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Woof! Bark! And also Whiiiiiiiiiine.

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Peds1 Dec 2012 8:34am, 4 Dec 2012 71 posts	Quote Pin Peds1 Thanks for the comments everyone, we really appreciate them. Interesting point about the psychology saying eight weeks is only the start for 'developing positive characteristics'. Almost everyone seems to think eight weeks is the benchmark, when it might only be the minumum. Still, 12 days to go and counting. All the shopping done now, bed, food, harness etc etc
Shark the Herald Angel Dec 2012 9:08am, 4 Dec 2012 2,423 posts	Quote Pin Shark the Herald Angel I freely admit Jess is our first puppy* but I've done loads of research on the subject - mainly because I find animal (and human!) behaviour fascinating. The old nature v nurture conundrum is so interesting. My shelf of books about dogs and animal behaviour will soon be as full as my ones about dance ** (and athletics, don't forget athletics) This is a particularly good book: guardian.co.uk The reviewer explains the premise better than I can. Anyway it seems that the period between 8 weeks and 12 weeks - and then almost as importantly to 16 weeks - is so important in determining the character of the dog, that all things being equal, this is the best time for the new dog family to take over. * no way first dog, or indeed other animal though. ** have so many books about dance and movement though it will take a while.
Trin Dec 2012 1:26pm, 4 Dec 2012 3,877 posts	Quote Pin Trin Interesting what's been said about when the pups can leave their mums. Max came from a litter of 5 (Max and 4 bitches) and all the others went at 6 weeks. We had Max at 7 weeks, and while it was tough at the time I'm glad we waited and that he had an extra week of quality time with mum. Max is now 9 weeks now, he seems to be learning all the right things at the right time, settles well at night and has fitted in nicely. He gets on well with Conor too (Conor is 4 and came from the same breeder... in fact, they are half brothers )
llittledonkeydaisy Dec 2012 1:43pm, 4 Dec 2012 1,959 posts	Quote Pin llittledonkeydaisy Flossie's character seems to be developing really nicely, but I am beginning to worry about lack of progress in house-training. She had lots of time in the garden, and a good long walk this morning, but there was still a puddle on the floor when I got home after a 2 hour Christmas shopping trip And in the evening she trots out into the hall (the opposite direction to where she should be going, ie the back door,) and does a wee and a poo there (Luckily we have a tiled hall floor.) Am I expecting too much yet? Or have we done something wrong in training her? I don't recall this problem with our previous dogs. If nothing is distracting her during the day she will go and sit by the back door to go out, but it takes very little indeed to distract her and she will still just squat wherever she is.
Shark the Herald Angel Dec 2012 2:10pm, 4 Dec 2012 2,430 posts	Quote Pin Shark the Herald Angel I really think it's good you waited Trin. Daisy: I'm sure you are doing everything right - you're experienced and got it right in the past - it's just that all dogs are different and will develop at their own pace. And what is it with halls? Jess at 16 weeks is doing very well now with the housetraining and gets through the night's til 7 at the earliest. The blip the other day was just that. BUT she is still occasionally weeing in our downstairs hall. Kitchen is lower ground floor and we've used the long narrow carpeted (wah!) hall down there as an accompanied play run for her. We also exit the lower front door for her walks and trips. I blame Raffo. Easy as he isn't here to defend himself. He leaves her there 'just for a minute' while he collects things from upstairs where we work. I reckon she's all excited and does a quick wee sort of seeing it as outside, ie outside the kitchen where she knows not to pee or poo. It does sound like Flossie has a similar problem with understanding that your hall is not actually outside.
Dave A Dec 2012 4:54pm, 4 Dec 2012 20,026 posts	Quote Pin Dave A I have had the pleasure of dog sitting Clueless's spaniel, Beau. today. This has involved a 5 hr plus walk with a Retriever and a Bulldog. After a frisky start during the drive to the start she settled down and was brilliant off the lead, always returning when bribed She's now settling in the front room and has only had to be physically removed from the sofa once.
Shark the Herald Angel Dec 2012 5:09pm, 4 Dec 2012 2,432 posts	Quote Pin Shark the Herald Angel I bribery. Best form of training. Carrots not sticks all the way. Carrying a stick proudly is a different matter....
Shark the Herald Angel Dec 2012 5:10pm, 4 Dec 2012 2,433 posts	Quote Pin Shark the Herald Angel Helegant doesn't believe a spaniel is capable of settling by the way. You've obviously drugged her. That's Beau not Helegant obv.
MerryCyclopsmas Dec 2012 5:14pm, 4 Dec 2012 398 posts	Quote Pin MerryCyclopsmas One of my cats wees in the hall. In fact she's the second cat I've had that has done this. There is definitely something in the pet psyche that suffers hall urination confusion. Leah weed in the kitchen on and off until she was quite old - I think it is part of the GSD late maturing thing.
Shark the Herald Angel Dec 2012 5:21pm, 4 Dec 2012 2,434 posts	Quote Pin Shark the Herald Angel Only 'mistake' my lovely but fiendish cat ever made was weeing on my ex BF's leather jacket. Twice. He was a bastard but a real looker and I loved him. Keith the cat that is, not the ex. Though come to think of it....