New little man about the house...

[Adam]

I thought I'd share, so here's some photos of my little Beagle pup, Bailey... just 8 weeks old and full of personality!







He does not like that lead! Actually, that was taken early on, he's since become very used to it. We're still having some house-training issues, but we're going to get there. He's only been with us for 4 days, but already we're best friends.

He makes a lot of racket at night (crying and yelping), but that too is getting better. He only cries himself to sleep and maybe once during the night. While I can't ignore the noise, I leave him go and don't go rushing in to comfort him.

He desperately wants to sleep in my bed, but we don't trust him not to serve up a surprise, so he sleeps in the bathroom, where we can mop up after him. Any tips on getting a proper night's sleep with this little guy?

I have made a cosy bed for him, with a well-wrapped hot water bottle, a ticking clock buried under the bed and a small AM radio on a talkback station so that he thinks he's not alone.

Anything I've missed?

[azasadny]

Cute puppy!!

[Don Ro]

Originally posted by Adam Chaplin
I thought I'd share, so here's some photos of my little Beagle pup, Bailey... just 8 weeks old and full of personality!

We're still having some house-training issues, but we're going to get there. He's only been with us for 4 days, but already we're best friends.

He makes a lot of racket at night (crying and yelping), but that too is getting better. He only cries himself to sleep and maybe once during the night. While I can't ignore the noise, I leave him go and don't go rushing in to comfort him.

He desperately wants to sleep in my bed, but we don't trust him not to serve up a surprise, so he sleeps in the bathroom, where we can mop up after him. Any tips on getting a proper night's sleep with this little guy?

I have made a cosy bed for him, with a well-wrapped hot water bottle, a ticking clock buried under the bed and a small AM radio on a talkback station so that he thinks he's not alone.

Anything I've missed?

You're a good daddy.
.
Since you asked, I had two dogs in my days - 1 yr. difference in age - and for them to be close, but not in bed w/me until they were house broken, I fetched a big cardboard box, cut out the front and tie-wrapped a rack from my stove to that cutout. I then made a thick bed out of some of my worn shirts/clothes (my body smell), and set that box on another big box just next to my bed at eye level so that the pup could see me. No crying and yelping at all. Used that box for both pups during their short training period. 'Worked for me 'n the pups - but then, I'm a sot for dogs.
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You probably already know this, but pups will do their best to not mess in their own bed, so best to take them out a few times during the night - if you do the ersatz bed deal that I did.
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Hug that darling little Bailey Honey Butt.
.

[Overpaid Slacker]

He's all wrinkly... is he still under warranty?

Can't wait to get my GSD puppy this summer!

JP

[304065]

Nice looking dog, good stop, nice big flews. (Dog-speak for NICE LIPS ON THE ANIMAL!)

JP, GSD? That sounds OUTSTANDING. Every time I walk by one of them working (and there are a few around here) I think, "damn fine looking animal."

True GSD story. In the late '70's my old man had a friend who owned one, named "Toro." Toro comes to visit one weekend, he's in the back yard for an hour and then he's gone. Turns out ol' Toro had eaten a hole in the wooden fence, which was basically a pine 2x12. Panic ensues. We get on our bikes and scour the neighborhood. We cruise the side streets shouting for Toro. When we had given up hope and my old man was, mere hours before his owner was scheduled to return, crafting a speech to explain that the dog was missing, Toro arrives, soaking wet, covered with mud, with a dumb look on his face.

[bryanthompson]

sounds like Toro knows how to party

[Sarah]

Yep...that puppy is adorable....

[Adam]

Success! The last two nights, he's been going off to bed without a whimper and sleeping soundly (or lying there quietly) until I come and get him in the morning! Obviously, this involves playing with him until he's weary and wants to sleep, but it's working well and I'm finally getting some sleep myself.

Originally posted by Don Ro:
I then made a thick bed out of some of my worn shirts/clothes (my body smell)

Thanks, Don! I tried that, too. Seems to work.

Once he's properly house-trained, I'll let him sleep wherever he wants, dunno about my bed, though...

[rrpjr]

Great looking puppy. Sounds like you're doing all the right things.

Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
Can't wait to get my GSD puppy this summer!

JP

Curious where you're getting your GSD, Overpaid. Having him shipped or locally?

[Adam]

GSD?

[rrpjr]

Adam: "German Shepherd Dog." Though the "D" is a bit redundant.

[Adam]

I thought it was "German Shepherd ___________", I just wasn't sure what.

[Rufblackbird]

cute dogs Adam!!

we've had our GSD (bleh...doesn't sound right) for 9 years...I still remember the day she came home.

[Overpaid Slacker]

The GSD will likely be from Leerburg Kennels. They're pricey (~$1800) but not exorbitant like many other breeders.

I've done a lot of internet research on breeders and I want a pet that will absorb some protection training. I strongly advise anybody considering ANY dog (but especially a GSD) to check out Ed Frawley's website Leerburg Kennels. He owns Leerburg Kennels and has TONS of information on raising/training a puppy and dog on his site. The guy has reared more than 300 litters of GSDs, has been a dog trainer for 30 years, has used dogs in law enforcement for about that amount of time, has competed in schutzhund and works with Bernhard Flinks. He's pretty freaking credentialed in what he does. And he answers each of the 50+ emails he gets a day.

I purchased a few of his videos and they're very very well done (though the production quality is not quite Hollywood).

Of course, if anybody's got other German Shepherd breeders/recommendations, I'm willing to listen.

JP

EDIT - what sold me on GSDs was a friend who lived in Lesotho. He owned a GSD that had been trained by the South African prison system, and this dog could get through/in/out/over anything. Not only was it remarkably bright and obedient, but when it was thirsty, it leaned against the counter in the sink and turned the water on (a lever-type faucet); and when it was done it turned the water OFF. Instead of knobs on the interior doors, the guy had handles, and the dog would open the doors, enter the room and then close the door behind it. If you're patient and learn how to teach dogs, you can teach Shepherds just about anything.

[rrpjr]

I’ve heard good things about Leerburg. I look forward to some pictures when you get the pup. I’ve been in protection training with my own ‘pastore Aleman’ for about a year. Great fun.