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Post by bubsy on Jan 29, 2009 22:07:28 GMT -5
Bama, was the rescue group that your guys came from in New Orleans?
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Jan 29, 2009 23:01:37 GMT -5
No.
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Post by teiaperigosa on Feb 2, 2009 14:18:32 GMT -5
bama...
I currently have a 9 week old puppy, and we were told that we shouldn't take him outside. your explanation makes more sense, however..
he's only had one vaccination so far. how would you suggest going about taking him outside? did you carry your puppy with you in a bag where you went? is it ok to try to leash train him alraedy?
anyone have any input on this? we'd like to get him out and about asap.
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Feb 2, 2009 14:37:52 GMT -5
I invited several friends with appropriate, vaxed adult dogs to my home, with children for play dates. I took Cajun everywhere with me, tons of car rides, trips to pet stores (I allowed him on the ground at age 9 weeks after 2nd set of shots), he went to my children's school every morning and got cookies through the car window from the kids.
Be careful in public parks, beaches, places where your puppy may come in contact with other strange/stray dogs or their feces. I'd stick to visiting friends and relatives homes (with no history of parvo).
I also did alot of tactile socialization indoors and out. Encouraging the puppy to walk across various surfaces for rewards (metal, wood, uneven, grass, concrete, etc), going through puppy sized agility tunnels, cardboard boxes, around various, out of the norm objects like cones, flags, noisy objects like foil, crinkle paper, popping bubble wrap, kiddie pools...
I would condition them to sudden loud noises and make stuff like that seem great and fun and rewarding.
Basically, the more your puppy has observed and interacted with and heard in rewarding and positive experiences, the better equipped he will be to accept new environments, situations, noises and objects in the future.
I began leash training the day I brought Cajun home. He was easy, though so he wasn't challenging. I suggest allowing your puppy to drag a light line under direct supervision on a buckle collar. Once he is desensitized to the leash being there, then you can begin holding the leash and encouraging your puppy to follow you.
Never pull the puppy to get him moving, instead be worth coming towards for him, be fun, animated and exciting. Encouragement is key, not force. Puppies can learn loose leash walking and if they learn that if they pull on the leash the walk stops or you go in the opposite direction, they very well are les likely to pull as an adult.
Puppies are sponges and a few key behaviors I suggest are:
Watch me (eye contact/attention)
Default/auto sit (puppy offers a sit automatically)
wait (less formal than a stay)
loose leash walking
recall (absolutely essential! Everytime you call your puppy it must be fabulous and rewarding even if he just chewed your favorite shoes)
Bite inhibition
Targeting
Mary has stickied a thread or two which explains the methods used to teach some of these behaviors positively.
There is a wealth of info on the web as well.
keep us posted!
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Post by teiaperigosa on Feb 2, 2009 16:07:39 GMT -5
wow...thanks for your input...very helpful
even with some of the things I had in mind, it's good to see confirmation
I am trying to get friends with dogs to visit our home asap, including the dog's father...children as well. we haven't taken him out much (just to the vet a couple times), but I know the kids on the block would love to meet him.
we'll work on the stuff you suggested!
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Chloe
I Love RPBF!
Posts: 433
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Post by Chloe on Feb 28, 2009 11:41:19 GMT -5
I dont disagree with any of you but I do know that in Colorado, the puppies have to have their 3rd set of shots before they can enroll in a class. I would bet that every state has different rules though. I also think that the early socialization is super important and needs to start asap! I recommend a puppy class but even if u have to wait awhile for shots, u should start socializing now, u dont need a class to do that although it does help a lot! Just take her everywhere u go where she's allowed and dont just expose her to people and animals, but sounds and different textures on the ground, like drain covers or grates, stuff like that is important to.
Have fun with your baby! We just brought home our foster puppy yesturday, she's 3 1/2 mos old and so cute! I love to foster pitties. ;D
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