So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

We found a puppy at a shelter and we are picking him up tomorrow! We have thought long and hard about this for about a year and we decided today to get one. We went and met him today put a deposit on him so we didnt make any rash decisions while our hearts were melting. We are going to sleep on it but DH and I are both ready for him.

He is a 12 week old poodle mix.

DH and I have both had dogs growing up but we were so little when they were puppies, our parents did the training and housebreaking.

Can someone give me puppy 101. Whats the best way to housebreak a puppy, anything dogs cannot (like I know chocolate is dangerous for them).

Do you have to crate to train or are their other options? We were thinking about just blocking him in the kitchen while we are at work until he is trained?

Im mostly "worried" about housebreaking correctly and training him to not wreck the house while we are at work from being separated. Luckily, I work close enough that I can come home at lunch a let him out and play with him for about an hour.

So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Dont feel bad for him & get a CRATE.

So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Dh and I just went through this, our pup is now 7 months old.
For the potty training, have a few wee wee pads around the house, but also try to track how often she goes, so you can anticipate it and take the pup outside. DH found a free app where we could track when she went. In the beginning it was about every 40 minutes. She now goes right to the back door when she has to go.
You don't need to crate train (we did) but blocking them in a small area is a good idea if not crate training. Leave lots of toys for them to chew on. Knock on wood, but our pup hasn't chewed on any of our furniture, shoes, clothes etc. We make sure she always have 3-4 toys out and 2-3 bones/chew toys always available.
As for things not to let them eat, we read onions and garlic are also poisonous to dogs.

So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Crate training worked for both of my dogs. Since DH and I both work during the day we had no choice. We put a pad in the crate for the puppy to go to the bathroom on (we cut it in half) and something for him to sleep on. At night the puppy slept in a bedroom next to our room and got us when he needed to go out. We got him at 2 months and by 6 months he was able to stay in the bedroom next door and hold going to the bathroom. Now he is almost a year and is never in the crate and has no accidents. We don't give him free run of the house bc our older dog will get annoyed with him but he has a bed in the bedroom and toys to play with. As soon as we get home we let him out. Its good to have a command for "go to the bathroom" when you take the puppy into the yard or out. I would have been worried to give him freedom in a kitchen or bedroom when he was so young because he would have bit things.

I'm not gonna lie the beginning is rough but it is so worth it. Love my little guys! Now that they are trained its great.

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Sounds like crate training is they way to go....any tips on the best way you found to crate train/housebreak?

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Crate training is the best bet.

When you are at home keep yourself with the puppy at all times. People even recommend tethering the puppy to you. When you see him make moves like he is about to go, immediately take him outside. I always treat a puppy when he goes outside. I would take him out a lot at the beginning - once an hour. When you are gone put him in the crate and as soon as you get home take him outside immediately. When he does his business treat him. Many suggest saying something like "go potty" or "do your business" while he is going so you can get him to go on command in the future. I was never consistent with this so my dog won't go on cue!

Post pics!!

So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

I crate trained by always keeping him in the crate until he was trained, about 6 days for my dog.
I used a positive reward system: once every two hours or so, we would go out on the leash. If he did his business, we headed back in, had a treat, made a big big deal about it, and did 1/2 hour or 20 mins of playtime, then, back into the crate. He soon realized that potty outside meant playtime and love, and headed for the door himself when we opened the door of the crate.
Then, he stayed in the crate with the door left open for another week or so for further training. This is so hard for you as a person because of that bond, but it's crucial, and it works. Soon, they head for the door themselves, letting you know they need to go out. Since my mini schnauzer didn't bark much, I sometimes didn't realize he was waiting for me by the door! We hung jingle bells low down near the door and used his paw to ring the bells before every walk. He soon figured out to hit the bells when he needed to go out. He still uses them today!
Best of luck to you and your new fur baby! How awesome for you and your family!

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Yay congrats! Poodles are smart dogs so he should train fairly quickly. You should take the dog outside fairly often about every hour but if you see him sniffing right away. When he has a success outside lots of praise and a treat. For accident I immediately say no if I can catch them and put them outside.

Make sure all the wires are up and out of the way in your house. When you go out make sure to put the pup into the crate so he can't get into too much trouble. Make sure your pantry is closed, we almost had our German shepherd die when she was a pup she got into our pantry and eat an entire box of Oreos. Chocolate is not good for dogs. It was so scary. So just be extra careful with stuff like that. Having a watchful eye is really most important during the chewing stage. Anything really important should not be left low.

