Aww nice one!

Don't forget to read this guide on dogs and the rest of the quick start guides - they're quite handy

And I guess you're not thinking about breeding, but if you are please read this first: Thinking about breeding? Think about this...

Very cute pup


As my Gran used to say, start as you mean to go on .

If a dog on the couch isn't for you, make sure you don't put him up there as a pup, always pet him on the floor, same goes for any part of the house you don't want him in,it's much easier to do this now, rather than wait till he's 6 months old.

Go to training classes without your pup to sit in, and just watch what is taught and how, and decide it's the right instructor, a bad one can do so much damage to your dog, you will spend half it's life making up for it. Do go on Dogsey and ask for a class recommendation in your area. Tassle/Hannah is down your way, she will know some good trainers.

Socialise,socialise,socialise,with everything and everyone you can, walk the pup on different surfaces, over bridges, in busy towns, in the country,I even took mine on trains and buses, I used to sit outside Tesco's, so a steady stream of different people would go by and say hello. The more dogs your pup meets the better, if you have a bad encounter with your pup and another dog, try not to let it rattle you, as the pup will pick up on it. Most adult dogs, are good natured to pups.

Be ready for poop,pee and lots of it some people use paper by the door, but I never have, just let the pup out regulary, as soon as it wakes up, after a meal,after a nap, after a play, if you put the paper by the door, the pup will learn to eliminate on that, and then it has to learn to go outside. ( washing powder with some bicarbonate of soda, with water is good to get rid of smells and messes)

Patience is needed in training but be consistent,one word commands are best, puppies don't need long walks, 5 minutes for each month, especially if it is going to be a large dog. Get them used to a collar and lead right away, it's a good idea for the puppy to have it's own special place, a bed out of the way, where it can go to rest, and have some time alone away from everyone. Puppies like babies, eat little and often, avoid foods like Bakers,it's not very good and seems to make a lot of dogs hyper.

The best part is, you will have a fab trained pup at 6 months, then at 8 months it hits the hooligan stage, and it all starts againMack did my head in at this age

There's a couple of really good books for new puppy owners, and well worth buying. Gwen Bailey- The Perfect Puppy and this booklet by Lyn Fleet http://dog-games-shop.co.uk/dog-trai...vival-kit.html

If he is your first puppy, it really is worth joining Dogsey, or you can always ask for help here, as there's enough of us with dogs


Most important, enjoy your puppy, he will grow so quick, take zillions of pics too

MS

Some training classes only take puppies from the age of 6 months. I have to disagree about having a puppy fully trained by then, puppies should be puppies and enjoy life. Believe me I have a wealth of experience, more than most I hesitate to say, and have seen so many puppies ruined by what you suggest.

One of the big problems I constantly come across is people that have only had a dog for a few months or a couple of years and think they know it all, well they don't. It takes many many years of ownership of different dogs before one should even try and give advice even if its well ment.
As for me what experience do I have? well ownership of 4/5 dogs at a time for nearly 40 years- bred-judged-shown- resued- trained-raced Afghans (not for money, just for fun/exercise) and done TV advertising.Now its my business boarding dogs of which we do around 10,000 combined days each year for the last 17 years handling everything from great Danes to Chihuahuas. Or in other words handled 170,000 dogs albeit handling the same dog each day of boarding.

When someone has that amount of experience then they just might be able to talk with some authority. I challange anyone on any dog boarding program to have more experience, I bet there is only a handful that can claim more.

One of the reasons I don't post much on the other board mentioned is because I ofen read so much rubbish its not worth bothering to reply. Most I suspect ( not all ) get their information out of books then claim to have first hand knowledge. As they say "empty vessels make the most noise"

Ask yourself why Guide Dogs for the blind- hearing dogs for the deaf- the police force- security service - dog mountain rescue- armed forces all have puppy carers until 6 months of age.

