We got a puppy --need help!

Okay, I know this goes on the Pet Board, but this gets more traffic, so I thought I'd post here first.

So, friday we went to NSAL and almost walked out with nothing. Most of the dogs were babies (like under 1 month) and we really wanted something around 6-9 months and housebroken. But we felt terrible for all the dogs in there. We ended up playing with a 3 1/2 month old shepard mix who we fell in love with and took home. She's such a cutie -- i took pics and will post them tonight when I get home.

BUT....its been SO hard! She's not housebroken yet (we've been working on it with her) so I went back to work today and feel terrible leaving her home in her crate. She's been a fast learner though and already knows how to go to the bathroom outside. But she can only hold it for 3 hours at a time so I have to come home during work hours to walk her. She also doesnt like being left alone for more than a little while. So, I already have seperation anxiety when I leave the house without her

DH loves her so much but he's been getting so stressed about how much work it is to train her. Also, since we're in the ILs house, we have to keep her upstairs because their dog doesnt seem to like her very much. So, we're confined to the upstairs with her, which makes things tough for us because we cant do anything around the house because someone always has to be upstairs watching her.

So, we'll see how this week goes. I cant imagine taking her back there....she's already part of the family. So, we're just going to make it work and hope that things fall into a routine and she is able to hold it a little longer in the next few weeks.

Any words of wisdom or suggestions?? We knew it would be hard...but this is SO much more difficult than we expected.

Message edited 8/27/2007 9:39:18 AM.

Re: We got a puppy --need help!

The first few weeks and months ARE hard!!! When we (I use it as a family term b/c il's got dog but we were living with them at time and she's still secretly our dog... ) I was the one who was home with her during the day b/c I worked at night. Man, it was hard. Taking a shower, going to the bathroom, just going out to run an errand...it was hard.

But it takes time. Can either of you take time off this week? You really need to take time off when you get a puppy b/c they need reassurance and help with the transition. If you can't she'll live, don't worry, but it does help the both of you.

She is still a puppy, so she's scared and nervous and this is a new place for her. She's going to have lots of accidents, she's going to cry and it is going to stress you guys out. But it does end. It's important to get her into a routine.

I also recommend getting her a harness and seatbelt so that you can take her with you. The weather will be getting cooler, so you will be able to leave her in the car with the windows open soon. Take her to the park. Run with her to get out some of the anxiety that she may hold in during the day. But more importantly, don't give up. Puppies are ridiculously cute, but HARD!!! Good luck!!! this is a doggie seat belt

Re: We got a puppy --need help!

Patience and hard work. You need a lot of it when raising a puppy.

She's at the age where she's eager to learn and easy to train. Be consistent and be firm. Scold the bad behavior and praise the good.

Our vet said that puppies can hold their bladders for as long in hours as they are in months. 4 months = 4 hours. Come home once during the day, get the business done, wear her out and go back to work. As she gets older, stretch the time between potties to train her to hold it all day while you are at work.

Also, feed her at the same time everyday so her system gets on the schedule too. Don't leave food in her kennel. Offer a reward for going in and water only.

Read a dog training book, watch dog whisperer, hire a trainer (PetSmart usually has basic kindergarten programs), etc. BUT Please don't give her back to NSAL unless you absolutely have to. A puppy is a commitment and caring for one is hard work. It annoys me to no end when people want the cute puppy but don't want to put the effort into it (my sister got one and gave it up because "it was too much work" so I'm still sore about that).

Re: We got a puppy --need help!

Re: We got a puppy --need help!

I'm not going to lie to you here- puppies are a lot of work.

There are so things you can do to ease it though. Make sure that you stick to a schedule with her. Come home at the same time, feed her the same time, take her out. When you leave her maybe leave the radio on to keep her calm.
Teach her the word "crate" and give her a treat everytime she goes in on command. Make sure she has toys in there to play with. I highly recommend Kongs. When you leave her or come home, don't make a big deal of it. This can add to her anxiety.
Give her lots of exercise. The more exercise a puppy gets the less likely it will be to get into trouble and have undesirable behavior.

Re: We got a puppy --need help!

Hang in there. We got our pup in June and were going out of our minds with the training. I promise that it DOES get easier. Kobie is totally housebroken now and life is so much easier.

Re: We got a puppy --need help!

TRAINING

TRAINING

TRAINING

Puppies are a lot of work - I work from home and it was tough getting Scout acclimated.

If I can make a suggestion...

www.muttmanners.com

Best thing we ever did -- best $$ ever spent.

Re: We got a puppy --need help!

Re: We got a puppy --need help!

I have a 3 1/2 mth old puppy as well and yes it is a lot of work. Luckily we have two other dogs who help out with keeping her busy during the day and going potty outside (which we had her doing since day one) She is just now going to the back door when she has to potty, but won't bark or scratch yet..I'm sure that will come. But she is already on our schedule that our two older dogs are on...she eats with them every morning and night and goes out with them and we walk them together.
The one thing that she has not ajusted to is sleeping past 5 am! and THAT is the hardest thing we are dealing with. She has not had an accident in her crate and I want her to learn to hold it till its time for me to get up(which she does) but from 5am till I get up at 6:15am she pouts in her crate. I know it will get better, I just have to be patient....and that is key...patience.

Re: We got a puppy --need help!

PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP!!!!

I have a 3 yr old Golden Retriever. Let me tell you, there were some days where I thought she would be better off at a farm, far far away It took a LOT of hard work and patience and now she is the sweetest dog around. If you think of it from her perspective, she is a baby, she needs guidance and love....

Since she is a shepherd, she prob needs exercise. And like someone else said, a routine.

If you need any more help, FM me, I will even give you my home # - I have been through this before and in the end it is all worth it!!!