Jump to content

All Activity

This stream auto-updates     

  1. Last week
  2. Marlene

    leash walking

    Marlene replied to Elliottpup's topic in Training/Crate~Potty Training/Behavoir

    We have found Shorty G (the G stands for gangster) walks much nicer on harness than leash. Maybe it just makes us feel better that he's not pulling with a collar on his neck and tiny trachea. But Shorty is always the path finder....zooming around out front - he's not sure what he's looking for but he is busy, busy, busy. He never moseys anywhere - from first time in the morning to last thing at night, racing me up the stairs.......he is IN CHARGE!
  3. Elliottpup

    leash walking

    Elliottpup replied to Elliottpup's topic in Training/Crate~Potty Training/Behavoir

    I feel Elliott is doing pretty well. I think it helps when I have Lyla out because he tries to keep up with her
  4. Pawz4me

    leash walking

    Pawz4me replied to Elliottpup's topic in Training/Crate~Potty Training/Behavoir

    I don't remember! I think what he's doing is normal for his age. I can tell you that somewhere along the way--and fairly early on--Yogi turned into an excellent leash walker. And it was much more from constant practice than due to formal training. He doesn't formally heel (I've never been a huge fan of that, except for when walking in crowds) but he never pulls and he stops/waits when I tell him to.
  5. Elliottpup
    How long did it take for your pups to walk on a leash. Elliott seems to take to it sometimes while other times tries to lie down and attempts to eat grass and whatever is on the ground. I finally found a harness that fits him without him wiggling out of it.
  6. Marlene
    Just my experience: Shorty G was seized by animal control. I have 2 pieces of info from the shelter - one says 2 years, one says 7-8 months. I don't think he was a puppy so have to wonder if he was 2? I believe he was closer to 2 yrs and had been confined to a crate for that long. That being said.....he has some problems (biting) but has been no problem going potty outdoor since we've had him. Recently, we stayed in a rental for a month......and he marked 2-3 times in the house. When we caught him, we scolded him and that was the end of it. After that he knew where he needed to potty and also had his regular 3-4 walks a day and where he needed to scratch at the door to go out. I know that's not a lot of help with a Shih Tzu baby so I'll just share how I've done it with many, many Boxer puppies - healthy and sick that I've fostered over the years. Feed on a regular schedule - 3-4 times a day. After feeding and first thing in the AM take out for a walk (even if it's a small yard like I had) walk loop de loops until the exercise and smells produce pee/poop. Do again when waking from night or naps, after playing or just because it's been 2 hrs. It's not good enough to plop them outside and wait for potty - you must go with them, even if that means walking around w/umbrella in the rain. You MUST potty just before bed. My experience was (usually) that would hold until 6AM or so - but it's not unusual to have to get up and potty in the middle of the night. A story.....just cuz I'm old and have a lot of stories. I had an adorable Boxer puppy I named Romeo because it was the first of FEB - hoping to find his forever home by Valentine's Day. I took him to bed with me (even though I could have crated him - but he was SO CUTE!).. We snuggled down with him close to me under my chin. At some point I was sleepily aware he had walked away. But then was sleepily aware he had come back to snuggle under my chin. I soon felt something wet on my face......he had walked to the end of the bed - went poopies and come back topat me on the face and snuggle with Mama. I well remember that night....washing my face in cold water in the middle of the night and warming it up to wash off Romeo. So many memories like that of foster puppies.....so glad it happened.
  7. Ellie18
    Ellie took those pee pads everywhere and never used them to pee? We use the artificial grass and i wash them out every few days and have extra to give them drying time - thats for peeing - for number two its either the area rug at the front door or on her walks so anyone with a shih tzu knows that any kind of wet weather and our little tzu’s do not mix so it’s a lot of “who did this bad thing ?” LOL i would rather clean up that little mess then a whole dog lol
  8. HeatherZ HeatherZ joined the community
  9. AmyRD AmyRD joined the community
  10. Elliottpup
    I know its not pain. Hard to describe. I have had dogs my whole life. This is more of a play type thing..I should correct myself it is not a growl but a play type noise. He will try to bite fingers not anywhere else. And once you distract him and put a toy in front of him when you hold him he will continue playing with toy.
  11. Marlene
    I had a foster puppy that was deaf. I had a really hard time trying to "translate" my words into hand signals AND to get down low to her level all at the same time. I quickly adapted to having a blind dog (foster failed with one we had for 11 years) but find deafies very hard. Unfortunately, my mouth works very quickly and too well sometimes. I am a little worried that Elliot is growling and thinking about biting when being picked up.......that's not good. Wonder if something is hurting him? Are your kids picking him up? We musn't let him get away with naughty behavior with the kids, especially the 3 yr old.
  12. Elliottpup
    I worry too if clicker training would be time consuming for me. I have 4 children of my own 11,10,8 and 3. Plus 2 dogs I would probably give up after a week!
  13. Pawz4me
