[BigBeaux]

Ok so I just watched a video from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. "your puppy 8 weeks to 8 months" and I want to hear some opinions from some other GSD owners..

Before I ask my questions, I got my beaux when he was 6 weeks, he is going to be 8 weeks monday. I ordered the video a few days before picking up beaux from my breeder and finally got it in the mail today. At the moment I have Beaux almost potty trained and he is already asking to go out when I ask "have to go potty?" He sleeps through the night in his kennel with out crying or soiling his bed (I let him out every 3-4 hours at night) and I have already taught him how to sit and at the moment I am not having any problem with furniture chewing.

My main question concerning the video is about how they say the puppy should be kept in a play pin when ever in the house and on a leash attached to you when the puppy is out of the pin, for atleast the first year of the dogs life. I personally could not do this, and I know if I wanted my fiancee would have nothing of it. In the video they make it seem like the puppy will grow to be a terror in the house if this method is not used, so this being my first GSD I am worried he is going to become very destructive as he gets older because of the minimal freedom we give him now.

So what were your biggest ups and downs when training your puppy, and what do you think about this videos opinion on the pin/leash??

 

[ripsofie]

I personally dont like the leerburgs training methods. But that is just me..

 

[onyx'girl]

If you cannot supervise a young pup, then crate is the safest place to go...Though 2 hour max for an 8 week old, should have breaks throughout the day and at about 4 months 4 hours max. before a break.
I think much of Leerburgs ideas are good, but some are outdated, take what you think is right for you and leave the rest. I prefer Michael Ellis's training methods and those video's are worth the investments. Much of Leerburgs vids all seem to be infomercials unfortunately. Here is a list of free clips w/ Michael Ellis:
Leerburg Streaming Video

 

[BigBeaux]

from the first 5 minutes I knew i wasnt going to like it, but it had some good tips..wasnt worth the money though. Just some of the stuff they made seem VERY important made me worry

 

[AgileGSD]

Not allowing the pup unsupervised loose time in the house is very good advice. I wouldn't say for the first year but the probably first 5-8 months, depending on the dog. House training goes quickest if your puppy can't wander off to potty in the house without you seeing it. House manners training goes best when the puppy isn't free to learn that chewing up your stuff is fun. The more time you spend with your dog, rewarding them for what you want them to do and not giving them a chance to reward for what you don't want them to do, the better behaved your puppy will be as an adult.

This is an excellent (and free!) guide to raising a puppy: Raising A Puppy | Dog Star Daily

 

[Elaine]

There's some good advice and some bad advice in those videos. It's up to you to pick out the good stuff.

 

[Ucdcrush]

I've never done that pen/tether stuff, and doubt most people do either. But I think it's based on the good idea of setting boundaries and limits. It instills in the dog from a young age that he is under control. That said, you don't have to actually limit his freedom to that extent.

Just be aware of where he is and you may want to set up boundaries, like no going in to the laundry room, or no going in to the bathroom. When he wanders in there, you can do a calm verbal scolding "no" "ehh!", etc. then escort him away from there by walking towards him so he gets the idea that he's not allowed in there and retreats to somewhere else.

If he's getting into mischief where he is allowed to be, move him away from there a couple times and if he still doesn't get the message, that would be a good time to crate him to get his mind off of it so that everyone can relax.

You may also want to keep him in the same room as you as you move around the house by just closing the door. Much easier than penning and tethering, and you are always very aware of what he's doing.

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

You may also want to keep him in the same room as you as you move around the house by just closing the door. Much easier than penning and tethering, and you are always very aware of what he's doing.

That's what I prefer to do when I'm home. Closed doors and baby gates to keep the pup in the same room with me.

I tend to only crate if I'm not going to be home, at night (so I can sleep ) or if either the pup or I need a bit of a time out from each other!

This is what I like to do with puppies...