Outside drama, need advice

[Flower]

Okay, Chai is being kept in his playpen, I try and take him to his wee-wee pad, poo is easy, he whines to go. How often should I take him out to pee? Every hour...2 hours? He gives no warning, he just squats and goes... Today I am going to time him and see if I can get a grip on this.

I was taking him outside, in my yard only right now, since he is still getting puppy shots. Second round of shots are due this week. There is work being done on my street, and the loud trucks freak him out. I pretended it was all normal to not add to his anxiety, but he really wanted to high tail it back to the house... he wasn't interested at all in going potty. He still managed to play with a stick and a few leaves, so he wasn't terrified. He just really jumped when one of the trucks made a loud bang and hissing sound...so I just took him in (walking calmly to not freak him out any more).

Sigh....Of all the summers to decide for my street to be worked on, it had to be the one when I have a new puppy to train. Should I continue to take him out even when the trucks are out there, or just stick to the wee-wee pads for now?

I should be able to puppy proof my yard this week, so he will be allowed in the back yard to run free and play... does anyone have advice on that? I do have an older German shepherd, whom he wants to follow everywhere including the yard... Atticus fears nothing, but he will bark at trucks and people getting too close...will hanging out with Atticus help puppy adjust, or teach him to bark at everything? Until Chai is older I will be standing guard out there with them.

His personality: At 11 weeks old, Chai is not skittish, he is more curious about EVERYTHING. He doesn't fear the vacuum cleaner, or carpet cleaner. Both my German shepherds were sure those were monsters (Atticus has since learned to ignore them and go lay down...as long as they don't get too close). Chai gave them a sniff and tried to play with them, because they moved. I didn't allow it, but at least he wasn't fearful.

He is doing so well, and I don't want to ingrain any problems such as barking like a lunatic stemming from fear or anxiety.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Hmmm Atticus barks and patrols.... and the little guy is a Sheltie who has his hero Atticus..... Give up on the barking now

 

[Piper's mom]

Oh the joys of housetraining a puppy .....I remember it well lol. Hard to say how often but at 11 weeks they can't hold it for long, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, plus anytime after they play, get excited, wake up, and eat (in other words all the time ). Piper would start to sniff the carpet as he walked around (looking for a place to go) and I'd quickly get him outside. I also trained Piper to ring a bell when he had to go outside (he was around 14 weeks when I did that) it seemed to help him understand that he had to go outside to do his business.
For the loud noises from the trucks, you could maybe take a toy he likes outside and when he gets scared try to distract him with it.
I remember I also got him used to going on command when I said go pee and we were able to go for drives to mall parking lots or school yards so he could see different things/socialize him and I'd put a wee wee pad in the hatch of my car and he was able to pee there (prior to having all his shots, plus parvovirus was bad here so we didn't go for walks and such until he'd had all his shots). It sounds like your doing all the right things for Chai and I'm sure in no time you'll start noticing that the length of time between pees increasing and less accidents in the house. One thing I'd suggest is to take Chai outside without Atticus, having another dog around can be too distracting to a puppy especially when you want them to do their business.

 

[Flower]

Oh the joys of housetraining a puppy .....I remember it well lol. Hard to say how often but at 11 weeks they can't hold it for long, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, plus anytime after they play, get excited, wake up, and eat (in other words all the time ). Piper would start to sniff the carpet as he walked around (looking for a place to go) and I'd quickly get him outside. I also trained Piper to ring a bell when he had to go outside (he was around 14 weeks when I did that) it seemed to help him understand that he had to go outside to do his business.
For the loud noises from the trucks, you could maybe take a toy he likes outside and when he gets scared try to distract him with it.
I remember I also got him used to going on command when I said go pee and we were able to go for drives to mall parking lots or school yards so he could see different things/socialize him and I'd put a wee wee pad in the hatch of my car and he was able to pee there (prior to having all his shots, plus parvovirus was bad here so we didn't go for walks and such until he'd had all his shots). It sounds like your doing all the right things for Chai and I'm sure in no time you'll start noticing that the length of time between pees increasing and less accidents in the house. One thing I'd suggest is to take Chai outside without Atticus, having another dog around can be too distracting to a puppy especially when you want them to do their business.

Yep... I learned that lesson pretty quick. Not to mention poor Atticus can't do his business either, Chai thinks he is a play buddy. At firat Chai was leashed and Atticus headed for parts of the yard where he can't follow...YET. I have started taking Chai out front, outside of the play yard alone.

SheepOfBlue: I was told by the breeder to shake a can, and say "No Bark" or use a spray bottle when outside, to teach Chai not to bark on command. (She supplied the can and bottle)That noisy can had my Mother and Atticus so nervous (Atticus won't eat if he is upset, 96 pounds and I can see every rib) So that I couldn't do that... Instead I used the spray bottle ... Right now, Atticus barks and Chai gets behind him and just watches alert, but does not join in.

So far Chai has learned not to bark, if he barks and I say "No Bark" he stops...I only had to use that bottle 3Xs the first couple of days. LOL...I leave the bottle next to my chair where he can see it. I haven't needed it for the last 2 weeks. One bark, one command... that's all it takes.

My concern is that I don't want him to start anxiety barking, I call that... little dog syndrome, because they are afraid of everything. That would be something I want to avoid. He has every freedom to bark at the proper times.

 

[Piper's mom]

I had a problem with Piper with his anxious barking, we'd be out for a walk and he'd bark at kids...Halloween decorations...skateboarders...kids on bikes...everything lol. I thought he'd grow out of it, then we were at his obedience and he did it there and wouldn't stop so the trainer grabbed his scruff and gave a quick shake and said STOP IT! and he did, it was amazing. I asked her about his barking and she said he did it because I allowed it. So after that if he barked at something (and it wasn't just barking but growling too lol) I'd give him a quick shake, say stop it, and when he did I'd praise him. Now at 11 months he's really good on walks, doesn't bark at kids or even those inflatable Christmas decorations lol.