OT - Dog Advice

kingbill · Dec 14, 2007

OK My Girl and I are taking the plunge and getting a dog. We've already picked one out and can pick it up next Friday.

It's a Lab x Rotti, we figured this would be a good combo as it's going to be smart like a Lab and good for protection like a Rotti or at least thats the hope.

The thing is I've never really owed a Dog and am pretty clueless about them.

So if you've got any advice on raising it right, feeding it right, exercise and well pretty much anything else you can offer let me know.

Thanks

The_Man · Dec 14, 2007

BAD NEWS KENNELS ---------> :hanging:

djmatt · Dec 14, 2007

Advice? Be stern while the puppy's young.. and if your looking for a watchdog.. while hes younger use a decent sized chain on his neck and every other week increase the size of the chain.. the dogs neck will get bigger and bigger as you progress here...

take him out at regular times, feed him at regular times, and don't encourage any bad behavior

Seymour · Dec 14, 2007

What a great looking boy! Nothing like muts - did you get him at the pound? - that's where Seymour is from - just spend some time with him and he will love you more than life.

kingbill · Dec 14, 2007

We tried to get one from the pound but he went to a different family.
As soon as we found out we didn't get the one from the pound Girlie saw the ad for these Puppies. The woman breeds Labs but her dog got out and found a Rotti to give her what she needed...hence the mix.

He was first born so he's bigger than the rest.

TomBrady#1 · Dec 14, 2007

read a book on that dog. Get a good vet. It is harder than children the first year. Lot of work so you better love him.

Kruser6 · Dec 14, 2007

Repetition is the biggest key to training a dog. You can't allow something one second and then try punish them the next for it.

I have always been big on POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. People get frustrated with thier dogs really easy, you need to have patience with them. Don't let your impatience lead to hitting or striking the dog. Sure they need to be disciplined, but make sure you use it at the right time.

Potty Training - Always have a treat. Dog figures it out fast - Treats are good. "I go outside and go pee, I get a treat" "I pee inside they yell NO!! at me and pick me up and take me outside"

Do that over and over time and time again and he will get the hang of that very quickly.

Same thing with feeding them. DON'T feed them human food, you do it and then you'll get a begger. Trust me, there is nothing more annoying then a dog begging for food everytime you try to eat. Don't do it even once - Remember REPETITION.

OtroPex · Dec 14, 2007

A lot of good points from Kruser6 and others.

Make sure you can meet both parents if possible, that will give you a good idea about the dog's personality.

Definitely crate train, it makes a HUGE difference. Once trained most dogs use that as their bed, and you can leave the door open.

Also check out the Dog Whisperer Caesar Millan on Nat Geo Channel. Most of his 'cases' deal with dogs already displaying bad behavior, but understanding what can cause these issues, can help you in your training. He puts his order of attention as Exercise, Discipline, and Affection.

That Lab side is going to have LOTS of energy. Good luck! :103631605

juice · Dec 14, 2007

Agree with the others, my girl and I got a dog earlier this year.
The key thing is to always be consistent.

Read Cesar Milan's book and watch his show. His cases are extreme usually but his message works 100%. You have to realize that you are a human, and the dog is a dog. You have to be in charge at all times, don't let the dog get away with shit because he/she's "cute".

Also read Tamar Geller's book, she has some really good training techniques, which all amount to the same thing, reinforce positive behaviors to the point of being ridiculous. Go crazy when the dog does something good.

Also, since you're getting a pretty high energy dog, it's REALLY important to exercise it. I have a Jack Russell who's high energy but I can get him to exert himself indoors.
You're going to need to take your dog for a good walk probably twice a day. Otherwise all that pent up energy gets manifested in bad ways (ie, tearing shit up).

The big things I've found that really help with a new dog is exercise and consistent rules. We really did a ton of research on breeds and training and all that stuff, it really pays off.

Also, make sure you socialize your dog. Get it around other dogs, go to a dog park, get it around other people. If it's around things it knows, it won't get aggressive with them. Also, to prevent dominant behavior, make sure you mess around with it a lot, make sure you mess with its food when its eating, do all sorts of stuff that makes you and your girl the dominant/alpha dog. If your dog sees nobody is in charge, it will try to take over.

Let me know if you need any tips, like I said, I've learned a TON of stuff about dogs over the last year.

Oh, and kiss your social life good bye. And try to avoid having your dog whine and bark when you have sex, it kind of ruins the mood.

prodigy · Dec 14, 2007

juice said:
Agree with the others, my girl and I got a dog earlier this year.
The key thing is to always be consistent.

Read Cesar Milan's book and watch his show. His cases are extreme usually but his message works 100%. You have to realize that you are a human, and the dog is a dog. You have to be in charge at all times, don't let the dog get away with shit because he/she's "cute".

