Thank you for visiting our website!  Over the years, I have collected answers to common questions that people ask regarding training their new Weimaraner or F1 or F1b Mini or Standard Goldendoodle puppy.  If puppies are started off correctly right from the beginning, many bad behavior problems can be avoided.  It is important to remember that dogs are pack animals and live according to a hierarchy system.  Only one individual in the group will be the leader, either you will be or your dog will be!  Okefeild Acres recommends enrolling your new puppy in at least two levels of obedience training, with Purchaser as handler, There are excellent training books and DVD's available at your local library, Barnes and Noble book store or off of e-bay that can teach you to be the leader.  Be an informed dog owner before you receive your new puppy so that you will be able to train your new pup to be a joy to everyone that they are around, you won't regret it, neither will your dog!

WHAT SIZE LEASH AND COLLAR SHOULD I BUY?

A leash and collar will be provided by Okefeild Acres at the time of delivery or shipping, which will be great to use for training purposes.  Another set can be purchased for use when going out into public. Look for a 6 – 10” nylon collar and matching leash for your new Weimaraner or F1 or F1b Standard Goldendoodle puppy. It might be necessary to buy something even smaller for your F1b Mini Goldendoodle puppy. I recommend leaving the collar and leash on at all times, when out of the crate.  By monitoring at all times, your puppy will not have the chance to develop bad habits while off on their own.  This will also help your pup bond with you and follow you from room to room as you go about your daily chores.

WHAT KIND OF SUPPLIES DO I NEED TO HOUSEBREAK MY NEW PUPPY?

Crate training is one of the best ways to successfully house break your new puppy.  Look for a wire crate, with a movable divider.  Weimaraners and Standard Goldendoodles will need a crate that is at least 34" high so their head will not hit the top of the crate. Mini Goldendoodles will need a crate a size larger than would be needed to fit a 35 - 45 lb. dog.  This will give your dog plenty of head room and room enough to be comfortable while confined.  Move the divider to allow just enough room for your puppy to lay comfortably, otherwise he will go to the back of the crate to relieve himself.  Avoid using any kind of bedding in the bottom of the crate until your puppy has learned to not relieve himself, otherwise he will learn to go potty on blankets, etc. 

Expect your puppy to cry when put into his crate, until he gets used to your routine. Have small treats on hand to give him when he enters the crate, saying "In Here" at the same time he walks in. Having safe chewy toys to keep him occupied will also help out.

Local pet supply stores carry spray enzyme cleaners that can be used to clean up any accidents.  These products are necessary to remove the smell left behind.  It is important to completely remove the smell, as this will trigger your puppy to go to the same spot to relieve himself. 

As mentioned above, you will need to have a collar and leash on your puppy at all times when out of the crate, with someone monitoring at all times.  The closer your puppy is watched, the faster and greater your success will be.

Just as a note: Some pups and older dogs will actually chew their bedding, socks, or articles of clothing, and ingest it. Two dog owners have now told me about the huge vet bills they had when their dogs did that. Be careful what you use inside the crate to keep that from happening!

HOW DO I TEACH MY PUPPY NOT TO CRY IN HIS CRATE?

Your puppy will learn to whine or bark when they have to go out, which is good.  If there is unnecessary barking and whining, try this.  During the day, keep a spray bottle of water on top of the crate.  Every time your puppy whines or barks unnecessarily, spray him in the face, saying "hush" at the same time.  This works excellent if done consistently!

At night, there might be a fight at first, but don't worry, he will learn! When I am house-breaking a puppy, I put the crate beside the couch, and sleep there for the first few nights (so that my husband can get some sleep!) Remember that this is a big adjustment for your new puppy, expect some crying.  After taking him out to relieve himself, bring your puppy in, and put him immediately into the crate with the treat. Because you know that he has used the bathroom, you will know that he just wants out if he cries. Get everything you need, turn the lights off, then do not talk to your puppy, not even for reassuring! Talking will only encourage him to make a fuss. Give him a chance to settle on his own first!  If constant crying continues, try these following methods.  Every time he makes a noise, shake a can that has some coins in it. The noise will startle and quiet the puppy, and stop the whining. If that doesn't work, you can use this next technique, but with caution! Remember that he/she is just a baby. Attach the leash to the collar and thread it through one of the slots in the crate. Keep this in hand with the lights out, never speaking. Right when the puppy whines or barks, snap and release the leash. I had one particularly noisy puppy that this worked great on, just be careful you don't snap it too hard! You will be able to tell when he is settled. Expect him to cry to go out every few hours the first few nights. These times will grow longer and longer, until he is in the crate all night long, and only has to go out in the morning.

MY PUPPY IS RELIEVING HIMSELF IN THE HOUSE, HOW DO I STOP IT?

If you can totally avoid his ever going in the house, he will not establish the habit! When you do have him out of the crate, in the house, leave a leash on him with someone monitoring at all times!  Usually they will walk away from you and search in circles, sniffing before actually relieving themselves. When you see that, say "Do you have to go out?", then take him out.  If he starts to go, before getting him outside, (only if he is right in the middle of going) sharply pull the leash, say a cue word such as nein (German for the word no), scoop him up gently and let him finish outside. Do not punish! The sharp pull and word of correction lets him know that he did something wrong. Contrary to what people might say, pups don't know that they have done something wrong after the fact that it happened. The correction needs to be given right when the wrong action is being done, then redirection to what you want him to do needs to be given, that way they learn their boundaries. Give lots of praise when he completes the task outside! If he doesn't finish going outside, when you bring him back into the house, put him back into the crate, wait awhile, then take him back outside. A short playtime inside the house is safe after you make sure that he has gone both outside. The most common times he will have to go potty will be after waking up, after eating or drinking, and during periods of hard play.

