I have 2 GPS that are 8 weeks. Should training be done on a one to one basis? Will training both at the same time hurt them and delay the process? How long does it take? Any one know of a website or even a book that can help and give information about the needs a GPS requires?
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You should do it together. They will feed off of each other like children.
Your Vet should be able to answer some of your questions. As for housebreaking, you need to get a leash and collar for both of them and take them out first thing in the morning, and, if possible, several times during the day, especially after they eat. They’re still babies, and that’s what all babies need.
The best training in the house that I know of is to put down newspapers and confine them to a relatively small area, like the bathroom. They have each other for company, so they shouldn’t cry too much. Change the paper that they’ve used often. As they get older, some say you can move the paper closer to the door you take them out for walks, they’ll get the idea, then put the paper outside, a porch, or at the bottom of the steps, etc. By that time, they should be old enough to “hold it” till you take them out for their walks.
Have you tried the Web for info about them?
Have them neutered soon, or the male will start marking his “territory” by wetting on your walls and furniture. Talk to your Vet as to what and when such things should be done.
If you plan to raise more of them, going through the mating game, you may need to keep them in kennels to stay in control of that aspect of living with your doggies.
2 puppies at once, you brave woman you!
Crate training is the best/easiest way to housebreak your new pals. I have a 14 week old gsp, an 8mth old weimaraner and a 20 mth gsp/black lab mix. I have crate trained each of them with total success. Please do not think it is cruel to crate train, with less frustration and quicker potty training success, your house and your sanity will thank you!
When crate training, keep puppies in their crate and when it’s time to go outside always use the same word, we use “out”. Take them to the same door consistently. When they are that little it is imperative that you go out with them. Again use a key word that works for you, we use “potty”. Tell them to go potty and when they do praise them to the hills! To the point you sound stupid. With little ones at that age you will want to keep them outside for about 15 minutes to be sure there aren’t any extra surprises. Only when you’re sure they have eliminated everything outside can you take them back in the house. I then give them about 15 minutes of play time and then back in the crate. With pups of that age you must make sure to take them outside every 45 minutes to an hour. Their little bladders cannot hold much and they CANNOT hold it. They don’t have that ability until around 12 weeks. If they have an accident you must witness it to correct the behavior and don’t EVER stick their noses in it. If you catch one in the act of squatting make sure to give a firm “no”, and then “out”, walk them to the door- always the same exit to outside will hinder confusion. Walk out with them and say potty. Don’t ever assume they finished in the house, correct the behavior by showing them where you want them to go. What will delay the process is inconsistency. Make sure to feed them at around the same time everyday or free feed making sure to take them out every hour or so. Keep a diary of when they go after eating, this will help to show a pattern. Remember that puppies almost always have to go after consuming anything.
Training them together will help them to learn faster. They will watch each other get into trouble and will learn oooh mom doesn’t like that. It will feel like they are constantly in their crates, but this will best teach them that there are rules and limits to your house. Making sure to encourage that they walk into their crate and allowing them to walk out – don’t ever put them in or carry them out. Unless of course they are sleeping when you put them in. =) Here is a link with some information, do a search online for crate training or potty training. There is alot of information out there, but for us, this is what has worked.
Best of luck to you and congratulations on your new additions! Happy Holidays!
http://www.puppychow.com/Training/Crate_Training.aspx
http://www.shorthairs.net/
http://www.ameridogs.com/BreedGerSHPointer.htm
good luck! my mom has 1 and he is the most bull headed dog I have ever seen. She also has a German Shepherd and trained them both at the same time because they were puppies together. The GSP is housebroken but still likes to mark every once and in a while.
Wow—2 GSPs at once!
I have a 1 yr old GSP, and everything I am suggesting worked with him. I had an awesome breeder who was also a great resource.
RE House breaking: freeze dried liver.
Take a pup out on leash and when it potties, praise it like crazy and give it great treats. I used freeze dried liver and ONLY used it for housebreaking.
Take the pups out frequently and confine them if you cannot be watching them closely. More good stuff on this and other puppy training in “Before and After You Get Your Puppy” by Dr. Ian Dunbar. I housebroke my pup in nasty weather last Feb. and his book was helpful.
RE GSP training: Yahoo Groups has two good gsp groups (one is regular gsp http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GermanShtrdPointer/
the other is performance gsp http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/PerformanceGSPs/
and are a great place to start. Join them, introduce yourself and read up. Everyone on the lists is great. I am sure there are breeders who have kept 2 pups from a litter and trained them on these lists.
Another good spot to ask questions and get knowledgeable answers about GSPs is http://www.shorthairs.net/
Go to the message board section and look through the postings. This is especially good if you are going to hunt with the dogs.There have also been lots of puppy questions here in the past and they are much more active than the Yahoo groups.
General puppy stuff: Give the Yahoo groups section a search for training puppies and you’ll find a “puppy only” list where people share tips, tricks and info. A trainer runs the list and everybody give ideas and suggestions. VERY helpful, although not GSP specific.
“The German Shorthaired Pointer: An Owner’s Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet” is a great overall intro to the breed written by Nancy Campbell, the former head of GSP Rescue and a highly respected breeder. If you want to see her dogs, go to:
http://www.homesteadergsp.com/index.htm
I would suggest beginning training immediately and finding a good “puppy kindergarten” class around you. Obedience training now is a must as these dogs mature early—in other words their growth plates close at about 9 months so you will have a full-sized dog with the brain of a puppy and attitude of a 16yr old boy with a new driver’s license.
Even at 6 months these dogs no longer look “puppy” and when you have them in public people will treat them as if they are adult dogs and should act this way.
A word about kids: I don’t know if GSPs are common where you are, but they aren’t here and the spotty pattern seems to attract kids like crazy—kids whose parents do NOT seem able to restrain them. Expose the pups to kids as much as possible, and then be prepared to protect your dogs.
My dog is an angel with kids. At 6 months he would hold absolutely still while toddlers patted him—and I would need to intervene on his behalf sometimes to prevent a kid from accidentally hurting him because he would tolerate anything from a child.
My GSP is everything I could want in a dog. I Hope you enjoy your as much as I do mine.
Best wishes.
You can train them together. If your working with one, let the other watch. They will learn by watching to. Every dog is different. I found it to take an average of 2 weeks potty training on a very strict schedule to lay a good foundation with the pups.
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