Puppy problems!

[doggiegirl]

I'm so tired at the moment just need someone to remind me that puppies grow up!!!

I have a one and a half year old chihuahua who was basically born an adult, I could leave him home alone for a little while from day one with run of the house, he peed on his matt and outside with a few accidents every now and then and had no barking problems.

A few weeks ago I got a 10week old American Cocker spaniel bitch from a respected breeder. She's very sweet, affectionate and a quick learner (took her one session to learn to sit 100%, she knows her name and comes when called and she's getting good at down and stand to) and such a happy doggie!

But she is suchhh a puppy! I love having a puppy most of the time but right now I'm just completely drained! She pees EVERYWHERE! she just does not care where she is when she needs to go just goes! I always praise her when she pees outside and try to correct her if I catch her in the act but there is just no way of correcting her!! She just loves all attention, if I say no sternly she starts jumping around me and barking trying to get me to play! I tried spraying water on the back of her neck when she barks and stuff but she just gets very happy that I'm inviting her to play! She's literally not scared of ANYTHING which ofcaurse is a good thing, I can vaccum around her, make loud noises and she's not scared of big dogs but it's also hard to find a way to make her realize when she does something I dont want her to do! With my other dogs I just yelled out "hey" or sumthing just to get them to stop and rushed them outside to finish but she just looks at me and waggs her tail and finishes peeing and then walks around dripping all over the place!

I have just honestly never met a dominant 3mo puppy!! She tries to squeeze out the door first, she gets angry if she has to wait for treats or my other dog has something she wants and barks, she wants to lead during walks and I have to correct her alot, she gets very surprised that everyone doesn't follow her during off leash walks! I try to give my dogs leadership and I can alredy see her improving but some days, like today I just don't have any energy left!

They get exercise daily and I work from home taking care of children so she's never home alone during the day, just behind a gate and can see me. But when she does need to be alone for a while when I go shopping or something she goes crazy! I use the crate as she feels a little more secure there, she sleeps in her crate with no problems but unless she is REALLY tired she will just bark and whine nonstop for about 20mins when she falls asleep and I enter again so that I don't give into the whining. I have literally bearly gotten out of the house since I got her exept to go for walks and such!! I've started putting a leash on her inside and giving her somthing to chew on when she's driving me nuts and that does calm her down somehow, beeing on leash so thankfully I have atleast one soulution how hehe!

I admit that I am focusing on her flaws right now I just needed to vent a little! Everything exept for the peeing is slowly improving and having her fall asleep in my arms, follow me around and always beeing happy is very fulfilling but this constand excited energy is also very hard to live with for both me and my other dog who is by nature very calm! My apartment smells like a dirty toilet and I'm constantly cleaning up puddles and stuff and I have to clean all the floors completely 1-2 a day as she ALWAYS steps in it and walks around spreading it everywhere!

I love her to BITS though - here's a pic of my baby and as you can she it's hard to stay mad at her for long!

http://gudbjorg.5aur.net/albums/animals/litilb14.jpg

[Tammylyn]

Hi there and welcome!

I have gone crazy with all my posts...forgive me...lol:o

I too have acquired a about 10 week old, now, Black and Tan Coonhound pup named Silo...his previous owners just let him run loose and chained him up outside at night...so I knew potty training would be a bit like a "bus wreck"...you know where rubble is everywhere, people are running away screaming, and that horrible feeling of not wanting to look but not being able to turn away...lol...

I can relate...he is very cute, and hysterical...he plays mostly with my huge Black Lab Moose and they are just a hoot...sometimes we all chase one another around..it's fun....other days I am just completely exhausted and can't keep up!!

Now, Silo has never pooped in the house, garage, kennel, or outside runs...he actually goes to the door and bellars or scratches for that....The pee though...same thing, just wherever and whenever...then other times he runs to the puppy pad every time...I just never know what he is going to do that day...he is never in his kennel more than 3 hours...some days he is dry, other days he has peed a ton and is just wading in it and I have to give him several baths....though now that he has associated the baths with peeing in his kennel...he is getting better about going on the pad and not ripping the pad to shreds...Now yesterday, it was like constant, don't think I ever put down the paper towel roll or the pet deoderizer spray...then today, not even one accident, he marched over to the puppy pad and went to the door several times...makes me nuts, because we will probably be back to constant accidents and wading in it tomorrow....ugggh...but same thing, he is so darn cute, cuddley, and happy...my thing is, if I holler sternly NO..he just runs and then I can't catch him to put him outside...so my new game plan is to not say a word, grab him, put him outside and then he is going to get "time out", in the kennel for 5-10 minutes with no attention whatsoever...I am hoping it works!

Have a good one and good luck, and I hope it helps to know you are not going crazy or getting burned out alone!:)
Tammy

[doggiegirl]

thanks for replying - comforting to know other people are going through the same puppy craze!

Today's been a much much better day! Only 3 puddles - a huuuge improvement. And she's been much calmer to - maybe she heard my whining yesterday hehehe. She's sleeping like an angel right now at my feet :)

[Sugars_Kentucky_Mama]

I'm so tired at the moment just need someone to remind me that puppies grow up!!!

I have a one and a half year old chihuahua who was basically born an adult, I could leave him home alone for a little while from day one with run of the house, he peed on his matt and outside with a few accidents every now and then and had no barking problems.

A few weeks ago I got a 10week old American Cocker spaniel bitch from a respected breeder. She's very sweet, affectionate and a quick learner (took her one session to learn to sit 100%, she knows her name and comes when called and she's getting good at down and stand to) and such a happy doggie!

