gspnole
Tavares, Florida
Posts:8
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| 10/18/2012 7:38 AM |
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I have really enjoyed this site over the past few days and decided to join in on the discussion. I recently have aquired a 3 month old bundle of joy named Ruger. This is my first dog that I am raising on my own, seeing as I am only 22 years old. I had a few questions for you more experienced GSP owners out there. First, I let Ruger sleep in the bed with me because I live in an apartment and could not afford to receive noise complaints due to his crying at night, is it okay to have him sleep in the bed with me? Second, I work 6-8 hours a day 5 days a week, when I am at work I put him in his crate. He is in there 3-4 hours twice a day, I can come home at lunch for an hour and walk and play with him. Is that to long in the cage for a puppy? Thanks in advance for all the future help with Ruger. I am working on getting some pictures of him uploaded. |
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gspnole
Tavares, Florida
Posts:8
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Nancy D
No. Lower MI - Gaylord Area
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Posts:849
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| 10/18/2012 7:46 AM |
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Welcome and congrats on your new pup Ruger. In reply to your questions, I don't see where either situation you mention would be a problem. I'm sure you will get many answers. Enjoy.
Just saw the pictures of Ruger. He is so adorable. |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
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| 10/18/2012 7:56 AM |
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I think your schedule is good... if you are ok with him in your bed then there shouldn't be a problem with allowing it... mine sleep in bed with my kids and they still respect my kids authority...
I forget the rule for pups and potty... you might have an accident here or there in the cage but they quickly out grow that and learn to hold it or are able to hold it rather quickly... |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:3166
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| 10/18/2012 8:15 AM |
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Can't see the pix at work, but will try at home later.
Welcome to the forum.
1. Lots of people on the forum have their dogs sleep with them. The only reason you might want to try crating him occasionally at night is in case you have have to go away and leave him at a kennel.
2. Three to four hours is fine for a puppy that age. You may still have accidents occasionally. (The rule of the thumb is number of months +1, so at 2 months, 3 hours.) |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
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Posts:1191
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| 10/18/2012 1:40 PM |
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Oh my cuteness. He is an absolute cutie pants. I can hardly stand it. Seriously...his face. Adorable. OK, so anyway...your questions. Where your dog sleeps at night is totally just person preference. We had Bella get used to her kennel prior to allowing the bed privilege, but again...just preference. The only concerns I would point out to keep in mind are 1. Expect your dog to always expect this honor if you're starting with it this early. 2. even though you are allowing it, I would suggest that you continue to be the one who mandates when it is allowed...I think this is where some dogs start getting furniture possessive bad behaviors. Rather than seeing it as something you allow, they can come to see it as something to which they are entitled.
This is a perfectly fine crate schedule. Know as a pup this young he won't be able to quite yet make it until you are able to let him out on a lunch break...so you may want to consider giving him a little more space (if your crate has a divider) and include a puppy pad at the back of it so he can go and not have to lay in his waste.
Congrats again, he's absurdly cute. |
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NixiesMark
Texas
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Posts:120
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| 10/18/2012 1:49 PM |
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What a cute little guy!! I'm more partial to the liver roan but I think he is beautiful!  |
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gspnole
Tavares, Florida
Posts:8
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| 10/18/2012 4:10 PM |
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I am single and live alone, Ruger follows me everywhere even in the bathroom! He whines if he can't see me, is this normal puppy behavior? |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
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| 10/18/2012 4:21 PM |
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| Yes. You are his leader and his comfort zone. He has been taken from constantly being with his littermates and having his mom on hand when needed. He'll gain more independence as he grows (and you'll need to help him with this by exposing/socializing him to as much as possible right now). Don't make a huge fuzz or acknowledge whining. If you know it is because you have gone out of sight..simply return, but don't give him attention until he is no longer whining. Otherwise, he will learn to whine for your attention. These are incredibly, incredibly smart dogs |
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
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Posts:997
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| 10/18/2012 5:07 PM |
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Oh good gracious he is adorable!!!!!
