Please explain to me why I got a puppy again...

[WillParkinson]

He's stubborn. Willful. Arrogant. He ran off yesterday before I could get the chain on him and ended up in the neighbors yard. He zipped past Paul on Sunday and out the front door while Paul was trying to bring in groceries.

He's peed in the house several times even after we took him outside and he peed there.

He doesn't listen at all unless you're screaming and even then it's more like a cat-listen.

He likes to tease Cider (who I think is starting the whole thing)...

Can someone please remind me why I got

[ewagner]

1. Look at that face

and your question is answered!

You just have to sort out this Alpha/Omega thing with him.

[molly]

2. Awwww - just look at him!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Cause he is cute and you are dumb?

that's my excuse.

[WillParkinson]

17. You've got me pegged...

And then some!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. You got a puppy to sort out that spiritual side of you that

gets angry with him for doing those things when what there really is to do is earn to relate to him via training.

There are sprays you can spray where he pee's that will cover his scent so he won't go again.

Are you going to do training classes? With a young puppy, from what I have seen, clicker training is the most positive.

Use treats to reinforce everything you want him to do...food motivation is good...have treats handy for every task and mix them up...everything from cookies, to beggin strips to pieces of lunch meat...alternate them so that he never knows how good the treat will be.

[sus]

5. because he LOVES you!

you ingrate.

[liberalitch]

18. I hope that one day we will all be the people

our dog and cats think we are!

[Hobarticus]

6. How can you resist?

There's a great book by some monks who raise German shepherds for the blind. Do a little digging and see what you come up with.

I read it when I brought home my border collie (hell on four legs) puppy, and it made sense. I put it to use, and he's grown up into the best, most devoted dog I've ever had. It taught me to raise him like I'm an alpha dog, and it worked wonders. Some of the techniques work on older dogs, too.

[KissMyAsscroft]

7. You need to train that puppy!

Get some help..put the fear of God into that thing!

But seriously, look at those eyes.

[ihaveaquestion]

8. Puppies are great - but beagles aren't really puppies -

they're spawn of the Devil! Never again!

[WillParkinson]

11. Bailey...

is a Beagle/Lab mix.

He can be a very sweet boy when he wants to be which, apparently, isn't all that often.

We think that he was taken from his mother too young because he's constantly trying to snuggle up to Misty - our oldest female. She, however, rarely lets him do it.

Bailey has no socialization skills. The people who turned him over to the shelter were uncaring about what happened to him. They just wanted him 'out of their hands'.

So we continue to work with him. I'm thinking he can be a very good boy if he just has the chance. At least I'm hoping so.

[jukes]

9. Sweet boy!

& i know you don't want a lethargic dud!



beagles dig like a backhoe, & eat shoes like they were made of bacon.

[liberalitch]

19. What the hell's that?

One pissed off looking cat?

[The empressof all]

10. Oh Will...I can relate

We got a new wee one in November in what I now call a Peri-menopausal induced impulse to raise another young-un. My little demon-dog has been a real handful and much more obedient training resistant than any other poochie I have had the pleasure to have in my life. Some dogs just take longer than others. Never the less-I love the little creature and am happy she is here.

[Jackpine Radical]

12. Jeez man, I wish I could tell ya why.

There's this year-old golden retriever on the floor near my feet and, while I don't think of him as the spawn of the Devil, I DO often think of him as a scourge from God. He's the most willful, bull-headed non-human creature I know of and, right now, he's driving us nuts because he's on house arrest for 6 weeks due to a medical problem. We're halfway through the 6 weeks, and wondering whether either he or we will survive the rest of it. He's used to running free during the day with horses, cattle & the neighbor's ancient dog, so the confinement is really making him crazy.

[welshTerrier2]

13. 3 tips

training, training and more training ...

once they reach 3 months old, puppies should attend puppy training class ... it's not a bad idea for a second class at around 9 months or so ...

you also should check out 2 or 3 puppy books ... i'm not overly fond of the "Monks of New Skete" books described above ... but they are certainly better than nothing ...

the idea of training is not to have a dog who can upgrade your PC to Windows XP ... the idea is to have a dog who knows that you are the boss and that's that ... once your dog gets comfortable with you in charge, things keep getting better and better ... most dogs are very happy respecting you as the alpha dog once they see that you know what you're doing ...

they don't call them man's best friend for nothing ...

[belladonna]

14. Because he's adorable

Just look at that adorable face

If you get tired of him, send him my way!!

[harper]

15. Because he's sooooo cute

I mean look at that face! And we are evolutionary hardwired to fall in love with those cute baby faces. Only after we are hooked do we realize just how hard it is to raise a baby (or puppy).

Hang in there, it will all be worth it in the end.

[WillParkinson]

16. That face...

Yeah, that's what got me, too.

Alright, I admit it. I love the little bastard. But he better learn soon that *I* am the alpha and he's NOT.

Otherwise I'll have to sleep in the doghouse.

[Wcross]

20. If you want to send him to Tennessee- I'll give him a good home!

I have had my puppy experiences over the past eight months. I have three running around the house (along with the two mommas and the Dad).
Last month I had thought they all knew to go outside to poop and pee. I was relaxing after a 12 hour shift watching TV when Moe walks up in front of the TV- Looks at me and procedes to poop on the floor. I swear the little guy was smiling at me when he did it.

[WillParkinson]

21. Bailey hasn't pooped in the house...yet...

But I want to take him to the vet to see if he's got a urinary tract infection because he goes outside and pees and the comes back in and, moments later, does it again.

[Wcross]

23. Here's Moe- the happy pooper

[WillParkinson]

24. Oh, such a sweet baby!

Poopie and all!

[blindpig]

22. because his ancestors came from

the Dog Star millions of years ago to rule the Earth. You are honored with his presence. Or so my dogs tell me.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. He looks like a real brat!

Time for Bailey to start obedience school.