    Well, I am far (FAR) from an expert. I know the basics, but I just don't have the coordination and timing to use a clicker effectively. Never have, and especially not as I've aged. I have at times over the years rather accidentally trained dogs using more or less the same method by simply using a word (like "Yes!" and trying to use the same tone/inflection each time) as a marker every time they did what I wanted, or did something that worked them toward a behavior I wanted. My mouth, unlike my fingers, always seems to work fairly well. I'm sure there are many helpful videos about clicker training on YouTube. Watch a few and you'll soon be able to tell which ones are "good" and which ones aren't.
  14. Elliottpup
    I don’t even know how to clicker train or where to begin he’s been doing this thing when you pick him up he growls and tries to nip. I want to stop that behavior. It’s almost like he’s trying to play. Once I put a toy in front of him when he growls plays with toy. Teething a ton too so will try to chew on finger. He’s mostly doing it when I pick him up to keep placing him on pad to pee
  15. Pawz4me
    It's never too early to have fun with it! If you don't have a clicker, or if the noise of one is a bit too loud, then use a pen that clicks. Works the same but makes a softer sound. Or you can even use a verbal "click" (any sound you want to make that's easy to repeat) or a word in the same way.
  16. Earlier
  17. Elliottpup
    I want to try clicker training. Never used it with my pugs. It is easy? What commands have any of you taught?
  18. eggyboy eggyboy joined the community
  19. Misha&Luca Misha&Luca joined the community
  20. Pawz4me
    Welcome! Pee pads or go outside is usually an individual decision. I had never used pee pads until I got a Shih Tzu. I didn't have anything against them, I'd just never had a need for them for housebreaking. But . . . housebreaking a Shih Tzu is a whole different challenge than with a larger dog. After awhile in desperation I put a pee pad down and that was pretty miraculous. Yogi used them consistently for a year or two, in addition to going outside. Eventually he transitioned himself to just going outside. I have no idea why he decided to do that, he won't tell me. That's a long way of saying "do whatever works for you and the puppies." Most of all, be prepared to be very, very patient and forgiving. Especially with two. In all likelihood that's going to make it not just doubly hard, but exponentially harder. Crate training . . . with young puppies about all you do is make the crate comfy for them, and keep it upbeat and happy as much as possible. Make the crate their secure, cozy place that they want to go in. Usually with young puppies it's not too hard. They nap a lot, so they get lots of opportunity for crate time. I like to give a very small treat each time I put a pup in a crate, or a special (safe) toy that is ONLY for crate time. Something to make them think "Hey, going into this crate is a good thing."
  21. PipsMom
    Welcome First have they had their shots? Paper training is the easiest. Smear wee wee down on the paper, takes about two weeks. Being just Baby’s it could take longer
  22. Elliottpup Elliottpup joined the community
  23. Shofner Shofner joined the community
  24. Ace/Bella
    Need info on how to crate train and potty train is outside better or puppy pad
  25. Ace/Bella Ace/Bella joined the community
  26. Ellie18
    Five!!! Oh dear LOL
  27. Marlene
    Usually when one bed mate gets up......the dog(s) just sprawl and take up any empty space you might have had.
  28. Sunlite
    We have all 5 with us on the bed. Dean and myself are not slender either and it's only a queen, not king. It gets tight but everyone finds their spot. Usually it's me crunched up into a quarter of a bed... Dean gets up at 3:45 am for work and you'd think they'd move over? No! But I love those snuggly faces!
  29. Scox
    Thank you , he is a very good boy
  30. Ellie18
    The first time i put a harness and leash on Ellie (shortly before three months of age) it was in the house and it was a ridiculous scene haha she was literally hopping like a bunny - biting on the leash - spinning in circles LOL - the first time outside (after all her shots) she did not move in 20 min we moved maybe 20 feet. Then we took her to Florida for Christmas and by the 2nd day there she was strutting around like a pro. Keep at it Dexter will be a pro in no time!
  31. Ellie18
    Once they are in that big comfy bed there is no going back. I have to wake mine up in the mornings and she buries her head and puts her paws over her eyes (so maybe I can’t see her? ) lol she is so lazy - but I will admit that when she puts her little face on the pillow next to me I do not want it any other way Dexter is so cute!
  32. Marlene
    I have to agree.....just be sensible. Stay on pavement (not dirt or sand) invite dogs in to play that you have confidence are fully vaccinated and healthy. It is such a critical time for socialization and yet you're not supposed to socialize them! That being said - our first Boxer puppy died of Parvo at 4 months. After that I barely let the new puppy's feet touch the ground until completely vaccinated.
  33. Pawz4me
    Welcome! What he's doing now is typical for a puppy his age. One thing you can try is putting his harness on, hooking up the leash and letting him drag it around the house some (only while you're supervising, of course). You want him to get so used to it that it's boring and he stops treating it like a toy. Other than that -- practice, practice, practice (with lots and lots of patience!). I'm more of a believer in puppies needing to get out and about for tons of socialization than I am a worrier about not being vaccinated.
  34. Marlene
    He will get used to the restraints once he gets to go out and about. Going for walks is interesting, fun, full of good smells.
  1. Load more activity
×
×
  • Create New...