Oh yes, these things happen! You learn (slowly, if you're anything like me) to read your puppy. And, whenever you think "should I take her outside?" the answer is always "yes". If you think "I'll take her out in a minute", drop everything and take her out immediately It doesn't last forever, but it is a bit tiresome at the time.
Just reading bits of your thread for the first time. I remember those first few weeks, completely sleep deprived and easily provoked. This was 5 years but I can remember it as if it were yesterday! I remember writing a complaint to the pet shop because the sales guy said - who knows what, I can't remember, but it was insensitive to a sleep deprived "new mum" (how does one cope with human babies???!). Magically one night you'll sleep through and feel amazing! And your pup will sleep through the night. And then one day you'll call the vet in a panic cos your pup is sleeping in, there must be something wrong! It DOES get better! I found sniffing games were great for tiring out a pup. I would make Snowie wait on his bed while I laid his pellets (he ate pellets in those days) on the kitchen floor. He could watch. Then I gave him the cue to go find them. I also made it more difficult by hiding them out of sight. You could also find relief for you and your older dog by putting the pup in doggy daycare once a week. We did that - it was fantastic. But you must make sure it's a good day care. (Apologies if this has already been recommended - I've not read all the posts yet.)
Yes these things happen to other people! And if not that then something else! She's still very young isn't she? Looking back at Cassie's tiny puppy days I can't believe how impatient I was with myself, thinking it would go on forever, but it didn't. As long as there isn't underlying problem (uti) the mist will clear and she will get there, they do don't they?
Please don't feel bad - we all misinterpret our pup's signals from time to time. We don't speak 'dog' and we slowly pick up their 'language', but no-one is ever fluent xx Plus each pup is different, so new pup = new signals, not completely new but enough to have to learn and adapt all over again! ...
It is a month today we picked up Red from the breeder. Crikey what a rollercoaster! If I had realised it would be this hard....! Last night I took her to her second puppy party. She howled in the car all the way (10 minute journey) there despite me making crate cosy and giving her a stuffed Kong. She was 'way over the top' when we got there - which I think was as a result of the car. Can't remember what vet nurse leading Party said but it felt like a put down. Red tried to 'hump' another dog - she has done this twice at home - to her soft day bed and my husband's leg - what is this all about? Vet nurse cried out 'whoa' and I did pull her off. Rest of time was ok but she wee'd in car going home and howled but not so much. Took her outside for wee and poo and then settled for night. Came down twice to take her outside - she poo'd first time, wee'd second time. This morning her crate was wet!! Beginning to feel this will never get better and I am now sat here whilst both dogs sleep without the energy to shower or dress properly for the day and so much to do. Feeling sorry for myself.
I know it keeps being said, but it really does get better. It does sound as if Red was super excited when you arrived at your puppy party and it also sounds as if you had a very unsympathetic vet nurse. Puppies do these things and I am sure you were not the first or will be the last that has a pup do that. Tiredness is the absolute worst - is there any way you can take a break today and have some "me" time - can your husband take care of Red for a bit so you can have a nap? Or nap while Red is asleep? Maybe having Red's crate in a pen overnight would encourage her to wee away from her crate. A know a silly question but do you clean her crate with an enzyme cleaner? Although we can't smell any left over wee smell, their noses can detect it and this will encourage her to continue to wee in that spot. I know initially when we first got Bailey although we used the right cleaner, we didn't follow the instructions about leaving it on for a couple of minutes and then couldn't understand why Bailey kept peeing in that spot - one day by accident as I got distracted the cleaner was left on for about three or four minutes before I wiped it away and it must have worked as he never went there again. Where do you live as there may be members close to you that can maybe help out? I'm in Northampton (UK) if that is any help.
Hmmm, I would take a sample to the vet in case of a little UTI. The puppy party excitement was due to the newness of it all. You should see our Guide Dog puppy classes - they are mostly Lab crosses so very big, excitable puppies. The humping thing is common too - also caused by excitement. All mine have tried to do it to Tatze (I don't let them). ...
Thank you so much for these instant responses. First thought, how do you get a wee sample? Yes I am using cleaning solution for dogs and leaving it on for a few minutes - have taken on board the deep cleaning thing. Also washing toys in solution and very hot water. Just spoken to husband who says I need to go out for the day (don't have the energy) and again saying it will get better. If his attitude wasn't so positive I know I would have given up, yet I have bonded with Red and I do love her. Just find it hard to 'switch off' and relax when get opportunity like now. Thank you for saying the humping is normal - my older lab has never done this. Thank you Samantha for your offer of help - so kind. I am in Cambridgeshire so too far away. I will get through this. My husband says I will laugh one day at how I am right now - bring it on....
