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Nickf807

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Hey everyone, I’ve been quietly reading posts for the past few weeks as we have been waiting to bring our first puppy home, we brought Leo the Cockador home on Sunday and he’s quickly settling in to his new home. It’s a big day for him tomorrow as he is having his first jab and getting chipped! Any advice on any aspect of owning or training would be appreciated!
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Nickf807 said:
Hey everyone, I’ve been quietly reading posts for the past few weeks as we have been waiting to bring our first puppy home, we brought Leo the Cockador home on Sunday and he’s quickly settling in to his new home. It’s a big day for him tomorrow as he is having his first jab and getting chipped! Any advice on any aspect of owning or training would be appreciated!
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Welcome! He's gorgeous :p socialise him but with friends dogs. and you can walk with him off the ground.
 
Welcome! My first advice is to take him out, in a carrier or in your arms, to let him experience the world from a safe place. As long as he isn't on the ground you don't need to wait for the second vaccination and it will massively help him build confidence.
 
Awww, he's adorable!

My advice: get a copy of The Puppy Primer by Patricia McDonnell. And enjoy him, even if he doesn't conform to what the books say he should!
 
Welcome. He looks great, don't forget to post up more pictures as he gets bigger!
 
Thanks everyone! We are really struggling to get him in his crate with the door shut at the minute, after a few minutes he starts whining quietly and it gradually gets louder to the point it sounds like he’s being murdered!! We keep putting a few treats in and feeding him his meals in there, he takes all his toys in it during the day and comes and goes as he pleases fine but it’s at night, he hates being on his own and refuses to sleep in there. Hope that makes sense!
 
Regarding the crying in his crate, remember he has just been taken away from his mum and littermates. Don't rush the crate, make it a fun place. Don't close the door until he is happy in there. Put a t shirt you have worn in the crate with his toys and bed. Only ever use the crate for good things, never punishment. If he cries you are going too fast.
At night, it's a good idea to have his crate in your room to start with so he knows you are close by. You can put a hand down to stroke and comfort him if he gets distressed. Please don't ignore him, you wouldn't ignore a crying child and leave him in an empty room. Comforting him when he is distressed is fine and will strengthen your bond. Unfortunately many people make the mistake of allowing a puppy to cry in the hope that they grow out of it, when actually all they have done is cement in the puppies mind that being left in the crate (or alone, or whatever is causing the crying) is indeed a terrible thing, and for many dogs this fear becomes a learned habit.

Gradually you can start moving the crate away to outside the bedroom door, near the room you want him to sleep in, and eventually into that room. With puppies learning, everything is done in little steps, and if anything starts to fail, you go back a step and stay there longer.

Also in your room you are more likely to hear him if he moves and needs out to toilet. With young puppies it's too long to expect them to hold on all night (their little bladder and bowels aren't big enough or strong enough) so set your alarm for a couple of times in the night.

During the day though you should start to get him used to being alone for short periods so when he isn't interacting with you (to make your leaving less of a contrast) just walk out the room then back in - build up the time gradually.


This is a very good guide to crate training -
Crate Training - Step By Step Guide to A Distress Free, Force Free Crate Trained Dog or Pup by Emma Judson
 
Hi Joanne, we have been taking his crate up into our bedroom and been doing exactly what you have mentioned every night so far. Every time he wakes up we have been taking him out to toilet, it’s been a struggle the past day or 2 due to the cold weather he really doesn’t want to go out and we have had a few more accidents because of this, when we watch him and see that he is about to toilet inside we scoop him up and he stops straight away until he is outside, We realise that he has just been taken away from his family and it will take time for him to adjust to sleeping on his own, we eventually will have him downstairs in his crate but aren’t going to rush anything. On another note I knew pups slept a lot but not as much as he does! Sleep, toilet play time repeat!!
 
Some dogs never accept a crate. You might find it's easier to have him in a pen.
 
We have thought about that, but it is only week one so want to give it more of a chance before looking into other options
 
Of course. Emma's guide that I linked to is great. Emma is also one of the UK's top experts in separation anxiety and is a fabulous cartoonist - check out Foul Mouthed Fido's Facebook page (provided strong language doesn't offend you - he is called that for a reason)!
 
I’ve had a quick look at the link but going to read it properly later on when I’ve got chance, thanks a lot
 
Hey everyone, Leo has been home around 3 weeks now and settled in well, he’s already pretty much sleeping through the night and in the daytime he has started going to the door when he wants the toilet which makes things a lot easier! I did think it would take a lot longer for these kind of things to be happening though! He will be going for his first walk this weekend as he had his second jab on Saturday just gone! He’s growing up so fast!
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Last edited by a moderator:
Nickf807 said:
Hey everyone, Leo has been home around 3 weeks now and settled in well, he’s already pretty much sleeping through the night and in the daytime he has started going to the door when he wants the toilet which makes things a lot easier! I did think it would take a lot longer for these kind of things to be happening though! He will be going for his first walk this weekend as he had his second jab on Saturday just gone! He’s growing up so fast!
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He is adorable :)
 
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