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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Joined: 21 Aug 2003
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 Posted: 07/05/05 - 08:46 Post subject: Adventures in Dog Ownership: Volume 1
We bring Balou home wednesday night and he rode in the car exceptionally well. Sandy had him in a little pet carrier in the back seat and had the carrier on her lap. He kept poking his head out the top and laying back down. Very relaxed, didn't make a peep.
He arrives home and we initially just let him out so he can explore on his own terms. He lays down on the carpet for about ten minutes. Doesn't move except to lift his head to look around. We pick him up, put him in the living room and suddenly he is all activity, looking around, saying hello, paying attention to us and wanting to cuddle.
He sleeps the first night until around 5:30.
We decided at first that we were going to have the dog go to the bathroom on a puppy pad in the garage (we don't have anything he can get into in there). He went the first night and right away the first morning, but after that he just sits on it like it is a bed and looks at us. We try and try and try and he just won't. He starts to squat on the carpet, we quick pick him up and bring him to the pad and he just won't go. By this point on thursday afternoon there are several small pee spots on the carpet (which we then bathe in Nature's Miracle), but nothing on the pad. When we take him out for a walk Balou is more than happy to pee on the grass. Revision of plan: we'll take him outside on our front "lawn".
It is so tiring to watch him every minute he's awake. He drank some water, better make sure to take him out in 10 to 20 minutes or he'll try to pee on the carpet.
Second day, same as the first.
He sleeps through the night, rarely barks, but we just need to pay so much attention to what he's doing.
He has "sit" almost completely learned and has his own "poop" spot on the grass down the road. This may suck in winter, but he just won't go on the front lawn. That may not be a bad thing as it is a small patch of grass which needs to be enjoyed by three other homes.
The night of the 3rd we had him out for a bathroom walk around 10:30 and some yahoo lit off fireworks somewhere in the complex. They were loud, they were close and they literally scared the piss out of the dog. He yelped, cried, peed, and tried to run as fast as he could back to the door while still crying. He was on the leash, so didn't get too far, but it was sad. Worse, we couldn't comfort him because then we'd be teaching him it is okay to be scared at fireworks.
And while he sleeps through the night, we've never been so tired before just from watching him so he doesn't pee on the carpet.
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Maddies Wench
Flailing Homosapiens
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Joined: 12 Jun 2003
Posts: 6103
Location: Seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go.
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 08:51 Post subject:
Can you gate the livingroom like you would a baby?
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Joined: 21 Aug 2003
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 08:56 Post subject:
Yes, and we do (when we feel like it). Having him leave the room isn't usually a problem. When I have him in the other bedroom (aka my room), I just crack the door closed.
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 08:57 Post subject:
New parents--How fun! What a great name! 
One thing that is great is that cats come already potty trained, straight off the shelf. I can't imagine potty training a 2 year old person, much less an animal. Good luck!
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Ms. Jenn
Fresh, Hot & Wild
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Joined: 14 Feb 2004
Posts: 7935
Location: Suite 550
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 09:17 Post subject:
Awww, you think potty training a puppy is hard? Just you wait...puppies are nothin'!
Puppy pads don't work, FYI.
You have about 4 months of this before the dog will be completely trained.
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kristin31
Member
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 8045
Location: Caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 09:18 Post subject:
What about crate training? Dogs as a rule, will not mess in their "den". I used a crate to potty train Sierra when she was a puppy and it worked well. She never messed in it once. The idea is that eventually the whole house becomes their crate.
Just a thought that might make it easier on all three of you.
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Joined: 21 Aug 2003
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 09:59 Post subject:
| kristin31 wrote: | What about crate training? Dogs as a rule, will not mess in their "den". I used a crate to potty train Sierra when she was a puppy and it worked well. She never messed in it once. The idea is that eventually the whole house becomes their crate.
Just a thought that might make it easier on all three of you. |
We are. He doesn't go in the crate and will be crated when we're at work.
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gretriever
Hipster Doofus
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Joined: 16 Jul 2003
Posts: 19385
Location: A moving target in a firing range.
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 10:41 Post subject:
| kristin31 wrote: | What about crate training? Dogs as a rule, will not mess in their "den". I used a crate to potty train Sierra when she was a puppy and it worked well. She never messed in it once. The idea is that eventually the whole house becomes their crate.
Just a thought that might make it easier on all three of you. |
That's how we housebroke Max in two days. All the more amazing given his subsequent feats of intelligence. 
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JACKED UP
PRESIDENT
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Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 21238
Location: www.johnnydu.com
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 11:24 Post subject:
Sorry you're having trouble. I was thinking of the crate thing too. We bring Yogi home in about a week and this is my main concern, potty training.  I potty trained 2 boys already but this is scary! 
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airehead
Oompa Loofah
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Joined: 12 Nov 2002
Posts: 18788
Location: Between here and eternity...
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 11:33 Post subject:
I hear you on the watching bit. Our Gracie bear from day one had to always be watched. In fact, when I finally got so tired of watching her, I'd crate her for awhile, just so she'd be safe and I could rest. And this was after three walks a day! (At first not long ones, just long enough to tire her out. Which was just about impossible!)
Make the crate a happy place. While you guys are just starting out, you can take the door off. Give Balou treats to come into his kennel. Griffon will come running from anywhere when we holler "Kennel" and he runs straight for his kennel now. He always waits for his treat, too. He used to fear and loathe his kennel.
Good luck! It sounds like you guys have thought through everything! Congrats on the new baby!!! 
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Kimba90
Member
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Joined: 03 Dec 2003
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Posted: 07/05/05 - 13:36 Post subject:
Ah, puppy love. Our latest puppy has been marking the recliner chair in the living room. He doesn't seem to care about getting beaten. I think he does it just to p*ss us off. It works!
Good luck with the training!
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