Just a quick one, when and if Nelly (8 weeks old) poos or wees and I miss her and haven't gotten her outside in time, do I still take her outside? I just feel pointless when I go out when I know she has already done her business? I just know I'm over thinking ALOT, I just feel so overwhelmed with her! Crying all the time and feel exhausted- I knew it would be hard but not this hard.
Oh Olivia, I feel for you. "I knew it would be hard but not this hard" is a sentence I have said so many times since I got my pup. It's exhausting, relentless and demanding and I found precious little joy in those early weeks. I don't know if you mean that you miss her having an accident and suddenly come upon a wee or poo or that you just don't get her outside in time whilst she's weeing. I think you probably mean the former and I understand your rationale - I'm sorry but I don't know the 'correct' answer but I'm sure someone will. I personally caught my pup weeing (unless there's one somewhere I don't know about!!) so I always took her out even if she had finished her wee. But it didn't happen often and if I had stumbled across an accident I wouldn't have taken her out, my exhaustion would have won the day on that one! Sorry if that's not very helpful, just wanted to empathise with you, it's really really tough, I know how you feel.
Oh dear I am sure we can all relate to this. Not sure if there is a "right" answer to be honest. All I can tell you is what we did - yes we did take Bailey out even knowing that he had done what was necessary. If we saw him mid wee or poo we would go to the door and call him - he seemed to then stop and run outside and then squeeze out another drop or two - one of us took him out while the other cleared up. Keep praising and treating when wee and poo's are done in the right place (and as they catch on that they get a treat make sure they actually go before coming to you for a treat - I got caught out with that little puppy trick!). Good luck and remember we have all been through it and when all else fails many of us can recommend a very nice drink or two to pick you up again!
If i had completely just missed the pee I let him be. But, if I happen to catch him mid-pee and he stopped I will still take him outside to finish it off.
If I miss Luna weeing or pooing, I don't take her out as a matter of course. I'll watch her, but generally she's done. I just vow to try harder next time. You can't possibly expect to catch her every single time, so don't beat yourself up about it. You'll both get there in the end. You'll also start recognising her noises and schedules. My husband was far better at this with Willow and Shadow than I was, but I'm here alone with Luna, so having to go it alone. I had one I didn't catch today, which is a great improvement for me. At 8 weeks, I was having that frustration of taking her out, she wouldn't go, so I'd bring her back in and she'd wee immediately! I've found a garden pen for toileting has made things so much easier.
No need to take her out after an accident. Remember , they ALL have accidents. Mollie still has the occasional one at 16 weeks. A garden pen really helps, once she's used it she gets a play in the garden as a reward. She's my fourth puppy in three years - am I a glutton for punishment? ...
I'm glad people get it! I think she's wondeful and so cute but it's so hard to see the positives- I think I just need to simplify my day and enjoy when she is napping.
Yes, enjoy when she is napping definitely! When I was off the first 10 days of my pup coming home I used to try and grab 40 winks lying on the sofa when she napped. I still do a bit when I am off at weekends or in the evening when she wakes me from my snooze on the sofa in front of the TV!
