We are going to be adding a darling little (for now!) Newfoundland puppy to our family. I have never had a dog before, and my husband grew up with rescue animals, so has ever had a puppy. Although it's expensive, we plan to have a professional trainer come to help me train her, so I don't really need help with obedience training. Tips on potty training, however, would be most appreciated. Also, any suggestions specific to the Newfoundland breed would be great, as well as general ideas for the things we're going to need for her. She will be coming home in three weeks. Thanks in advance!
Crate training is a must. I have a bulldog and his crate is in the kitchen. He hangs out in it when I am cooking, sleeps in it at night, ect.
We have an American bulldog, which is a large (not as large as Newfoundland)dog. The most important thing in my experience is not to start habits with her as a cute puppy, that she cannot continue as a big dog. Give her lots and lots of exercise. I believe in the Dog Whisperer method of a tired dog is a good dog. Best of luck.
We've always had Cocker Spaniels and a poodle.
I strongly recommend lots of chew toys! We had 1 Cocker that chewed everything and cost us a fortune.
I used a great book "Good Owners, Great Dogs" by Brian Kilcommons with my last puppy. GREAT book - talks about crate training. That dog NEVER had an accident in the house. Good luck!
Have you spent time around a full grown Newfoundland? If not it would be a good idea to do so before you bring your "little darling" home because she's not going to be so little even as a puppy. Also make sure the breeder you are getting her from has had her hips and elbows checked for dysplasia. Check out this website for more information on the breed: http://www.ncanewfs.org/index.shtml
The biggest tip we had for potty training was ever time we took him out of his kennell we took him straight to the play pen we had set up. I tapped doggie mats to the floor in the play pen and he would go potty there. He soon learned that that is where he was to go to the bathroom at.
Latter I took the doggie mats and would move them by the door or if he had an accident in the house place a doggie matt there so he would associate the mats witht he bathroom. Eventually i moved them by the door and now he goes to the door evertime he has to go outside.
Our puppy is 14 months and he has been housebroke since last summer so this method seemed to work really well.