BITING HAS BECOME A PROBLEM, HOW CAN I STOP IT?

First of all, puppies teethe, just like babies, and it feels good to him when he chews. Have a toy on hand to push into his mouth when he tries to bite at, or chew on you. Some puppies are more dominant, and that is their way of being in charge. In that case, keep a mist spray bottle of water with you while handling your puppy.  Right when he goes to bite you, direct a spray to the face, say "nein", then when he gets over the shock, offer him a favorite toy.  Consistency is the key, this method is excellent and really gets their attention! If your puppy happens to love water, you can use vinegar water to direct the spray into the mouth (they don't like that taste at all!).  Eventually you will notice him only licking at you or just wagging his tail and lifting his head to be petted. Tell him what a good puppy he is when he does good!

HOW DO I STOP MY PUPPY FROM CHEWING ON THE WRONG THINGS?

Again, keep the leash on when he is out of his crate. Keep plenty of toys on hand for him to play with, he will learn what is to play with, and what is not by consistent training.  When he heads for something to chew on, that he is not supposed to (such as a table leg, or something lying on the floor), just as he goes to bite the object, use your mist bottle to spray him in the face, with your word of correction.  Eventually you can just show him the bottle and say "ah, ah" and he will learn to stop what he is doing.  Offer a toy in place of what he was going to chew on. Be consistent, and he will learn.

HOW DO I STOP NUISANCE BARKING?

With leash on, keep your spray bottle with you at all times when he is out of the crate.  Right when he goes go bark, spray the face saying "ah, ah" at the same time.  This has to be done quickly and every time he barks.   If the water doesn't faze him, you can use vinegar water to spray directly into the mouth, they don't like this!  This method works excellent when done consistently.

HOW DO I TEACH MY PUPPY TO COME WHEN CALLED?

Start off by keeping your puppy on the leash or long line at all times, inside and outside. Keep your treats on hand for rewards. While walking on the leash, say his name, walk backwards and say the word "come", and gently pull the leash to get him to come to you. Give your treat and lots of praise when he comes. Eventually he will understand, and will start to come consistently. When you reach that stage, have him learn to come while inside, off of the leash. If he starts to ignore, go back to the leash training. When he comes consistently inside, start working on the recall in a fenced in yard with a long leash. There will be distractions, so you will have to get him coming consistently on the long leash first. When he comes every time on the long leash, start off leash training in your enclosed outside area. Eventually, you will be able to take your older puppy to a safe large outside area to try the recall off leash. Avoid a lot of distractions at first, until you are confident that he has it down pat. It is really excellent to reach this point, and even have him come from far away, just by your whistle, awesome!

WHAT IS A GOOD WAY TO TEACH MY PUPPY HOW TO SIT?

Start off by keeping treats with you wherever you go, eventually he will be weaned off the treats, but you want to make it worth his while to obey you!  My dogs love Pupperoni Brand treats that can easily be broken into small 1/2" pieces.  With your puppy on the leash, get his attention, step up in front of him, show him the treat, then bring it up to your chest, while stepping up closer to your dog.  This does two things, it makes him look up and teaches him a hand signal that will replace the treats over time.   Your puppy should automatically sit, because it's uncomfortable for him to look up while standing.  Be patient, it may take several times for him to catch on.  As soon as his bottom hits the floor, say "Yes!"  This marks the good behavior and is a reward in itself.  At first, give the treat immediately, then say "o.k." to release him from sit.  Keep these sessions short at first or he will learn to break from the position and defeat what you are trying to teach him.  I eventually give the treat after releasing and saying "o.k.", then wean off of the treats completely when he knows the hand signal.  If your pup keeps jumping up to get the treat, hold it lower and let him nibble just the end while sitting, pull away if he gets up, use your hand signal again and make him sit. Once he consistently sits with the hand signal,  you can add the word "sit" at the same time.  Do this consistently, and he will learn quickly.  Teach stay by using your hand, palm out, in front of his face.  Remove your hand then release with "o.k." Start with a three second sit, then eventually work up to a five minute sit (over time!) I make my dogs sit for everything, which teaches them that I am the leader.  On walks when you stop, at meal time, when guests come and greet your puppy (see below under jumping to teach sit and greet), and also sitting by the door before going out teaches them not to bolt out the door. 

On rare occasions, there is a puppy that will not respond to the above method.  If this is the case, try this.  With leash on, put your hand under his chin and your other hand on the curve at the back of his rear leg.  Gently push his head up and push your hand forward to make him fold into a sit. This is another excellent way and works well.  We avoid pressing down on the hips as this can cause joint problems.  When he is sitting, make your hand signal with the treat and proceed as above. 

WHAT DO I DO TO KEEP MY PUPPY FROM JUMPING ON PEOPLE

First, teach your puppy sit, covered in the section above.  Each time someone comes near, have your puppy sit.  He will be excited at first and want to greet the person, use your leash to stop him from jumping up.  Once he is sitting, keep the treat in your hand and let him nibble it, while sitting, and have your guest or family member pet him.  Keep the treat available while being petted.  Eventually, this will become a habit if you do this consistently with everyone he meets and the treat will not be necessary.

I hope these suggestions are a help to you as you start your relationship with your new family member! Please remember that this is not a replacement for professional training.  These are some tips that I have learned over the years that are humane and successful if done properly, and have proven to work for me.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Just remember to be consistent with your discipline, and lavish with your praise for doing right, and you will have a wonderful companion that everyone will love to be around!

Good Luck With Your New Puppy, Let Me Know How Everything Is Going!

Janet Wright

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