Hello! New 4-month old puppy :)

[Michgold]

My name is Michelle, and I just adopted Bronson, a 4-month old yellow lab mix from a shelter. The vet thinks he's mixed with Weimeranar or Pointer.

I just had a few questions about whether Bronson is normal!

He has a sweet and quiet temperment. We are crate training him, and he has done very well. Hubby and I brought him home on Friday. We had a couple of accidents (peeing in the house) on Saturday and Sunday, but nothing since! (yay!)

Bronson likes his crate and after he got used to it, he will run and get in it sometimes. The last few days, though, he has started sleeping in the downstairs bathroom-- he sleeps there ALL day. He won't come out (even for treats) and I have to literally drag him out to go outside (at which point he runs around and uses the bathroom). Has he made the bathroom his "den?" Why won't he come out?

He also will NOT come when we call him. Even when we have treats.
He is doing really well with "sit" and pretty well with "down" but I'm very concerned that he won't come when we call him.

We decided to start puppy training classes at PetSmart (6 weeks, 1 hour per week).

When Bronson does come out of the bathroom (especially outdoors) he is very social and gives kisses and plays fetch. He isn't very good at walking because he'll stop every 4 feet and roll around on his back in the grass (is that normal?)

Thank you!!

[Spike's Mom]

Rolling around is normal He just smells some good stuff he wants to get all over his body (um yeah? ) As far as going in the bathroom. How long was he in the shelter? Do you know his life before the shelter? My guess is that the cold floor makes him think that he's in his pen - which (sadly) is probably the only home he's known. I'd say to try and break him of that. Maybe try to keep him busy, get on the floor with him, hang out in the bathroom with him and bring him out of there more and more frequently until he doesn't associate that with the place he is always supposed to be. I wouldn't close the bathroom door just yet - maybe in the future when he spends less time there you can cut it off completely in favor of his crate

[HeySquirt]

The bathroom is about the only place Emmett will go and lay down that isn't right by us (it's still really close) it's also the coldest room when the air is on so I'm pretty sure that's why he does it.

Have you had him to the vet yet? The lack of response to a treat worries me a bit.

Also I NEED to see some photos?? Sounds like a cutie!

[BigBrownDog]

You need to be patient with him. He has had a big change in his life he just does not understand. After a few weeks you will be seeing his "true colors" as he settles and learns to trust you.

If you have not already done so - get him to the vet and bring a stool sample. Many dogs/puppies from institutional environments have some kind of parasite - my last shelter rescue had tape worms. If you do not have proof of vaccinations for him get that done too (if he gets a clear bill of health - don't vax a sick puppy).

As for the rest - coming when you call his name, proper walking on a leash - requires training. Not all dogs are food driven so treats may not work (or you may need better treats - like tiny pieces of hot dogs).

Good luck !

[Michgold]

Part of getting him from the shelter was a vet visit: the shelter delivered him to the vet, who neutered him, bathed him, did a stool sample, gave me deworming medication (He had 3 types of worms-- yuck!)
I also got a heartworm/flea pill from them.

He likes treats, just not enough to lure him out of his crate or the bathroom if he doesn't want to come out.
I shut the door to the bathroom so he couldn't go in, and he became a little more social.

It seems like he sleeps a lot (and he is a HARD sleeper-- loud snoring and puppy- running dreams sometimes!) but I have read that that can be normal.