New Puppy Owner (19 weeks)

**p1ngputts** · 09-19-2011, 09:39 PM

New to the forum, so first and foremost... hello!

Currently my fiance and I have a 6 year old lab and we just picked up an almost 5 month old lab (19 weeks). We have had for for 12 days. We bought him from a breeder in Arkansas (from Michigan). He was in a climate controlled barn where he was able to pee almost anywhere. I have a few questions because A) it's been a while since we have had a puppy and B) our 6 year old was never a chewer or a barker.

We have toys scattered through our house, and i mean they are everywhere. They range from Kongs to stuffed animals to nylabones. For some reason, our new guy wants to chew on us and our clothing instead. We say "no" but he insists that he must chew on us some more. If it's not us, it's a purse or a blanket, never his toys. I'm not sure if this is just a phase but he is one rough player also (sharp teeth!). We constantly have chew toys by us and we just swap out our hand for a toy. I would say that works 20% of the time. We also take him for 2 long walks/jogs and only have him in the crate when we sleep. One of us is home with him at all times.

Secondly, if we aren't giving him attention, he just barks at us until one of us looks at him. Being a puppy, I want to break him of the bad habits but I just don't remember what it's like raising a puppy. He still doesn't really know his name (or at least pretends not to) but he will sit for us on occasion. I'm also afraid that because we got him so late, we will have to untrain him before he will learn. He still pee's in the house once a day, usually right after he was outside and went potty. The moment he sees us looking at him, he stops and goes to the door. We take him out 15 minutes after drinking any amount of water and usually every hour-1.5 hr regardless.

On a side note, he will be neutered at 6 months. And, if I can figure out how to upload pics I will!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

**Sophiesmama** · 09-20-2011, 03:28 AM

Welcome to the forum. I hope we can help you. First, the biting. Your guy hasn't been taught not to bite. We started training Sophie not to bite at 8 weeks. We placed our hand over her muzzle and sharply said "Don't Bite". We always used the same command. Simply saying NO is too vague. Sophie quit biting at about 3 months, so it took awile of Don't Bite before our arms and hands healed up! LOL! Also after only 12 days, it is unlikely that he knows his name yet. We always used Sophie's name when we gave her a command. Start with treats, call your pup by name. When he looks at you or comes to you reward with a treat. When you give a command use his name, like we say, Sophie sit, or Sophie down, or Sophie shake, Sophie speak etc. It reinforces the name along with the command. Your pup has been left to his own devices in that barn for 5 long months. He has been allowed to poop or pee where he pleases. You might try crating him, dogs don't like to soil where they sleep. Also, leash him when you take him outside to potty. Always take him to the same spot. Using his name say: Rover (or whatever) go potty (or whatever term you use). Be sure to tell him good potty Rover when he goes. After awhile and he learns what is expected, if he poops in the house, leash him point and say bad potty, then pick up the poop and take it out to his potty spot and say Rover good potty. Labs are smart, they often get it pretty fast. The 6 month neuter has alot of controversy. Do a search and you will find alot on the subject of possible repercussions. So...I hope I have helped a little. Hang in there, he will learn. Again, welcome to the forum.

**Samson** · 09-20-2011, 04:25 AM

Also you might consider leaving the neutering a little later. I realise that this is a personal decision but from what I have read and the opinions of others on this forum then 12 - 18 months is preferable unless you experience aggression or for medical reasons.

**p1ngputts** · 09-20-2011, 01:22 PM

Thanks for the responses. I think that's a good idea, telling him not to bite instead of just saying no. He only gets into these biting moods a few hours out of the day. I figure in time he will get a little better.

My 6 year old lab was neutered just shy of 7 months and if I knew how to upload pictures, I'm very pleased with his growth and filling out. He is 75 pounds solid rock. He never chewed anything except his toys, never pottied in the house, or barked for attention. We crated him until 6 months and then gave him free range of the house. It also helps that I'm on 15 acres of land and only had to worry about him swimming across the pond. But, we got him at 8 weeks and i think that had a lot to do with it. My vet out in Michigan said 4+ months is ok to neuter, but I personally would feel uneasy about chopping them off that early.

Any other helpful hints, recommendations, or even if you want to yell at me... all is welcome.

edit..i think my pictures are up now... huge pictures btw.

**Sophiesmama** · 09-20-2011, 03:39 PM

What are their names??

**Mark_J** · 09-20-2011, 04:40 PM

You may want to consider that with all the toys around it may take your young one a lot longer to learn what he can or cannot chew on as well. If you use one or maybe two toys then you can reinforce what he can chew on much easier. He chews on you, hand him the toy and tell him he can chew on that. Using a 'this or that' choice is much easier on a dog than multiple choice when you're trying to teach the basics...

**p1ngputts** · 09-20-2011, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Sophiesmama

What are their names??

Landon is the 6 year old, Logan is the 19 week old.

**Tanya** · 09-20-2011, 05:04 PM

I agree with the above - generally it is "best" to have a limited number of toys and and rotate (this also makes the toys of more value as they are not just there all the time, it's like a "new" toy every time it comes back into rotation". and it may make it harder for the dog to know what is "dog toy" vs "do not touch".

also - having adopted a two year old dog and fostered pups from 5mts to 8 years old - I don't believe you HAVE to get a dog as an 8 week old puppy to get a well trained dog. Dogs adapt to their surroundings very well and dogs of any age can learn. Some puppies are easier than others at any age.

Make a point to teach him his name using treats and a happy voice. a dog can learn their name in a day or two if you train it properly.

**p1ngputts** · 09-20-2011, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by Mark_J

You may want to consider that with all the toys around it may take your young one a lot longer to learn what he can or cannot chew on as well. If you use one or maybe two toys then you can reinforce what he can chew on much easier. He chews on you, hand him the toy and tell him he can chew on that. Using a 'this or that' choice is much easier on a dog than multiple choice when you're trying to teach the basics...

Good idea. We were just using all the toys possible as arsenal for when he started biting us. We would just place a toy in his mouth instead, but we eventually would end up toyless.

Anyone know the reason for pottying in the house still? i know it's only been 13 days with him, but we just had him outside for a long walk, peed twice and pooped once, as soon as he came inside, peed a dribble and then stopped. We vacuumed right before the walk and put down a neutral odor powder on the carpet. Could that be what he is trying to pee over?

**Tanya** · 09-20-2011, 05:11 PM

he's still getting the hang of it. the first puppy (5mts) I had would always pee about 30 minutes AFTER we were on a long play date at the dog park, so I just started taking him out just before that point and making sure he peed closer to the end of our outing and things were pretty solid after that. If you know is he peeing right after XYZ then take him out just before that point!!

i have never heard of odor neutralizer powder - is it meant to neutralize urine door? I use vinegar (or nature's miracle)