Best advice re puppies
- Thread starter JLynne
- Start date
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Hi JLynne and welcome to our lovely forum. We have Maxx who is 4.5 years old and we live in Sydney Australia
The wise owls here will give you lots of great advice, as they did me 4 and a bit years ago. Maxx was a ferocious croco-pup and we were bewildered as this tiny, furry whirlwind chewed the furniture, the walls, the plants, us and anything he could get his little mouth around. We were just about to give him back as we thought we were doing something dreadfully wrong when I found this group. I learned that this was very normal behaviour for a lab puppy and it was temporary and try wearing gardening gloves to counter those shark-like puppy teeth!
The best thing we did was buy a pen so we could block him off from roaming the whole house and also to get him used to sleeping by himself. At first one of us would sleep on the couch next to the pen and give him a gentle pat when he cried.
Also, very importantly, reward good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. I won't pretend we are great at training as my husband and I don't always agree with the methodology (he always says 'oh he will grow out of it') so Maxx is a long way from perfect but he is mostly well behaved now and thank goodness we kept him!
This is the pen - it's more like a series of linked gates that you can move around and position as required
The wise owls here will give you lots of great advice, as they did me 4 and a bit years ago. Maxx was a ferocious croco-pup and we were bewildered as this tiny, furry whirlwind chewed the furniture, the walls, the plants, us and anything he could get his little mouth around. We were just about to give him back as we thought we were doing something dreadfully wrong when I found this group. I learned that this was very normal behaviour for a lab puppy and it was temporary and try wearing gardening gloves to counter those shark-like puppy teeth!
The best thing we did was buy a pen so we could block him off from roaming the whole house and also to get him used to sleeping by himself. At first one of us would sleep on the couch next to the pen and give him a gentle pat when he cried.
Also, very importantly, reward good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. I won't pretend we are great at training as my husband and I don't always agree with the methodology (he always says 'oh he will grow out of it') so Maxx is a long way from perfect but he is mostly well behaved now and thank goodness we kept him!
This is the pen - it's more like a series of linked gates that you can move around and position as required
Your advice could not have come at a better time! This was a rough day with Bailey having two accidents in the house, eating so fast that she threw up, refusing to walk around the house on her normal potty walk, and planting her posterior firmly on the floor so she would not go in to her kennel for a little “calm down” time. I know this is nothing new and this is what puppies do!
Your encouragement and advice mean a lot to
me. We’ll figure this out!
Last edited by a moderator:
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
Welcome @JLynne and Bailey from me and Red. The best of advice I had was from some people here on this forum who said ‘This too will pass’. I had terrible puppy blues (exacerbated by already having a 10 year old wonderful black lab who didn’t like the puppy Red - we got there with that one though). Like @Lab_adore, I wanted to return the puppy……thank goodness that didn’t happen. I have the most amazing, gorgeous, fabulous Labrador who I love with all my heart.
So as each stage happens, there is plenty of advice here from lots of very supportive people
So as each stage happens, there is plenty of advice here from lots of very supportive people
Welcome, @JLynne and Bailey. The best thing for my puppies has been crate training. It doesn’t necessarily suit everyone, but I found it helpful as a safe, cosy place for the puppy. Sometimes it helps to cover the crate with an old towel or throw to create a ‘den’. A frozen Kong and treats helps to make it a good place to be too. It gave me peace of mind that the puppy was safe if I couldn’t be with it for a little while, but it also made it easy for the dogs to settle safely when taken elsewhere too.
There will be lots of good advice and shared experiences here. Lab puppies can be a challenge, but they grow into wonderful companions!
There will be lots of good advice and shared experiences here. Lab puppies can be a challenge, but they grow into wonderful companions!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
P.S, any pictures of Bailey? 
