[Dobie]

Hello everybody!

Please meet my boy Dobie, my 8 weeks old Golden. Really nice to meet you all!

I have used a lot of post and information so thank you all in advance, thank you all or making this forum so active, it really helps newcomers like me. I got quite a bit of questions and I really hope if you guys have time, please help me out. I am going to seperate it in different topics, you don't have to answer all because I literally wrote an essay (sorry but I just want the best for him!). Any help would be MUCH appreciated.

Crate training
I am crate training now and I wake up every 2 to 3 hours to take him out to potty at night, is it neccessary because I read soo many post, some say their puppy can hold all night (6 7 hours). It would be awesome if he can do that because I have loooong hours of work so I really need the rest but at the same time I do not want to take a gamble that would set him back in crate training.

Also when I crate him while I am around, should I even be giving eye contact or anything or just completely ignore him?


Leash/collar
When I take him out to potty or to play, I would put on the harness and the leash. But he absolutely HATES it. He would scratch it and cry He would LITERALLY sit right there and not move at all. I made a DUMB mistake and I tried pulling him because I actually saw a video of a good trainer. He said if the dog stops, just keep walking and he will get up and give a little pull. So I did that, and he didn't even get up AT ALL. I search here and people say just put the leash on him inside and let him run around with it. but when i did that, he literally don't move more than 2 steps. I do not know what I can do. I just went out to buy a collar instead of a harness and a shorter leash (the last one was suppppper long) How can I nicely introduce this to the pup? Please help!

Low energy personality
The pup doesn't seem to be interested in anything! He does not come when called and even if I walk far away he wouldn't follow after me. He would just lie there on the grass and eat the grass. After a little he would cry and I would show up, but he STILL sits there. What am I doing wrong? Arn't all puppy supposed to be very curious and always follow the owner? How can I change this?

Hate outdoors?
Dobie does not want to be outside. Every single time I take him out to potty, right after he finish his business, he would just run back to the backyard glass door, scratches the door and then cries. I tried to bring him far away from the door and he always stays in the shade and do absolutely nothing. Please help!!


Training
I am training him already, but it seems like he is not very responsive and his attention span is so short I cannot even use short to describe. Is it too early to train him? Because I have read that some proud owners here trained their 8 weeks old puppy to sit, fetch and stay first week! But my little guy is not eager to learn at all! Say he is lying down, I would let him eat a small puppy buscuit so he knows what it is, then I would say UP, and lift the treat up so he will stand up, but he does not even bother standing up. lol then he would do something else. or when I say sit, he would do it and I would give him the treat, but sometimes he does not do it, and while I wait, he would just wonder off! Is it because my treat is not enticing enough? Or is it because I am training him too early, one of the trainers in Petsmart told me to not to train him yet other than crate training, and to build a stronger bond first in case I do something wrong, is that correct?


Thank you so so much guys, you do not know how much this means to me, honestly. I just want everything to go well. Thank you sooooooo much guys, ANY replies would be awesome!

 

[Sophie_Mom]

He's adorable! Congratulations! I'm by no means an expert, but we have successfully raised 2 Golden puppies.... Here are my thoughts:

Crate training - I'd only get up with him when he cries to go. I'd recommend taking up his water at about 7:00 p.m. so that he can empty his bladder well before bedtime. That should eliminate his need to go out. Ask your breeder what he/she thinks you should be able to expect from him as a nighttime stretch. I didn't ever put my dogs in the crate when I was home, so I can't give advice about that.

Collar/leash - It takes them a while to get used to these! The collars must be itchy for them! Have him wear it for short periods of time, gradually increasing it each time. Give him treats and praise when he is getting it on so he associates it with good things. Leashes take some getting used to and I personally wouldn't recommend tugging him along. We have a fenced-yard, so I was lucky that we didn't have to use one for taking him out to do his business.