But she is suchhh a puppy! I love having a puppy most of the time but right now I'm just completely drained! She pees EVERYWHERE! she just does not care where she is when she needs to go just goes! I always praise her when she pees outside and try to correct her if I catch her in the act but there is just no way of correcting her!! She just loves all attention, if I say no sternly she starts jumping around me and barking trying to get me to play! I tried spraying water on the back of her neck when she barks and stuff but she just gets very happy that I'm inviting her to play! She's literally not scared of ANYTHING which ofcaurse is a good thing, I can vaccum around her, make loud noises and she's not scared of big dogs but it's also hard to find a way to make her realize when she does something I dont want her to do! With my other dogs I just yelled out "hey" or sumthing just to get them to stop and rushed them outside to finish but she just looks at me and waggs her tail and finishes peeing and then walks around dripping all over the place!

I have just honestly never met a dominant 3mo puppy!! She tries to squeeze out the door first, she gets angry if she has to wait for treats or my other dog has something she wants and barks, she wants to lead during walks and I have to correct her alot, she gets very surprised that everyone doesn't follow her during off leash walks! I try to give my dogs leadership and I can alredy see her improving but some days, like today I just don't have any energy left!

They get exercise daily and I work from home taking care of children so she's never home alone during the day, just behind a gate and can see me. But when she does need to be alone for a while when I go shopping or something she goes crazy! I use the crate as she feels a little more secure there, she sleeps in her crate with no problems but unless she is REALLY tired she will just bark and whine nonstop for about 20mins when she falls asleep and I enter again so that I don't give into the whining. I have literally bearly gotten out of the house since I got her exept to go for walks and such!! I've started putting a leash on her inside and giving her somthing to chew on when she's driving me nuts and that does calm her down somehow, beeing on leash so thankfully I have atleast one soulution how hehe!

I admit that I am focusing on her flaws right now I just needed to vent a little! Everything exept for the peeing is slowly improving and having her fall asleep in my arms, follow me around and always beeing happy is very fulfilling but this constand excited energy is also very hard to live with for both me and my other dog who is by nature very calm! My apartment smells like a dirty toilet and I'm constantly cleaning up puddles and stuff and I have to clean all the floors completely 1-2 a day as she ALWAYS steps in it and walks around spreading it everywhere!

I love her to BITS though - here's a pic of my baby and as you can she it's hard to stay mad at her for long!

http://gudbjorg.5aur.net/albums/animals/litilb14.jpg

Hello, I do understand your delema. I have a new puppy also, little dachshund, named Sugar. She's a little doll. But, like all puppies, she has a mind of her own, and the potty training is enough to drain even the best of us. It is probably a problem for her having another dog in the house with her. They seem to smell the other dog, even if they don't pee on the floor, and that can cause a problem too. I was reading a magazine bout puppies and their different stages of life, and until they are 12 weeks old, they really can't control their bladder. They just go and can't seem to help it. Much like a child. You can't potty train a child until their bladder is developed enough and the muscles to the bladder are developed enough for them to be able to control them. We have to start early with them potty training, but it won't be until they can actually hold their urine that we will be successful with potty training. I am still in the process with my little one. She's doing really well now, but at first, I had to wonder if it would ever get better. I have cleaned my carpet once, and will have to again soon, LOL !! Just one of the downfalls of being a new MoM !! It's worth every bit of it though, don't you think. Just wanted to respond to your delema, and let you know you are not alone. Later............ from a fellow dog lover, and MOM !!!

[Sugars_Kentucky_Mama]

PS... She's a living doll !!!!

[kariered]

Hi! I just got a new puppy 2 weeks ago. He is a yorkie poo. He is cute, but can be a real pain sometimes. Mostly his whining gets to me. I tell him "No!" and he is starting to get it. I have trained him to not whine when I am sitting on the couch. He always wants to get up there, but is too small to jump, so he barks and whines. I think it is getting better....slowly! He is really smart and has already learned to walk on a leash and to sit. He is almost 11 weeks old.

Sometimes I will take him out to potty and he won't go. He just sniffs around and will eat grass and leaves and want to play. So I will take him back inside (after waiting for several minutes) and crate him. Then I will wait for 10-15 min and take him immediately back outside. Sometimes he whines in his crate, you would think he was being tortured!! When he stops I take him out. I will not take him out when he is whining because I know that will reinforce the whining. How long do I wait to take him out after he stops whining? I am curious to know.

He is also very dependent right now. I guess this is normal? He follows me around, even if I am just walking across the room! He cries/whines if I leave him alone sitting on the couch or if he can't see me. I know he is just a baby, but will he become more independent?

Thanks!

[Sugars_Kentucky_Mama]

Patience, patience, patience !!! That's the key !! Time consuming, true, but, a must. Try using a cue word when you take your puppy out to potty, like pee-pee, or poo-poo, and use it everytime you take him out. He'll get the idea that's what he's suppose to do out there. There will be lots of accidents in the house, so don't get upset with him. It'll clean up !! It just takes lots of time, but he'll get it eventually. As far the whinning, well, don't let him get away with that. He'll learn that's how to get his way if you give in to him when he does it. Just re-direct him to his toys when he whines, and that should help some. Play with him too, that forms a bond between the two of you. You should give time to your puppy to play not just correct, and decepline. My puppy is 12 weeks old now, and doing well with potty training, but, she still has accidents, and will for a while yet I am sure. That's just part of it. It is a tiring job to train a new little one, but, the rewards far outweigh all the work when it's said and done. So much love there from a dog. I can't ever see me without one in my life !! They love no matter what. I bet your little one is a doll !! Males are a little more head strong too than females, because they are usually pack leaders. But, you'll do fine with him. Have you ever had a puppy before? As far as him following you around, he will do lots of that. You're all he knows, and he wants to be with you, just like a child. Take up time with him, he will love you forever. Good Luck, and take care !!!