puppy help

We have an Aussie, Sam, who's a bit over a year old.  They're wonderful dogs, but like other herding breeds they have a powerful drive combined with their high level of intelligence.  Not always a good combination, particularly in situations where they're left alone for long periods of time.

IMO - she should be crated WHENEVER left alone, at least at this age.  Even at a year, and completely potty-trained, Sam will find something to chew up if we leave him out.  We finally just accepted the fact that the crate is a place of comfort and security to him.  Make sure you're feeding her in the crate and not using it as a form of punishment.

For potty-training:

1. There is no time expectation at 11 weeks.  If you aren't able to ACTIVELY monitor her when she's out of the crate she should be in it.  When she's playing, EVERY time she pauses and even thinks about sniffing the ground, take her out.

2. NEVER punish her for going in the house.

3. You cannot take her out TOO often.

Regarding the jumping up.  Yes, that will go away with age AND training, but she is a herding breed.  We still see times when Sam chases the kids around and will jump and "play-bite" at their hind quarters.  Kind of funny. 

When she's a bit older, make sure you don't allow her to jump up when you FIRST see her (waking up, coming home, etc).  Make her sit first.

Training is an absolutely critical investment for any breed, but particularly an Aussie.  She'll be a star, and you'll train her to "leave it" when she wants to mouth things (among other useful skills).

Good luck and have fun!

(sorry for the novel)

This is the little troublemaker she's talking about:

I puppysat on Saturday and she is a handful, but look how cute. 

Thanks so much!!!  I just needed some reassurance. We adore her, and did know what we were getting into with the breed (I regularly care for my friend's Aussie, but I've known her from ages 5-9, and I have a border collie cross, but he lives with my parents currently.  He's 11, and not yet a fan of puppy ).

She is a darling, has already learned sit, stay, is learning lay down. Very impressed so far!  Right now she has discovered her gross motor skills, and is bolting everywhere! Thank god the fence guys are coming today!  The goal is to eventually have an electric doggy door (the kind with a "key" that is on their collar so she can come and go when she pleases).

We do keep her crated all the time we aren't there, and also at night, and have been feeding her in it. yay! doing somethings right...just was getting worried that the accident tally was more than we expected!  Any more tips, I appreciate it!  Especially if you have any ideas of how to get a grumpy older dog to bond with a puppy....my dog is a sweetheart with people, but he doesn't really "get" playing with other dogs, especially the puppy.

A couple more things:

A grumpy old dog is wonderful training for your puppy. Allow them to interact freely, and let the older dog "correct" the puppy however he pleases (unless REAL violence appears).  Along with a getting her (after the shots) into some kind of "puppy play group", this helps teach her the cues dogs use to play, admonish, show fear, pain, etc.

Introduce the puppy to as many new people and new environments as possible - parks, parades, dog stores, outdoor festivals, etc.   Encourage people (and kids especially) to come up and pet her.  It's less about training your dog good manners and more about teaching them not to fear other "packs".  Helps prevent aggression/over-protection issues later in life. 

If only those dogs that chase me on the bike would have done these things . . .

Gaarryy - 2009-09-17 9:30 AM I really needed a puppy thread.... too many political threads lately.  

glad I could help!   btw, for any of you Red Sox fans, her name is Fenway. I am not a sox fan, but no one really wants to admit to being a Pirates fan, so we stuck with Red Sox (BF is diehard).  I was voting for Boggs or Yaz though as a name. This was the compromise.

Oh , and we are doing the clicker training. She already has got the idea that clicker is good.   We do need to make the crate more of a home....is it wrong to put her in at night?  That is the one thing we cannot figure out. She's not crying anymore, but the first two weeks! wow, she would cry.  Sometimes we'd let her sleep on the towel outside the crate, but now she is braver and crawlign everywhere, with the teeth following.

Who would have known there were so many triathletes with Aussies?  Must be a type A connection.

How about you all post your babies? Aussie and otherwise. I adore labs...I have two at my barn that are my constant companions.  Thats ANOTHER thing, I have to get her horse acclimated, but I'm TERRIFIED of that!

wouldn't it have been?? Here Boggs!!  It just rolls off the tongue.

btw, some really cute team stuff out there. I can't wait to buy  her a steeler collar. That is what Casey is adorned in...and of course, a swim bark run collar.

When are you able to start actively running with your dog? My friends told me to wait at least until a year, but gee, she was so bored walking today.

At least a year, and then only short distances, preferably on soft surfaces like trails.  Dogs need to slowly build up endurance just as people do, and running can be bad on their joints if done too much too early.

Keep in mind, a dog has a hard time saying no, so when you do start running with her, remember that she has to drink at least as frequently as you do, if not more so.

Those warnings said, running with your pup is a wonderful experience, especially when she's figured out not to get under your feet.

Did someone say post more photos????

I have a lot of video too, but it's stuck on my iPhone for now.  I'll try to post some tonight.