New Pup- 8 weeks!

[PepperSnycart]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum, and introduced myself on the New Members topic thread earlier today.

I have an 8 week old female DS named Pepper who has been a part of our family for 3 days now. She is tolerating being in the crate. It's amazing how much better she was on night #3 vs night #1. We took her water away at 8pm, played hard, went outside, went to bed at 10pm, and we actually had to wake her up at 7:30am. During the day she plays hard for a couple hours then sleeps for 4hrs or so. It's hard to coordinate her naps and playtime so that she's sleepy at night.

She is not that great going for walks. We walk ahead of her and she follows, but the distance she's growing comfortable with is not something we (humans) are comfortable with. We don't want her 2 blocks away in our apartment complex where she could get hurt. She sits or lays down, whines that she doesn't want to follow us, then we tempt her with a treat or a toy, she leaps up, runs forward and we may or may not have a repeat laying down episode. We are not rewarding her for laying down. She doesn't seem to be too tired to go for the walk, because she'll play with toys when we get back. We have a slip leash on her during this, so when she walks forward, we hold the leash and encourage her. Normal DS?

As I'm sitting here, she just asked to go to the bathroom outside for the first time. She walked over to the door and started sniffing. Out we went, peed, got a treat, and came back in to nap. A few hours later she looked at me and whined from across the room, out we went, peed, got a treat, and came back in for more napping. I'm trying to pay extra close attention to her, regardless of what I'm doing, so I can pick up on any subtle hint that she might have to go out.

She doesn't eat her food in one sitting, and is actually not very food motivated. She will do tricks for her dog food (sit, down) but she loses interest and jumps on her toys. We've started using her toy as the reward. Back to the eating... She walks away from the food, plays, remembers that the food is there, runs to the food and eats a few bites, then repeats. Is this normal DS behavior? I'd like her to eat it all so that she gets the nutrition as well as gets on a poop schedule that we can predict somewhat.

We are taking her to puppy social hour starting tonight then once weekly. We may also have her at doggy daycare once weekly to be more socialized, interact with other dogs (we don't have any others) and humans, and learn to be away from us and where we live without it being an issue (preparing for the days when we go away on vacation!).

She is very attentive, very smart, and picks up on soft verbal commands. She'll stop chewing on something if we say "Ehh!". She might try again in 5min, but she listens each individual time. When I ask her to go "outside" or "inside" or "let's go" she seems to understand. I've been home with her (I work nights) while Eric works and Eric is home while I'm at work, so she has a lot of interaction and repetition from us.

OK, this is turning into a book!
Thanks for any and all advice!

[PepperSnycart]

All the pics I try to uplpad are too big... They were taken with iphone and uploaded to computer. Any hints on shrinking them so I can upload?

[PepperSnycart]

Figured it out- I hope!

[Dutchringgirl]

All the pics I try to uplpad are too big... They were taken with iphone and uploaded to computer. Any hints on shrinking them so I can upload?

I have photoshop so I resize them with that, there are free online photo editors too. I was using Photobucket and you can resize on there too.

She is Toooooo cute!! I love the picture of the three of you!!!

AND welcome!

[Marjolein]

ahhh, that first one!! Nice pup!

[alspyce]

Beautiful! Ears already up and such a cutie!

As far as the feeding goes--I will leave it down until the dog walks away ,then pick it up until the next feeding time.Maybe feed her in a crate where there are less distractions at first. Some people free feed litters and they get use to the food always being available so that may be what she was use to. I want mine to eat when it's offered so I can put them out, wash the dishes and be ready for the next meal. Also avoid the dog food switching game.

[Dutchringgirl]

I also fed Sadie in her crate for a while and put a towel over it so she could have quiet while she ate.

[PepperSnycart]

Sounds good. I've been feeding her in her crate, but I will pick up the "leftovers" until the next meal time. Thanks so much for the info!

[Christie M]

Ditto what Lisa said I put the pup in the crate with food for 20 minutes, 2-3 times a day. If they eat, great. If not, they are hungrier next time and I don't stress.

Where in MI are you located? Are you planning to attend classes with Janet Smith in Okemos? I just saw her post something about being excited to have a Dutch starting one of her puppy classes. Of course she didn't name any names. Anyway, if you are, consider yourself lucky! She is a great trainer and will able to help you one on one with the walking issues...etc.

[PepperSnycart]

Yup, Eric took her to puppy class with Janet Smith. I was proud to hear that she did excellent. I'm insanely jealous that Eric gets to take her and I can't (work the night shift on puppy socialization class nights). BUT, I am home with her all day everyday, so they need time to bond alone together. I just took her for a walk following her little puppy course manual and it went splendidly.

Janet was recommended by several of my co-workers (I'm a veterinarian). So funny that she posted that... was it on Facebook or something?

K9 Training Center via Anabelle's in Lansing was also recommended. Since Eric's in the military and I'm not from MI, we are going based on recommendations until we have personal experience to make our own decisions on trainers. K9 Training Center actually have a class on Tuesday nights that I am available for but she needs to be a little bit older. Pepper may eventually be going to puppy class twice a week!

