new dog, need advice....

[bac511]

I've adopted a dog from the shelter. He'll be ready to be picked up today. My son has no idea and is going to be thrilled...he's been beggin for one for a few years.

Anyway, can't decide if I should kennel him at night or not. I don't know yet if he's pottytrained. He's been in the shelter for about a week before now. Not sure of his past situation. I think he was just let loose, and no one claimed him.

Is it better to kennel a dog at night and during the day? I had a little dog growing up that was just left to roam in the house. We'll probably make him and in and out dog. We have a fenced in yard.

I am a single mom and want this transition to go as easy as possible...and I want whats best for the dog.

suggestions?

[trof]

1. If you mean the portable carriers?

I would at night until he gets used to things and you see if he's house broken, or can train him.
How old is he?

Dogs are pack animals and you and your son will be his new pack.
He will really, REALLY want to sleep in the same room with one of you.
If at all possible, let him.

How long will he be by himself during the day?
If shut in the carrier he will not want to foul it.
Puts him between a rock and a hard place.

And living where you do, he'll need a warm place during the day.
Any possibility of a doggie door so he can come and go?
Once the dog learns that it displeases you for him to poop inside, he'll try very hard to please you.
Give him every chance.
Especially take him out the very first thing in the morning.
When he does his business outside, lavish praise on him.

[bac511]

3. 6-9 months they think

He's getting neutered today and then we pick him up.

I am looking into a doggy door...good idea.

I just want to enjoy my dog...not lock him up outside all the time like some people in our neighborhood.

[flvegan]

2. How old is he?

When you say "kennel him" do you mean in a crate/carrier, or locked in the bathroom?

BTW, thanks for adopting. It's a great thing you've done.

[bac511]

4. yes crate/carrier...at night and when I am not home.

[flvegan]

Crating is a good training tool, and to keep puppy (and property)

safe until you're sure he can be trusted. Especially a dog where you're unsure of his background.

If you can, at night crate him in one of the bedrooms with a person in it. The bonding will be better, and he'll acclimate to the family more quickly.

[KG]

5. i recommend crate training. it's a good potty training tool.

i kennel my dog at night. he's not too reliable about not peeing in the house yet. maybe in a few weeks i might let him sleep with me some nights, but not yet.

[China_cat]

6. Crate training is the biggest friend you will ever have.

It prevents problems that frustrate you and the dog both, allows you to be able to say yes more often than no and gives the dog a spot of his own. And yes, especially while he's a puppy, he should be crated when you can't supervise him. (Caveate on that...the crate is NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SUPERVISION) If he's not used to a crate, make it a good place for him. Feed him there, give him treats there.

If you aren't sure how housebroke he is (and rehomed dogs will often break house training at least for a while) don't get too big a crate or block up the extra space. It should be big enough to stand up, sit down, lay down and turn around and no bigger. Puppies will seldom soil where they sleep...if you give them more room, they will find a corner to use.

Oh, just in case you're tempted, DON'T give him an old shoe to chew on. He isn't going to be able to tell the difference between an old and a new shoe. If it smells like your feet and he's been allowed to chew it, it's fair game.

[Shakespeare]

7. When done correctly, crate training is a great way to train a new dog.

In fact, my border collie crate-trained SO well, that when he was pouty when the cats stopped playing with him (they were good for about 30-minute bouts of play), he'd gather up all his toys, take them into his crate, and throw them against the sides of the crate wall. Every few minutes, he'd stop and look out of the crate to see if he'd piqued the cats' interest and/or sympathy.

It gets them used to a routine, and I find it one of the lower-stress ways (for the dog especially) to housebreak/potty train.

[Raven]

8. A good sized crate will be a kindness to the dog. I have crated

all my dogs until they are at least 3 and they have stopped chewing everything in sight. I always crate when I am not home and I will let the pup sleep with me when it's clear they are house trained. If they sleep with me, the bedroom door is always shut.

A very good dog trainer once told me that crating a dog is an act of kindness and that the love their crates because they feel it is their safe place. Also I have the crate in a central place in the house where they can watch the activity and don't feel banished.

Most of my dogs have been out of their crates by age 3. In your case, crate the dog until you are really comfortable your know his/her habits and the first few times you leave him/her out, hang around to be sure the dog doesn't have separation anxiety.

Good luck and congrats!

[malta blue]

9. Another DUer checking in for crate training...

I was wholeheartedly against it until I got my Egypt in September. She destroyed everything in sight and used my Tabriz carpet as a toilet. :nuke:

The rescue organization I got her through had told me she was crate trained, and highly recommended it. I got her a crate and she is completely fine in it while no one is at home.

She sleeps in the bed between us, under the covers. She is definitely a mommy's dog. I wish she had bonded more with my daughter, but she was not having it.

[Akoto]

10. First of all, good for you, adopting from a shelter!

My older dog, a Labrador Retriever, is quite possibly the sweetest and most well-behaved I've ever had. She came from a shelter, where she would have likely been put down due to the difficulty of adoption at her age.

As for your question ... We have always taught our dogs about going outside by way of taking them out. Lots, even if they don't have to go. When they DO go out there, they get a treat. This way, they begin to associate going outside with getting a reward.

Of course, that much attention is not practical for everyone. In that case, crate training is probably not a bad idea and the dog most likely will learn. They usually won't like to go to the bathroom where they sleep.