Dog owners, need advice on a new puppy

Positive reinforcement when training.
One loud firm "NO" when correcting bad behavior. Please don't be one of those people who says a command 100 times and their dog doesn't listen. Say it once, then put them into a sit, make them get down, etc.
Do as much "off leash" training as possible while she's little.
I have my small dog trained on a "potty bell" and it is the greatest thing ever! I hung a bell on the back of a door and every time I would take him out I would either grab his paw and make him hit it or make him hit it with his nose and say "Potty outside". He now rings a bell anytime we are just hanging out inside and he needs to go.
Also, when potty training her, take a treat outside with you and give it to her after she goes (lots of praise as she's going) rather than waiting until she comes back inside. She will think she's getting a treat for coming inside, not for doing her business outside.
Kongs are great for chewing. If I know I'm going to be gone for a while, I will put peanut butter inside a Kong and stick it in the freezer. It gives my dogs something to distract them for a while.
Socialize her!
Depending of the size of your yard and the cost of Invisible Fence, you may want to try this.
http://store.petsafe.net/wireless-pet-containment-system-refurbished?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_content=XWF15-11801&gclid=CMu1_vvYqcECFVM2aQodUAcAKw
I have it for my lab who is a wanderer, or likes to run up and greet other dogs walking past our house. It emits an 80ft circle and it is portable which I like because I can take it up north with me. My lab learned the first time not to go past his boundary. The collar will beep and give them a warning to get back before it buzzes them.
 
http://www.innotek.net/products/in-ground-fences/rechargeable-in-ground-pet-fencing.aspx


i have an acre so i couldn't use the wireless one..my dogs would be able to make it to the neighbors yards. i use the one above. collars were good for almost 2 years. system works good and dont need to buy batteries. i can leave my 2 in the back yard all day long and they will hang out while im at work.


my two issues i feel like i cant seem to break them of is tearing stuff up, and jumping up on people when they first see them. after the persons there for 5 mins and they sniff, they wont jump up again...they just get super excited it seems. as far as tearing stuff up...i can bring them out in the house when im gone for short periods with no issues and then eventually leave them out a whole day or 2 while im at work with no issues, then boom come home and my carpet will be all tore back...

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When you first get home, hand feed the dog with positive reinforcement and tones. Both with food in your hand and placing small amounts of food in the bowl. Make sure that you can give and take food away in a pleasant way. Sit on the ground and feed them. Occasionally take the food away. Give it back. This teaches the dogs to be comfortable eating with people "in their area" and also that they aren't really at risk for losing their meal. Prevents them from developing food aggression.
 
04GoaT said:
Our new place forbids fences, so we will have to go invisible. I'm dreading that lesson, cause our pup has always had free reign for almost 4 years
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When we moved into the new house a few months ago, they already had IF installed. My dog is about 2 and since the old house didn't have any sort of fencing he was always on a leash when he was outside. I expected the training to be difficult and for him to be a PITA about it but it went very well. He runs around the yard at will and has only challenged it a few times. Once during training he chased a rabbit straight across it but hasn't tried anything since it got turned up. He got zapped a few weeks ago barking at a dog walking by and it reminded him of his boundaries.

Overboost said:
Do you let him roam around now that he's calmed down? We'd like to let ours roam the house, but the bedrooms are off limits. The breeder told us 18-24 months before that's a good idea. Also, we were told to do it in stages to see if she gets anxious and destructive.
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Invisible Fence has an indoor solution as well. We have one on the stairs to keep the dog from going up. It's great. We had a baby gate at the old house and on the stairs at the new one for the first month or so and it was a complete pain in the ass for everyone. Now with the IF Shield thing on the stairs, he just lays down on the rug at the bottom and waits for me if I go upstairs. (If the kids go up, he just sits there and barks at them... but that's a different issue.)

http://www.invisiblefence.com/solutions/avoidance-solutions
 
Lots of great advice here.
Invisible fence works great! Even for our Jack Russell. He knows his boundaries!
He is crated most nights. The whole "not on the furniture" thing has completely fallen apart. Most of the time, he is curled up on the couch with my wife.
He will come and give us "that look" when he needs to go out. They are pack animals. You are now the leader of their pack. Spend time with them! Make them as much a part of your life as possible! Make them comfortable in the car so they can go pretty much where you go!
 
First off, I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and advice. It has been very helpful in the past few weeks. We picked her up today. Her name is Shelby. She's been absolutely great so far.

Couple of pics:

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I shes already broke the not on the couch rule, remind her that the dog will get large quick and that will be the dogs couch
 
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