Also read Tamar Geller's book, she has some really good training techniques, which all amount to the same thing, reinforce positive behaviors to the point of being ridiculous. Go crazy when the dog does something good.

Also, since you're getting a pretty high energy dog, it's REALLY important to exercise it. I have a Jack Russell who's high energy but I can get him to exert himself indoors.
You're going to need to take your dog for a good walk probably twice a day. Otherwise all that pent up energy gets manifested in bad ways (ie, tearing shit up).

The big things I've found that really help with a new dog is exercise and consistent rules. We really did a ton of research on breeds and training and all that stuff, it really pays off.

Also, make sure you socialize your dog. Get it around other dogs, go to a dog park, get it around other people. If it's around things it knows, it won't get aggressive with them. Also, to prevent dominant behavior, make sure you mess around with it a lot, make sure you mess with its food when its eating, do all sorts of stuff that makes you and your girl the dominant/alpha dog. If your dog sees nobody is in charge, it will try to take over.

Let me know if you need any tips, like I said, I've learned a TON of stuff about dogs over the last year.

Oh, and kiss your social life good bye. And try to avoid having your dog whine and bark when you have sex, it kind of ruins the mood.

great post juice. lots of solid info.

kingbill · Dec 14, 2007

prodigy said:
great post juice. lots of solid info.

Agreed...Thanks

juice · Dec 14, 2007

No prob, like I said, I've learned and researched a lot before I got a dog, it's best to go into it eyes wide open.
In fact, my advice is if you still have a chance, don't get a dog at all unless you're really ready for the responsibility.
Less social life, always having to go home to let the dog out, constantly watching it to make sure it doesn't piss the floor if you're housebreaking...

my wife was home all summer with the dog (she's a teacher and had off), and broke down a few times because she was following the dog around constantly to make sure he wouldn't pee and if he did to make him go outside.

It's a pain, I can only imagine what a pain in the ass kids will be. Good thing I already have a crate for the first kid once the dog can run around by himself...

PatPatriot · Dec 14, 2007

The big things I've found that really help with a new dog is exercise and consistent rules

Stick to this and the rest will come.
House training try to gear them to your schedule feed him same time everyday.Give the dog every oppurtunity to relive himself outside and let him out the sametimes daily....Do NOT give treats for piss/shit outside.Bad habit! What happens is the dog will bug you to go out because it wants a treat not because it has to shit.Lots and lots of praise imediatley after dumping outside NOT during.
K.I.S.S. Keep it in black and white.NO!.. for bad behaivior .Good boy!!! ...for good behavior.
If you catch your dog in the act tell him NO with authourity and bring him outside immediatley. If he finishes outside.Lots of praise.
If you find a mess in the house.Just clean it up as fast as you can and spray with something.Don't scold the dog if you did not catch him in the act he has no clue.

House training done properley sets the ground work for all future training.
The more consistent you are the quicker the dog catches on.
And have patients dogs are only human.

juice · Dec 14, 2007

If the dog does hassle you to go outside and doesn't do anything, go back in, stick him in the crate for 15 minutes, and let him back out again. Do this until he goes to the bathroom, he'll get the idea real quick.
That Tamar Geller book has a real good chapter on housebreaking and crate training that we used.
Basically, put him in the crate for an hour, let him out for 30 minutes to play and go to the bathroom, back in the crate for an hour, over and over.

Then as you get more comfortable, you expand the time out of the crate and lessen the time in... we are now to the point where the dog knows to go downstairs by the door if he wants to go out. He isn't ringing the bell 100% of the time, but that's just gravy at this point.

Hookandcrook+ · Dec 14, 2007

Train him to fight and Vick will pay top dollar for him in about 2 years. :103631605

1cheater · Dec 14, 2007

I got a yellow lab this past summer.. He is a very smart dog, I didn't realise how smart they are.. I was fortunate enough to get this dog for free from a friend of a friend; she paid $800 for him. The dog was already house trained and has an excellent demeanor. I agree with everything that is stated above, accept the crate training. I know people who leave their dog in the crate for way to long and abuse the "training" aspect of it. Most people have no clue how to properly crate train and leave their dog in there way to long. As stated above the best thing is interaction with other dogs. I got lucky as our next door neighbor has a dog and they play all the time; we don't have to worry about getting another dog for him. Good luck with your new dog.

OT - Dog Advice

Search

kingbill

Officially Punching out Nov 25th

The_Man

ball dont lie

djmatt

New member

Seymour

Member

kingbill

Officially Punching out Nov 25th

TomBrady#1

New member

Kruser6

Rx Senior

OtroPex

New member

juice

New member

prodigy

New member

kingbill

Officially Punching out Nov 25th

juice

New member

PatPatriot

New member

juice

New member

Hookandcrook+

New member

1cheater

Do you like my new avatar?

Forum statistics

Share this page