That sounds like a good plan. Once or twice a night should be appropriate for a healthy pup of Negan's age. I hope the second night of trying it went reasonably well. There will be the occasional setback, but don't get discouraged. The goal is to teach the puppy that nighttime is for sleeping, and he only gets out of the crate when it's necessary to relieve himself.

From your first post, it sounds like you have been studying up on a lot of the material available from Leerburg. Have you by any chance taken the free online course called "How We Manage Dogs in our Home"? If not, I would encourage you to sign up for it. It covers a wide variety of basic topics, and I'm sure there would be some overlap with other videos you've viewed or articles you've read, but I still think it would be worth your time.

I see no issue with a dog sleeping in the bedroom as long as they don't start dictating who can enter.

Not uncommon!

With children some will pick out one child or room a decide that's his spot.

Again, not an issue AS LONG AS the dog doesn't start dictating who enters.

Some dogs may decide to sleep in the hall and keep an eye on everyone in the house.

Some owners choose to keep the dog crated at night regardless of age.

IF eventually the dog will be allowed to roam the house at night you can also have a spot, blanket, dog bed, open crate, whatever and train the dog to use that wherever YOU decide it should be.

LOTS of choices. Just be consistent!

Marker training is amazing!

I have taken that course and it was great. I've covered a lot of ground since that course and it is more than I can remember all at once, much less internalize. But, I've had good results with the parts I grasp so far. Negan seems very happy and his behaviors get significantly better each day. He's well on his way to going anywhere and everywhere his family goes, which is all I really want for, or from, him.

That's good to know, Bob Scott.

I will keep an eye on that. I don't expect it. We all do so much loving and petting with Negan (he's just sweet natured) that I have a hard time imagining him telling anyone where they can or can't be but I'll pay attention for the behavior so I can catch it early.

Most male GSDs will start to feel their oats at 18 to 24 months.

At this time just think of them as a teenager starting to feel their independence.

If you don't have excellent management and leadership over the dog it can get to be a real pia.

 Quote: Jeff Clanton

That's good to know, Bob Scott.

I will keep an eye on that. I don't expect it.

We all do so much loving and petting with Negan (he's just sweet natured) that I have a hard time imagining him telling anyone where they can or can't be

but I'll pay attention for the behavior so I can catch it early.

Hi Jeff,

If I understand your 1st post correctly, your family bought Negan from a breeder at Christmas when he was 6 Weeks old, making him 2 Months old now -- He's still just a weanling in age (like a human infant) ... As Bob has already cautioned, once puberty gets solidly established & testosterone increasingly exercises its powerful effect, Negan will begin to behave more & more like a fully mature Male GSD

This is NOT to say that he will suddenly start asserting his will by displaying "dominance challenges", but Negan may very well try Testing the Boundaries of your leadership position by pushing to see just how serious you are about enforcing YOUR rules & reinforcing his place in the family "pack structure" -- Consistency with Groundwork during his first 2-3 years of training will help lay the proper foundation for the rest of Negan's life as a GREAT pet !!!

I'm not certain what I can do to anticipate that kind of behavior. It sound like a pack structure issue. I haven't paid that aspect of training an enormous amount of attention because I would expect if the puppy gets all of his love and food and toys and rules from us that he'll always know his place in the pack. It's on my to do list but it is somewhere after an Engagement Video/Course and a Basic Obedience Vid/Course but perhaps before a Loose Leash course. I do hope that the bond he has with us is the largest factor in this equation because we've really placed that above any and all other considerations. I have had quite a few dogs and I know that the more attention they get the better they behave...that's even without formal training.

Hey, are those your babies? They are beautiful!

I'd post a pic of Negan but I can't figure it out.

The bond is created simply with having fun with the dog.

It just happens BUT having a bond doesn't guarantee pack leadership.

That's a management issue and that starts with NILIF .

That means Nothing In Life Is Free.

If the dog want to go out then it has to learn that your first through the door.

All the "simple" daily life interaction with the pup.

Dogs need that because very few are born to be a pack "leader" and without leadership/management then you've got a PIA dog on you hands.



Be fair and consistent.........and learn marker training!

It's fun!

Jeff,

Is there a chance in the world you are over thinking the training of a nine or so week old puppy?

Some of the the stuff you cite in re training I would opine is for a maturing puppy.

Set some boundaries, starting with the command NO. And relax a bit.

Small training steps to complement the age of the puppy. As Bob noted, little things like going through the door first. Putting food down and taking it up so the puppy understands it is yours to give and take. Have places that are off limits to the puppy for the sake of setting a boundary and having the puppy conditioned by a NO.

I've seen too many dogs effected by unrealistic expectations of their owners. Enjoy the puppy for its being a puppy, and concentrate on some life long basic commands and behaviors gently guided to. Have a forgiving spirit and with a purpose of training.

Abundant praise. Implacable patience. Marker training is excellent. But all training has to be in context. With a puppy it is often one step forward and two steps back. It is what it is. Smail bites of training at first leads to longer more complicated training goals later, in my opinion.

Short 'training' sessions that are consistent. Random in the house commands to come, with generous praise when it complies and understanding its age when it doesn't.

I apologize for the preaching. Two cents.

Mike A.

 Quote: Mike Arnold

Jeff,

Is there a chance in the world you are over thinking the training of a nine or so week old puppy?

Some of the the stuff you cite in re training I would opine is for a maturing puppy.

Set some boundaries, starting with the command NO. And relax a bit.

Small training steps to complement the age of the puppy. As Bob noted, little things like going through the door first. Putting food down and taking it up so the puppy understands it is yours to give and take. Have places that are off limits to the puppy for the sake of setting a boundary and having the puppy conditioned by a NO.

I've seen too many dogs effected by unrealistic expectations of their owners. Enjoy the puppy for its being a puppy, and concentrate on some life long basic commands and behaviors gently guided to. Have a forgiving spirit and with a purpose of training.

Abundant praise. Implacable patience. Marker training is excellent. But all training has to be in context. With a puppy it is often one step forward and two steps back. It is what it is. Smail bites of training at first leads to longer more complicated training goals later, in my opinion.

Short 'training' sessions that are consistent. Random in the house commands to come, with generous praise when it complies and understanding its age when it doesn't.

I apologize for the preaching. Two cents.

Mike A.

AMEN to all Mike says above, Jeff

IMHO, the 3 Leerburg videos you really need the most right now are:

"Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months" http://leerburg.com/120.htm

"Living With Your Puppy" http://leerburg.com/puppy-pack-structure.htm

"The Power of Training Dogs with Markers" http://leergurg.com/219.htm

Some you can get in a Discount Set