Hey Auntie Val will take some kisses, too!!
Good link BR and yes I'm a fan of crate training. Tamsen was the first
pup I'd ever used a crate with... and she was completely, reliably
(to the point of being left loose in the house at night) housetrained,
NO accidents, by 11 1/2 weeks old. Can't beat it.
Vigilance is key. I think the rule for them being able to "hold it" is
1 hour for every month of age, so puppers should only be asked to
wait for 2 hours right now. That's the rule, but if it were me training
a pup again (and I plan on never doing another!
) I'd go
overboard on the trips outside. ALWAYS go with her to her potty spot,
act like a maniac with the praise when she goes. Take her out after eating,
after naps, after play... lots.
For the chewing and dominance issues, what BR said about the NO's
and the "alpha rolls" are very good. I would only add, she is NOT too
young to practice NILIF (Nothing In Life is Free) with. I'd nip this
stuff in the bud right now while she's small. Here is a basic website,
if you want to get into it more there are others.
http://www.k9deb.com/nilif.htm
Don't cater to the puppy. (Except of course for her potty needs!) Her
wolf ancestors would have taught her her place in your pack, minus those
guys you will have to do it. Get the whole family on board with this, it
isn't going to work if one person tells her no for something and the other
one laughs at the behavior. (AHEM, Tamsen turned out fine but her daddy
was guilty of this!!)
For chewies, one thing I liked to do was get some baguettes, cut them
in pieces, and leave them on top of the fridge or something until they
dry out. They won't hurt the pup if she consumes them, and will give
her a workout meanwhile. Any time she goes for something she shouldn't,
SUBSTITUTE. Rotate toys, if she needs it (Tamsen did) and stick one of
those in her mouth. Something called a "Kong" is good, you can put
peanut butter in them and they work forever getting it out.
If you don't want to go the crate route, you can tether her next to
you at night. With her own bed. I'd say she's not allowed on any
furniture for a loooong time, but that's really up to you.
When you take her in for her vet exam, you might ask them about
picking her water up at a certain time in the evening. Helps make for
fewer nightime trips. I never did this, though, didn't feel I needed to and
worries about other problems (UTI's) if I did.
I'm so excited for you!! Pat her pink little puppy tummy for me!!
:-4