Low energy - If he's 8 weeks old, I'm assuming he JUST came home with you. Give him time, there have been lots of changes/stress to his system. Give him lots of love and praise. Help assure him he's in a safe and happy place. Go to him and try to entice him to play, rather than expecting him to go to you. Hang out with him and do things he wants to do for now. Puppies tire out easily!

Hate outdoors - My Sophie girl always hated being outside during the sunny/hot part of the days. When she'd retrieve her ball, she'd always bring it back running along the shadow of the house. A little baby pool or shaded area would be great for him to keep him cool. Again, try different things to make being outside a fun thing. My puppers loved those doggie bubbles. It was hysterical to watch!

Training - I think you can start training him to do some simple things right off the bat. It's good for their brains! Just take it slow and give lots of positive reinforcement.

If all of these things add up to something you just don't feel is right, however, you should most definitely have your guy checked out by a vet. It's hard to say for sure about his behavior, but if your intuition is telling you something might be wrong, I'd say better safe than sorry!

If he checks out great at the vet, just try to relax and enjoy that gorgeous boy!

 

[Bentley's Mom]

When we brought Bentley home I thought we had won the puppy lottery. He was so mellow and quiet and sweet. It took about 5 days for him to get completely used to us and show his true self. He is still really mellow but settling in changed his colors pretty significantly.

As for the collar I put it on pretty loose for starters. Like Sophie's Mom said for little bits at a time. You're supposed to be able to get 2 fingers in between the collar and the puppy comfortably, I think I could have gotten 4 in there when we started. Then when we treated when we put it on and gave lots of tummy rubs.

When we first brought Bentley home he HATED the sun. Wouldn't be out in it any longer than necessary. That went away and he discovered outside is a fun place to investigate.

We started training with sit and him learning his name. Once he realized treats came with it he was all about the training.

By the way Dobie is absolutely adorable and you're going to do a great job with him

 

[nolefan]

Congratulations! Dobie is just precious and you are going to love having this forum as a resource. The people here have been a huge blessing in my life and I've learned so much here.

First couple posters have made some great suggestions. My first thought also was to wonder how many days he's been home. He's really still getting acclimated to his new home. He's still wondering where his Mama and brothers and sisters are!

Definitely take the water up in the early evening. That should really help. He is old enough that he should be able to sleep most of the night. Are you waiting a minute or two to see if he'll quiet back down before you take him out? Just a thought, I had trouble with this also with my second golden. Finally when I asked the vet if the puppy should be physically capable of going 7 hours over night, we just had to have a couple nights of toughing it out and then we made it over the hump. I sympathize

I'm not surprised to hear that he doesn't want to be out in the sun. I have been visiting a collie litter that I am hoping for a puppy from and they just cry at 7 weeks and look to escape the heat when I've helped take them out. As he gets older and the weather gets a little nicer, you will notice how much he will enjoy being outdoors.

Walking on a leash is simply another learned skill that you are going to have to work patiently on. Give him a tiny bit of a treat every time the collar goes on, tell him how pretty he is. It just takes time and patience and positive reinforcement. I can remember being so frustrated because the puppy is a ball of energy in the house and you figure, "let's go for a walk" to help wear him out. Then you get outside and the little stinker flat out refuses to walk. Crazy! It's hard when they are low to the ground, but you can use a bit of treat as a lure and hold it in front of him as you tell him in your cheerful, happy voice "let's go" (or whatever your phrase will be) and when he moves forward he gets his bit of treat. He will definitely get the picture!

Hang in there, he is still a little baby in a new place. It will get better!

 

[vcm5]

Don't worry, your new puppy is still adjusting. Everything will get better with time and eventually you will wish he was this calm all the time!

In terms of the collar, I would also recommend putting it on for only a short time at first, and create a lot of value for having it on by giving tons of really yummy treats while he has it on. Then gradually increase the amount of time he has it on, still giving tons of treats and making having a collar on seem like the best thing ever. Use something that he loves, a really smelly delicious treat that will get his attention. Good luck!

