So, is your number one fantasy right now a big old pot of puppy soup? ROFL

I will walk a puppy only as far as you are able to carry them back. <Grin> It's amazing how they can lay down and become dead weight when they get tired. Do you hear the voice of experience here? ROFL

Pups I try and exercise mostly on grass and will pretty much let them determine the amount.

With the biting I use a combination of methods. I will redirect them to a toy, or start a short ob session. If the dog is food motivated that works great. And if they seem to be getting a little crazed like a toddler that has missed his nap I have no problem throwing them in the crate and running for my life and sanity. I *do* have the luxury of several fenced in acres and have been known to be outside throwing the ball in the middle of the night or even during rainstorms. There is no truer statement then a tired puppy is a good puppy.

Good luck with you pup!

 Quote: betty waldron

So, is your number one fantasy right now a big old pot of puppy soup? ROFL

I will walk a puppy only as far as you are able to carry them back. <Grin> It's amazing how they can lay down and become dead weight when they get tired. Do you hear the voice of experience here? ROFL

Pups I try and exercise mostly on grass and will pretty much let them determine the amount.

With the biting I use a combination of methods. I will redirect them to a toy, or start a short ob session. If the dog is food motivated that works great. And if they seem to be getting a little crazed like a toddler that has missed his nap I have no problem throwing them in the crate and running for my life and sanity. I *do* have the luxury of several fenced in acres and have been known to be outside throwing the ball in the middle of the night or even during rainstorms. There is no truer statement then a tired puppy is a good puppy.

Good luck with you pup!

I love this...the carry back part especially.
I have several clients right now that are raising puppies after years of old dogs. The folks have forgotten that puppies are energetic and mouthy. I tell them to redirect to a toy. And they always ask for how long...I say, you do this a million times and one day you wake up and realize you didn't have to do it lately and your little wolverine has grown up.

I am also amazed how often folks think that a mouthy pup is vicious or aggressive. They start stressing that they are raising a Steven King character and already thinking they are in too deep. Constantly have to remind people that their 6, 8 or 10 month old is still a BABY. They see size and think older.

That and it drives me a bit nuts when people think dogs are plotting or rationalizing. "He KNOWS he did wrong!"

I long for dog sense.

Angelique,

When I first started retrieving and exercise I would look for cues from my pup that she was slowing down. At that point I would change the exercise to something slower.

So I would start with my retrieving to get the extra energy out. When I noticed she was trotting back instead of running full tilt, we stopped. We did a small walk for potty-ing (she will not go to the bathroom while she is working). Then she would have cooled down from the retrieving and was more focused, so then we did our marker training.

After all this is when she eats, whether it be breakfast or dinner.

Don't forget about the socialization though. You could do the first two things then instead of a marker training session, you could take a walk through town, or to a human park, or to a kids playground and use the play equipment. I always start my marker training at home and then move the marker training out into the world. This way my dog learns to work everywhere. Just as a side note, I do not allow people to pet my puppy. She is there to work and learn to be neutral.

I LOVE dishcloths for tugging with puppies. They are easily concealed, easily cleaned and easily replaced.