a dog training question

[turtledude]

Mehbe Nooks or sumbady can answer this?

I don't have a fence around my yard, but with that last pup I had (free roaming rez pup), at around 2 1/2 months she settled down to staying within a perimeter.
I'm workin with another pup now and took her outside today. She's about 7 weeks old, I'd say. I got the feeling she's not quite ready. lol

Anybody dealt with this kinda thing? Most of the other dogs I've had adopted me as adults, and I was in an area where it didn't matter as much. They stuck fairly close.

[Nanook]

Re: a dog training question

At 7 weeks you will be lucky to be able to potty train. They are really not ready to be away from the litter/mom at that age.

Put it this way...from around 5 weeks to around 12 weeks are their most informative days. This is the time that will set in them patterns for life....How do you want to spend these days?

I wouldn't spend them trying to teach it yard perimeters. That teaching comes with obedience training and even then, you won't just be able to open the door and let him out, he will need fence or supervision.

Was this a Shepard mix you said? Large breed? Well, no matter large or small the main thing is socialization times 10. That's a start.

Puppy kindergarten classes are invaluable! Relatively inexpensive, they meet weekly for an hour long session of "pre-obedience". Learn to walk on lead minus the sitting commands. If you can find one to go to, GO!

Then at the 6 month mark he can go to an obedience class. I think all large breed dogs should attend at least a beginner 10 week class. The instructors will teach YOU how to train your dog. It can be big fun to go to these classes, and the socialization that takes place is invaluable. Put it this way...if you know how to teach basic obedience so your dog will walk with you on a lead and then learn commands such as "sit" and the most important of all COME! If you know how to teach your dog the COME command on your own and are committed to socializing him, then maybe he won't need the class but a great thing about classes is that they get the socialization as well as the help in training.

Ok, so you have a trained dog now. What are your local leash laws? I once had a Doberman arrested in Mpls in MY OWN YARD. Why? Because the yard was not fenced and he was not tied up. Never mind he was also on my porch....he was not restrained!

So, all that said...tying a dog on a rope/chain/whatever is very dangerous. They can become tangled and strangle, it happens a lot, especially if there are any stairs.

Kennel run fencing sections are pretty reasonably priced and the size is only limited by your wallet. They are relatively portable so you can take it down if you move.

Well...you have seen my 25 acres...no dogs go outside loose unsupervised because it just isn't safe.

gawd I can be long winded...

Now let us see some pics!

[turtledude]

Re: a dog training question

Nooks, it's the Mastiff/pitbull female. Maybe she's a little older, I'm not sure. She already fetches, and potty trained in 5 days. Unbelieveably smart....and goes submissive without too much pressure when she gets rambunctious. I'll see about classes in town.
It's out in the country and the neighbor gives <span style="font-style: italic">their </span> dog free reign. The third neighbor (with freerun dogs)is a relative of the local hispanic dogcatcher, so there is no issue. It's already been tested.

[diabolical_Tanya]

Re: a dog training question

what happened to the Rez dog? if you don;t mind my asking?

[turtledude]

Re: a dog training question

evidently she had picked up &quot;distemper&quot; before she adopted me. I had taken her to the vet for all the shots. It was horrible. It's a virus that attacks the digestive tract first and moves into the nervous system. I had to.....well....I still don't think I'm over it.

[Nanook]

Re: a dog training question

Dude &amp; Rosebud

Good luck with the training! She will get rambunctious!!! She is an infant yet, lol. One good thing is you will have all winter to ready her for better weather come spring. By then you will know what you'll need to do. I'd be leery about the other loose/free dogs. All kinds of bad things can happen. Here, they get shot. You might remember my Stanley and Sweet Pea sneaking off while I was out in the yard with them two years ago and I thought they were goners? Two dogs will roam while one may stay in the yard or close.

The neighbor dogs could come and entice your dog to take a hike with them and that could end disastrous.