**xtina78**

TheLinkBride

In case you don't check the old post in response to your question about advice...

Have you done any reading on puppy training?  Socialization and early training in manners like teaching self control is really helpful and important.  I like Patricia McConnell's Puppy Primer and Ian Dunbar's Before and After you get your puppy (except I do not like his house training advice).  I also would recommend a puppy kindergarten class (from a local training club or private certified trainer) that involves both instruction and time for puppy socialization.  I did an AKC STAR puppy class.

I think joining a samoyed board could be helpful for breed specific things like grooming.  I would recommend having a little session with your breeder to learn about grooming first hand.

If you haven't bought a collar and leash yet, samoyed and keeshond people use tubular nylon because it is the easiest on the coat and doesnt get all tangled so it doesn't hurt the dog as much.  White Pine Outfitters is one that I have used and is made by sammy people, I especially love the soft limited slip collar.

Let me know if you have other specific questions on supplies or things.

xtina78

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. I have read Ian Dunbar before and after you get your puppy and found it very helpful. I am going to pick up the Patricia McConnell book as a lot of people have recommended that. I am interested to know what you don't like about Ian Dunbar's house training advice and if you have a better source for housetraining advice. We're definitely going to do a puppy class as soon as our vet says that she is ready. I haven't done enough research yet on the different classes available in our area. The white pine leash and collar is also what our breeder recommended, thanks so much for the link!

I will definitely try to find a Sammy specific message board!

Thanks so much for your help!

Kristina 

 

 

 

TheLinkBride

Ian Dunbar recommends having an area in the house outside of the crate that the dog can potty on.  I think that this is highly confusing to puppies as you are saying that one area in the house is ok, but another area is not.  I think it's far more clear to a puppy just to teach them from the start that in your house they are to only potty outside. I know it can be tempting to have that area, but I think it causes more issues in the long run.  I house trained my puppy in two blizzards not long after he came home so I understand that it can be difficult in the winter, but it's worth it to do it right.

I think he does offer good training advice in general and socialization thoughts.  I also highly agree with Dunbar and McConnell not to wait on socialization until the puppy has received all vaccinations.  Yes, there is a risk of disease but if you avoid high traffic dog areas, research is clear that early socialization is very important.

I'm glad you heard about White Pine.  I would probably get a puppy size collar and a larger collar now that the puppy will grow into because they grow pretty quickly and that way you won't need to order again.

xtina78

Thanks again for your advice. The stuff about having the doggy toilet was confusing to me so I can only imagine it would be confusing for a dog. We are planning on having our girl potty outside from the beginning. The only thing I'm still wondering about is if how we should handle the overnights. We are planning on the pup sleeping in our bedroom in her crate at night (once she's housetrained we will let her sleep in the bed with us). My question is should I get up in the middle of the night to take her out to potty? We go to bed at 1030pm and I get up at 615. I can't imagine she could hold it that long.

TheLinkBride

You can handle the night time two ways, one is to set an alarm and take the puppy out in the middle of the night or the other is let the puppy tell you what he needs.  I worried about this too but found that my puppy did not want to be woken in the middle of the night if he was in a deep sleep so it was better to let him wake me if he needed to go and he started to hold it at night very early on.  Regardless, try to keep the lights off, speak in a quiet voice, and make any night time trip outside all business.  That way the puppy learns that you won't be playing if she wakes up in the middle of the night but you will just go out, go potty, and go back to bed without creating a big commotion.

xtina78

Thanks a lot, that sounds reasonable!

I appreciate all your help.