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Subject: need help! 9 weeks

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Jax1100

Posts:1

06/21/2012 3:40 PM
first time user I just picked up a GSP pup, he is 9 weeks old. When i was younger i grew up around bird dogs but was not much part of the training. now that i have my own place i decided to get a dog. The first week i had him he was great! not once did he potty in his kennel (i kennel him during the day while at work and come home at lunch to let out) nor did he potty in the house. we kept the same schedule every day. i would feed him and then we would play for about 10 minutes and then go outside and like clockwork he would potty. Now everything has changed. the last 2 days he has pottyed in his kennel and even this morning i turned my back on him for a minute (i know is wrong) and he left a pile in my living room floor! any help or advice on proper potty training would much be appreciated. i have ordered books and dvds and they are not here yet, kinda got the cart before the horse haha! Also could use some advice on what to do when he bites, other than saying NO!

Smylinacha User is Offline

Connecticut

MH
Posts:1208

06/21/2012 7:03 PM
How big is his crate? And do u cover it with a blanket to give him a den feeling? I was told not to have big crates. What if you put him out as soon as you come home from lunch, then let him in to play and then a quick back out again before he goes back in the kennel? We have to kennel our female if she isn't out in the pen while we are at work as if she gets excited, she pees.

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7834

06/22/2012 2:50 PM
At 9 weeks he is still a puppy and will have accidents. Make sure you have a small crate and clean up where he goes with a product that kills the smell (you can find them at pet stores) and then make sure he goes when you take him out. Puppies go potty frequently because their system is still developing, so you have to make sure he gets outside to potty and when he is outside walking him long enough that he does his business. I also reward them when they go outside, but I never fuss or say anything to them when they have an accident. He should be fine, but it may take a little bit of time. As for the nipping/biting I gently grab mine under the chin with my hand and press on the tongue with my thumb. They hate that and will always pull back, when they pull back release him. Do not release the pressure on the tongue until he pulls back. The pressure is a light pressure, nothing that hurts are causes pain. If you are consistent it won't take very long for him to quit the nipping.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

smatulewicz User is Offline

Michigan

MH
Posts:1187

06/23/2012 7:42 PM
We got Bella at 11 weeks and even during the night I let her out starting every two hours and built my way up to every 3 hours, to once a night, then to none at all. I mention night because that is when she was inactive in her kennel. During the day at that age while she was active, we went out probably every 20-30 minutes. I tried to prevent the accidents, as at that age they are still learning and gaining the ability to hold their bladders. At 9 weeks, I can't imagine no accidents if only let out once (over probably 8 hours). Is there anyone you can recruit to help you with some outs during the day? When accidents to occur, you want to clean them immediately and use a odor eliminating cleaner so pups isn't triggered to go there again (if not a must). Bella did do much better in her kennel at a young age with less space. If the space is too big, they are more likely to find a spot to go (and the other yuck side...they often feel the need to "clean up" after themselves since it is in their bed space). It will get better with age. You probably don't have a pup yet with a clear understanding of where it is acceptable to go, but they learn that fast with routine and consistency. If you have anyone who can help with outs during the day I would highly recommend it. Pup isn't going in his home space for the heck of it...he/she is going because it NEEDS to go.

NOLAGSP

New Orleans, LA

JH
Posts:31

06/25/2012 5:47 AM
I was trying to avoid buying multiple kennels so I bought a bigger one to start with but I found one that had a moveable divider. If they have too much room, they will go in the kennel. I think the point is to make them realize where it is okay to go potty. Mine figured it out after I had him for almost a week (he was almost 10 weeks old). I caught him going #2 by the front door. If you can imagine the scene - I am carrying him through the house (while still going), trying to correct him, and yelling to my wife to open the back door. He was gently tossed into the backyard. Once he finished outside I had to transition to praise, which was really tough given the circumstances. However, after that incident, he never went in the house again.

DLord

Holly Springs, NC

MH
Posts:89

06/25/2012 10:59 AM
I got Zoe at 8 weeks and I too had to leave her in her kennel while I was at work during the day. I knew she would have to go and didn't want her to go on her bed so I bought some puppy pads and took an old cookie sheet and some binder clips and clipped the pads to the cookie sheet and put it in the back of her kennel so if she had to go she could go there. It worked perfectly if she had to go she always went on the pad and not her bed. I also bought a long strap with bells that hangs over the door knob (walmart) and taught her to nudge the strap when she wanted to go outside - this worked & still works great, although sometimes they can be quite annoying and relentless with ringing the bells if there's a squirrel outside!

NixiesMark User is Offline

Texas

MH
Posts:120

06/27/2012 8:02 PM
Hi! I'm new to the forum and I have a 10 week old pup who is doing fairly well with the potty training but is horrible at biting too. I've tried different things but she seems to just get more aggressive. I attempted the pressure on the tongue and she'll lean forward to bite again after I release. Any advice? Also, when should I introduce swimming? We have a baby pool that she trots around in but I wasn't sure when I should take her to the lake and go for a swim with me? Thanks so much!