Steve - he is cute and thank you that. I read it too fast the first time.

Actually my husband had him on the leash and I was calling him to me - which is why he was so happy. His leash wasn't tight but it sure looks that way in the photos. Rich was moving with him.

He will run to me as soon as he sees me - good thing because if he likes Rich better there is going to disharmony in de home lol I am the only one to feed him and water him and all that good stuff.

But I do hear what you are saying - I am a bit afraid to drop it until I get his vacs as I keep him in a part of the yard where I bleached the cement and then rinsed it. But I am probably worrying too much because so far he has shown no desire to be far from me.

His long lead came today so he will have more freedom - when I decide he can that is as I will feel better once he has his vacs done - he loves his new world - the plants aren't poisonous btw - and he loves to crush them with his fat little body .. much to my dismay and laughter at the same time.

He's gorgeous.

He is in his expen which he can no longer move - how we did it was to put a large piece of carpet inside the cage and outside the front - he can't move it .. oh joy. Slippery hardwood floors were just too much fun for him.

Cardboard box in it - he is alternating between playing with that and screaming .. I think that's a step in the right direction - a tiny step.

He is VERY cute! Pups LOVE the water!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Look familiar?

http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php/238/So_You_Think_You_Want_a_High_Drive_Puppy/

Glad that you found that...I was going to look for it to post here. LOL

Maybe it helps to know "oh .... this is 'normal' "


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Maggie, did I tell you that I LOVE sables!? What is the pedigree on your pup?
Once a pup understands markers one of my very first behaviors to learn is the recall. Between 7-12 weeks most all pups are very open to imprinting simply because it hasn't developed to strong of independence yet.
You commented about how the pup want to follow you around. That's ABSOLUTELY normal right now. They don't want to be away from their mom or litter mates. You are now both! Use it to your advantage.
Your husband can hold of the pup while you walk away (only 5-6 ft for now) and you talk to the pup and show it treats. DON'T use your recall command OR the pup's name for now. Just get it excited to follow you. ONLY when the pup is excited to get to you does your husband let the pup go. Get excited as all get out and mark as soon as the pup starts towards you. Reward and make a big fuss when it gets to you. You and your husband can take turns being the holder and the person who walks away. With a new pup I always have a pocket full of Cherios or something for rewards. The pup will understand that "come" or whatever command for recall is always worthy of reward.
As you start to see consistency with this add the command and the dog's name. Once that is established then add a bit of distance.
With out a solid recall you should NEVER call the pup if it's distracted, not on a long line, or you don't think it will come to you. All that will do is teach the pup it can ignore the command.
To this day when I cal my 9yr old, multiple titled GSD or my 5 yr old goofball GSD I will ALWAYS reward in some form or other when my dog's come to a recall. It may be a simple "good dog" with a scratch on the head or a high level reward. They ALWAYS know that answering to a recall, formal or other wise, they will be rewarded. That recall is even rewarded if you calling your dog away from chewing a shoe or whatever. That recall is the very last behavior you asked of the dog. It MUST be rewarded!! Calling to correct a dog is the best way to let the dog know you can't be trusted. It came to you and you corrected it. WRONG!!!
I hope I'm not throwing to much at you all art once. This down the line from loading the marker but I try and comment when things pop in my head. Don't be shy about letting me, or anyone, know that you don't understand.
There is more to add to this simple recall but for now this is what your striving for.

Bob, wow - what an amazing amount of valuable information you shared - I appreciate the time (and the knowledge) it took you to write it.

Will I 'get' what all your words mean right now? Maybe not but in time I will understand it better and better each time I follow your advice. Your post will be, along with others excellent words of wisdom, copied and pasted in my word doc and I have made a commitment to read it every day. You reading this Connie??? lol.

I will post all my questions and not care if they sound like I don't know what I am doing, because I don't, and I will also post my results in following the advice of those of you who have done this for years. Stay tuned for more naive but sincere questions.

I learned from Steve what I was doing wrong and he saw it in a photo I posted (dog on a tight leash on his way to me) so tomorrow I will (biting my nails here) allow my baby boy to drag his leash on his way to me.

I will post photos and maybe videos of me working and playing with my new boy so I can learn .. they will be full of beginner mistakes and I will take it on the chin from those of you who will take time to tell me what I am doing wrong. Because it's all for the love and health of my dogs.

Thank you

Connie, I watched that video and laughed - then I thought - holy ape sh*t is that what I am in for?

Just fooling - mark my words - (grin) my pup would never do that! Well, he has been sleeping in his expen for the last hour .. my ears stopped ringing too.

Feel free to remind me I said that publicly hahahahaha