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Standard Poodle Wade at 9 weeks-old!

2K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  cindyreef 
#1 ·
Hello!

Many of you have been so helpful in answering questions since bringing Wade - our black Standard - home. I wanted to share some updates!

When it comes to eating, Wade doesn't seem to have the ravenous appetite he had upon arriving at home. This is probably because he's adjusted to not having to fight with other puppies for food. He still gets VERY excited when we get the food out and will often squeal and jump up on the sides of his pen, but he's learned how to sit, so we make him sit calmly before setting the food bowl down, and he does great with this.

In addition to knowing how to sit, he has also learned how to lie down. We are working on "come" and "stay" and he seems to be getting the hang of "stay." "Come" is more difficult, especially when he has found a nice sprinkler spout to chew on outside.

Speaking of chewing, he is in major teething mode! He wants to chew absolutely everything, so keeping him in a pen has been helpful. That said, he doesn't chew up his bedding or his plush toys. He likes to mouth our hands and we're teaching him to be gentle by yelping loudly and giving him a dirty look (this works!) when he bites too hard. He's really improved and he's becoming very sweet - licking and nudging our hands instead of biting most times.

When he's outside he can be a little rascal. We try to keep him on the leash when we take him out but sometimes we let him off in an enclosed area - he likes to run up a small hill to go to the bathroom. When we try to get him to come down, he'll sometimes bark loudly and even offers the occasional growl. This is usually after he goes number 2, and I was worried about this at first but it seems to be playful, as his tail is wagging when he does this and it seems he is trying to get us to chase him. We don't give in and eventually he calms down.

Did I mention he hasn't had an accident in the house since his first day home? I think he's house-trained! This is probably because we take him out very regularly and he spends a lot of time in his pen. We take him out several times a day for training sessions followed by some playtime and he loves this.

He also does great when he's alone. We are able to leave him for 2-3 hours without issue. Right from the start we got him adjusted to separation by leaving the room and letting him get a good cry in, then returning and acting casually about having been gone. This worked like a charm.

His absolute favorite thing is a belly rub. When we tell him "down" he usually rolls over on his back and we give him a nice massage. He basks in this with his mouth wide open. Give him a finger to hold in his mouth (gently) and he's in heaven.

We've been brushing him, cleaning his ears, and brushing his teeth. He isn't too fond of any of these procedures but we think he'll improve with more exposure. Right now the ears need to be done only when he is at his sleepiest!

He'll get his third and final vaccination on the 16th and then he can go out and play with other dogs. We can't wait to take him to parks and get him socialized.

OK, that's my novel-length update!

Til our next question... :)

Dog Dog breed Canidae Mammal Toy Poodle
 
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#2 ·
He sounds like a perfect puppy! It sounds like you are doing a great job potty training - close supervision and lots of opportunity for success. Swizzle gets the zoo miles after number 2 too. Sounds like you are doing a great job. Use this time to teach a lot of tricks. They are little sponges at this stage.
 
#5 ·
:) Wade is a great name! He sounds like he is doing great. My standard puppy (now 7 months old) was basically housetrained from day 1, too! I was sooooo shocked and pleased as my other girl took some training for a few months. As long as I did my part and took him out regularly, he didn't have ANY accidents. Now he barks if he wants to go out and will actually come and get us, bark and walk to the door. It is so nice. I bet Wade is the same way, just keep up with taking him out frequently. No chance for a mistake that way. :)

Don't wash his ears too much. I know someone who caused an ear infection from too much washing and not drying thoroughly. I only do my dogs ears gentle about once a month with a cotton ball and they haven't had any ear infections.

Petitiepie is right- what a good boy you have (and a very sweet face, too!). He looks so CUTE in that picture!
 
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