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Rottweiler Discussions / Re: day 3
« on: July 03, 2005, 08:23:35 am »
Having crate trained MANY puppies, here are some suggestions and hints
1) if you allow her to scream in the crate and run your life right now, it will be that way from now on. Get a good magazine, and roll it up and tie it with rubber bands. Use it to THUMP the outside of the crate to interrupt her fussing. Verbally praise when the pup is quiet. Correct ALL vocalizing when you put the pup in the crate.
2) keep the crate where the puppy can see you in the day time, and right beside your bed at night. Correct all vocalizations when the pup is put into the crate
3) a tired puppy is a good puppy. Make sure the pup gets adequate exercise. No food after 8pm, and I usually remove water at about this time as well when I am trying to crate train puppies.
4) at 6 weeks she may indeed not be able to make it through the entire night. Try making a last trip out around 11pm, and you should be able to make it to 6am.
5) Be sure you are going outside with the pup, and reward all outdoor potty work. Name the functions. As in, say "go pee pee" while she is urinating, and "go poop" or whatever, when she is defecating. If you will go with her, and name functions AS they are happening, and food reward afterwards, she will very soon potty on your command. Confine and/or supervise CAREFULLY at all times when she is in the house. It is your job to have her where she needs to be when she needs to eliminate. IT's not her job to tell you, and any mistakes are absolutely YOUR fault, and not hers. She is a tiny baby. She needs you to take care of her and have her outside when it's time to go. Do not expect much consistency or control until 10 weeks or so.
Bottom line, she is tiny and cute now. Within a year she will be a large dog who is likely to have strong territorial instincts. If she is typical, she will challenge you at least a couple of times as she is growing up. It pays to be ready, and to raise puppies with clear rules and guidelines so that they can understand what is expected of them.
This article can help you to understand how things work in the dog world, and can help you elimininate the possibility of dominance issues in the future. I urge you to print it out and keep it handy.
http://www.chowwelfare.com/cciw/alpha.htm
If you have not already done so, my puppy training article covers lots of issues and can help you raise a well adjusted good canine citizen. Feel free to print it out as well....
http://www.animalforum.com/dpuppy101.htm
Good luck with her, the first few weeks can be quite stressful for all, but she will settle in soon if you just keep at it.
1) if you allow her to scream in the crate and run your life right now, it will be that way from now on. Get a good magazine, and roll it up and tie it with rubber bands. Use it to THUMP the outside of the crate to interrupt her fussing. Verbally praise when the pup is quiet. Correct ALL vocalizing when you put the pup in the crate.
2) keep the crate where the puppy can see you in the day time, and right beside your bed at night. Correct all vocalizations when the pup is put into the crate
3) a tired puppy is a good puppy. Make sure the pup gets adequate exercise. No food after 8pm, and I usually remove water at about this time as well when I am trying to crate train puppies.
4) at 6 weeks she may indeed not be able to make it through the entire night. Try making a last trip out around 11pm, and you should be able to make it to 6am.
5) Be sure you are going outside with the pup, and reward all outdoor potty work. Name the functions. As in, say "go pee pee" while she is urinating, and "go poop" or whatever, when she is defecating. If you will go with her, and name functions AS they are happening, and food reward afterwards, she will very soon potty on your command. Confine and/or supervise CAREFULLY at all times when she is in the house. It is your job to have her where she needs to be when she needs to eliminate. IT's not her job to tell you, and any mistakes are absolutely YOUR fault, and not hers. She is a tiny baby. She needs you to take care of her and have her outside when it's time to go. Do not expect much consistency or control until 10 weeks or so.
Bottom line, she is tiny and cute now. Within a year she will be a large dog who is likely to have strong territorial instincts. If she is typical, she will challenge you at least a couple of times as she is growing up. It pays to be ready, and to raise puppies with clear rules and guidelines so that they can understand what is expected of them.
This article can help you to understand how things work in the dog world, and can help you elimininate the possibility of dominance issues in the future. I urge you to print it out and keep it handy.
http://www.chowwelfare.com/cciw/alpha.htm
If you have not already done so, my puppy training article covers lots of issues and can help you raise a well adjusted good canine citizen. Feel free to print it out as well....
http://www.animalforum.com/dpuppy101.htm
Good luck with her, the first few weeks can be quite stressful for all, but she will settle in soon if you just keep at it.