Connie from what little I think I understand about dogs of such a young age is that almost anything outside of the litter is defined as stress, and most breeders handle the dogs for very short periods off and on, but the dogs always have their litter mates around them to be able to comfort them after the 'stress'.
I'm curious as to how it effects a dog with the only comfort is the pup's own reserves.....at 4 weeks old.

Help from breeders, or rescue people.
Info please.
Randy

Well, the whole cozy crate with hot water bottle and towel-wrapped ticking clock approach may take some of the edge off.

Thanks for all the good advice! I'm planning on buying him the pack structure DVD. I think he'll benefit from it and enjoy it. Right now he has a pen set up with puppy pads and a crate opened up for him to go into whenever he wants. My son is pretty new to owning a puppy, but very determined and motivated to do it right. He has helped a girlfriend in the past raise and train her lab. I was impressed with how obedient the dog ended up and all the tricks he taught the dog to do. Not sure if this helps with knowing how to train a pitbull. I don't know anything about them.

Although, I've told him that I read pitbulls are actually very willing to please their owners, and that a harsh NO is all it takes for them to lisen. Was this misleading? I told my son about this forum, he sounded very interested, you might here from him. Hopefully not with a problem If there is anything else I/he should know please feel free to let me know.
Thanks!

I thought I would also add, they have a 1 yr. old very sweet chihuahua that is around him all the time. Hopefully this will help form his personality?




Edited by Cari Hanson (11/25/2008 06:42 PM)
Edit reason: more added

 Quote: cari hanson

.... I read pitbulls are actually very willing to please their owners, and that a harsh NO is all it takes for them to lisen. Was this misleading?

 Quote: cari hanson

.... Not sure if this helps with knowing how to train a pitbull. I don't know anything about them. ...

I would urge you to stop thinking in terms of breed with this baby puppy. Training, bonding, socializing a tiny puppy -- these are not breed-specific. And a harsh "no" doesn't even have to be on anyone's radar.

I would even suggest that listening to people who are giving puppy-rearing advice that is breed-specific may not be in your best interest. That's JMO.

Have you seen these video combo specials? http://leerburg.com/120.htm

Connie, he's not training this baby puppy yet, he's purely nurturing him at this point. I guess I got ahead of the picture, but wanted to know what he needs to know for when training does begin. Suggestions on DVDs would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: melissa thom

.... at this age since they usually have very little bladder/bowel control.If it were me I'd get a kiddie pool, an X pen, and a good supply of wee wee pads for now. ....

Good thing we have puppy folks on the thread!

Do you start house-training about 6 or 7 weeks?

Connie, I personally raise toys and mine are generally not 100% reliable until they are 9 months - 1 year old. I start true housebreaking at 12 weeks when I expect they can hold it 3 hrs max. I X pen puppies at night until 4- 6 months depending on the dog's size and during the day when I'm home start the foundations of crate training. Smaller the dog, the longer it takes for this control to develop. Larger dogs do take signifigantly less time, it's a sad consiquence to making dogs smaller.

The reason I am so aghast at the thought of getting rid of a puppy at 4 weeks is that the litter of four I have right now just turned 6 weeks old and are being weaned this week. At four weeks they were just starting to figure out their personalities and pack structure and is such a vital time in their development. At the end of four weeks they truly began to engage me where I'd get the happiest puppy "Great to see ya!" greetings. I will not be placing the one puppy who will be for sale until she is both 2lbs and at least 12 weeks. At 6 weeks old right now she's 15 oz.

As far as food for thought. I'd still have this pup on Ed's forumula for about 50% of it's diet and something like puppy gruel or The Honest Kitchen Embark for the remaining bit. Keep the puppy in a warm room with no drafts and nurture until 8 weeks. Dehydration is your enemy. After that point you can start in on the video Your Puppy 8 weeks to 8 months.

As far as training a pit puppy. It's pretty much just like training any other dog from chihuahuas to great danes at this point. Basic obedience is generally not breed specific. You will want to think about what you want this dog to do though when it gets to that lovely puppy teenage age when a young dog's fancy turns into a wave of destruction. This is the age when it apparent if you don't have an outlet for that energy your dog will make one for you.
Common applications for pits is beginning weightpull training with very light weights, starting on tug games which eventually leads up to a spring pole or tether.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I would even suggest that listening to people who are giving puppy-rearing advice that is breed-specific may not be in your best interest. That's JMO.

I hope my post didn't come off that way. I was more thinking along the lines that someone that is used to a low energy lap dog or no dog might find a pit-bull (or any high energy pup, border collie, gsd, etc) a bit of a handful if it's not what they're used to. I wasn't saying it would be difficult because it was a pit-bull.

