[elh1015]

Thank you all for the compliments and advice in my previous post about bringing our new doodle, Oski into our home. I didn't know much about Australian Labradoodles before getting him and I've been reading up about the history of the breed and I feel so lucky that we got him as his specific ancestry is pretty fascinating.

Night #2 was much better, I had him in the crate a few times in the afternoon and then at night around 11pm he went in and cried for about 15 min and then slept until I woke him up at 3:30 (because I had to get up for work), I am guessing he would have lasted longer had I not disturbed him. Marley did not keep us up, she settled back to her usual routine of sleeping in our girls' room.
Wednesday was the day he was to be at home alone while we were all out at work. This didn't go so well, although it could have been worse. My husband was running late and rushing and so he asked our 8 year old to close the baby gate to keep him in our master bath vanity area with his crate and then shut the bedroom to keep Marley out. He did not check to see how she did this. He came home from work in the evening to find that Oski had been busted out (Marley can often push the bedroom door open if it's not shut tight) and the baby gate was down (it's the tension kind and I think it wasn't quite set tight enough). The house was not totally destroyed but there were a few little gifts of poop. I know it could have been worse since he didn't chew anything up and I can probably thank Marley for that since they most likely just played and played and napped. But it definately was a set back in housebreaking since he was able to freely poop without correction.
Night #3 was even better, I put him in his crate several times in the evening when we were eating and dealing with bath and bedtime for the girls. I did miss his que when he needed to poop, but I scooped him up to correct it when caught him. Then again in the crate at 11pm but this time in the living room while I sat and watched some tv. His crying was much less than before and he went to sleep and so when I went to bed, I left the crate where it was and he didn't wake up at all until 6am.

Now for questions
Using a collar and/or leash- Some people have mentioned tethering a puppy to keep a close eye on them. But thought he was too young to wear a color or be on a leash? I feel like I read that somewhere. He's 10 weeks. Please explain.

I've been at home all day and haven't put him in his crate. He sticks close to me and we're making trips outside to run around and go potty. (Although I admit I have missed a few ques or let him wander out of my eyesight, so I have to work on that.)
He and Marley alternate between laying around napping or playing and chewing rawhide rolls. And then playing fighting over the same roll and so and so forth. Should I be crating him a few times throughout the day just for consistancy or only as needed?

I'm having trouble making Oski eat his food and Marley eat hers. They seem to like to trade. How much does this matter?

Thanks!!

 

[MaxandMe]

HI sounds like you're having fun hahahhaaa

Ok I tethered Max and Peanut at times when
1. wanted to watch TV or a movie for a bit ...with peanut tethered, Max just played with her at our feet

2. tethering is good when you're busy and can't watch otherwise if you can watch OSKI most of the time then i wouldn't tether him then

3. Crate time is good for OSKI to take a nap cause puppies like little babies/toddlers need nap time to rest, grow, have some downtime and also gives you the one on one with marley. I also found sometimes Max got worn out from being overexcited with a new puppy.
So crating one or the other for a little while also gives you downtime too

4. Let common sense also be your better judgement at times :wink:

Till Peanut was about 17 weeks old I'd lug her crate up every night to my bedroom and in the morning lug it back down to a spot near the living room. OH i also put a towel over part of the crate when it was nap time

 

[annabelles mom]

How did things go Friday?

 

[elh1015]

Well...I think it was a pretty good day. We had some successfull visits outside to potty. Even though I'm at home all day, I actually work full time telecommuting for my job. But that means I'm just at my laptop all day and occasionally on the phone. This week I luckily had a fairly quiet work week and sat in the kitchen to work so that I could keep a closer eye plus be right by the back door ready to take him out. Oski basically lays around under the table dozing in between rigorious wrestling matches with Marley. Yesterday I didn't put up a baby gate to keep him just in the kitchen and family room area and that's how we had a few missed potty ques when he wandered down the hall, but today I kept him closed in and it was much better. I do have a feeling that it will be a few weeks before I would feel comfortable sitting at my desk to work. The cluttered office in our house is just not a good puppy zone right now. But the good thing is his next full day alone isn't until Wed next week so hopefully we can make more progress before then.
Of course then I was out this evening for a fun little ladies night out with friends and he was running free and I found some poop. It was maybe a foot from the couch where I'm fairly certain my husband sat most of the evening. Each time I have found a little "present" I just think about how that was one more missed chance for him to be corrected and learn. Maybe I'm crazy but I almost feel like catching him the act and quickly taking him outside gives better opportunity than the times that I just take him out to tell him to go. I think that other people in this house (husband and our oldest daughter) aren't really understanding that just being home doesn't mean he's being watched. I told them they should not hesitate to put him in his crate if they are not going to truly watch him. He still cries each time the crate door closes, but it lasts a few minutes.

