OFF! DOWN! HELP!

The puppy who jumps all over the four year old or gets mud on your new outfit is never a hit. When puppy jumps up we usually react in a big way by yelling and flapping our arms about. Puppy is thrilled. She has humans who really know how to have a good time. When puppies jump all over the kids in our neighborhood our wonderful dog trainer has the kids become trees. Kids are very good at this. They ignore the puppy, put their hands at their sides and stare at the ceiling. How boring for the poor pup who was having such a good time only a moment ago. As soon as the puppy settles we like to give puppy a kibble first as she sits quietly and then the game can begin The game should be one the children enjoy as much as the puppy like chasing a ball or running as fast as they can.

Nothin' says lovin' Like kibble in you hand.

We have had all of our best ideas from dog trainer, Ian Dunbar, often via Kathy. If you have kibble in your pocket for most of the time you are around your puppy you can accomplish several great things before the puppy is three months old.

Position your hand just above the puppy's head so that he has to sit to get the piece of kibble from between your fingers. Don't feed him the kibble until he is sitting with four on the floor. When he sits, grab his collar, praise him and feed him the kibble all at once. Grab his collar so he will be used to that when you really need to apprehend him.

When you come home and puppy wants to jump be still with the kibble in front of him. The second he sits give it to him. Soon you will find, as we have just done with young Guinevere that when he sees you he will sit for kibble. Don't worry that he will always need kibble for sitting. He will eventually do it as a reflex action and treats will be used for new and fancier behaviors.

Puppy Meal Time

All of us have heard people warn to stay away from Fluffy when she is eating or heard a dog growl a warning when you get close to his dish. This is a rather anti-social behavior and can be dangerous if a two year old stumbles by when Rex is eating his kibble and liver.

Dr. Ian Dunbar, dog behaviorist, had an excellent suggestion for we puppy families. Try your best to find a child. Give the child tiny bits of steak or chicken or some other delicious food. Give Rex his dinner and let the child sit beside him. Have the child pop a bit of the delicious morsel into his dish every once and a while. Rex will soon begin to view dinner interruptions as a wonderful thing. When the puppy is young interupt meal time often with something really good and puppy will be very relaxed around humans when he eats.

Ouch That really hurt!! The Nipping Puppy

Puppies nip. A good thing about staying with mum for a long period of time is that mum teaches puppy that no means no.

At that stage she is a better teacher than we are. Nipping is initially a good thing because it teaches bite inhibition. The puppy who has never nipped and had a response has no idea how hard he is biting. When the puppy nips scream. Don't give a little yelp, scream in pain and immediately stop the game. Don't scold him. All that yelling and carrying on sounds like fun.

Puppies Love To Learn

It is likely that when your puppy first comes home to you she will be too young to go down the sidewalk or to the park. This is because she is not fully immunized and protected from the most common dog diseases until two weeks after her third and last vaccine for the year. However, puppy is at a wonderful age to learn the minute she arrives.

Perhaps you have a dog friendly friend who would welcome you and your puppy to their house for a visit. Just make sure they have not had any unimmunized dogs on their property. All puppy needs is some new people, new dogs and new experiences in the early part of his life so he can learn about the world. Your puppy would love to play with another puppy or a puppy friendly older dog. We are puppy mums who had a little one with a broken leg from a large, zealous grown up dog friend, so care is needed when choosing puppy's playmates.

Back To Labradoodle Information Pages

Jean puts the kibble where puppy Guinevere must sit in order to get it. It goes just above her nose and back a little.

House Training Your Labradoodle

The crate is your key to successfully potty training your puppy. In the morning carry your pup from crate to where you want her to go to the bathroom. Tell her what you want her to do, "pee" or "go potty". Wait until she does it in the appropriate spot and praise her. You can give her a treat if you wish. In the morning she may have to go out again within a half hour. For the rest of the day she will most likely have to go out every hour. This will get longer as she grows.

Even a professionally trained puppy is too young to tell you that they have to go to the bathroom. They understand the concept and will usually go immediately when they are in the appropriate spot but they can't hold it for too long and they can't tell you. It is up to you.

If puppy has an accident don't scold her. She really has no idea what you are carrying on about. Take her out to see if there is any more. Take her out often and praise her when she does it correctly.

If you see your puppy heading off to the den or other room that is a sign she has to go. If you see her turn in circles, nose to the ground, that is another sign. Puppies are babies and it is really their family that makes sure they have lots of opportunity to go in the appropriate spot. It is time consuming at first but it lessens as they grow. Large adult dogs seem to be able to keep their bladder in check all day, certainly longer than I can.

Puppy Classes

Find a dog class that has a philosophy that makes sense to you. We like Ian Dunbar's, positive reward training ourselves. Register her as soon as you can. You will both love classes. If you have children many places offer classes geared particularly to kids and their dogs.

It is what you do from the minute puppy comes home that will largely determine the temperament of the puppy. A good dog class teacher is a great resource for you and your family.