GSD puppy eating leaves....

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
We just brought home our 8 week old GSD 2 days ago.  She absolutely loves our backyard and is starting to get more explorative.  While I don't leave her out there unattended yet, she is starting to pick leaves off our plants and pick up dry leaves on the ground.  Is this ok or should I try harder to take them away from her?

And 2nd question, we are crate training her, and while she has been allowed to wander the whole backyard, we have yet to allow her to wander any part of the house yet (I'm waiting for a baby gate that I ordered online#.  Should I start letting her explore at least part of the house yet #supervised)?  So far we are following the pattern of crate for naps, backyard for potty, play and a few minutes of training, then back in the crate.  At times she takes her naps during the day in the back yard, just trying to figure out how to introduce her to the 'inside', besides the crate!

ANSWER: You may want to do a search and find a list of dangerous plants.  I keep a stock of known reliable web pages, but never added a list of dangerous plants to it.  Maybe check http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/articles.html  Most of their material is reliable, although balanced enough to contain links to what I consider food kooks.  Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about leaf eating unless it is from a known dangerous plant.  

I have a 3 month old Lab now.  She loves it outside.  She also ate a bunch of tomatoes today.  Even stuff that isn't poisonous can cause upset stomachs.  So far, so good.  Tomorrow I intend to bury the tomatoes in leaves.  

I would let her explore the house some, but with careful supervision.  Somebody needs to have an eye on an 8 week old constantly unless it is in its crate.  Often a young puppy will stay with you.  Let's hope the baby gate comes soon.  Oh yes, a few minutes of training at that age is the very best way to obedience train a puppy.  



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the link.  We actually have a couple of those plants in our yard, yikes!  Since you have a 3 month old, I have another question.  (:  Our breeder (and our vet) both say absolutely not to take her out of the house/backyard until she has had her last set of shots.  She had her first shot on Friday when we picked her up at 8 wks old, then she is due again at 11 weeks, then 14 weeks.  So until 14 weeks, I can't take her out at all.  Do you follow that also or is there any wiggle room?  She is such a wonderful pup and so smart, just want to do the right thing for her.  (:

ANSWER: Your vet and breeder are dead wrong.  The period between 6-12 weeks is a dangerous time.  Yes, one sniff where a sick dog relieved itself in the last 6 months can bring on parvo or another life threatening disease.  Fail to expose it to strangers, including men, women, children, noise, etc. and you could end up with a misfit you can't take out in public.  They also need continuing contact with other dogs, but it must be limited to ones you know are getting good care.

So you do need to get her out, just pick and choose your places.  Downtown areas may be good, traffic, noise, and sometimes people.  Keep her on pavement and away from posts and building corners other dogs may mark.  Outside a mall may be good too, plenty of people.  I don't agree with all of Ian Dunbar's stuff, but he says a puppy needs to meet 100 people before it is 12 weeks old.  Stay away from parks and other places with strange dogs or ones with dogs running loose.  I don't even take new puppies for a walk in my own neighborhood.  

We picked up Delilah a week ago Saturday at 12 weeks.  The next day we joined a group with known to be healthy puppies for a walk downtown.  The group included puppies younger than Delilah.  The walk was organized and supervised by a lady highly trained in the care and training of young puppies.  

I don't know how much socialization Delilah had before we got her.  We are making extra efforts to get her out and exposed to things.  So far, she seems to be doing OK.  Not all poorly socialized dogs turn out to be misfits, but it is just as real a risk as parvo.  If you want a dog that you can take fun places, start now.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Speaking of introducing a puppy to new people, what is the proper way to introduce her?  One of my friends stopped by today and she greeted her very eagerly.  But then this afternoon one of my friends stopped by with her 2 kids and my pup barked at them and the kids cringed a little.  I just want to make sure I do it right for the next visit.

Answer
Kids are strange creatures.  Most puppies learn to love them.  Kids are shrill, noisy, and fast moving.  I sometimes wonder if dogs realize they are young people or think they are something else.  It is best to have the puppy on leash.  Use the sit you are already practicing.  While keeping the puppy in its sit, have the children approach slowly.  It goes much better with the help of a parent.  Have the child offer its hand palm up below the puppy's head.  Dogs may tolerate having a pat on the top of their head, but prefer having their chin rubbed, a butt rub, etc.