 

[annabelles mom]

Thats great that you are making progress - it does help when whole family is committed though

 

[gene]

It also helps if when you find the "presents", place them outside where you want him to go, show him and praise, praise, praise!! :wink:

 

[elh1015]

Ohhh, I had not thought of that! I will try that too. Thanks!

 

[elh1015]

OK...what should my expectations be when it comes to the progress you make in housetraining???

I've already cleaned up 2 poops and 2 pees this morning at it's 11:10am here. He has gone outside and we've given lots of praise and we've also had some times when we catch him almost or in the middle and correct him. So I don't know if we've regressed or if like the saying goes..."poop" happens.
On Friday night my parents come to visit for the weekend. My mother is super duper neat freak and not exactly a lover of dogs. You can imagine I'm a wee bit stressed about getting the house cleaned and I want so much for Oski to not necessarily be 100% trained as that's not realistic, but I am hoping to be really good about avoiding accidents and not subject her to witnessing any missed ques.

 

[Paintsmeblue]

I would say just keep taking him out. Don't wait for ques. My aunt brought her dog to my grandmother's house. Although she was pretty much house broken, they brought her out every chance they could get so that she didn't "mess" in the house. It might be annoying, but bring him out every half hour or so. That way, there isn't that "oh no" moment. Well, at least for Friday. I know its hard with family around, because you get distracted. But, prevention is better than not!

Good luck on Friday. I remember how nervous my aunt and uncle were.

*edit* also, perhaps not giving as much water while your mom's there might help in the pee department. Then, when she leaves, give him all the water he wants. Or if you want to give water, put ice cubes in the bowl. That way he doesn't fill his bladder quickly, but still has water in his bowl. I heard that from the British trainer that's on tv- "It's Me or the Dog."

 

[annabelles mom]

How often are you taking Oski outside? When we first got Annabelle, we had her outside a LOT.
As soon as she woke or finished eating/drinking, we took her out immediately and stayed out with her for a bit - telling her go potty and when she did - major praise.
When awake, we took her out about every 1/2hr to hr. Puppies get playing and forget to go outside to potty so you have to take them out often.
Same with when we got home, we took her out right away, before talking to her, we stll do that as she still nervous pees sometimes
Good luck with your visit - critters always seem to know when someone is not an animal lover and head right to them :wink: Just remind your Mom that Oski is a Puppy and accidents will happen lol

 

[Guest]

Maya is 5 mos old and I still don't trust her alone. She hasn't had an accident in a while except for last Thurs but I think that was because she was mad at me for boarding her overnight. I had just let her out to go potty and she knows what that means and went a little and waited and did the rest on the bedroom carpet 30 seconds after we got inside!! Little stinker!!! Anyway I would try Annmarie's method of tethering esp when your mother is there. Or you can always put Oski in his crate when you are not able to watch him constantly. Probably not what you wanted to hear. Sorry!

 

[elh1015]

Thank you for the quick replies! They will probably arrive late on Fri night and then we'll be in and out of the house on Sat so he'll actually be either in his crate or outside playing with Marley most of the day. Or we might even bring him with us to soccer on Sat morning. So the more I think about it, he'll probably be kept "in line". But I will definately consider having him teathered while we're around the house.

We have been taking him outside about every hour as well as just after waking up or being in the crate for any period of time. We'll work on going outside even more frequently.

Thanks!

 

[lmtoth2]

When Oski goes potty outside, make it seem like the biggest accomplishment ever (lots of praise - tell him what a good boy he is and give him affection). We would also give Dexter a treat when we came in (only if he went). We took him out a lot (especially after he ate). Hang in there Oh yeah - please post more photos

 

[Calimom]

It just takes time. For a while I thought Cali would never get it, but she did. Try to be patient and praise, praise, praise for each success. There will be a few accidents sprinkled in there from time to time. It's a process. Hang in there!

