Dog update. We have a new family member! Pix added to OP

[Tap]

 Wow! What a whirlwind few days. I posted a month ago about possibly adopting a Golden-doodle from a neighbor of a friend.  We had planned a 2 part meet and greet with the dog and all was good in the first day, but they canceled on us about 30 minutes before the second day. FFwd 1 month. I got a text about 6pm last Wednesday and they were ready to let her come live with us. The dad had some second thoughts on letting her go the fist time 😞. He loves this dog, but she is too much for their current life style.  He was finally ready, so called us again. I didn't want a repeat of the first stall-out, so I went and picked her up that night at 8:30pm. LOL  

She is 2yo and came the first family directly from a breeder. I don't have the paperwork, so I don't know what caliber (hopefully not a puppy mill, but obviously one who mixes breeds). I don't have a good picture yet, but will post when I do. She is golden, curly, and has hazel eyes. She is high energy, but not destructive. She reminds me more of a 9 mth old puppy than a 2 year old, but part of it I think is lack of training (or encouraging bad habits lol).  She can sit on command (barely) and will shake but I am not sure if she understands the command or just tries to paw a treat out of your hand. We have a lot of work to do, but it will be fun for dd13 to have something to research and work on. 

She lived with 2 other dogs, and I am surprised how well she is doing without them. Im sure she is confused, but you can't tell by her behavior. DD13 is keeping her busy!  She seems very content to be here and honestly, if someone didn't know better, it would seem like she had lived her forever.  The family blessed us, and gave her to us for free. I couldn't believe it, considering how expensive dogs are in our area. I got a  bill of sale for her and they are sending her vaccination history. The form we signed, had a clause that we will return her if we need to get rid of her. This makes me feel a bit better in case these first few weeks are horrible and we don't think we will fit together. As of now, everything is quite predictable.

DD cried when I brought her home 🙂 She is sooo Happy to have a buddy!

A couple questions: 

What training method works with high energy distractible 2yo dogs? LOL She seriously needs some training right away. 

She piddles a bit when she is excited. Any ideas on this one?

I would like to take her to play in the creek and fields. Let her Golden Retriever personality have some fun!  Any BTDT advice for not getting my car trashed on the way home to a bath? LOL  She is curly, so I can't just towel dry her without a bunch of tangles. (DD21 had a bish-poo and she would have to hold him on the way home in a towel), 

They say she likes to chew and gave us some non-rawhide but similar style bones. I gave her one two days ago, and she hasn't touched it. It makes me think the other dogs liked them better than she did. LOL I bought her a few chew toys, but wonder what you would recommend? They said she de-stuffs fluffy toys. I bought her a synthetic bone and a stuffed toy with an ultra-sonic squeaker. I know she will likely destroy it when she gets a hole in it, but it has lasted a few days. I wonder if her chewing was more of a puppy trait that is lessened now with age, or if we will see it come out more with time. I would think that stress would bring it out more (especially if she did it for calming), but stress does weird things to people and animals. 

The fed her 1/2 lb of Fresh Pet daily and Rachel Ray Nutrish. I am ok with this, but wonder about the quality? Any suggestions? 

Any other advice is welcome. I am really new to having a dog in current times. We had them growing up, but it was a different world then. 

 

Edited August 8, 2020 by Tap

[mommyoffive]

Congrats

[Pen]

My dog likes to pull stuffed squirrels out of a stuffed log.  He also likes to fetch the squirrels and play tug with the log.

I think several companies make this sort of toy. Other things can be put in the log and it helps to put a hand in and pop the squirrels in and out and squeak them enticingly. 

he also likes soft dog frisbee and other toys like that...   and stretchy toys   And a huge stuffed snake with sqeakers

bully sticks to chew    

Currently mine is getting a huge hunk of frozen raw food which keeps him busy for a few hours  or frozen lamb neck  I don’t do that in winter but in summer it’s like a dog popsicle 

cover the car seats   At least sheets or towels.  We have waterproof dog seat covers. 

We also have dog travel towel and dog bowl etc. 

luring with treats methods or clicker might work well with an energetic two yo dog .  There are lots of books and videos on how to do it. 

Excitable piddling is not her fault — she may grow out of it.  Doggy diapers when in situations where piddling is a problem can manage it. 

[Pen]

ZippyPaws - Woodland Friends Burrow, Interactive Squeaky Hide and Seek Plush Dog Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PFB3HG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x3GlFbG6WJDP6

(It only takes a moment to pull the toys out of the holes, so it isn’t a dog plays alone for hours toy but needs human to make it interesting and stuff them backnin and squeak and wiggle enticingly.)  

this is my dog’s favorite toy...   he has had additional extra inner animals for the log - I guess at least originals were chipmunks not squirrels 

 

Edited August 8, 2020 by Pen

[SounderChick]

My dd13 got a 10 month old dog a few months ago.  She watched and rewatches the Great Course Dog training 101 on great on courses plus.  Its been great it teaches all the basic commands. Plus how and why training that way works and how to build your a plan for your own tricks.