 

[jackie_hubert]

Sounds like a lot of typical puppy behaviours. Cosmo was the most calm and aloof puppy I have ever met and I've met a LOT of puppies (I work in a shelter) but at 4.5 month he turned into a high energy bundle of crazy. He is very food motivated though and knew many commands by 9 weeks, so maybe use a different type of reward to get him interested or simply something higher value - cooked chicken or toys.

As for the leash walking, whoever this trainer is that said to just drag the puppy along doesn't sound like a good trainer. I know that Brad Pattison, one of the TV dog trainers, recommends this and he is definitely NOT someone I recommend. Make walking really exciting (bring a squeaky toy and squeak as you kind of run along in the grass and let him grab the toy once in a while) but realize that at this age puppies are really den oriented and will often run back to their home asap. Try taking him out to a new place, the park, etc. to get him away from thinking about going home. The wanting to inside will change soon and you'll probably see the opposite.

What were the parents like? What's his pedigree?

 

[jackie_hubert]

Oh and I would also recommend looking into clicker training. This might help with the lack of motivation while training. It's a fun and positive way to train and will make it more clear to him what it is you want.

 

[puppydogs]

Congrats! I'm a new mommie too

Crate training
I am crate training now and I wake up every 2 to 3 hours to take him out to potty at night, is it neccessary because I read soo many post, some say their puppy can hold all night (6 7 hours). It would be awesome if he can do that because I have loooong hours of work so I really need the rest but at the same time I do not want to take a gamble that would set him back in crate training.

Also when I crate him while I am around, should I even be giving eye contact or anything or just completely ignore him?

>>> I would crate her initially in the same room as you - sleep on the couch next to her crate if you have to. THe first weekend with my baby she was crate trained immediately. First night she was out cold in the crate, second night she cried once and realized I was near by(stay calm, ignore her. she can sense your energy if you "feel bad"), and ever since she is happy to go in! I let her out to potty whne she cries.


Leash/collar
When I take him out to potty or to play, I would put on the harness and the leash. But he absolutely HATES it. He would scratch it and cry He would LITERALLY sit right there and not move at all. I made a DUMB mistake and I tried pulling him because I actually saw a video of a good trainer. He said if the dog stops, just keep walking and he will get up and give a little pull. So I did that, and he didn't even get up AT ALL. I search here and people say just put the leash on him inside and let him run around with it. but when i did that, he literally don't move more than 2 steps. I do not know what I can do. I just went out to buy a collar instead of a harness and a shorter leash (the last one was suppppper long) How can I nicely introduce this to the pup? Please help!

>>> Try holding the leash at the top of the leash and give a little tug forward (then keep moving forward). or if the leash drops, give a slight tug as well (not hard) to encourage movement. lots of praise!

Low energy personality
The pup doesn't seem to be interested in anything! He does not come when called and even if I walk far away he wouldn't follow after me. He would just lie there on the grass and eat the grass. After a little he would cry and I would show up, but he STILL sits there. What am I doing wrong? Arn't all puppy supposed to be very curious and always follow the owner? How can I change this?
>>> totally normal. I was scared too, and pups sleep a lot and are timid. Wait a couple more weeks

Hate outdoors?
Dobie does not want to be outside. Every single time I take him out to potty, right after he finish his business, he would just run back to the backyard glass door, scratches the door and then cries. I tried to bring him far away from the door and he always stays in the shade and do absolutely nothing. Please help!!

>> Sounds like my baby, they are just scared. Curiousity kicked in around 11 weeks for me. Then you'll wish he was timid again!

Training
I am training him already, but it seems like he is not very responsive and his attention span is so short I cannot even use short to describe. Is it too early to train him? Because I have read that some proud owners here trained their 8 weeks old puppy to sit, fetch and stay first week! But my little guy is not eager to learn at all! Say he is lying down, I would let him eat a small puppy buscuit so he knows what it is, then I would say UP, and lift the treat up so he will stand up, but he does not even bother standing up. lol then he would do something else. or when I say sit, he would do it and I would give him the treat, but sometimes he does not do it, and while I wait, he would just wonder off! Is it because my treat is not enticing enough? Or is it because I am training him too early, one of the trainers in Petsmart told me to not to train him yet other than crate training, and to build a stronger bond first in case I do something wrong, is that correct?

