New puppy...training Advice

Updated on January 24, 2011
B.W. asks from Bethel Park, PA
5 answers

I just got an 8 week old boxer puppy. It has been a long time since i've had a puppy and that was pre-kids. I was just hoping to get some advice of tricks you've learned or stuff that has worked for you in crate training, and potty training and chewing. Especially with it being so cold outside, the puppy does not want to be out there. My other boxer who is 4, didn't do the crate...he cried in his crate and so i brought him to bed with me and my husband where he has been ever since. There is no room for another dog on our bed so it is imperative i use this crate...plus for when we leave the house.
i did get some chew toys, but of course this puppy would rather chew on anything and everything else including my feet.
any help would be great

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

Definitely crate train!!!! Eventually he will stop crying. If you are going to put him in there make sure he has gone potty outside first. Also, until he is trained don't give him tons of space in the crate or he'll just do his business in the corner. Most dogs don't like to sleep where they potty. Make sure to cut off water/food a few hours before bed time. When you take him outside...tell him to go "potty" and praise him when he does. He will eventually learn but be consistant. If he is eating and drinking inside you can rest assure that within 15 minutes he'll need to go out. Look for signs of him sniffing or starting to circle around on the floor another sure sign he has to go.

My GSD was like all of that and would cry in his crate...We did do the CIO method and after a few days he stopped. Create and follow the routine and be consistant and it will get easier.

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M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

There are advantages in crate training. If you don't use the crate as a punishment site, your dog comes to think of it as his own little space and loves it.

When we have a new puppy at our house (we're raising our ninth pup for Canine Companions for Independence), we have to treat him/her as a new baby! He doesn't know anything and needs constant supervision. I have to take him out (NOT send him out) to potty and that's no fun in winter, but it's part of the job.

Even though it's cold where you live, you need to take him out first thing in the morning, after he eats, last thing at night, after he wakes up from a nap, and about once an hour otherwise. As he grows, you can make that one-hour time longer, but don't forget that he doesn't know what to do yet. When he makes a mistake in the house (!), pick him up, get him outside, and give him whatever command you're using to tell him to potty there. In all cases, pick him up and take him out, let him do his thing with you standing there, praise him highly, and bring him in. After that you can clean up the mess. At nighttime, you could cut off his available water about 8 p.m. - it might help him not to need to go so often during sleep time. (Consider also putting an old towel over the door of the crate, so it's darker and he has fewer outside distractions.)

During the night, when he cries, first get your boots and coat on quickly, and then get him out of the crate (carry him if you can, and/or put him on leash), take him right out to his spot, give the command and wait for him to go, and take him right back in. (Not exactly immediately - you might want to wait outside another minute in case he needs to do something else.) Praise him and put him right back in his crate.

Keep him on leash at night for pottying for several weeks, because he's going to think, "Now that I'm awake and out here, why not play?" But playtime is when the sun is out. He doesn't know that.

Eventually, you might try putting a nose-height bell or something on your door so Pup can learn to let you know when he needs to go out. He'll probably start picking up cues from your other Boxer.

You're going to get some fussing, because he's just a baby and understandably doesn't want to be alone (and also because he wants to find out which of your buttons he can push). Make sure he has safe things in the crate to chew. If you can wait out the fussing, he'll realize that the game won't work, and you'll know then that if he fusses in the crate it's for a legitimate reason. (If you can keep the crate in or very near your room, he'll feel like Mama is nearby and be a little more comfortable.)

What size is his crate? He needs to be able to stand up and turn around comfortably. If you've purchased one for the long run and it's really big, stick some cardboard boxes in the back to make it smaller. You don't want him to have room to answer the call of nature comfortably inside the crate and still sleep there.

During the day, always keep him where you can keep an eye on him. He's a baby, he's interested in everything, and he has the brains (and the attention span) of a FRUIT FLY. He will put his little puppy teeth on anyone and anything. Puppy-proof the rooms where he is allowed to be. Try to keep toys posted in good places so one is at hand when he starts in on somebody's feet. Say, "Don't," or whatever your chosen command is. Give him the toy instead.

When you try leaving the pup alone in his crate during the day, start out with a very short time. When he's tired anyhow (this works best!), put him in his crate with a chew toy, cover the door with the towel, and leave for maybe twenty or thirty minutes. Come back in, make just a little fuss but not too much, praise him, and take him right outside for you-know-what. As he gets older (and his bladder will hold more longer), you can lengthen the time. In your case, you may eventually want to teach him to stay home without being in his crate, because that's what your other dog does. But don't do that until the pup is totally trustworthy! (And that's quite a while.)

I'm always exhausted with a new puppy. But new ones get bigger, and they develop some brains, and eventually we have a dog who knows what to do and where to "go." Have fun with him!

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H.S.

answers from Charlotte on

I agree with Lucky. Also keep in mind that a puppy that young will have to go about every 30-45 minutes. And it may be cold out, but stand out there as long as it takes until the puppy goes.Then praise praise praise. Also, puppy's have to go more when they are playing and excited. So try playing with a ball outside to get the puppy to go.

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B.

answers from Augusta on

You must crate train.
Your first dog suckered you into letting him in your bed, yep they cry, they will stop. You have to learn to ignore the whining, it's not like a baby , puppies can manipulate you. the minute that you give in , that's when they know they've got you. He must be supervised at all times, having a puppy is like having a toddler.
I second what lucky said. sniffing and circling is a sure sign he needs to go out. if he starts to go on your carpet , tell him no and pick him up and take him out side.
If you have to get him a little coat for going outside. it's cold and boxers have short hair. Take him out on a leash and praise him everytime he uses the bathroom outside.
Any time he isn't being supervised put him in the crate.
Chewing:
tell him no and give him something you approve of him chewing on. like a raw hide or a kong. I found a great prickly dounut looking thing at petco for like 3$ my puppies love them.
I am currently training 2 puppies, and I keep them on a leash attached to my belt , one at a time, while I am doing stuff around the house , it helps them bond to me and makes sure they can't get too far away from me and get into stuff.
edited to add:
the crate becomes their own space, they like having their own space. My puppies are now about 13-14 weeks and "crate up" when it's bedtime with no problems. They go in there if they need some down time with out the door even closed. You will find that if you crate train you will also have an easier time with travel in a kennel. no hrs and hrs of whining on road trips.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from State College on

Looks like you are already have lots of advice on crate and potty training. We have a 7 year old lab that puts herself to bed in her crate every night and I do anything that is a cue to her that I may leave soon, she jumps in her crate. We still give her treat that she only gets for "going kennel" or " night, night" and she absolutely loves it in there. She will cry from her kennel at night if you don't shut the door. The main thing with both is consistency and if your puppy is whining in the crate, but doesn't need to go potty, ignore until you have about 5 seconds of silence to make sure you don't reward whining or barking in the crate.

For chewing on you, yelp every time. It is the same thing other dogs and puppies do when the dogs teeth on each other. Anything inappropriate, just replace with something the puppy can have. Lots of reward for friendly touching to you and chewing on things that are correct. With everything lots of praise when the puppy is good to let him know that is what you want, and praise can be vocal, petting, small treats, play time, anything the puppy likes.

Have fun with your new puppy and if you haven't already thought about it try and take at least a puppy class when he is old enough. Great for the basics and socialization.

1 mom found this helpful
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