Ok, we've had our labrador puppy (10 weeks old) for 2 weeks now and we have a hundred problems with training her. But to keep it simple I'm going to just ask for help with the main ones!

1) We are attempting crate training, but we have a young baby (1 yr old) and if dog barks too much it wakes the baby. can anyone suggest another method for housetraining during the night?

2) Dog has discovered the cat flap and now goes out thru it, but it's magnetic and she can only go out and not in, therefore at night she barks and barks til we let her in, I'm worried i'm not gonna hear her n leave her out in the cold! I can't lock the catflap completely cuz the cat needs to go out. Ideas?

3) cat and dog not getting on well, dog chases cat, cat will only eat upstairs and barely goes out. How can we help them be friends?

4) Dog very snappy and often bites baby. Best way to teach her not to?

Dog bites baby? Why are you letting the dog get near the baby.

Anyway, I was mainly going to reply to your question about crate-training. My 11 week old hates the crate unfortunately. I now shut him in the kitchen at night and he sleeps in his bed - he doesn't cry like he did in the crate.

Last night he went from 10.30pm until 5am without any accidents but I leave a puppy pad just in case which he does use if he needs to.

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Life without dogs i dont think so

New puppy + baby = hard work.

Bet you are finding it a lot harder than you thought?

You need to teach the dog the leave command so she does not go near your baby. You need to supervise at ALL times .You need seperate areas for baby and puppy.Either a play pen ,or seperate room with a baby gate ?

If you can block off the cat flap and maybe leave a window open for the cat for the time being then, you will be able to put the pup in the kitchen at night(thats if the cat flap is in the kitchen door) dont allow a 12 week old pup to go outside unsupervised. you need to teach the pup bite inhibition, easiest way I have found is have a treat in the closed hand if the pup tries to get it dont allow it to cry Owww NO BITE really high pitched as though you have been seriously hurt, as the pup backs off tellit is a good puppy, let the pup come to your hand again and if the teeth touch you do the same high pitched Owwww NO BITE and so on when the pup touches you without its teeth touching your skin, praise and treat, keep doing this til the pup is fully aware teeth are not allowed to touch skin,

do not allow your pup to be alone unsupervised with a child, you are responsible for any injuries that the puppy inflicts the pup know no different at this moment in time til YOU teach it manners.

do not allow dog to chase cat, possibly put a baby gate on stairs so the cat can escape, ALWAYS stop your pup from harrassing/chasing your cat, over time they may get on but if they dont with the stair gate on the stairs at least the cat can go and get some peace.

Until your pup learns NO BITE do not allow the baby to treat the pup, ONLY once the pup has learned you can then supervise the baby giving treats, and will help the dog learn that the baby is above the dog in ranking in the home and is a provider.

Mo

It's very important to have the pets trained. and apart from that its important to train them from the very beginning. Once you teach your dogs to follow some rules and regulations, they can be your best friends. you can learn the tips of training dogs at How to Become a Dog Trainer

Hi, thanks for your replies, am going to be giving some of these ideas a go.
I don't want u thinking I'm a dangerous Mummy, when i say puppy bites her, I mean enthusiastic play biting, she doesn't growl at her and go for her or anything!! I always supervise them together! And when I say baby, she's 1 year old, so is walking and can get away from the puppy!

Two pieces of valuable information there. Brilliant. Thanks guys. I am sure the OP appreciates the top comment and would loive to one day be a qualified dog trainer but as they are asking for help with issues I am pretty sure it is a not an immediate priority.

Aimz, PM sent your way with some helpfull bits on it.

No need to be sarky, I was only asking a generalised question!