AboutLabman Expertise I can help you with your new dog. I am experienced in, and trained in techniques the average person can make work with dogs, especially puppies. I strongly believe in obedience training and the need to give your dog proper leadership. I have been raising a new puppy every year since 1991. I know housebreaking and protecting the puppy and the house from each other. I can explain the the feeding regimen you can easily follow to give your dog the same long, active life life as highly valuable dog guides. I try to give answers you can make work.
The mark of a real expert is knowing the limits of his knowledge. I will not try to answer questions on breed standards, AKC registration, etc. PLEASE DON'T SEND ME MEDICAL OR BREEDING QUESTIONS. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet.
Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months. I will not answer questions that sound like a poorly prepared breeder.
Experience Like many, I grew up around dogs, but never realized how much I had to learn before my family started socializing puppies for a large dog guide school. The school shares their experience from thousands of dogs with the people they entrust to raise their puppies. Their recommendations on training, feeding, and care come from a large, well documented program. After it is a year old, they X-ray every one of the hundreds of dogs they breed every year. I continue to attend monthly training sessions with trained volunteers and professional staff. I share experiences with others doing the same. The school must have sturdy, healthy, well behaved dogs, that will have a long, active life. If that is what you want too, I can help you. In addition I have done extensive reading, and the 4 years my daughter was in 4-H were a real learning experience for Dad too. That exposed me to more breeds than the Labs, Shepherds, and Goldens in the dog guide program.
EdU2R1 wrote at 2008-03-13 01:40:17
I would agree with the crate. It is the most valuable tool you have in potty training. I would however not suggest the rack. The crate should be a den like sleeping area that the puppy feels secure in. Make sure there is only enough room to sleep not a potty area and a sleep area. A kong with peanut butter or filling frozen inside is a great thing for your puppy to have while he is in the crate. Take your pup out immediately when he wakes up and after meals from immediately to 30 minutes after. Always go the same way, to the same place mark in a calm voice "good dog' and reward the dog as soon as he goes to the bathroom outdoors. Take him to the same spot every day. If he does not go to the bathroom within 5 minutes take him back inside and put him in the crate and repeat the process in 10-15 minutes. Never leave unsupervised and make sure that you adjust him to the crate in short pleasant experiences before leaving him in there for any length of time.
labman wrote at 2008-03-25 11:49:33
I have been highly successful using the rack with at least a dozen and maybe more puppies. I also housebroke many puppies without it, and recognized an improvement when I found one. Most of my answers are based on well proven techniques I and other I know have used for a long time, not guess work or feelings.