Sounds like you are doing fine |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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gspnole
Tavares, Florida
Posts:8
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| 10/18/2012 5:16 PM |
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| I've been feeding him purina pro plan chicken and rice, he has been itching like crazy. Is there any good puppy food recommendations that you guys have? |
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Smylinacha
Connecticut
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Posts:1208
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| 10/18/2012 6:26 PM |
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| Welcome to the forum! He is adorable! I think your schedule is good. I don't think sleeping in bed with you is a bad thing. Windsor used to sleep in the bed with me when my husband worked second shift but then he'd come home and Windsor got territorial and would growl so we stopped that. Sometimes in the middle of the night I'll wake up and Windsor is in his crate with the door open but our other gsp, Velvet, will be on the bed. Pretty much on top of me, hence why I wake up cuz I can't breathe. She's been good the passed few weeks though. But if you don't mind it then why not? Nice you can come home at lunch to be with Ruger - I think that is a reasonable schedule. Ours, when inside, have free roam of the house but someone has to be around at lunch time to let them out to "do business" as I work days and husband is on days now too. Motherinlaw is around but we don't want to always count on her - she has her own life. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
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Posts:1191
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| 10/18/2012 6:41 PM |
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| Bella had very dry skin and was pretty itchy, especially since it was winter. It was recommended on here to put a little bit of olive oil in her food...and we've been doing it ever since. It works great and also makes her coat super soft. Another thing you may wonder about is eye boogies. Very common with this breed. You'll get to be a pro at the quick eye boogie wipe. Bella's eyes also get very red at night when she is tired, or after she has been overly stimulated by something (birds outside...chippies). Vet said this is also very normal for hunting/hound breeds. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
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Posts:7846
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| 10/18/2012 9:55 PM |
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| Welcome to the forum. Ruger is a very handsome young pup, and has the face of an angel. I have 4 shorthairs and mine are welcome in bed. My boy is the one though that usually chooses to snuggle at night. He tried once to get possessive of the bed a nd he lost his privilege. He figured out real fast how to behave with regard to sharing mom's bed. So, nothing wrong with letting him sleep with you. Just remember at some point if you get another dog or a girlfriend he may show possessiveness with the bed. If that happens just make him sleep in his crate. I feed mine Purina Pro Plan Performance. If you are feeding allot or have issues with not weighing enough you might want to think about switching to the Performance food as it is higher in fat and protein. It might also help with the itchiness too. Also adding oil will help. All that said, there are other things that cause itchiness too, everything from fleas to allergies. So, you may have to try a few things before you figure out what is causing the itchiness. Good luck with your new pup. |
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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 |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:3166
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| 10/19/2012 5:59 PM |
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| Just saw the pix! Oh he's so cute! I love the little dash of "yogurt" on his nose. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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Smylinacha
Connecticut
MH
Posts:1208
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| 10/19/2012 6:18 PM |
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| Windsor has terrible eye boogers - he gets his faced washed every morning and night. His eyes are also pretty red. For the dry flaky skin we switched to salmon in the dog food and both dog's coats are so shiny now and they hardly shed. |
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demetre126
Ontario, Canada
JH
Posts:37
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| 10/19/2012 8:57 PM |
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he looks awesome, I just got a (now) 9-week old male puppy and it is also fist time raising him on my own. These are great dogs, my guy kaiser has lots of energy |
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gsplover
Houston, Tx.
MH
Posts:382
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| 10/20/2012 12:17 AM |
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What an adorable pup!! I LOVE the name Ruger! HOW CUTE! I want a puppy!! |
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"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
-- Unknown |
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Max2
Oneonta NY
MH
Posts:1111
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| 10/20/2012 5:25 AM |
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| Nice looking pup ! lot's of luck with your new friend ! |
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Chris |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
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| 10/20/2012 5:44 AM |
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| as for following you into the bathroom.... mine do it... not so much my older one now, but my younger one does and if I go take a shower or bubble bath he will lay down in the bathroom and nap... |
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