance of dysplasia for two parents means a minimum ~70% chance, and that's not something that should ever be reproducing when the shelters are overflowing with healthy animals).

Originally posted by Lauren Woods:

If you ever even THINK about trying to make money breeding your female again, kick yourself extremely hard Enough said. Thread closed.