 

[mumto2]

Congratulations,  I remember your first thread and am glad it worked out! 🙂

[Scarlett]

So excited for you!,

[katilac]

4 hours ago, Tap said:

 She piddles a bit when she is excited. 

Relatable. 

[Pawz4me]

For seat protection I like back seat hammocks. There are tons to choose from, and all of then appear to get good ratings. The one I linked is a random pick for an example. I have an old one that's probably close to twenty years old. It's ragged but still functional. My current non-shedding little dogs don't need it, but I still use it when we have larger foster dogs. Obligatory comment--the safest way to transport her is in a hard sided crate, if you can fit one into your vehicle. And of course that also contains most mess.

Also, you might get an Absorber. They're awesome for drying dogs (note the first five star review is about a Goldendoodle). You don't really rub like with a towel, it's more of a squeezing the dog kind of action. It's hard to describe and they take a bit of getting used to, but they really do work very well. You have to wring out the Absorber as you work, since it really does absorb so much water. Mine is about eight years old and still works fine. I wouldn't be without one.

Chew toys really are individual. Unfortunately you just have to try some until you find what the particular dog likes.

For dogs who like to destuff things I give them old socks. Stuff a sock or three inside a larger sock and tie it closed. Most dogs will work and work to get the knot undone, and then destuff the socks. And then you just stuff them back in and retie. I know there's a theory that dogs will then think your good socks are toys, and maybe I've been stupidly lucky, but I've yet to meet a dog out of the puppy stage who was that dumb. But we also don't tend to leave socks laying around. They're either clean in a drawer, on our feet, or in a hamper. Possibly we would have had huge problems if we left a lot of dirty socks around.

Food -- I don't keep up with it like I used to, but years ago when I did I was poking around one day and found a transcript of a board of directors meeting for Fresh Pet. I was tremendously impressed by the amount of time they spent discussing food safety issues. It's a food I use from time to time, with no hesitation. I don't know anything about Nutrish.

Excitement/submissive piddling is a very common problem and usually occurs in "softer" dogs--dogs who are real people pleasers and have no (or at least very few) dominance or aggression issues. So that's a good thing, IMO. Most dogs outgrow it to some extent, if not completely. She's probably doing more of it because of the new environment. About all you can do is try to keep things as calm and low key as possible. Don't loom over her. Don't even praise too effusively until you get a handle on her threshold for triggering it. Keep her on hard flooring as much as possible when greeting or training.

Congratulations!

Edited August 8, 2020 by Pawz4me
typo

[Guest]

Awww, Im a little bit jealous. Congrats! 

[ktgrok]

With the submissive peeing, try not to stare right at her, or lean over her, etc. so instead angle your body sideways, and instead of leaning over squat instead, or sit on the ground. And NEVER scold her for it or you will make it way worse. It is a very polite, appeasing behavior that says, "I'm just a little puppy, I respect your authority" and if you scold her she will think she wasn't quite polite enough and do it even MORE, lol. 

So be matter of fact, calm, and don't loom over her. She'll outgrow it. 

[Pawz4me]

53 minutes ago, peacelovehomeschooling said:

I'm so happy for you and your family.   Dogs are simply the best!   Did you post a picture and I missed it?  I would love to see her!

As for the excited peeing....my 10 month old puppy does the same thing.  My husband calls him the "happy dribbler".    We just ignore it.  My vet said that some dogs do it....some outgrow it and some don't.  It doesn't look like mine is going to (or he is still too young to know yet).

Still too young. I've known many dogs who were two+ years old before they outgrew it.

Also, something that can help is to teach the dog lots and lots of things--commands and tricks, anything you can think of. Often a dog who knows things is a more confident dog, and building confidence can help.

[73349]

Congratulations!

Picture?

[mommyoffive]

Awwwwww so cute. 

[Pen]

Thanks for pic!

that absorber towel looks interesting 

[stephanier.1765]

No advice but I wanted to say - she is gorgeous! What a baby doll. 💗

[MercyA]

Congrats, she is a beautiful girl! 🎈🎉❤️

All of my dogs have enjoyed Nylabone FlexiChew bones. I do NOT recommend the Nylabone DuraChew bones. One of my dogs broke a tooth on one. 

My dog still occasionally peed from excitement when she was two, I think. She has outgrown it, but I still take her outside just before my daughter's friends come over, just in case! 

Hope she is settling in well!