Training puppies

[sujee]

We are cat people and I do not really like dogs as they are too demanding. However, last week our lovely animal loving Spanish neighbours ( yes I know it's rare in Spain) came over with 2 tiny pups they found wandering along the road to Yunquera. She was so pleased to have brought them to us and said we now a complete family (I thought we already were!), the pups are adorable and not at all yappy, they had also found a vet in Malaga who will do all treatments, injections, chips and neutering for €80 and they even offered to pay for one of the pups. How could we say no?

So we now have 2 pups who dominate our home and reduce the poor cats to one room. A week later I have got used to them and the cats are coming round slowly. My problem is chewing. They chew everything my food baskets, the log baskets, the furniture, shoes, you name it they chew it. How can I train them not to chew everything. They even dig up cat poo to chew on . I've tried NO! and distracting them even a tap on the muzzle. Do any of you dog lovers have a better idea?

The other problem I have is with dog poo. As we have a nice big plot they have lots of room to roam and are getting to be house trained well but although we have tried to train them to go at one particular olive tree they poo all over the gardens, paths and terraces. How do you all dispose of it?

[Enrique]

Hi sujee,
You must be all heart taking in those two puppies

Google training puppy............and adapt to YOUR life style and environment.

Puppies will chew so either move them away from chewy stuff or give them a safe thing to chew when supervised.

Get a crate ....they will treat it as a den and useful to contain when needed...I still use mine when driving out of the yard.

Set your rules and stick to them ....Exercise...Discipline...Affection in that order.

Enjoy being a Dog owner............

[Donz.]

Hi Sujee, drop us an email via www.inthedoghousedtc.com and we'll send you some FREE ebooks for what you need (no junk mail I promise!) Well done for taking on the pups - there are soooooo many about at the moment xx

[sujee]

Thanks Enrique and Donz I will be contacting you very soon. I need all the encouragement I can get.

[oliveview01]

My sister bought a crate for her Lab pup, he loves going in it

[sujee]

We have a cage for them where we have put their bed and they are now happy to be there when we are out so that the cats get some peace. They sleep in it at night and now have stopped crying until they hear me let the cats out in the morning. I don't want to use it as a punishment for when they are chewing but I have found putting them on the terrace and shutting the door to the house works as a punishment and they sit looking dejected until let back in. To be fair they are good dogs. I thought at first they would be small lap dogs but they are now looking more like Australian/Basque shepherds. If so they will need a LOT of exercise and attention although cat herding may take care of some of that.
I would put a picture on the forum but don't know how to do it!

[oliveview01]

We have a cage for them where we have put their bed and they are now happy to be there when we are out so that the cats get some peace. They sleep in it at night and now have stopped crying until they hear me let the cats out in the morning. I don't want to use it as a punishment for when they are chewing but I have found putting them on the terrace and shutting the door to the house works as a punishment and they sit looking dejected until let back in. To be fair they are good dogs. I thought at first they would be small lap dogs but they are now looking more like Australian/Basque shepherds. If so they will need a LOT of exercise and attention although cat herding may take care of some of that.
I would put a picture on the forum but don't know how to do it!

I use photobucket- upload your photo there to your page, then click on the photo and a ´list´comes up. I click on the 2nd from bottom, can´t remember the name of the one I click on and copy. You can then paste it here.

[rafiki]

Well done and thanks for giving the pups a home.

[sujee]

Donz, I didn't need to email you as in the event your website had all the information I needed.

The pups are getting quite civilized now and only the odd accident peeing in the house when it rained all day. Going to the vet today to get them registered etc as little lad has developed a couple of uclers near his eye. Also have discovered that he is a tick magnet but fortunately I am handy with vodka and tweezers.

The will now walk on leads too, but that has taken a lot of patience and treats, Am looking forward to being able to take them out to get them used to other people and dogs.

Still not managed to get the pics sorted with photobucket, I think They have drained my brain!

[Donz.]

so glad to have been able to help sujee! sounds like you're getting on well! Can't wait to see their photos!

[Martin Page]

I wish you well with your quest ....
We have only just recently lost our dog so are having a sabatical for a couple of years.
I really cant emphasise how important it is to train your dog(s) It is ABSOLUTLEY crucial and you cant start too young.
Often you have to be cruel to be kind, but the dog has to know its place in the family and what is expected of it. If not you wont have a pet you will have a liability,
It is hard work training a dog in the first year. It is persistant non stop untill the dog is about 18 months old ... and then, what youve got is what you have for the next 15 years.
Start now - ge the pups to realise where the boundary are for them ...for example, they can go on the green bits (lawn) but absoluteley not on the brown bits (garden). It takes contasnt supervision and repetative chastisement and coersion, It will seem they have a stronger will than you have , but you will eventually win ! And then they will be a pleasure.
Socialisation is also another important factor. They must get on with other dogs. Use the internet for actual advice and theory behind socialisation of dogs
Good luck !

[sujee]

Hope this works
http://s1299.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... sort=3&o=0
http://s1299.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... sort=3&o=3

[sujee]

Sorry still won't work for me

[Enrique]

Hi sujee,
On Photobucket use the img code and paste to your post

[sujee]

Thanks Enrique here goes!

[Footprint]

How cute are they

You have your work cut out though - having one puppy is hard work. When you have two they tend to listen to each other - not you. Good luck

[Donz.]

adorable!

Footprint is right with the 2 puppies comment - when they come into the home together (mainly at a young age), they often build a strong bond with each other and don't want to listen to you, OR they fight with each other - GENERALLY there is no happy medium as there would be if they had come into your life separately a couple of years apart.

You will find life a lot easier with a single pup if there is a chance of finding a decent home for the other. If you decide not to, no problem of course but pre-warned is fore-armed

[rafiki]

I agree with Donz. In UK we had years of keeping sibling Jack Russell b1tches apart all day, every day. We bought them together and all was OK until they were about a year old when they then couldn't decide who was the boss. Fights began resulting in blood. Behaviouralists, spaying, tablets were all tried to no avail. The trouble was the OH considered one as hers, I the other and we loved them both so we couldn't/didn't take the obvious, necessary decision to get rid of one. Tini died at 12 years old Polly at 17 so we only had 5 years of canine peace in all that time.

We again have two dogs, a boxer b:tch and a small boy street mixta. Both abandoned and both 1-2 years old when we took them in, but they joined us 6 months apart. They have both been neutered. They get on very well. Sammy the small mixta is definitely the boss.

[Footprint]

I would never sell two puppies together even though I had people wanting them. Recipe for disaster - especially with terriers! I have 3 dogs and the kitten here and they are one incredibly happy family. But the dogs are 14yrs, 2yrs and 7 months respectively (all females) though the sex doesn't matter. If the 'oldie' is well trained the rest will follow with some help from the human.

The most important thing is who is the pack leader - and that must always be you and the dogs must respect that. When they don't it is time to give up dog ownership.

Hard work but very rewarding when it all clicks into place and a well trained dog is definitely a much happier dog.

[Enrique]

So right Footprint..........
"The most important thing is who is the pack leader - and that must always be you and the dogs must respect that. When they don't it is time to give up dog ownership."

When they know this then they just chill out . They are dogs after all, not furry children .