speaking of dogs...
kayb85
I have 3 kids and a husband who want a dog...We are talking about
surprising them with a puppy for Easter or maybe for their summer
birthdays, when the weather will be nicer and they'll be able to play
around with him outside a lot. Dh thinks a golden lab would be nice.
Years ago we had a dog and although we loved him, he was untrainable.
Some lady found him and put a free ad in the paper. He had either
been abandoned or possibly even born wild. Whatever the case was, he
never really was a good housedog. I couldn't rely on him to go
outside to go to the bathroom, couldn't keep him in the yard without
chaining him up (because he would jump the fence or squeeze out of the
smallest spaces, even under the botom of the fence. Once he even
opened the gate. He did damage in neighbors' yards. In the house, he
would jump up on the table and eat the food (once he took an entire
meatloaf off of the table...)
The point of the story is that I want to know ahead of time what the
plan is for training this puppy. I want a puppy who can stay inside,
who won't jump on the table or counters and steal food, won't knock
over the garbage cans, and won't go to the bathroom in the house. I
want a puppy who the kids can take out in the yard to play with and
he'll stay there. What do I need to do?
surprising them with a puppy for Easter or maybe for their summer
birthdays, when the weather will be nicer and they'll be able to play
around with him outside a lot. Dh thinks a golden lab would be nice.
Years ago we had a dog and although we loved him, he was untrainable.
Some lady found him and put a free ad in the paper. He had either
been abandoned or possibly even born wild. Whatever the case was, he
never really was a good housedog. I couldn't rely on him to go
outside to go to the bathroom, couldn't keep him in the yard without
chaining him up (because he would jump the fence or squeeze out of the
smallest spaces, even under the botom of the fence. Once he even
opened the gate. He did damage in neighbors' yards. In the house, he
would jump up on the table and eat the food (once he took an entire
meatloaf off of the table...)
The point of the story is that I want to know ahead of time what the
plan is for training this puppy. I want a puppy who can stay inside,
who won't jump on the table or counters and steal food, won't knock
over the garbage cans, and won't go to the bathroom in the house. I
want a puppy who the kids can take out in the yard to play with and
he'll stay there. What do I need to do?
Lynda
Do you have a large yard? Labs like lots of exercise and generally stay
puppyish until they are between a year and 18 months old.
When we had the kennel and showed dogs we found that generally speaking that
females were easier to housebreak and were less inclined to have wanderlust.
Also, regardless of gender, neuter them as close to 6 months as your vet
recommends for you individual dog. That also usually has a calming effect
on male dogs (cuts down the urge to "travel").
You also might want to consider an older dog that is already housebroke.
Most breeds have a rescue group that could help you in that area.
Lynda
puppyish until they are between a year and 18 months old.
When we had the kennel and showed dogs we found that generally speaking that
females were easier to housebreak and were less inclined to have wanderlust.
Also, regardless of gender, neuter them as close to 6 months as your vet
recommends for you individual dog. That also usually has a calming effect
on male dogs (cuts down the urge to "travel").
You also might want to consider an older dog that is already housebroke.
Most breeds have a rescue group that could help you in that area.
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: kayb85 <sheran@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 8:10 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] speaking of dogs...
> I have 3 kids and a husband who want a dog...We are talking about
> surprising them with a puppy for Easter or maybe for their summer
> birthdays, when the weather will be nicer and they'll be able to play
> around with him outside a lot. Dh thinks a golden lab would be nice.
>
> Years ago we had a dog and although we loved him, he was untrainable.
> Some lady found him and put a free ad in the paper. He had either
> been abandoned or possibly even born wild. Whatever the case was, he
> never really was a good housedog. I couldn't rely on him to go
> outside to go to the bathroom, couldn't keep him in the yard without
> chaining him up (because he would jump the fence or squeeze out of the
> smallest spaces, even under the botom of the fence. Once he even
> opened the gate. He did damage in neighbors' yards. In the house, he
> would jump up on the table and eat the food (once he took an entire
> meatloaf off of the table...)
>
> The point of the story is that I want to know ahead of time what the
> plan is for training this puppy. I want a puppy who can stay inside,
> who won't jump on the table or counters and steal food, won't knock
> over the garbage cans, and won't go to the bathroom in the house. I
> want a puppy who the kids can take out in the yard to play with and
> he'll stay there. What do I need to do?
>
>
>
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Karen Matlock
I agree with everything Lynda said. You may want to get a good book on the
subject and read first about how you want to handle your new puppy. Or find
a trainer and audit some classes if they'll let you. Don't rely just on what
you've done before. Any book or source that tells you to punish the puppy,
throw away (don't donate it, we don't want those things back in
circulation!) Karen Pryor's book "Don't Shoot the Dog," while older, is one
of the best theory books around. It's not a practical training manual, but
it does outline behavioral conditioning principles very well. Can be used
with husbands and children too! :)
Also, there are good areas on the web and in books on selecting a puppy.