Your husband is right - keep listening to him. If you have not got the energy to go out for the day go back to bed or to another room for a few hours and shut the door, put in earplugs and rest. That way you don't have to shower, dress or do anything other than mooch to another room (I've done it in the past!). To collect a sample in the past with my old dog, I cleaned out a foil take away container and just slid it under her when she squatted to pee - I then poured it into a cleaned out screw top jar (probably an old jam jar or something similar) or if you have collected a sample bottle from your vet. Just make sure everything is clean before you put any sample in! Keep going, you will get there one day - and give yourself a break - these puppies days are sent to try us. I'm working on Bailey's recall currently and its driving me mad and I am convinced I smell of hot dog sausages all the time!
Thank you . Red has been crashed out for two hours - think it was just all too much last night but trying to get some socialisation in. It was certainly too much for me but `I am developing muscles in my arms and losing a bit of much needed extra weight so that has got to be a bonus LOL
In our puppy socialisation classes there were 2 x pitties, 1 x boxer, 1 x collie, 1 x pug, 1 x retriever cross, 1 x yorkie and a schnauzer poodle cross...and Harley. She was so OTT. She jumped all over everyone and every dog. She sat on the pug. She pulled the one pittie around by the harness and eventually we had to sit in a corner by ourselves because she just could not calm down when there were other dogs around her. After the second class I didn't want to go back. It was just so exhausting to wrestle with her for an hour. But it really did get better, slowly, but it did. Keep posting here so that you can at least know that it isn't just you or Red. Think of it like a therapeutic journal that writes back
Stanleys nearly 11 months and is still over the top now. When I take him to daycare he jumps on his back legs like a kangaroo to get in and is completely hyper. The lady said it lasts for about 15 minutes then he calms down again. I think she takes it as a compliment as to how much he likes going Honestly it does get better.. I posted a thread the other day asking for advice about getting another's one! So it must do!!
There you are getting better already!! I've lost a stone since a certain black and oh so sweet puppy arrived in June ! I sympathise with your class experience, although the trainer was great I did have times of feeling inadequate and incompetent , it was was a class for older puppies , Cass was 6.5 months but there were some babies. She behaved like a hooligan the first time, cracked me on the head with her's bringing tears to my eyes and chewed my arm incessantly. Oh and you should of seen the huge wee she did on the church hall floor - honestly you would have thought a horse had done it! I used up all the kitchen paper provided to clear it up and stopped the class for 5 mins while I mopped! Splendid way to spend a Saturday afternoon. More inadequacy since I hadn't taught her to wee on command!
Get a shallow tray and slide it under while she's weeing. It's worth ruling out, two of my girls had a minor UTI when young pups - cleared up with a few days anti Bs. The vet says she could have fought it off herself and they are very common in young females. Much less common but more serious in males, apparently. ...
Really want to say a huge thank you to all of you who have kindly replied to my posts since I joined last week. Can't express how much you are helping me. Never ever had my emotions on such a rollercoaster on a daily basis and I find it scary. Yesterday, was no exception but I am hoping (please) that this is a turning point or a step along the journey back to me being me and not this pathetic crying over the top person I have been this past month. We went out for the evening and nothing awful happened! My neighbour came in (bless her), took both dogs out into the garden for a wee and we returned 3 hours later and all was well. Had such a lovely evening listening to people playing music - felt so good to be back into the world and a chance to sit quietly. Decided to take Red for a small walk when we returned to use up some energy - she loved it, trotting along by my side. . Husband was able to fuss older dog (I feel so guilty about her but hopeful both dogs can be together more as time goes on) so win win all round. Selina27 - I thought about Cass at the puppy class - your post has made me snigger every time it pops into my head
That's great news Atemas - now how about going out for the day sometime, taking up your husband's offer to puppy sit? Lunch with a friend maybe? We are farming both dogs out next weekend for a trip to the lakes and to see a comedy show Dogs don't think like we do - they just get on with whatever is happening in the moment. And Labs are Happy so long as the fooooooooood isn't late! ...
