| Re: Please help first time puppy & Rott owner questions
IMO new puppies are like new babies in any household, they both take time and lots of love and care to get settled-in. Rotties are great companion dogs and they do (for the most part) like to follow you around and just be with you in general. They are pretty time-intensive, but then anything worth having in life generally takes time and effort. What made you choose a Rottie?
The puppy-kinder classes should be great fun as well as a real learning/bonding experience for both of you. It'll also help to swap stories/tips with other puppy owners and help get Smokey socialised. So many people miss the importance of classes like these in the early days. Kudos to you for making the time and effort to take Smokey.
As with most puppies the first few months are the most imprintable - ie what they learn during this period tends to stick with them for life, so where possible their experiences should be positive with lots of love and affection, which I'm sure Smokey gets from you and your family.
Personally, I don't think it's ideal to crate a young puppy during both the day and at night, but if this is what you have to do then I think the suggestions re. placing the crate in your bedroom, putting a T-shirt (or similar item which smells of you), over the top, creating a snug and cosy environment in the crate and giving Smokey treats/food in the crate as well as placing toys in there and leaving the door open when he's in there sometimes will all help.
Ultimately, you want Smokey to see the crate as 'his cosy place' (not too territorial) and somewhere he likes to 'hang out'. However, if Smokey's in his crate most of the day, then he may come to regard it as a punishment, rather than a nice place to be.
Most important of all I'd say, is really do take the time to enjoy Smokey's puppyhood and to let him enjoy it too (Rottie puppies are such loveable characters). It passes all too quickly and the time and effort you put in now will be reflected right back at you as he grows into an adult.
Best of luck! I'd love to hear how he gets on.  |