>>> My pup learned to sit, shake, come by 8 weeks. Then down, stay by 10. Try enticing moist treats like chicken breast, beef, liver or even the freeze dried stuff they can't resist.

and here is a pic of my best friend!

 

[Rainheart]

Welcome to the forum! Dobie is very handsome... I cannot wait for more pictures! I wouldn't be worried too much since he is adjusting to a new place. For the first week or so, Beamer was very calm and as Bentley's Mom said, it took him a few days before he showed his true personality.

Crate- I took his water up at 7:00-8:00 when he was 8 weeks. I would only get up if he whined at night, although don't get up right when he whines. Wait until he is quiet to get up. I don't crate during the day unless I won't be home.

Leash/collar- you want him to associate the leash/collar/harness with good things, so lots of treats and praise when he wears it and ignores it. After you have gone that far, attach the leash and let him run around with it, again with lots of treats and praise. Don't worry, you will get there.

Outdoors- associate this again with good things. Treats and praise when he goes potty. Play with toys outside or even try to feed him his meals outdoors.

Training- 8 weeks is a great time to start. Maybe you need a more tasty treat for him, but puppies have VERY short attention spans, so only do 3 or so repetitions before you take a break now. This can be increased as he ages, though. I usually start with his name as well as sit or down and come.

Don't fret, because things take time. I am sure you will do wonderfully with him!

 

[Karen519]

Dobie and Ffur

Dobie and Ffur are just adorable!!

 

[annef]

Personally I never take water up from a puppy. If they are being fed dried food then they need to drink, even if they need to go out at night it is better that they have access to water. My puppies are still having a night time feed and I would not expect to put them on 3 feeds until they are around the 12 weeks mark.I would not expect a puppy to go through the night until they are between 3 and 4 months old. I have the remainder of a litter here (nearly 9 weeks) and they go to bed at 10.00pm and are awake and needing to go out around 5am. Puppies can take up to week to really settle in their new homes and in my experience it is better to let them settle, get them housetrained during the day and do a little training but just put the collar on to get them used to it. 8 weeks is very early to be lead trained, but that is only my opinion. Annef

 

[ozzy'smom]

I don't have a lot to add that other's haven't said.

I agree that I would not get up every 2 - 3 hours unless my little guy had to go out. With Ozzy we took away water in the early evening (unless we took him for a walk or something and he was thirsty). We'd take him out right before bed and then only then he woke up and seemed to have to go out. We were lucky and it was less than a week before he was going all night (but waking up EARLY at 5:30 for the day).

As for energy: I also thought I had the most mellow dog in the world. I asked my vet if something was wrong with him because he slept to much. Well...a week or so later and he "woke up".

Ozzy is almost 4 months and though now he likes to be outside with us if it's hot he wants to go back in and if we stay out too long he wants to go in. He doesn't LOVE to walk but will settle in when we get away from the house.

As for training, guys that age have very short attention spans and they need to figure out that doing what you want meand they get a reward. The key is to find what motivates them. We got lucky and Ozzy will do anything for a piece of his food. But maybe whatever you're trying to use as treats just isn't that interesting to him. The place where we are taking Ozzy for training uses cheese a lot for training. They will use string cheese sticks and tear off little pieces.

As for learning his name: It takes awhile for them to make the connection that those sounds you're making mean you're taking about them. And it takes awhile for them to settle in and get attached enough to you to want to do what you are asking of them.

I think the hardest part of a new puppy is remembering they are all different and have different personalities and likes. Forums like these are GREAT for suggestions and information but at times it's easy to read posts and wonder, "why isn't MY dog like those other dogs."

Hang in there. Pretty soon you'll have a very active smart little guy on your hand!

