Need advice for my labrador puppy.?
Last time i had asked about the type of dog to choose and i had decided German Shepherd last time but ultimately my family decided to buy a lab. I knew a breeder personally he sold me a 1 month old labrador puppy. The lab puppy was sold of 1 month because his mother died after birth.
Now i want to ask that shall i put a collar on him with leash attached? When shall i start training him except the usual potty training. What kind of training should be given at this age?And he usuallly keeps hopping around when i try to give him his food. I want him to stay before i give him the food, i had read this somewhere. This tells him that i am the incharge but he doesn't listen. He keeps hopping around. He also mouths my feet sometimes but i have minimised it by striking with a paper when he mouths me. Am i doing this right? This doesn't hurt him. Any other advice will be thankful.
I am a first time owner.
You definitely want to ignore anything that is not a calm state of mind so you don't reinforce the hyperness and jumping. If you have to stand there, not moving or looking at him until he gets bored and sits still, that is where you have to start. I have tried the swat with a paper to get their attention but I have found that acting like their canine leader would works better… a quick snap of my fingers to break their train of thought and a swift touch or gentle pinch to the back of their necks works like their moms snapping at them when they are rowdy. When they are older, making them lie on their back and relaxing works, and don't give any affection until they are in a submissive mind. As far as a collar and leash training – it is very important, but it can also be a scarring experience if done too young or incorrectly so I would research a little on the internet. If you are recognized as the alpha then it is a natural process and not much of a problem. I know puppies are cute but any behavior you pay attention to is going to be repeated so you have to refrain from being lovey or laughing at times.
PLEASE don't strike your dog with anything. Many people think that this is the right thing to do but I can tell you that it will only create problems. Your dog is mouthing you because he was not with his litter mates and mother long enough to learn that it is not ok to do that. When he mouths you, yell out loudly. Not at him but a sharp loud sound that will get his attention and then ignore him for about 30 seconds. This behavior is similar to what a mother dog and your pups litter mates would do to teach him manners if he was still with them. If you hit your dog (even if you do not think it is hurting him) it will just make your dog afraid of you and at this very young emotionally fragile age it is even worse and make problems that are very hard to undo later on in life.
Start training him slowly but don't expect too much…your dog is still just a baby and will take time to grow up.
Start straight away-But only keep[ the collar on for short period until he used to it-How old is he now?
When shall i start training him except the usual potty training? Straight away!
. What kind of training should be given at this age? Housetrainning, Basic obedience-such as sit, drop, stay and come.
And he usuallly keeps hopping around when i try to give him his food. I want him to stay before i give him the food, i had read this somewhere. This tells him that i am the incharge but he doesn't listen.
He doesn't listen because he doesn't understand-Gosh he 1month old-Yet you expect him to know already how to sit and stay?
Put the collar and leash on-Use a treat to make him sit when you feed him and say stay. Remember to keep sesson short, gradually increase them
He keeps hopping around. Lol Puppies do that, excitment, Labradors love food, my Labrador x Golden=Currently almost 11year old, still jumps around and likes to actual check whats in her food bowl.
He also mouths my feet sometimes but i have minimised it by striking with a paper when he mouths me. You only make him afraid of the papere-Say NO firmly and stop play, have a favourite chew toy on hand, and when he immediately releases, give him a chew toy
He missed out on essential socialisation, plus it illegal to rehome a dog under 8week old!
He can have his 1st vacination at 6week old,
When he mouths at your feet, it is probably what he'd do to his brothers and sisters when playing or when he was suckling from his mum, there's no need to hit him with the paper, at his age he can't really learn right from wrong. Just gently push him away from your feet and say "no", but don't shout or do it too loudly this will just scare him.
When it comes to his food, naturally him and his siblings would have to rush to their mother with a 'first come first serve' rule, this is how he feels, he has not yet been old enough to learn.
When i got my whippet, she was too small for a collar…they were all too big for her and it put a bit of a strain on her neck. I went for a puppy harness, you can get easier and safer control.
As you know, your puppy needs to injections before he can go outside on the ground. Get in touch with your vet and arrange his first of two when he reaches 8 weeks old, before this, he must not go outside because of the other dogs and any fleas, ticks, ill dogs, bacteria in other dogs poo, etc…
You can however take him for a wander in your garden with the harness, but i would wait until he is slightly older…about 8-10 weeks.
All you have to remember he is a lot younger than other puppies being sold and so treat with him a lot of love and care, the loss of his mother so young could take an effect on him if he is put into training and a routine too quickly. Take your time, there's no rush…wait a few weeks and then you can possibly start training…until then, tender loving care will go a long way!
I hope this has helped!!
Good Luck and tell me how he gets on! x