Getting through the first night

[brettguise]

Ok so I have everything in place for my Lab puppy on Sunday who is 8 weeks old. The kennel will be insulated and warm and snuggly. Now how do I play the first night. Does she sleep straight outside in the Kennel? If I make it as comfortable as possible is she still likely to bark and cry her head off? Hows best to introduce the dog to the kennel and have an easy first night.

[chrispti]

I put mine straight in the kennel.

 

Never heard a peep all night, no mess either.

[brettguise]

I put mine straight in the kennel.

 

Never heard a peep all night, no mess either.

 

Lets hope mines like that haha

[kent]

You can edge your bets with an unreachable radio playing on low, a ticking alarm clock etc., bedding with the mothers smell on it. Most are just fine though

[PERCE]

You can edge your bets

 

I think the word you are looking for is 'hedge'

[brettguise]

So I picked the puppy up on sunday and shes a cracker! Still haven't got a name yet although we like Molly. First night I put some food in the kennel with her and I used some of the paper out of her kennel with her mom in a stocking and dotted those little packages around the kennel so it smells like home. Big comfy bed, she cried for all of 10 seconds and then not a peep afterwards. No mess nothing. Last night she was silent but started crying about 6 the same time I got up with her yesterday, unsure if that was a sign that she was hungry or needed the toilet I dont know.

 

She has started to get a lot more vocal though when left in the day. Ive had to leave her for 3 hours this morning whilst I go to work and my girlfriend will go round to feed her and let her out of the run for a little run around and pop her back. She howled for an hour this morning before I left for work while she was still howling. Will this just die off after a few days of being ignored? I feel like telling her off to be quiet but I've heard this only encourages them as even though my response is negative she still gets attention.

 

Also when playing and praising If I throw the ball she brings it back to hand which I praise shes been very good. Obviously I don't want to rush the dog training and its just fun playing but I can already see she's retrieving and showing me what shes got. Is that a good or a bad thing to do?

 

[12borejimbo]

The dog working the tennis ball is very good, thats always the first stage of training a retreive. However you want to make that dog crave the tennis ball. When it sees that it knows its time to play/training time. Get it to sit and stay, then command it to fetch. What I did was say "sit" and then clicked my fingers, now when I click my fingers my dog (Ruben) is down on his butt and it looks great, people are always impressed with this. When she gets good at this then throw it left and right and then get her used to hand signals but all in good time. Always work on a dogs recall and get her very sharp. As soon as I pip my lips my dogs turns like its hit a brick wall, though sometimes he has a mind of his own but thats only because he wants to bring dad back something and get a pat on the head for bringing me back a fluffy/furry present. Enjoy the training, my lab is 7 now and is a good hound, although he was my first gundog I have learnt so much and we have an incredible bond together, when he passes (god forbid this day) I will be very upset as we all would be, but I will put so much effort into the next one. Its all experience and it should be ejoyed, sounds like for now things are going just fine.

You are correct about telling the dog off when she is whining, if she sees you that is what she wants. Best to leave her alone, when she is silent then go an see her and make a fuss.