New dog owner...I need help!

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I agree.

People who will be cruel to animals will be cruel to humans as well.

In regard to training. We took Max out about every two hours for the first couple of months. As a puppy grows he is able to hold it longer. He learned to ring a bell on the door when he is ready to go.

He's a Pug/King Charles Spaniel mix and the sweetest animal in the world. He brings his bowl to us when its empty. He'll set it down in front of us and bark at us. He sits, rolls, over, dances, says please, shakes, and understands English and Spanish.

lol

Mine barks IF it every gets empty; which isn't often.

[Theresa]

speaking of - I want an english bulldog - anyone have one they want to give me?

[Margies3]

Crate training is absolutely the way to go. We always had dogs when I was growing up. Then after we got married, we never got one until 3 years ago. I did the crate training thing with Indie and was stunned at how easy it was. I think it took Indie about 3 days to figure out where he needed to go potty. He has never ever had an accident - not even in the beginning in his crate, altho I hear that typically you can expect them to.

Of course, our dog is exceptionally brilliant

Originally Posted by Ronzo

And the food bowl probably shouldn't be left in the crate with him at all... probably the same for the water bowl.

This is an absolute necessity...

If you are concerned about being inhumane... simply provide the puppy a couple of cubes of ice in a bowl... that will provide adequate hydration without creating a need for a trip outside.

God advice Dr. Ronzo!

Originally Posted by Esther

I have never used the crate method.

I take my puppy out about every two hours until they are trained. I praise them when they finish their business and take them in right then and give them a treat.

They usually sleep through the night, most of the time. And take lots of naps during the day like a baby.

Don't listen to Ferd.

Also, IF you are going to keep them in the house a doggie door is the best investment I have made.

I guess it depends on your breed, but I have always has Poms and I have always left there dry food in the bowl and let them eat when they get hungry. They are not overweight.

But Poms are pretty smart animals.

And beautiful!

Poms are for Moms! they are not REAL dogs.. I think my dad called them fuzzy lap rats!

I am sorry Sis. Esther I was just kidding!

Originally Posted by ChicagoPastor

Last night someone gave us a 6 week old beagle puppy.
My wife and I have never had a dog we need some tips.

We were told that we should "crate train" him.....WHAT DOES THAT MEAN??
(p.s. we did buy a crate last night)

It means having a place where he has a special place to go and the way you crate train him is by showing him the crate and putting him in it with a towel where he will know that it is his place, because it will have his smell in the crate.

Do I have to get up every few hours through the night to let him go to the bathroom??

No, just take him out every so often and then take him out before you go to bed and then take him out as soon as you get up. As you do a routine, the puppy will let you know when he needs to go out. Using puppy pads will also help in this training.

Should I put his food and water inside the crate? I did that last night and this morning it was all a big mess...

That is a no no as you have found out. Don't ever put the food and water inside the crate.

This dog is more for my two year old son, who loves dogs but unfortunatley he won't be of much help taking care of it.

You should be training the puppy as it is growing up and if it is a smart one, then you won't have too much training to do, but keep an eye on him, because they will use the bathroom anywhere and that is why puppy pads come in handy.

[The Mrs]

Do NOT buy him a fuzzy toy of any kind!

A dog trainer recently suggested getting them the toys that you can fill with food to play with instead.

[ChicagoPastor]

Originally Posted by Ferd

when Levi gets a little older we will get a dog. I want a whippet. (it is a grayhoundish half size dog)

it will more than likely spend most of its time in the house.

my son is two years old and loves dogs. My wife and I didn't grow up with pets in our homes so this is totally new for us but I guess we gave in for our son

[Steve Epley]

In a short spn of time you will get the understanding about who owns whom. And (hint) you ain't the boss. We have two and they run this house with an iron paw and we love every minute of it. You will be thinking if the folks I pastor and my family were only this good.

[ChicagoPastor]

my thinking WAS that I could keep the crate in the garage so that he's not sleeping in the house.
I guess I can't really "expand his territory" if the crate isn't in the house....

I did learn my lesson about not putting the food and water bowl in the crate...when i put the dog in the crate last night I had laid newspaper in half of the crate and put a towel on the other side. When I woke up this morning ALL of the newspaper was tore up, wet and all over the place. The dog pushed the towel into one corner of the crate and was laying on it. He'd gone to the bathroom in the food bowel and the water bowel was empty....