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

I've had two pugs since they were puppies and you need a lot of patience.

They chew things you wouldn't expect like the legs of the kitchen table and chairs. The one also got corners of kitchen cabinets.

I crated both as puppies, and while I was at work especially.

It's definitely a learning experience and testing time in emotional strength.

The one chewed stuff even when I thought we were being pretty vigilant.

Also do you have a fence?

Dogs, especially when they are young are super quick.

Message edited 10/19/2014 6:35:11 AM.

So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Like everyone said crate training worked wonders for my now 5 month old puppy. However I will say this, don'y get wee wee pads and put them in the crate. We found it actually hurts the house breaking process. He was going in the crate on the pads overnight and even sometimes during the day. Our trainer told us to take them out and to not use them. Once we did this he stopped having accidents in the crate. She said the wee wee pad gives them something to make a mess on and not feel bad about it. Best thing we did was to get rid of those things. Good luck!

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Crate training is key! 12 weeks may be too young to keep crated all day while you are at work though (unless you have someone who can let the dog out a couple times) Crate should have divider leaving just enough room for him to turn around. That's it. Any more room, he will poop & pee on one side and sleep on the other. His time in there will teach him and his bladder to Hold It.

For when you are home, pup is in crate unless he is supervised. When you take him out, straight to wee wee pad or outside (whatever you are doing at the time) For over night, crate is fine. Last one to sleep takes him out, first one up takes him out.

Always treated and praised when they go.

For when you are at work, if nobody can let him out throughout the day for you, I would block off the kitchen or bathroom (Floor that is easier to clean for accidents) Leave crate with door open (so he can go lay down in it), water bowl and wee wee pad and of course plenty of toys. All separated. Water/Food never near Wee Wee pad.

Another tip:
Stop nipping immediately with a Stern NO and give him what he's allowed to chew on and play with. Toy, bones, etc.

The more strict you are in the beginning, the better dog you will have in the long run.

P.S. As someone in the grooming business, another great tip is BRUSH HIM EVERY DAY. Poodle mix means hair not fur. Hair can get matted easily. Especially I ally around the collar and ears. Brushing everyday from when they are puppies gets them used to it and keeps their coats healthy. Plus it'll keep them from getting painful matts. Never wash your dog without brushing the knots out FIRST. washing with knots causes them to get closer to skin and more matted which hurts them.

Good luck with your new addition

Message edited 10/19/2014 10:52:58 AM.

So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

N0o grapes. No onions.

We have always had lots of toys for our boy. This way he learned what was his.

And lots of love and cuddles. They go a long way.

Be aware that the puppy will decided who the leader of the pack is and be THAT persons dog. My dig LOVES me, but DADDY is #1. Im not hurt by it, its what the dog decided.

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Here she is, a poodle/bichon mix. Shes an angel, so good already at only 12 weeks!

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Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

soo cute! what is her name

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Congrats on the puppy!!! Very cute!

I would say big thing is puppies are like babies. They need ALOT of supervision, ALOT of patience and training.

Biggest thing I would say is since you have kids, you have to make sure the puppy doesnt ingest any of the kid's toys, etc. Some dogs are like vacuums and will just eat anything ANYTHING they find. You don't know what kind of dog you will get so you will have to watch with little things for a long time. My dogs are 9 and 8+ and I still watch little toys, etc, on the floor.

Also watch your dog getting human food. No to grapes, or raisins, or chocolate. And you don't want your dog to get any human food or it could get diareaha (sp). Which would be a mess for you while training.

I will post more as I think of it. It's a lot of work that takes a long time to train a dog but it does happen if you do it consistently.

Message edited 10/25/2014 7:54:56 AM.

Re: So we are getting a puppy tomorrow! Need some puppy 101.

Congrats -- I always tell people about my Reagan, when they say they are nervous about crates.

She LOVES her crate.

She has been crate-trained since day one and sometimes when I'm home she will go in there to relax!

So, it's definitely not as bad to them as we think it is!

Just make sure to keep it in the "heart of the home" or the main part of the house where they spend most of their time when not crated. Otherwise they are like where am I?! Where are you?! and develop separation issues.

Message edited 10/29/2014 2:56:12 PM.