Oh Jayne, I was exactly the same when I bought Rufus home. I'd had a few dogs before but never a puppy - so I was quite terrified.
I think the important thing is that you are consistent. You've been on the forum for a while now ....reading anything and everything Lol, so I'm sure you have ideas about how you want to raise little George and which rules are important to you.
The biggest shock for me was how much Rufus piddled everywhere! I used a whole kitchen roll on the first day. So, maybe be a bit anal about it and take him out for toileting on the hour, every hour and after eating/drinking? I think the toilet training is the first task.
Not sure if you are crate training but I did the Jukee Doodle method of bed one end and puppy training pad the other. We gave Rufus a mad play time btw 11 and 11.30pm to tire him out, took him for a 'busy busy' and then popped him in his crate in the kitchen. From the moment we closed the door we did not even look at him, even if we went into the kitchen, until we were ready to get him up in the morning (approx 6am). By the 3rd night he was dry at night.
It really is worth having a word for when he toilets. It will help later on for him to go on command. I use 'busy busy' but there are a variety of words out there!
Sorry, I'm going on and on .........good luck! Oh how exciting!!!!!!!!
Karen and Rufus xx
I think the important thing is that you are consistent. You've been on the forum for a while now ....reading anything and everything Lol, so I'm sure you have ideas about how you want to raise little George and which rules are important to you.
The biggest shock for me was how much Rufus piddled everywhere! I used a whole kitchen roll on the first day. So, maybe be a bit anal about it and take him out for toileting on the hour, every hour and after eating/drinking? I think the toilet training is the first task.
Not sure if you are crate training but I did the Jukee Doodle method of bed one end and puppy training pad the other. We gave Rufus a mad play time btw 11 and 11.30pm to tire him out, took him for a 'busy busy' and then popped him in his crate in the kitchen. From the moment we closed the door we did not even look at him, even if we went into the kitchen, until we were ready to get him up in the morning (approx 6am). By the 3rd night he was dry at night.
It really is worth having a word for when he toilets. It will help later on for him to go on command. I use 'busy busy' but there are a variety of words out there!
Sorry, I'm going on and on .........good luck! Oh how exciting!!!!!!!!
Karen and Rufus xx