We're in Holt and work in the Lansing area. Are you in Michigan as well?

[Lauren]

She is so cute!!! What a pretty little blaze.
I wish they had puppy classes here... they don't start till the dogs are 16 weeks and fully vaccinated and by then they have missed SO much!

[Christie M]

Yup, Eric took her to puppy class with Janet Smith. I was proud to hear that she did excellent. I'm insanely jealous that Eric gets to take her and I can't (work the night shift on puppy socialization class nights). BUT, I am home with her all day everyday, so they need time to bond alone together. I just took her for a walk following her little puppy course manual and it went splendidly.

Janet was recommended by several of my co-workers (I'm a veterinarian). So funny that she posted that... was it on Facebook or something?

K9 Training Center via Anabelle's in Lansing was also recommended. Since Eric's in the military and I'm not from MI, we are going based on recommendations until we have personal experience to make our own decisions on trainers. K9 Training Center actually have a class on Tuesday nights that I am available for but she needs to be a little bit older. Pepper may eventually be going to puppy class twice a week!

We're in Holt and work in the Lansing area. Are you in Michigan as well?

I was born and raised in MI until about 3 1/2 years ago when I moved down here to TN. I trained professionally and ran all of the behavior programs for Kern Road Veterinary Clinic in Fowlerville. There are some great people in MI and some "Holy crap, why are they doing THAT??" people. But Janet is the real deal. She is extremely motivational, but she understands the concept of withholding and controlling resources. Its not about walking around with cookies in your pocket for the rest of your dogs life. I'll have to ask around about the K9 training center.

Where do you practice at? I used to run the Livingston County VMA, so I still know quite a few people. Its weird to be out of the industry all together.

A friend of mine, Cynthia Kranz, works at the MSU vet pharmacy. She posted a litter of GSD/mal pups on her facebook that are in rescue. In comment to that, Janet posted "ha look at their little fat bellies. I am hoping to have a Dutch Shepherd puppy in class she contacted me yesterday ; - )" We all know that although Cindy now has a mal, her favorite dog was a DS named Astra that she lost almost 2 years ago. So I just thought it was funny and ironic to have you both post something at the same time!

[PepperSnycart]

Lauren: Being a vet, I am a slightly concerned about bringing her to puppy class so soon. She's up to date on everything possible a dog can have, but their little immune systems can still allow disease. I can definitely see the medical side of keeping them from the classes until they're older... I opted to do everything in my power to make sure we're preventing illness and am crossing my fingers we don't run into any problems. I just think that because we live in an apartment, don't have other dogs, don't have many other adults visiting us (we visit them! haha), or children, I'm concerned for her socialization enough to go early.

Christie: It's a small world, after all!
I went to vet school at MSU and graduated in 2010. I know Cynthia, she's a really nice person! I'm sure many students come and go so she wouldn't know me specifically. I moved back to MI this summer after I did my internship in New England (where I was born and raised) to live with the bf. I work in Lansing at a 24hr ER clinic. I'm glad Janet was excited to have one of the breed! So glad to meet someone from the area! I have a brain to pick when I need to ask about people's reputations! So glad you agree with my co-workers that Janet is great Pepper Pants is in good hands!

Pepper has been doing her homework. She comes, sits, lays down, shakes (newest trick she learned today). A neighbor of ours walked by with their terrier mix and she played lovely with him. She is definitely not dominant to other dogs. She rolled on her belly and froze while the terrier sniffed, nipped, and growled at her. Once the terrier walked away she jumped on him and they repeated the whole interaction. Super cute. When the terrier was leaving, I asked Pepper to come. She didn't think twice about leaving the woman and he dog and RAN to the door to me. This chick is a smarty pants mc gee.

I recently posted on a working dog forum and someone wrote back that puppy classes are a waste of time and money and that I should be focusing on making her work (agility, schH, etc)... But she's 8 weeks! She needs to learn how to play! She isn't even allowed in the agility classes due to her age. I thought that comment made was a little harsh... You've got to start somewhere! I have been contacting SchH clubs in MI, though. We're going to visit one at the beginning of October and a friend of mine recommended a trainer that isn't officially associated with a club but is highly recommended. Can't wait to teach her some fun and cool stuff!

[Lauren]

Caitlin, thanks to your post, I called and found out that I could start puppy classes earlier than I had been told! We start on Tues. I definitely think that socialization is SO important. Pepper is going to have a great advantage over those left out of puppy class when they all start group agility... My girl has become fearful of dogs since we got her. In part because we have met some not so nice dogs on our walks and in part because my Standard poodle is reactive to other dogs.

As for the dragging on a walk, my Xena has done that from day one. She is like a Shetland pony, coax and prod her away from the house and then when we turn around she is right there with us (or ahead of us) on the way home. Last night was the first time that didn't happen(13 wks to the day) and we walk her twice a day.

They are such smart little monsters!