Hi Celia!

What was your puppy’s name? Also, what group are you in? Did you name your second puppy yet? How exciting!

There are a few reasons why I like keeping my pup on leash at a young age:

1. I think things have changed a little at GDA since I haven’t had a GDA pup in a couple years, but as far as I know our pups put their collar and leash on for the first time on pickup day. One of the things I liked to do is get them used to the leash as soon as possible working with them constantly on not biting or chewing their leash, collar, and tags. So I usually keep the leash on in the office and at the home office.
2. Also, it’s a little bit easier to keep them under control when you have the leash on them while playing, training, etc.
3. I used the small leash as a tie down when in the office.

Of course if you have questions it’s probably best to talk to your group leader or the puppy department.

Have fun picking up your puppy! Always one of my favorite days.

Colby

@Jennifer Dublin does like chewing on his leash. I spray Dublin’s leash with bitter apple spray to keep him from chewing on it. I’ve heard bitter apple works with some puppies and some it does not.

We’re lucky Dublin hasn’t chewed on the furniture or the plants, but our last puppy, Derby chewed on both. When we noticed Derby chewing on anything inappropriate we did our best to redirect his attention to his toys, sterile bones, or pressed rawhide bones. Over time it seemed to work out with Derby.

Another problem we’ve had with all our Labrador Retriever puppies is that they try to pick up all the leaves (pretty much anything they see on the ground) when we are on our walks. It feels like we’re constantly saying “no”. So far in our experience, over time they eventually learn not to try and pick up everything off the ground. We just do our best to stay consistent, persistent, and patient.

We’ve been very busy, but we’ll try to post more to the blog.

By the way, Lowe is adorable!

@Pamela Dublin learned how to sit-stay for his food very quickly it’s something we started working on since the day he came home. Thanks for following our blog!

@Lisa Thanks! We’re working hard with Dublin and he’s a very fast learner. Thanks for following our blog. By the way, please let me know if you’re ever interested in guest posting. I’m sure our readers would love to hear about puppy raising with KSDS.

@James Linus is a rescue and I had the best intentions to keep him off the furniture, but his grandparents allowed him on the furniture when they puppy sat him and it was difficult to not let them spoil him.

Stetson was very good about not going on the furniture, but when Derby came home Stetson couldn’t get away from him and eventually I allowed him to jump up on the bed. However, he didn’t start jumping up on the sofa until Dublin came home a few weeks ago.

It makes it a little more difficult when training the puppies, but they eventually realize that they aren’t allowed up on the furniture even though Stetson and Linus are up there.

I would love to hear many, many more training tips. I was hoping Dublin would publish lots of them in his news feed but no such luck. here is a link to a blog I type about Lowe’s progress. Maybe you can give me suggestions? There aren’t nearly enough answers out there!

http://jenpinder.blogspot.com/