Read them and go with a hard heart and a clear eye. What I mean is that it's
easy to pick the first one who comes bounding up to you and chews on your
shoe. Or, you get the shy, coughing runt with red eyes because you feel
sorry for her. Don't be afraid to look at more than one litter. If possible,
don't take the kids with you (it's a surprise, so probably not, right?)
because it's very hard to walk away when your kids have that look! Put the
puppy through the puppy personality tests found in books or websites (can be
used with older dogs too) and spend time with them. And I second the mention
of adopting an older dog. Personality is set, they're either housebroken or
not, and they're so grateful! (Isn't that what Benjamin Franklin said about
older women?)
To get you started:
http://www.petnet.com.au/selectapet.html
http://pets.msn.com/dogs/choose/default.asp
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/tchoose.html
http://dogs.about.com/cs/choosingadog/
Karen
____________________________________________________________________________
_____-
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 04:10:40 -0000
From: "kayb85" <sheran@...>
Subject: speaking of dogs...
I have 3 kids and a husband who want a dog...We are talking about
surprising them with a puppy for Easter or maybe for their summer
birthdays, when the weather will be nicer and they'll be able to play
around with him outside a lot. Dh thinks a golden lab would be nice.
Years ago we had a dog and although we loved him, he was untrainable.
Some lady found him and put a free ad in the paper. He had either
been abandoned or possibly even born wild. Whatever the case was, he
never really was a good housedog. I couldn't rely on him to go
outside to go to the bathroom, couldn't keep him in the yard without
chaining him up (because he would jump the fence or squeeze out of the
smallest spaces, even under the botom of the fence. Once he even
opened the gate. He did damage in neighbors' yards. In the house, he
would jump up on the table and eat the food (once he took an entire
meatloaf off of the table...)
The point of the story is that I want to know ahead of time what the
plan is for training this puppy. I want a puppy who can stay inside,
who won't jump on the table or counters and steal food, won't knock
over the garbage cans, and won't go to the bathroom in the house. I
want a puppy who the kids can take out in the yard to play with and
he'll stay there. What do I need to do?
___
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @... address at http://mail.yahoo.com
subject and read first about how you want to handle your new puppy. Or find
a trainer and audit some classes if they'll let you. Don't rely just on what
you've done before. Any book or source that tells you to punish the puppy,
throw away (don't donate it, we don't want those things back in
circulation!) Karen Pryor's book "Don't Shoot the Dog," while older, is one
of the best theory books around. It's not a practical training manual, but
it does outline behavioral conditioning principles very well. Can be used
with husbands and children too! :)
Also, there are good areas on the web and in books on selecting a puppy.
Read them and go with a hard heart and a clear eye. What I mean is that it's
easy to pick the first one who comes bounding up to you and chews on your
shoe. Or, you get the shy, coughing runt with red eyes because you feel
sorry for her. Don't be afraid to look at more than one litter. If possible,
don't take the kids with you (it's a surprise, so probably not, right?)
because it's very hard to walk away when your kids have that look! Put the
puppy through the puppy personality tests found in books or websites (can be
used with older dogs too) and spend time with them. And I second the mention
of adopting an older dog. Personality is set, they're either housebroken or
not, and they're so grateful! (Isn't that what Benjamin Franklin said about
older women?)
To get you started:
http://www.petnet.com.au/selectapet.html
http://pets.msn.com/dogs/choose/default.asp
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/tchoose.html
http://dogs.about.com/cs/choosingadog/
Karen
____________________________________________________________________________
_____-
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 04:10:40 -0000
From: "kayb85" <sheran@...>
Subject: speaking of dogs...
I have 3 kids and a husband who want a dog...We are talking about
surprising them with a puppy for Easter or maybe for their summer
birthdays, when the weather will be nicer and they'll be able to play
around with him outside a lot. Dh thinks a golden lab would be nice.
Years ago we had a dog and although we loved him, he was untrainable.
Some lady found him and put a free ad in the paper. He had either
been abandoned or possibly even born wild. Whatever the case was, he
never really was a good housedog. I couldn't rely on him to go
outside to go to the bathroom, couldn't keep him in the yard without
chaining him up (because he would jump the fence or squeeze out of the
smallest spaces, even under the botom of the fence. Once he even
opened the gate. He did damage in neighbors' yards. In the house, he
would jump up on the table and eat the food (once he took an entire
meatloaf off of the table...)
The point of the story is that I want to know ahead of time what the
plan is for training this puppy. I want a puppy who can stay inside,
who won't jump on the table or counters and steal food, won't knock
over the garbage cans, and won't go to the bathroom in the house. I
want a puppy who the kids can take out in the yard to play with and
he'll stay there. What do I need to do?
___
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @... address at http://mail.yahoo.com