Hi All,

I am a new puppy owner (never had a puppy or dog before). We are trying to use the Leerburg method of crate training with our new puppies (4 mos and 5 mos old). We didn't read about not having 2 puppies at the same time until after we adopted them, so we will do the best we can.

Being new to puppy behavior, I have a lot of questions. I'll try to limit it for this thread. The DVD's are great, but they really are geared toward people who know dog behavior, rather than those of us who've never owned a dog.

1. How much time do the puppies spend in their crates (they each have their own crate in which to eat/sleep). We both work during the day, and play with them before work and after work, going for walks as weather permits. Otherwise, they are in the crate during the day and at night. My question is, how much time, other than playing in the backyard & going for walks, should we be spending with them around the house? It seems like the DVD suggests that until they are not unruly they stay in the crate (this seems counter intuitive to me). How do they learn to be around the house and around our cats, if they are crated all the time? Will they be crated for life? This seems cruel.

2. One of the puppies plays very nicely (sitting before I toss the ball, bringing it back to me, etc.). However, he has a habit of jumping up and biting at my clothes. I'm tired of the holes, so what do I do to counteract this behavior? What do I do to discipline or change this?

3. The other puppy is toy aggressive. She will sit before I toss the ball and will bring it back, but won't let go of it unless I tighten the lead & grab it from her jaws. Then she growls and jumps to get it from me. I've tried using treats (as suggested in the podcast), but it doesn't work for her. What do I do to change this behavior?

I have so many more questions, but I will start with these. I am just really bad at reading "dog" language, and both my husband and I want to establish ourselves as the pack leader so we don't have issues in the future.

(BTW, the dogs have never been together outside of their crates; we play with and train each separately).

Thanks in advance,
Kate

Hi Kate

Thanks for trying to be a great owner for your pups. What kind are they? You can post in the new members section and include 2 pictures for us all to see! We love puppies!

In answer to your question the pups would only be in their crates when they can't be supervised. Remember that a 4-5 month old needs to go out more often than an adult dog (every 5-6 hours if possible) to go to the bathroom.

I think you should spend as much time as possible with your puppies - after all, what fun is a cute puppy you can't play with? What Ed recommends in his puppy DVD and articles (and most board members recommend) is to ALWAYS keep the puppy on a leash when he is out of his crate. Then he will not be able to sneak away and potty or destroy things or learn any bad habits.

I always had my pups in the room with me with plenty of toys. Raising two pups at once is hard because you have to divide your time but can be done. Since you have read the article you understand the reason - they will bond with each other more than you, since they spend the most time with each other. However, in my personal opinion, they could spend a little bit of SUPERVISED time playing with each other, as long as they spend most of their awake time playing and bonding with their human family.

I also didn't let my puppy off leash in the yard or house until he was at least 10-11 months old, but he didn't develop any barking at the fence, chewing, or destructive getting into things habits.

I am going to let someone else get question 2 (I just yelped and then ignored my pups and that worked for me); but for question 3 you can try playing two-ball - you have two identical balls and when she brings the first one back, show her the second and teach her if she wants you to throw it she has to drop the first ball, then you can instantly throw the second. Ed demonstrates this on his puppy DVD. SHe will have no time to jump on you!

Hi Angela,
Thanks for your reply!

We adopted 2 puppies from the SPCA. The male (5 mos) is a Kelpie mix, and the female (4 mos) is a German Shepherd mix. The ages are approx., as the SPCA doesn't know exactly when they were born.

The Kelpie plays wonderfully outside; he's a terror inside, chasing cats, jumping and biting at us (for attention, no doubt). He won't sit still, even to lay in his bed; so much energy! He's never off a lead. When I've tried to let him play in the backyard by himself, he just sits at the door and whines until I come out & play with him.

The German Shepherd plays better inside than outside (she's the toy aggressive one, when playing outside). She lays in her bed, and just relaxes and lets us pet her; she's acclimating to the cats much better as well. Outside, however, she plays better by herself than with us. She goes nuts! Tossing toys, bounding here and there, digging, chasing birds. It's easier to just let her go outside by herself and get rid of her energy and THEN go out and play ball toss with her. She sort of acts like a boxer pup a friend of mine had. She definitely can entertain herself while the Kelpie needs the interaction.

Puppies start teething at 5 months and usually have all their adult teeth by 6 months. So if they have baby teeth they are under 6 months. Puppies biting is completely normal, but annoying. Many working breed owners have gone through it and people on this board can give you better advice than I can.

My only other advice is don't leave either pup outside by itself. Even if you are not throwing the ball, go outside and stand there an watch her. Have her on a long line she can drag around. She can easily develop a barking problem, or start eating sticks and rocks or digging and you wouldn't be able to catch her. It is much easier to prevent a problem from developing than to try and fix one. I have a swing set up outside where I can sit and watch my dogs. (even though it is -10F outside - my swing is creeeeeeky)

Remember that a 4-5 month old puppy is about as mature as a 4-5 year old child - you wouldn't leave a little kid alone in the backyard, right?

Ok, thanks! I usually watch her from the door (not continually, but check on her for the 20 min or so she's out there). I'll change that and will go out with her.

It seems that both puppies gnaw at our arms in an affectionate manner when they first come out of their crates after a nap or in the morning. I don't want that to lead to biting later in life, but it's not like they are actually biting us (just sort of a light gnaw, gnaw, gnaw). It's annoying.

Can I ask you what kinds of toys I should have for inside play? For outside we have balls and a rope thing (which both puppies shake like it's a rabid squirrel). What should we have for indoor toys?

My pups have all kinds of things for indoor toys. (except balls, cause those drive me crazy by going under things all the time). Let's see.. nylabones, squeaky toys, stuffed animals, Kongs, Orbee Tuff bones, anything you can grab and hand the puppy to occupy its mouth whenever it tries to chew your clothes or skin. Puzzle toys are great for keeping them entertained while you try and make supper or work on computer or talk on the phone and have the dog nearby.

My rule of thumb is: indoor toys = chew/destroy toys; outdoor toys = chase/catch toys.

Maybe some experts will have ideas to correct the biting, (which I think it is normal behavior of them expressing their prey drive) but what I do is, I always carry a sheep skin rag (inside like outside) and redirect most obnoxious behavior into a drive session (making them try to catch the rag, after a few miss, i let them catch it, play tug, then play again) until they get tired. works like a charm!

I think you want to avoid always yelling or saying NO! to your puppies all the time (I'm not saying you do though). The drive sessions are a good way to stop unwanted behavior and do something fun/constructive.