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Hello and welcome from me and mine x
One of the best bits of advice I received was to rest when they are taking a nap x
One of the best bits of advice I received was to rest when they are taking a nap x
Hi @JLynne , welcome to you and Bailey! It’s great you’ve found us - there’s so much experience here and support whenever you want it, and puppies are gorgeous but we all know it can be tough.
We have Kipper who is now 4.5 years old, and an absolute dream. But we had a long puppyhood! He was our first dog, and we had him from a puppy - and this forum kept me sane with great advice.
The number one thing I’d say is: Build a positive relationship. By which I mean, recognise Bailey is a little individual, and will always want to do the right thing and to please you. Understand this, and it really helps to deal with the frustrations and tribulations of puppyhood. There’s no ‘being naughty’ or willfulness or stubbornness - all these things are telling you something, and it’s normally that they’re overtired! Puppies need around 20 hours sleep a day, which I definitely didn’t understand when we first had Kipper.
We have Kipper who is now 4.5 years old, and an absolute dream. But we had a long puppyhood! He was our first dog, and we had him from a puppy - and this forum kept me sane with great advice.
The number one thing I’d say is: Build a positive relationship. By which I mean, recognise Bailey is a little individual, and will always want to do the right thing and to please you. Understand this, and it really helps to deal with the frustrations and tribulations of puppyhood. There’s no ‘being naughty’ or willfulness or stubbornness - all these things are telling you something, and it’s normally that they’re overtired! Puppies need around 20 hours sleep a day, which I definitely didn’t understand when we first had Kipper.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
This is what I wanted to say, too! Having a puppy can be so exhausting but guaranteed by the time you get solidly into adult territory, it's all worth it - plus we thankfully tend to forget the worst bits.
Sterling advice! Positive rewards for all the stuff you want to see again, ignore the stuff you don't. Also that puppies learn 100% of the time they are awake, so everything you do all day long is 'training' and will shape their behaviours as an adult.I think the best piece of advice I would give anyone with a small puppy is " what gets rewarded gets repeated"
Congratulations on Bailey! Can't wait to see some photos (hint, hint
).
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Hello and a warm welcome to the forum!
SO much good advice to far.
My hint was going to be "let your puppy off the lead".
Be brave, find a safe outside place, and let him off! Call him back when he strays any more than a few meters to begin with, and reward him with your tastiest treats......warm roast chicken, smelly cheese, proper treats. Play games, be fun, make being with you the best ever.
For me, recall is so important, so start with good foundations and don't be scared.
And remember that "chase" is a fun puppy game, so try not to engage, tempt him back to you! (Before he chews your TV remote or reading glasses.......)
SO much good advice to far.
My hint was going to be "let your puppy off the lead".
Be brave, find a safe outside place, and let him off! Call him back when he strays any more than a few meters to begin with, and reward him with your tastiest treats......warm roast chicken, smelly cheese, proper treats. Play games, be fun, make being with you the best ever.
For me, recall is so important, so start with good foundations and don't be scared.
And remember that "chase" is a fun puppy game, so try not to engage, tempt him back to you! (Before he chews your TV remote or reading glasses.......)
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Welcome @JLynne and Bailey from me and Chewie our 4yr old black Lab.
I wish I had relaxed more and enjoyed Chewie's beautiful babyishness and even his oafish adolescence.
Management was really important for us getting through puppyhood and now having a (mostly) well behaved dog. Set them up for success and they will learn what you expect. That meant no food left on kitchen benches and no socks or headphones lying around for a while!
I wish I had relaxed more and enjoyed Chewie's beautiful babyishness and even his oafish adolescence.
Management was really important for us getting through puppyhood and now having a (mostly) well behaved dog. Set them up for success and they will learn what you expect. That meant no food left on kitchen benches and no socks or headphones lying around for a while!
So glad to have this lovely and wise group of people to help us with this precious pup!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Erm, any pictures at all ? 
You are so nice to ask!Erm, any pictures at all ?
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Oh my word 
She's just gorgeous
She's just gorgeous