 

[elh1015]

OK...I have more questions. And how this works is I post more photos and in return I get answers to questions. hee!!!

They are not hugging, they are in the middle of major doodle-wrestling

Questions-
Grooming- I have given him one bath and brushed him out after drying off. At this stage, does he need major grooming or trims or anything? Just baths and brush-outs? His nails hurt when he jumps up on you, how do you trim those? Marley goes to Petco for grooming, I thought I might ask them about their services for puppies.

Eating- we're trying to keep Marley and Oski seperated for eating, but Marley is a grazer and it seems that Oski is doing the same thing. And Marley is liking Oski's food and Oski wants Marley's. Grrr....
I'm also interested in raw feeding and I'm sure I want to convert to that 100% or if it's ok to do a combo of kibble and then a couple times a week treats like plain yogurt, eggs, cheese or raw bones? I gave the some raw ground beef while I was cooking the other day and Oski was all over it, Marley didn't know what to make of it and hestated too long and Oski gobbled hers. But then I offered her some more and she ate it up. So is it ok to combine like that?

Walks- Can I take him for walks on a leash? I'm not sure he actually needs the exercise (he runs all over and plays a lot) but we want to work on training and get signed up for a class soon, I figured we should work on having him be on a leash.

THANK YOU!!!
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[Guest]

I had Maya on a leash from the first day I got her. At first it was really frustrating but in a few days she got the hang of it. I think it is good to get them used to it early.

As for the eating I too would like to start feeding Maya a raw diet. I looked into Bravo as someone posted the website on a different post. I am just worried Maya will not get all she needs nutrionally so I am still deciding.

As for grooming I know the Petsmart here has a puppy special. I think it's $15 for bath cut nail trim and dry. $10 for no cut just bath dry and nail trim

 

[MaxandMe]

Grooming: I did all peanut's grooming till she was 8mos old...i gave her baths, short trims and blow dried her so when she finally made it to the groomer's she LOVED IT.

Feeding: at 1st Max was a grazer/free feeder. Both got switched to homemade diet then Canide all life stages food so they both ate the same food and they were taught to sit and wait till i said OKAY till they ate.
Max and Peanut would growl or bark if either one tried to eat their food so hahahhaa no worries there.
BUT that took about 3 weeks...so in very beginning i feed them separately and/or stood there to monitor feeding time.

LEASH: Both doodles got a leash from day 1. Yes they chew, bark at it, play with it, tug etc in beginning which is normal and learn NOT with mild corrections. Also each doodle had their turns being tethered to my belt loop hahahhahaa

don't know if this helps at all

 

[elh1015]

Thank you this does help. Feeding is hard because I try to feed them seperately but they don't eat at the time that the food is put out, so it's frustrating.
This afternoon, Oski's butt is suddenly caked with poop. And it's muddy outside from rain. I'm actually not sure if it's all poop or a mud and poop combo. I have not seen him have the runs, but he did struggle with taking a long time to poop first thing this morning. I thought it was constipation, but I did finally see solid poop. So...I'm nervous now about that and if his eating of Marley's adult formula food would effect that.

 

[seazr]

Oski is darling!!!

 

[cocoandjane]

I am sure you posted Oski's age in the beginning of this...but, it sounds to me like and looks like he would be easy to bathe with puppy shampoo and brush out....towel drying works pretty well, but now that it is cooler, I may do a little blow drying when I bathe mine at home. I took Coco into the groomers the first time after she had all her shots...in fact, I waited the 10 days after. Only an occassional trip was ever needed, for nails,
( I hate doing those myself....) and for a little trim on the face, paws if needed and a sanitary trim....I could bathe for a good while after that and until the puppy works was needed again. If I could get over my fear of trimming her nails, I could do the whole thing at home now.

About the leash, we practiced inside or in the backyard, again until shots were completed....then we were off daily for two walks. It proved to be a huge help getting her to calm down to only two doodle 500"s in the house .

I liked the shcedule of taking her out to potty every 30 minutes, but also, immediately after waking, eating or playing hard...Coco was 4 months old before she quit having accidents....maybe closer to 5 months.
Oski is a cutie pie!! You have a beautiful pair of doodle babies!!