What are the wisest tips you could give someone about raising two young puppies?

Love the little bastards.

Two words: Crate training! It really helps when it comes to teaching them where they can and can’t go to the toilet.

@Grisaille….. of course… that in a way is the most complete way of dealing. once that is done, then all the rest follows automatically.
Yes… but I would like a suggestion that’s a bit more on the technical side..
; )
cheers anyhow

@Leanne1986 yes, indeed. I was definitely considering that, due to the fact that I haven’t applied this previously because my first dogs lived with me in the mountains..Though this time i think it would be quite appropriate. any tips specifically on how..?

following, just got a puppy on monday, was going to ask this question too =)

Praise them ten times as often as you punish them.

@row4food :) good luck, much peace.
@PerryDolia indeed… that goes for humans in certain circumstances as well.
good one, mate.

Toilet training is important especially if you have them in your house.
They also like to play alot, so walking them like an hour a day would be good.
Yea and love them, they might save your life one day :)

@Anatelostaxus I always made sure that my pups were in their crates if I ever had to leave them (rather than having the run of the house as they do now) as dogs will very rarely go to the toilet in the same place that they sleep. This stopped any accidents in the house when I wasn’t there and then as soon as I got home, they would be let out of the crate and taken straight in the garden. I also used the crate at (human) meal times or when I thought the puppies needed a rest.

After a very short amount of time I found that the pups would go to their crates out of choice to rest.

Another thing that people often forget is that puppies need a lot of sleep. I know it sounds obvious but the amount of people I have to tell to leave the puppies alone if they want to sleep. A lot of people that I work with seem to think that the puppty should be playing all the time and many like to try and keep puppy awake all day so that it “will be too tired to whine at night”! You don’t strike me as someone who thinks this way but I thought I better mention it!

@Tink1113 Obviously it depends on age but I wouldn’t recommend walking young pups for an hour a day.

@Leanne1986 Hehe yeah the age matters, mine is 5 months old and she likes to walk.

Congrats!!! What kind of dogs are they? Are they siblings?

Subscribe to the thickest newspaper you can. ~

Otherwise, make sure they get to know lots of different people so they grow up to be accepting of others coming into your house.

Remember that the investment of time, bonding, and training that you do now will affect your relationship for the next 15 years. Even though you have a million other things that you should be doing, you must make the time for puppy classes, trips to the vet, play time, and training.

@Tink1113 That’s ok, I had the image of trying to walk puppies that were only two or three months old for an hour!!!

May I ask, what breed is your 5 month old?

Haha
She is a Pug.

I highly suggest almost baby proofing your house. if there is anything you don’t want ruined or chewed up or peed on. even if you don’t think they would in a million years, if you value it or the safety of your puppies put stuff up and try to hide electric cords. If they do something naughty, you can scold them at that time. but if too much time passes they won’t associate the naughty behavior with the punishment. Like others have said, praise them so freakin much when they do something good. If they sit down, rub their bellies. If they come when called, shower them with affection. You said you’ve had dogs before so none of this is probably new to you and I’m sure you’ll be a great owner and have two insanely happy pups. Have fun with them!

@Tink1113 Indeed. The walking thing would be good for them.. but I don’t think I’m going to make it a systematic event for them. When I see they have the urge, or simply when they’re not expecting it when they’re bored.. leads up and down the stairs.
I’m not very keen on having them get accustomed to a ritual schedule, timetable or quantity for daily excursions. Plus every once in a while.. not often, not rarely (unfortunately it can’t be but a seldom event), I’ll be taking them up to the mountains near where we live.
I believe they need a break from the urban scenario. I sure the hell do, some say more than a wild animal would.
X )

@Leanne1986 Yes I agree with that too.. but.. what if when one is out, an emergency situation occurs at home and they’re unable to escape?
That’s a bit of a dilemma because ecluding worst case scenarios, that is a good.. very good method. (the crate).
cheers..

@loser Hah! cheers mate..yes, they’re siblings. Well, about the breed.. they’re mixed.. Their mother was a foundling.. their father.. unknown. The family that holds their mother supposes she’s a mix between cocker and hunter (is it hunter in english?)
But I’m not sure about that she looks more like a retriever of some sort with some Belgian shepherd in her.

