im getting a puppy on sunday......?

Question

is there any tips you can give me to make him have a happy little life and make it easier for me to train him?? he is a little labrador 8 weeks old.

thanks to everyone with a constructive coment and to all the idiots that answer questions for the fun of it stop wasting peoples time and get a life.

oh and he is a black lab and his name is theodor (girlfriends choice) i wanted to call him brian lol.

Answer 1

Exercise!!! A happy dog is a tired dog!

Answer 2

If you can get a crate and make him a comfortable bed and some training pads ,if not you will need to keep him somewhere that is easily cleaned like a kitchen and put newspaper down as he will have lots of little accidents once you can pinpoint where he is going the most you will be able to just keep changing the paper in that area. Be prepared for a few nights of him crying till he gets used to his new home and missing his mum and siblings, give him something furry to snuggle up to. Get a book out of the library or buy one you will need all the help you can get if you havent had one before. Good luck and ask questions on here if your not sure Im sure you will get lots of help.

Answer 3

Be around to train him. When they are so little they are like babies. They need to go outside at least every 4 hours if possible even more often. Get a crate or bedding he will call his own. This way if he every has to stay with someone this is one thing he is familiar with. Don't turn old shoes or cloth into toys he will assume that all shoes and cloth are toys and you will be very sorry. Let the person who will take care of him the most walk him into the house. That is the person he will most bond with. But make sure that person steps in first, if you let him step in first he might think he is the boss. I find 8 weeks a little young for a puppy to leave his mom. I prefer they stay with her at least 3 month. Is there any reason you are getting the pup so young?

Answer 4

Wait a month to get this puppy. A 12 week puppy is much better socialized than an 8 week and will have an easier time separating from his mum, sleeping alone in his crate ( you WILL need a crate), and going longer before he needs to pee. He will also be in the best place in his development to start learning some obedience. While you are waiting get to the library and do some research on raising and training puppies. The you will both be ready to have a wonderful 12 - 14 years together.

Answer 5

Oh thank goodness your girlfriend got to name him...lol (no offense). Ok, just quickly, I'd use the cage method to toilet train him (google it). I'd read Cesar Milan's site about dog psycology, and I'd remember he is a CARNIVOR! Don't feed him human food. When was the last time you saw a wolf or any other wild dog for that matter, picking heads of grain from wheat feilds. They may be able to eat fruit, cereals, and other human foods and be ok, but that doesn't prove it is the best food for them. And the most important thing.....give him LOTS of exercise. Dogs need lots of healthy exercise to keep happy, healthy brain. If you want an aggressive dog (which I truly hope you don't), then chain him up, don't run him, and keep him on his own. And don't over feed him...he's a lab...they live on the smell of an oily rag...lol. Ok buddy, hope you have fun. Cheers. :o)

Answer 6

When training him, never hit him with anything else then your hand, and don't make it bad, just a light slap on the nose, or else he will become afraid of you and run away from you. Get some dog beef treats, and keep them in your pocket, when he does what you want, give him a treat, and say good dog. When he does wrong, just say bad dog. Believe me if he's a good dog he'll be smart, and just a bad dog will make him cringe, without any slapping. I have a lab, and only had to slap him twice, now all I have to do is say BAD DOG! Always reward him for good behavior, Go to Pet Smart and get a book.

Answer 7

start training him now! the faster you get him under control the easier.. they are a smart breed, so training is easy but it needs to be done to have a happy lab! also neutering will help, so you really should neuter him by 6 months old... exercise also! labs have lots of energy and need to go for runs or walks at least 2 times a day.. but not too much at this age... give him lots of love, and socialize him to a lot of different things.. get him used to cats, other dogs, different people and places... and dont forget to gain control and be the dominate one over the pup.. you might have to roll him on his back and make him look in your eyes... my vat told me that one after I adopted my pup from the shelter... don't forget to neuter!

Answer 8

start him in obedience school right off the bat, before you inadvertently teach him any bad behavioral patterns. The younger they learn the easier they learn and the longer it lasts. If you wait 'til they are older they have to unlearn and relearn, which just confuses them, as they don't understand why they have to change. Attend and learn from the instructor how to make your dog happy to obey you. Teach them tricks and always reward them when they do it right, they will learn that they only get the treats when it is done right. Exercise with them, play in the park with them, but make sure they obey your commands and know the do's and don'ts . Make sure you don't let him sleep with you, they should have their own bed from the start and be house trained. No getting on the furniture. Play and snuggle with him on the floor. Give them time out in a corner of the bathroom when they have done something wrong. My Nephew did this and when he came home from work one day , he found his dog sitting in the corner in the bathroom. She had given herself time out for something she thought she did wrong. He never found out what it was, but when he told her , your off the hook. She came out all excited to see him. lol

Answer 9

Be patient with him. Always praise the good, but don't punish the bad. Reinforce all good behaviour with food. (Labs live for their stomach) Be prepared for some property destruction, and make sure he is entertained with toys when you are away, to prevent seperation anxiety. Never give your dog grapes or chocolate (Its lethal), and don't exercise too hard for the first 18 months of his life as his bones need to develop. Enjoy him. The good parts far outway the bad.

Answer 10

We have four large breed dogs, and I've found that without doubt the best way to keep them happy is loads of exercise - do a combination of long walks and ball games, etc., and also let him socialise with other dogs and people every chance you get. And don't listen to vets who say not to exercise a pup - it's rubbish, he'll just get bored and miserable.
Also, watch The Dog Whisperer, or buy the book by Cesar Millan - he talks a lot of sense.

Answer 11

..."so i instructed my buddy approximately all my pets and he or she reported this: "omg wtf is erroneous with u , give up getting lots of pets, i swear if u get yet another one im gonna document u to animal administration" she became incredibly extreme, im getting a domestic dog Sunday, what is going to happen if she calls animal administration and tells them it incredibly is my 5th puppy, will they take him away?" ######################################... Your buddy is the two being sarcastic, or on a delusional capability holiday. Animal administration would not care what proportion pets you have had - would not shop information & does no longer take her be conscious for it besides. (i think of you go with a extra suitable high quality of buddies & I propose you give up associating with all people who's the two so stupid OR so mean... as to declare such an irresponsible element.) do no longer you have mothers and fathers you may seek advice from, approximately this? in case you do, i'm useful they might additionally reassure you. There at the instant are not such a rules or rules with regards to puppy possession.