Standard Poodle.

[Westley]

I just got a jet black standard poodle named Barack. He's twelve weeks. Takes a lot of energy. Any suggestions on training the damned lovable furball?

He just got his Parvo shot and he's chilling on the floor bored as all hell. Not supposed to take him out too much today.

I might post pics eventually if people care. He's so black he barely shows up. It looks like a lump of black.

[latenight]

I just got a jet black standard poodle named Barack. He's twelve weeks. Takes a lot of energy. Any suggestions on training the damned lovable furball?

He just got his Parvo shot and he's chilling on the floor bored as all hell. Not supposed to take him out too much today.

I might post pics eventually if people care. He's so black he barely shows up. It looks like a lump of black.

Congrats

[Inquartata]

You don't need to train him. People will think he can perform every trick known to man just because he's not Bush.

[Rabid Monk]

Go to a training class.

Let him socialize with others, and learn with the benefit of someone who knows how to train dogs there to help.

Oh, and try using a flash to take pictures.

[Fencergrl]

Take him on lots of short walks. Exercise will help reduce puppy damaged stuff. Tired dogs tend to get into less trouble. Poodles are smart, you'll have your hands full. Definitely take him to obedience classes. Don't allow your puppy to do anything you don't want your full grown dog to do. It may be cute having a tiny pup jump up on you, but not so cute when he's 70 lbs.

Congrats.

[Go? Fencing?]

Watch the Dog Whisperer (on National Geographic), and remember: Exercise, Discipline, Affection.

[telkanuru]

Trade it in for an Automatic poodle, which requires no training.

[lindajdunn]

A trip from a friend of mine who used to own a dog kennel:

Get some of those leather chewable things (I forget what they are called) and boil them in a pot of beef stock. Let dry. Give to puppy. It's supposed to keep the dog from wanting to chew on items less easily replaced.

[occasionalfencer]

Really. He is a dog psychologist. After you have let enormous problems develop from lack of training, then he will help you ratchet down to a level where you can begin training. But if you start real training now, you will never need him. Watch him- for fun, like you would watch a movie, but for real training go to a trainer- a local puppy class, "How to Be Your Puppy's Best Friend" by the Monk's of New Skete, "Click for Joy" by Melissa Alexander, the entire Karen Pryor website. Start sooner rather than later. The puppy is so impressionable right now- you can reap the greatest benefits from starting right.

Get a crate and use it for housebreaking. Directions are too long for this forum, but easy to find elsewhere. Praise for good behavior. That means you have to focus on what you want so you know when to praise.

REALLY IMPORTANT: Do not leave food on the table where the puppy can jump up and get it. Once the dog has learned to do this, it is very long, hard, and painful for both of you to untrain it. And you lose a lot of hamburgers. The puppy can find food quicker, and jump higher, than you think.

[Fencergrl]

And you lose a lot of hamburgers. The puppy can find food quicker, and jump higher, than you think.

Hamburgers! Ha!
Also add pounds of butter, loaves of bread, pizzas, and plates of sushi!

[TBean]

Cesar Milan's s mantra of exercise, discipline and affection is a solid strategy on how you want to approach training your dog. It is not, however, how you achieve a well-trained animal. That is through work and obedience training - as someone else mentioned the Monks of New Skete is an excellent resource. One of your first hurdles is house-breaking, make headway on that front. Combining other basic skills - no pulling on the leash when you walk, no jumping, or biting and socializing with people and dogs. As Fencergrl pointed out, what might be cute now at 12 lbs, not so much at 70 lbs. +. Poodles are super-smart, they are lovely to train as they are often eager to learn and as pups motivated to please you - take advantage of that. If you have never been a dog-owner, I highly recommend obedience classes - it will teach you as much as the dog.

[Fencergrl]

Wes,

Here's a couple of tricks with puppies:

1) Every day (and I mean daily) put your pup on his back and give him/her a good rub. This practise accomplishes several things that'll help you in the long run.

1a) It establishes dominance. This position is submissive for the pup. You need to establish who's in charge. Your dog naturally wants a hierarchy, it makes him feel safer if someone (you) is in charge. If you don't establish it, he will and this will make everything harder.

This practise (of gentle domination) will not make your dog a wimp around other dogs, but more confident. Remember puppies are very young dogs, many would naturally still be protected and disciplined by their mama at this age. They would also be in a packs where they would be very low in the hierarchy but protected, fed and cared for.

1b) This allows you an opportunity to note any injuries, rashes, or other issues that may need attention. Mostly it is affection. Dogs love routines. This is a good way to start each day.

1c) In the long run, it makes it easier for vets to handle your dog. When a dog is hurt, he is more likely to bite. You want your dog to know that people touching him is okay.

2) Keep your puppy close to your side at all times when you're home with it. If the pup wanders out of sight, call him back to you.

2a) Remember puppies are young and get into EVERYthing. Keeping a watchful eye on them reduces damage.

2b) By calling your dog back rather than letting him wander or kennelling him, teaches your dog to stay close. This is very useful when your dog is older. You may have areas you may walk him unleashed (such as dog parks) this early training establishes an "invisible leash". He will be uncomfortable having you out of sight of you and will come back on his own.

2c) It really establishes the "come" command. One of the most important commands to teach a dog.

[Slacker]

Congratulations on your new puppy!! What a hoot. Go to a puppy class. Standard Poodles are so smart you'll have to be on your toes. And they're more deer-like than Labs (read move faster, jump higher). They make excellent retrievers, so prepare yourself for lots of frisbee throwing or ball-playing. I agree, the Monks of New Skete is an excellent resource. You might also check out the perfectdog.com.

[dfranke]

You should have gotten an FIE poodle instead.

[Inquartata]

And named him 800N? Or maybe Homologated?

[dfranke]

FIEdo.

[Inquartata]

Very droll!

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