When we first started showing way back on the very early 70's in the minor and even through to the puppy classes the puppies being shown played with each other giving grief to try and judge them, but everyone in and ringside really enjoyed the puppies playing. You could follow puppies right through the classes up to veteran.
What happens now? the puppies are trained to act like soldiers, not allowed to move-stand rigid and not allowed to play. By the time they could have progress to the higher classes they are "burnt out" never to be seen again. All through not being allowed their puppyhood

Ms Quote "Go to training classes without your pup to sit in, and just watch what is taught and how" unquote. .

Typical senerio if taking a puppy- Puppy sits on owners lap -along comes an uncontrolled large dog bounding up to the puppy - puppy extremely frightened- puppy scared of other dogs and strange places for life.

As i have said I have seen this happen so many times its unbelievable which is one reason why a good training club wont accept till puppy is 6 months of age

Bazza

Thanks for all your help ...will read properly later. im off to the vets now to register him and then of to buy.....a cage...bed...bowls...food........etc etc its like having another baby.....we are all very excited and a bit nervous at the same time......will join dogsey very soon.......

x x x x x x x x

Bazza- The puppy trained by six months was said tongue in cheek, as in you think you are getting somewhere and then the hooligan/teenage time starts and it's one step forward and two back, to make the point that it takes time,patience to train a puppy, they aren't machines.

What's wrong with telling Jols not to take a puppy to a class, some are awful, so I would never take a puppy to a training class the first time, incase it's run by a loon.

Personally, for me, training starts the day you get him home, with simple commands everyday repeated, using positive training, I did puppy parties as soon as possible, and then puppy classes,(these are great fun ,if run properly,and great for socialising) moving onto proper classes as they matured. If I had left Mack till 6 months to go to any training class I would of had an overgrown nutter on my hands, who would of gone bonkers in a class. Jols everybody does things different, I only use positive training and loads, and loads of fun, so it's more like the puppy playing than training.

You will be fine, and it is a bit like a baby, hard work, but worth it, really try and get those books I suggested though, they are brilliant xx

Just remember to nip and unwanted behaviour in the bud in the beginning, say, jumping up at your legs for attention,what seems cute at 8 weeks, is no longer cute when you have a 100lb+ adult dog doing it.

Hi

After a busy day yesterday getting all the stuff needed bought and the house sorted we are ready.

We pick up Theo at midday and I must admit I am very nervous and excited and a load of other things. I just hope I will do everything right.

Photos to follow shortly I hope......................

How exciting !!

We will of course need more photographs

Excellent, make sure the breeder showed you all the health certs for the mother AND father. Thats will be hip and current eye certs for labs at the very least. I know you will have done your homework, but Labs suffer so many awful diseases, its vital these tests are done.

ok picked up the pup.........got all the nessassary documents and the breeder was very helpful.

Theo has done his first poo outside but then peed inside four times after every one I took him outside and he came back in and peed.....................oh joy the fun begins

OMG i don't believe it.

I'm going to agree with Bazza

Let the puppy be a puppy. All this talk of "training" frightens me, as all puppy training consists of is guiding the pups behaviour in the direction you require. No punishments, just praise for when they do something right.

Remember that if a pup messes on the floor it is not the fault of the puppy but yours because you did not give it the opportunity to go outside or did not recognise the signs of an impending pee or poo.

My "training" of a puppy consists of getting the pup used to its name during play progressing to sitting for a second or two and if at 6 months old the pup will recall to its name, sit for its meals or treats (I'm talking sit for 4/5 seconds at most not minutes) and a few other minor commands I am happy.

I have had gundogs for 40 years, some better than others and have only totally failed with one dog (a working cocker about 20 years ago). My real training does not start until about 12 month old. This does vary however as some dogs are receptive to training sooner than others.

My best advice would be, don't treat it as a race to get a trained dog. A dog for me will work for me up to the age of 10/12 years old so why risk ruining the dog by over training too young. I would rather not work a dog until 2 years old rather than ruin it and make the pup's life a misery by trying to have it working by 12 months old.

So, Enjoy your pup, become great friends and take things easy he/she will be your best mate for many many years.

Steve