Re: Puppy Issues
- Original Message - From: Kenneth L Babcock [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ok berner experts as a I am a berner in waiting my wife has a concern that hopefully someone can respond to? Her concern is allowable length of time a new puppy can be left at home alone? That is in the event she chooses to go shopping with the girls or perhaps an occasional day trip. I would say age in months plus one= approximate number of hours. This assumes that this is not an always sort of thing--for instance, with Micawber I had someone come at lunch and walk him on my longer days at work, so when he was 3 months he would be left no more than 4 hours, and at four months no more than 5 hours, etc. Obviously this rule of thumb starts to break down at some point, and individual puppies may have more specialized needs (anxiety, bladder control not developing on the average, etc). This also only works if you do a good long attention-giving session before leaving (tired puppies are good puppies). So the pup should have been played with, fed, short nap, played with/walked, then crated with a good treat. Eileen Morgan The Mare's Nest http://www.enter.net/~edlehman --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.463 / Virus Database: 262 - Release Date: 3/17/2003
RE: puppy issues
Hi Terry, Was your puppy on any antibiotics post surgery? Normally they are not given but occasional one hears of a vet giving them. Also post surgery can cause some patients to have nausea and diarrhea and it is necessary to rest the stomach and feed small helpings of boiled lean hamburger and equal measure of overcooked cheap starchy rice (not the converted type like Uncle Ben's). Also give some probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus which you can buy in capsule form from the health food store or pharmacy. Do not feed yoghurt at this time as the dairy fat might aggravate the condition especially if full fat. Are you absolutely sure puppy has not eaten any item of clothing or string like material. Rose T.
Re: puppy issues
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Re: puppy issues
In a message dated 11/20/2002 9:38:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Outside to potty Breakfast Play Outside to potty Play/training Nap Outside to potty Play/Training/or a short 10 minute walk. Lunch Play Potty play Nap...me too! Potty play/training Potty Nap Potty Dinner play potty play/short walk nap potty play potty nap potty play potty BEDTIME!!! I think when I die I want to come back as a puppy -Sherri V. G
Re: puppy issues
In a message dated 11/19/2002 7:15:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: My 11 week + old berner pup is quite bull headed. If she does not like to go out or walk after she is out she just sits or lays down. Remember when you read that Bernese are smart? ;-) She's not bull-headed, she's using the means at her disposal to get what she wants. Your challenge/goal is to make the things YOU want more important and gratifying to her than what she wants. You won't have the option of picking her up much longer... I am using different techniques to work with her resistance but I am looking for the magic bullet (technique) to work with her resistance. The magic bullet is really an arsenal comprised of PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE, and CONSISTENCY. All the techniques in the world are worthless in the absence of those three. With a fully loaded P, P, and C arsenal, just about any technique will work... some more effectively than others, some more happily than others, and different techniques work better on some dogs than others. Also, she is not warning me when she needs to go out. When in the crate, most pups will instinctively let you know when they have to go...does she do this? if we let her roam in the house after a few hours she will just pee anywhere. Yup...because she doesn't yet understand the concepts of : (A) Holding herself until she gets outside. (B) Letting you know that she has to go outside. I wouldn't expect an 11 week old puppy to understand these complex and learned behaviors. Any advice? The key to using a crate as an aid to houstraining is that it builds on the puppy's instinctive desire to keep her quarters clean. When she's in the crate and signals that she has to go...get her outside to potty IMMEDIATELY (whether you're in the middle of dinner or in the shower, doesn't matter...outside post haste!). Side note: That means NO crating for a period longer than she can physically hold herself (puppies have a very immature bladder...they can't go long.) Having a puppy crated to the extent they have to relieve themself in it is not only self-defeating, it qualifies in my book as cruelty. So...responding when she signals from the crate to go out starts teaching her that if she lets you know she has to go, you'll respond and take her out. Obviously your dog isn't going to live her life in the crate, so the second aspect of housetraining is making the 'leap' of transferring the 'keep my area clean' concept from the small space of the crate to the larger concept of any building interior. Looking at it that way, you can see that it really is a lot for your puppy to learn. As with any large challenge, it's best to break it down into steps and work up to the finished 'whole'. With your puppy, that means that while she's out of her crate, YOU are responsible for anticipating when she'll have to potty and getting her outside BEFORE she does it. You can count on a jaunt: after a meal after drinking after a nap in the middle of play when she gets excited early AM (if not in the middle of the night) late PM (before bed for the night) The fewer opportunities she has to relieve herself in the house, the more quickly she'll learn that it's not the place to potty. Normally, I watch them like a hawk and if the pup is inside and starts indicating she's looking for a spot, I'll give out a quick UH! and scoop her up into my arms, out the door, and put her down on the lawn. If you catch them in time, they'll stop what they were about to do and hold it until you put them down...then you can tell puppy how wonderful she is for going in the right place. Quite honestly, I have no idea how this would work several floors up in a highrise. I never had to wait for an elevator with a puppy needing to pee...just had to stand there shivering in the back yard waiting for her to find just the right place.g When you can't watch her, confine her...both for her safety and to prevent the opportunity for her to learn that it's ok to go in the house. As she matures a bit, give her more freedom, again...in steps, not all at once. As they can manage (be responsible for) more space comfortably, my puppies go from the crate, to an xpen, to one room, to two adjoining rooms, to the first floor, to the whole house. Expect occassional lapses, especially just when you think she's got it down pat. It happens...just back up a step and go from there. Imagine that you're working with an 11 month old toddler and you'll be pretty near on target in terms of your berner puppy...except that the toddler isn't going to be 90 lbs of raw power in another 6 months. -Sherri Venditti
Re: puppy issues
A few hours???!!! An eleven week old puppy needs to go out A LOT -- I would say at least once an hour and maybe more, except when sleeping. At that age I would recommend going out after all naps and feedings, and about every 45-60 minutes when awake. As for the leash -- this is a baby and so I would not expect much. Use great treats to lure her along and remember that all great learning is done in tiny steps. I would not attribute her behavior to being stubborn at all -- I think the expectations of this puppy might be a bit unrealistic :) Mary-Ann Bowman Utah
Re: puppy issues
- Original Message - From: Terry Cathy Bering [EMAIL PROTECTED] My 11 week + old berner pup is quite bull headed. If she does not like to go out or walk after she is out she just sits or lays down. She loves her home too much! How long are these walks? Puppies should get a lot of outside time, but structured walks should be kept quite short for a puppy not quite 4 months old. I am using different techniques to work with her resistance but I am looking for the magic bullet (technique) to work with her resistance. Look into clicker training. Also, she is not warning me when she needs to go out. Using a crate and timing her feeding is almost 100% effective but if we let her roam in the house after a few hours she will just pee anywhere. Any advice? A few hours? Too long! After every meal (10-15 minutes afterwards), immediately after a drink, instantly after waking from a nap, immediately after any energetic playing . . . timing is all! Eileen Morgan The Mare's Nest http://www.enter.net/~edlehman --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.419 / Virus Database: 235 - Release Date: 11/13/2002
