new puppy ?'s

[Finfinder]

Just got a new yellow lab, boy are they cute!
I have a 6x12 kennel/house in the back yard.I take her in my home, trying to house train her whenever me or my wife are home, then at night or when we are not home we put her out in the kennel. She sleeps all night,no barking, but during the day she barks a lot. I don't want her to think she can be inside all the time, but when we're home it's nice to spend more time with her inside. Just wondering if I should make her an inside or strictly an outside dog. I prefer to do both but dont want to confuse her. Does anyone have this problem. Keep in mind I just got her 3 days ago, maybe it will work out after some time. Thanx.

[Marmot]

Your new puppy should be spending the night in a crate in your bedroom.

Just my 2 cents...

Marmot

[bobber_down]

Until your new puppy gets used to his new surroundings, I would recommend keeping him in the room with you at night in a box or crate... after a week or so, I'd move his crate into a different room of the house to get used to sleeping alone. I kept an old flanel shirt that I wore a lot in the crate with my pup, seemed to help calm him. He's gonna whine a bit, but I would only go get him when you need to take him out to the bathroom. Within a couple weeks he should be fine outside, with a couple nights of whining. If it doesn't bother the neighbors too much, let him whine. He has to learn that you aren't going to come running whenever he whines.

Just my opinion... worked good for me.

[This message has been edited by bobber_down (edited 04-06-2004).]

[metrojoe]

I have to agree with Marmot. Get her used to being in a crate/kennel first. She will soon recognize this as her safe place and she'll prefer to sleep there than anywhere else after awhile. I made the mistake of not crate training my first dog right away and I can't get him to go with in 10 feet of the thing. It makes it difficult to take him to the park or hunting because he won't ride in a crate. Believe me, it will only take one time of your dog jumping in your vehicle and bouncing around on all the seats after she's just cooled herself in that stinky puddle of muddy water in the logging road to see the value of crate training.

Good luck, I'd suggest getting a good book too, you don't have to follow it to a "T" put they offer a lot of good info.

joe

[This message has been edited by metrojoe (edited 04-06-2004).]

[Boar]

I had my yellow in my room for the first three nights untill I finneshed her kennel, basicly that was to potty train her to, up every so often to take her outside then strickly kept her outside, no problems. Water Dog is a great book for lab training but I dont agree with some of the dicapline advise it gave. Every pup is different just like kids. Later boar