Glad to hear your son has some experience with helping train a dog and had positive outcomes with his GF's lab.

I would definately take the pup to the vet as soon as possible, just to make sure everythings good with the little one health wise.
How is he/she eating?
I had an ex who bred JRT's, and although he did encourage handling the pups, it was only for short periods of time at that age (you could tell they were stressed when they were picked up whining and scrambling) then they were back with the Mom and siblings. How does the pup re-act to being handled now? That is where the problem will lie I think. I m not sure about the pup socialing with your little chi right now. But then again maybe it would be a good idea??? (anoyone???)
I have owned pups, just not one so young so it's a bit difficult to say what's right and whats wrong.

At 4 weeks this puppy is not ready to be weaned.

My advice to the OP is to bottle feed this dog while you start weaning him onto formula mixed with whatever food you will give him. Go out and buy a small baby bottle or two. I used ground turkey at first, but you could use soaked kibble or canned dog food mixed with puppy formula. Use Leerburg's formula.

http://leerburg.com/bottlefeeding.htm

My litter also started weaning at 3 1/2 weeks but were not fully weaned until 6.5 weeks old, and still nursed until 9 weeks.

To the poster who stated it was illegal. you were correct. The youngest age it is legal to sell puppies in any state is 6 weeks ("or fully weaned"). With the only exception of Nevada in which case it is simply "weaned"
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuspuppysaletable.htm

This makes me sick.

Anyway at least this infant is in better hands now. I would be worried about the mother's temperament, A mother could be protective over newborn puppies but when they are 4 weeks and she is apart from them and you can't touch her... wow. Make sure this puppy is SOCIALIZED with a capital S once he is old enough (at least 8 weeks).

Before then follow the rule of 7 (7 new things in 7 categories by 7 weeks of age). Example, 7 new surfaces (grass, linoleum, tile, hardwood, carpet, blankets, etc) 7 new noises, 7 new smells, 7 new toys, etc. This is what a reputable breeder would do to socialize infants before they are old enough to be separated.

The chihuahua could be a good example to the puppy IF HE IS STABLE and calm (many chihuahua's I know are aggressive, snotty little dogs and you would not want that as an example to a pitbull!)

Hope this helps.

You can also check with your local rescue groups, shelter, breeders or in the paper for a "foster mother" which is a dog nursing a litter that may accept a puppy to raise for another 4 weeks. This would allow your pup to have "siblings" and a "doggy mother" - just an idea.

Good luck.

All of my pups at four-ish weeks were eating raw and only nursing for very short periods if at all. This pup will be fine nutrition wise. I agree with others that said that mom would probably be a bad influence for this baby, and will be better off in a new home that can guide the pup in a good and balanced environment.

The set up that you describe is a good one. Read, and have him read, this book on House Training Puppies and be ready to implement it when the pup is able to go for two or three hours between potty breaks. With only a single pup you should be able to see it and mark the time. Use that schedule to help with house breaking. (Keep a note book near by to record everything from feeding to pottys and maybe even activity levels. All will help you in potty training and if anything should happen to the baby and he gets sick, you will be able to see better when it started.)

I would suggest for now sticking with a VERY high quality dog food. If you have never fed raw, I would prefer that you learn about it first and understand what you are doing. For that, This E-Book is a great e-book to get you started. Once you understand the way it works, I would urge you to have him consider raw feeding, it is overall healthier, cheaper, and way more natural for a dog.

As for training, this is a dog; first and foremost. He will train it the same way he trained the lab. Where your differences come in is the way the pup’s character develops. A soft and sensitive dog will be easier, but you must be gentle and aware of voice and body language. A hard and dominant dog will need a very aware owner and perhaps more discipline. Either way, marker training is a great way to help build a bond and confidence in a dog and can be started at seven or eight weeks, and involved no corrections. It may sound odd and may be tough for a 19 year old man to adopt, but it is the BEST way for him and this pup to start! Here are some places to start while waiting for the videos to show up. (You ordered the videos right? Christmas is coming...)

Marker Training

Motivation in Dog Training

Training Puppies Not To Bite

Groundwork To Becoming Your Puppies Pack Leader

Good luck! And I hope to hear from your son on here soon!

Good post Angela!!! And Jessica!

I was assuming the pup wasn't fully weaned which is why I was wondering how it was eating. Or more accurately, what it was eating if it wasn't being bottle fed. I should've asked my question more accurately.

I hate to think what happened to the rest of the litter hopefully they went to well educated homes.





Edited by Wendy Lefebvre (11/26/2008 10:06 AM)
Edit reason: wanted to add jessica