 

[Dobie]

Wow, I just want to say I read every single reply here and they are all very much appreciated. Thank you all for all the support everybody, it really keeps my hope up!

He seem to be adapting better today but at the same time, he also wentfrom whimpering to barking NONSTOP when i put him inside his playpen, or inside his crate while I am sitting there doing my work/eating. When I mean nonstop I mean literally, from the time we put the dinner on the table to the time we finish he is still barking (stubborn little boy!) I read that I should ignore him, which I did and he barked soooo long until he fell asleep. Is there anything I can do there to make him hush?

Also he is biting almost everything, the curtain, his crate, weed on the lawn, table leg. I understand that most puppies are like this, but is there anything I can do? I would tell him "OFF" in a mean and loud tone and push him away form the object. It only works temperarily, after say like few minutes after, he's back at it again. Is pushing him away and yelling off bad? Will it hurt his trust in me?

Also, I can't brush him! He would bite the brush and even me yelling off and pushes his head away does not help AT ALL, I tried walking away and not play with him and then come back and try again, it just wouldn't work at all.

As for the collar, I still have not put it on him yet, I just want to make sure I find a really yummy treat he will do anything for first before introducing it to him again so I can associate the leash with the goodies! so far he isn't interested in the puppy buscuit, he eats it but ehhh not crazy about it.
Anyway thank you all again for all the answer, it's really helping me. I will definitely keep you all updated.

 

[jackie_hubert]

To a puppy chewing and nipping are part of play. He's probably confused why you are yelling when he's just doing something normal. Yelling rarely works, plus you want your puppy to associate people with positive things not negatives. Pushing him away also makes things more interesting sometimes so it's not necessarily very useful.

The most popular method to deal with nipping is to give a high pitched "ouch" and walk away immediately - it has to be veryvery quick and obvious. If you can walk out of the room it's even better. Once he's calmed give him a toy and praise madly for taking the toy. Always have lots of toys handy.

And it takes a lot of repetition and must be done consistently to work.

Good luck!

 

[Dobie]

To a puppy chewing and nipping are part of play. He's probably confused why you are yelling when he's just doing something normal. Yelling rarely works, plus you want your puppy to associate people with positive things not negatives. Pushing him away also makes things more interesting sometimes so it's not necessarily very useful.

The most popular method to deal with nipping is to give a high pitched "ouch" and walk away immediately - it has to be veryvery quick and obvious. If you can walk out of the room it's even better. Once he's calmed give him a toy and praise madly for taking the toy. Always have lots of toys handy.

And it takes a lot of repetition andust be done consistently to work.

Good luck!

Thank you again first of all. I am referring to chewing things. I already do what you did, when we wrestle and he bite me and I think it's past a threshold a guest would take, I would ouch and turn my back on him. It works very well, and he's learning a soft bite. but it is things that I can't get him to stop biting. Any tips for me? Oh yes to add onto this, whenever I see him bite something, I would say off and push him away because if I say off he don't understand it. After i push him away I would give him a nylabone which he would chew for a minute or so, then next thing you know he's back to chewing whatever he was chewing. lol -____-"

 

[Bentley's Mom]

We still can't get through brushing without chewing. I discovered giving him something to chew (nylabone, bully stick) and then brushing works well. I also sit on a chair above him so if he goes for the brush I just have to pull it up out of reach. The chewing on everything is all a bit of a challenge still. We're working on leave it and offering a treat when he walks away from it. The best loved treat at our house is hot dogs. I cut them up in tiny pieces so one hot dog is like 50 treats. They're cost effective too

 

[vcm5]

You absolutely did the right thing by not letting him out. He needs to learn that he cannot get what he wants by barking, whining, and making a big fuss. You've got to be consistent from the get-go. There probably isn't a lot you can do to make him hush, but he will probably get over it pretty soon. Just give it a little more time. You'll probably get right to the point where you are pulling your hair out and then all of a sudden it will get better. Good luck! He looks like such a sweetheart! Just be patient with him!