Quote: Betty Waldron

A puppy class is a wonderful idea!

Yes! It sounds perfect!

It shouldn't be hard these days to find one that's marker-training-based, either.

puppy classes in the right school or with the right trainer can't be beat for socializaton and learning how to communicate with your dog

This may be a reach but if you do the correct foundation work you really don't need a lot of hard correction on a dog, even the working line ones. I only had to use a "hard" correction on two dogs only once or twice, one was an adult dog the other was a near adult dog when I got them. Erika and Max never needed a "hard" correction. And I pray to Saint Francis that Drago won't need it either

Nick, puppy lesson for you, I get paid in beer and/or eggs for lessons I'll give you my address later.

Have a pocket full of treats, cut up hot dogs or chicken or cheese, no dry food. Have you and pupper in a near empty room to minimize distractions. Ignore the puppy til he gets bored with you and looking away. Sharply call out his name IE "MAX". Say it loud enough to startle him but not freak him out. When he turns and looks at you, besure to have the treat ready to go in hand in pocket, Mark that event with a "YES" or "Thas GOOOD" and get that treat in front of him. repeat for about ten minutes. then you carry that over to other rooms and in the yard, say his name, mark it and treat. NEVER CALL HIS NAME TO GET HIM TO DO SOMETHING HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO. IE puting him in his crate when he wants to continue playing, or medicating. That would also include potty accidents, trash can raids etc. It took about a week with Erika and Drago. It also builds towards a solid recall command.


I drink Killian's, 2X, and Guinness

 Quote: dennis jones

Nick, puppy lesson for you, I get paid in beer and/or eggs for lessons I'll give you my address later.

Have a pocket full of treats, cut up hot dogs or chicken or cheese, no dry food. Have you and pupper in a near empty room to minimize distractions. Ignore the puppy til he gets bored with you and looking away. Sharply call out his name IE "MAX". Say it loud enough to startle him but not freak him out. When he turns and looks at you, besure to have the treat ready to go in hand in pocket, Mark that event with a "YES" or "Thas GOOOD" and get that treat in front of him. repeat for about ten minutes. then you carry that over to other rooms and in the yard, say his name, mark it and treat. NEVER CALL HIS NAME TO GET HIM TO DO SOMETHING HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO. IE puting him in his crate when he wants to continue playing, or medicating. That would also include potty accidents, trash can raids etc. It took about a week with Erika and Drago. It also builds towards a solid recall command.


I drink Killian's, 2X, and Guinness

All of Dennis' advice is excellent = BUT, remember we are not using ANY treats on this pup until we get the diarrhea issues resolved.

Nick, you'll do fine if you slow down, listen and take it a step at a time.

My kids have alread figured out how to get their stuff back, shoes, toys etc, they get a tug toy or ball out and trade. When Drago gets bitey they grab a tug or rag and trade Drago off their hands.

Sorry I was told to scruff if he did something threatening to me or the family. Puppy moms do it. I know I'm not his mom but damn he's become a Velcro dog with me. I can't even be 5 feet away. I feel terrible because he's my wifes dog!! She has a college final so she had me take him. We got him before summer started


WE DO NEED A PUPPY CLASS!

About 15 minutes ago I heard a LOUD scream from him. I ran outside where my wife had him and she told me she said YUCK and then scruffed him when he didnt listen. She scruffed him for a helicopter.

He does even know yuck well enough. I scolded her pretty hard for it. I'm done scruffing I'm scared I'm going to ruin our dog or make him totally nuts!


I'm so old school yank and crank because pointers respond to it. These dogs well I'm sure we ALL know what can happen if we continue. I've been in contact with a puppy trainer but we are playing phone tag.



PRAISE:

obviously we know what that is. I read something Ed wrote or I watched a video he filmed on praising a pup after a correction.


My dog is on my lap right now because he's so Velcro

Redirect is another good word. Redirect, Redirect, Redirect.
Puppy bites pant leg, redirect. Puppy bites hands hard and comes back for more, Redirect.
Make another toy the prey, and play with that toy, this is redirecting.
Get used to sores and holes in your pants legs. Puppy teeth are like razors!

I'll take some video of him tonight

it's hard to redirect without food. he has HIGH food drive but no ball drive