Routine

Since I have become a new mother, I just cannot help myself. I am constantly reading and researching for tips on dog training and behavior. The one thing that is consistent in all of my readings has been consistency in training and commands and scheduling to aid in potty training. With it just being Kaleb and I, it has not been too hard to stay a united front in Bauer's training and schedule. After all, we are the pack leaders. Most articles claim that staying on a schedule helps the dog to stay balanced and happy, and so far it seems to be working like a charm!

From the second day we got him we have been exposing him to new people and places fairly consistently while taking along his own crate, blanket, and toys for comfort. He has been to several Oklahoma State football game days to root on the Pokes and play with his puppy cousin Indy Ana Jones, to a fraternity house, and on several visits with the grandparents to explore the farm and play with his big dog uncle, Duece. This has worked extremely well with him. He is very social both with people and other dogs and is not afraid of much of anything new. He is just curious, and whenever he gets cautious, we just encourage him and reward him for trying new things.

We have also settled into a really comfortable routine with the little brown dog. In the mornings after he goes out to potty, we let him come onto the bed to cuddle and play before the day starts. He really looks forward to this, and after pottying will go and stand by the door and wait for the one of us that got up with him to put him into bed. After a little cuddle and wake-up time, he eats breakfast and hangs out until time for us to go to work. Then we put him in his outside kennel to play until his lunch break, and then again until after work. After I get home in the evenings, we play a little fetch in the yard and go for a nice brisk walk. We started him out right after we got him going on short walks to get him used to the leash, and we are consistently adding some additional distance. He loves it, and he so much better behaved when he has this kind of positive outlet for his puppy energy. After his walk, he gets to eat and then spends time playing with us and his toys throughout the evening. He could play fetch forever, and he loves to retrieve his duck! Typically he winds down by about 9 or so and catnaps or lays on his bed until bed time. Then, he goes out one last time to potty and goes into his crate for the night.

Water!!

It is a fact that most Labs love the water. From early on, we have been exposing Bauer to the water and making it fun for him in the back yard, but we want to expose him to all kinds of water since he will hopefully be a duck dog. So, when we went to Kaleb's parents for the afternoon on Sunday, we took him to the creek. We were a little nervous that maybe he wouldn't love it. Kaleb took him and put him in the water, and he wasn't super sure. Then he followed Kaleb around for a bit. About that time, his dog uncle Duece came running by and splashed into the water, and Bauer took off chasing him. He had a blast and even got into water over his head and had to swim a bit. It was great, and as you can see from the pictures... I think he liked it!

Crate Training

I have read how important it is to crate train your puppy to help with potty training and to help your puppy have a safe place or den of their own. From the time we brought him home we began crate training. We had purchased a wire crate with an adjustable divider so he only had room to sleep and not to play. We also put a soft blanket and one of his toys in the bottom.

Bauer's first night was a little rough. He woke up about every three hours, so we would take him out to potty and then kneel down beside his crate and tell him firmly to go to sleep. You could tell he just missed his puppy brothers and sisters and was adjusting to his new family. It worked pretty well once he figured out that he was ok even though things were new, and he was not going to get out to play. However, we were soooo exhausted the next morning after a night of taking turns getting up with him. The second night, after going to Stillwater to meet his Aunt Sarah and Uncle Cayton, he was tuckered out. He slept through the entire night without whining! Now, six nights in, he is consistently sleeping through the night and only waking up in the morning to go out. During the day while we are at work, we are also crating him. He is doing so well, no whining or complaining so far... just happiness to see us when we come home.

Also, I had read about hanging a bell on your doorknob and ringing it whenever you take your puppy out to potty to train him to ring the bell to go out. Eventually you can take the bell down, and the dog will just go to the door when they want out. So, I decided to try it. I got jingle bells from Hobby Lobby and hung them from the doorknob on a lanyard. Remarkably, two days later... HE IS RINGING THE BELL TO GO OUT!! The hardest part about it is that whenever they ring the bell while they are learning, you have to let them out. So, when I am in the floor playing with him and he rings the bell, I am trying not to take offense. I am sure it has nothing to do with him not wanting to play with me... I am cool... And, he loves me, after all! :)

Puppy Preparations

For the past month we have been preparing for our new little bundle of joy, and I am starting to think that puppies are as expensive as children! We have bought a crate, a dog bed, toys, food and water bowls, a collar and leash, a brush, doggy shampoo, an outdoor kennel, a dog house for the kennel, and we paid to fence our yard. (And we haven't even bought his food or scheduled his first vet appointment yet!) So, this got me to thinking, what all does a puppy really need...

After a pretty exhaustive online search, it doesn't look like we went THAT overboard. The things that most sites suggest are:

1. A Name - I have read that two syllable names are best because they are easier for the puppy to differentiate between their names and one syllable commands.
2. Food Dish
3. Water dish
4. Leash
5. Collar
6. Wire Crate - We got one big enough for Bauer when he is full grown, but it can be adjusted for proper puppy size.
7. Pet Bed
8. Toys
9. Brush
10. Veterinarian Care and Puppy Shots - Our health guarantee that comes from our breeder requires a vet health check within two days of getting our new puppy, so we will have an appointment set up before he even arrives.
11. Puppy Food