@ VERY important, mate. yes.. very important.
Good point. it’s fundamental.

@syz another VERY important point. that’s grand. Indeed i will. thanks for reminding with such power. ;) my first dog died at a good old age… I’d found him in the streets, nearly 2 years.. I suppose. if I were to get a tattoo over my heart it would be a token and homage to him. I still love him and will never forget my best friend. I was only a child then.
our relationship was based on the purity of a child’s innocence and spontaneity.
I must remember how to apply that sincerely with these new pups now in my adulthood.

@TheNimrod Yes. I fully agree to that as well. I’d already thought of doing that as well.
I actually was thinking about shutting off certain parts of the house with high harmless soft objects as long as they are very young and seldom letting them in just to get them acquainted with the whole living environment and to not make them feel cut off.

I greatly appreciate all of your responses, guys. You truly know what you’re talking about.
Thank you for sharing.

@TheNimrod @Tink1113 @Leanne1986 @syz @Darwin @loser @PerryDolia @Grisaille
now a couple questions for you.
What do you think about music. Do you play music for your dogs?
I always have music running, whether to help me work, study or just to relax and/or whilst sleeping.
I’ve been preparing a selection for them for the first lapse of time we’ll be spending together. To make them serene and comfortable with me, my girlfriend and the ambiance.

And, well now I’m a smoker.. I was thinking about secluding a certain smoking area in the house, but honestly I don’t want the pups to feel secluded in any way from any portion of the house. Only from certain objects.

Are there any specific suggestions you could give me about these issues?

About the toilet training, I really would prefer not to use the old nose in the piss method.. is there anything else you know about?

I do not want to and will not smack them to train them, but can you think of anything efficient to teach them not to approach electrical equipment and computers, etc..?

a big canine hug to you all, guys.

@Anatelostaxus If you make sure they go to the toilet before you go out, you’re not away from them for too long and then you let them out as soon as you get home to go to the toilet, in my experience it is unlikely that you will have too many accidents. The odd one or two maybe but you just clean it up and get on with it. I’m not saying there won’t be accidents but in my experience dogs are less likely to go in their crates if they spend time sleeping in there.

As for your other questions:

1) Personally I have never played music for my dogs but when I am home or in the car I usually have music on so they are all used to it. However, I don’t leave it on just for them if I’m not there. I know plenty of people who do though, I think that’s just personal choice and there is no right or wrong answer.

2) I’m not a smoker myself so can’t really advise on this. I like the idea of just having one room where you smoke. Dogs aren’t stupid and if they are not comfortable somewhere then they won’t choose to be there (providing they feel secure in the rest of the house and aren’t so attached to you that they suffer major seperation anxiety).

3) I HATE the “nose in piss” method personally and have never used it on any of my dogs. Like someone else said, make sure you have lots of spare newspaper handy.

4) Usually making a nose that makes the dog stop what it’s doing and lose it’s train of thought is as effective (more in my opinion) as smacking. If puppy goes near, chews etc something that it shouldn’t make a loud shrill noise. Puppy will then look up to see what it was. You can then either leave puppy to see if he goes back to said object in whichh case you make that noise again or you can physically move puppy away from the area. Either way the puppy will soon learn not to go near that object. It will take time but I promise it will learn where he can or can’t go. It’s also a good idea to have a number of one word commands, for example in this situation AWAY would be a good one. If you say AWAY and puppy does indeed come away from the area he shouldn’t be in, reward him straight away. Do this with all your commands if he obeys. SIT, STAY, WAIT, OFF and LEAVE IT are my favourite commands and ones that my dogs learnt within days.

Another great tip I have learnt, cheese is the perfect bribe.

Good luck and have fun :)

Obedience training is the most important. With that they will become accepted and respected members of your family and society! And crate training, I agree, is a very good thing.

Did you say what kind they are?

Be firm, but loving. And most of all, be consistent. You need to establish leadership early on to make raising them as easy as possible early on. Establish your rules and stick to them.

Spay and neuter