Puppy!

[_Lisa_]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The flip side is basically time out for the dog. If you're at home and he does something inappropriate (such as biting -- many puppies will do this playfully rather than agressively and have to learn that it isn't appropriate play with humans), then calmly put him in his crate for a little time out. He'll get the message before too long that biting = playtime's over.

I think the "portable time out" will work for when you're home too, don't want to start using the crate as punishment or he'll never properly crate train, and might end up hating the crate (essentially dissolving any crate training effort.)

The clicker suggestion is awesome, I've always wanted to start using a clicker but its an epic fail on my part that my dogs don't respond to it. I wasn't consistent enough, it really takes a lot of time & patience!

You could also institute a rule that whenever you let him out you immediately scan the yard to clean up any messes just made. That way its always clean & you aren't spending a Saturday afternoon trolling your backyard with boots on & plastic bags tied to your hands.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by _Lisa_

I think the "portable time out" will work for when you're home too, don't want to start using the crate as punishment or he'll never properly crate train, and might end up hating the crate (essentially dissolving any crate training effort.)

It certainly could, and we use it that way for pretty much everything except biting. That gets (or got -- he's much better) a trip to the crate. But because we stay calm about it, it's not punishment as much as it is "playtime's over." The crate is a "safe place" -- he learns that he can't get in trouble there, and it gives him a minute to calm down.

The clicker suggestion is awesome, I've always wanted to start using a clicker but its an epic fail on my part that my dogs don't respond to it. I wasn't consistent enough, it really takes a lot of time & patience!

Interesting, although I'm sure it's another one of those things that doesn't alway swork for every dog. Our puppy (7 mos now) responded very quickly to it, and you can see in his eyes his brain working -- "okay, what am I doing that they like? Is it this? This? Oh, Oh, its' this! Got it!" Too funny.

I take the clicker to the supper table to reinforce sitting patiently while we eat, I take it on walks to reinforce a loose leash. It's been great for us, and once you get used to it (and remember to do it), it really doesn't take any extra time or anything.

You could also institute a rule that whenever you let him out you immediately scan the yard to clean up any messes just made. That way its always clean & you aren't spending a Saturday afternoon trolling your backyard with boots on & plastic bags tied to your hands.

Very true.