Bringing Lubo home on Wednesday :) Any hints or tips?

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blood_magik

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My wee "rescue" dog, Lubo, comes home on Wednesday. :smile3:
I've been to see him a few times since he was neutered and I think we're starting to bond. At the end of our session yesterday he decided that he wanted his belly scratched and promptly sprawled out on top of my feet. :biggrin3:

It's been a while since I had a dog so I'm a bit nervous about bringing him home. I've put a baby gate up so he'll be restricted to the ground floor of the house for the first few weeks when I go out - the floor is wooden so I figured it would be easier to clean if there were any accidents.
Other than that, I'm going to be winging it a bit until we find a routine that suits both of us. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. :smile3:

He's already been spoiled - my parents decided to buy his beds and he's now got not one, but two of those lovely squishy joules cushions. :tongue3:

I can't wait to bring this little guy home. :biggrin3:
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I've made a start on that already. :smile3:
He keeps trying to jump up onto the seats so I've been telling him to get down and rewarding him when he does.

I've been told that he might bark - am I best ignoring him when he does so he doesn't associate barking with getting attention?
 
blood_magik said:
I've made a start on that already. :smile3:
He keeps trying to jump up onto the seats so I've been telling him to get down and rewarding him when he does.

I've been told that he might bark - am I best ignoring him when he does so he doesn't associate barking with getting attention?
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If you say down to get him off something what will you say when you want him ot lie down. My first obedience dog was progressing brilliantly, started working at A at just over a year old -when she started moving sideways on down. My dad had started pushing her off the sofa using down instead of off - she took the instruction to be move over.
Sort out a full set of words ASAP and don't make the common mistake of using stay for wait or saying "sit down" for sit.
I ended up saying flat or hand signals for down.
 
How exciting!

I was like this with mine, kept buying stuff! hehe

As S4sugar says, using the word "off" is better I you want the do to get off something or not jump up o you etc. That is if you intend on using the word "down" to ask him to lie don anyway!

Essentially, sort out some command you want to use and don't use the same one to ask for different things!

Oh, and winter is on its was so I am sure Lubo will want a nice winter coat, ooh and a xmas novelty jumper.....! hehe :D
 
I bought him a joules coat to match one of my horses turnouts :o
poor boy :tongue3:

I'll have a think about commands tonight - going to spend some more time with him tomorrow afternoon so I should probably have that sorted before I see him.
 
Be very consistent as already mentioned and ensure everyone else is too. It'll make life loads easier in the long run. Give him tons of kisses, nice food, exercise and discipline! And take many pictures for us lot!
 
thanks guys :smile3:

I'm just back from seeing him - he wasnt very happy with me wearing my skip cap (wouldn't come near me) but soon came round after I took it off and he realised I had treats. So lots to work on still...
 
Try to prevent him getting on the sofa in the first place if you can by making the floor a nice place to be, otherwise he may work out that if he jumps on the sofa, you tell him to get off then give him a treat. Hence, if he wants a sweet, he'll jump onto the sofa! Keep him to the floor by using things like Kongs etc, if you see him eyeing the sofa up a firm 'ahh' can help - before he jumps up. You can also leave a light houseline attached (like a short length of string attached to his collar) and use this to guide him off gently if he does leap up (you could take his collar but depends on the dog, some find that intimidating and he is new to you after all, so I'd stick to the house line, then you can teach him separately that people taking his collar is a good thing):)
 
See, this is why I asked for hints and tips. :tongue3: I wasn't involved in training our last dog and Lubo will probably be set in his ways given that he's only had one previous owner before the shelter.

He'll have a bed in the living room if he wants to use it and I've got him a kong to keep him occupied - he destroyed a plush squeaky toy today and I had to take it off him before he ate the stuffing so he won't be getting anything like that when I'm not around to supervise.

Thanks for the tip about the loop of string :smile3:
 
brilliant, thank you :smile3:

He is a sweetie - I'm sure he'll be a massive sook once we get to know each other a bit better. The shelter said that he likes nothing better than sitting on your lap. :o
 
Nothing handier than a dog trained to jump onto the sofa and curl up behind your knees as soon as you get a spare blanket out - 'hot water bottle' is the best thing I ever taught him! :D
 
yup.. :smile3:
spent ages last night making sure I'd put away anything chewable (apart from my ex's socks - they're fair game :tongue3:) so he's not tempted.
Now all I have to do is sit through a lecture (:cool3:) about being a responsible dog owner before I bring him home. :biggrin3:
 
Is he from Dogs Trust? (thought he looks to have their yellow harness and lead on). If so, the lecture isn't too long but yes, you do just want to get them and take them home and give them time to settle.

Good luck. Hope to see more pictures later! :)
 
yup, he's from dogs trust.
that's good news then - it's far too early for a long lecture. :tongue3:

just about to leave. will definitely get some pics up once he's settled in.

thanks for all the advice. here goes... :smile3:
 
ladyt25 said:
I can see one of them. I think he is just how mine is going to look in a few years - wonder if they're related.....?
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I have no idea what breed he is but they look very similar.

amymay said:
He looks very happy.

Really, really good luck with him.
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Thank you. :smile3:

ETA: think he's tired himself out - he's currently lying at my feet, snoring. :tongue3:
 
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Happy looking lad, think he knows he has fallen on his feet. Please excuse my paranoia but that ball looks a bit small in his mouth,it could just be the camera angle but I would always recommend a ball on a rope, or failing that one that is quite a bit bigger than their mouth.
 
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