...how busy these puppies are? She is 8 weeks old and I just picked her up last week. Found out she has bladder infection with stones in her urine, so she's peeing everywhere (no punishing because it's not her fault). I'm just so exhausted from wiping pee all the time, constantly watching her. I sure hope that bladder issue gets fixed with the antibiotic and cranberry the vet prescribed, so we can get back to normal puppy haooiness. She plays with her toys a little but more interested in exploring. She really is a good girl, it's just me getting overwhelmed. Just looking for some friendly chat for how you handle the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Puppies are hard, hard work. The more time you can spend outdoors with her the better so that she doesn't see weeing indoors as normal. A crate or a pen is invaluable so that she has plenty of down-time to prevent her becoming overstimulated, and giving you time to be able to wash-up ect when you can't watch her 100%.
Puppies are hard work - a bit like having a new-born human- but they do grow up a lot more quickly than the human baby! It must be more demanding for you with your pup having a urine infection and I do hope it clears up soon. While she is very young, put non-essential housework on hold, do the bare minimum and when your puppy is resting have a break yourself and do something you find relaxing. Then imagine how quickly this will change - in 3 months time she will probably be toilet trained, in 6 months time she'll be going on proper walk and perhaps beginning to retrieve, in a year's time this will all be a distant memory.
It's terrible that she's ill, and i hope she has a great and quick recovery. Like Joy aid, maybe try putting non-essential houseowrk on hold, but i would add the exception of gardening. If you ahve gardening, or any external housework, that you can do it may help things along. As an 8-week old, she is likely still very clingy which means she probably won't wander too far, and will respond to her name. Its an opportunity to work on recall, name familiarity, and outdoors comfort. Captain has been with us for 6 months. We picked him up at 8 weeks to the day. I haven't forgotten the difference in 'work' from when he was 8 weeks, 3 months, 5 months, etc. We are still very busy with him, but it works out well because he is a great addition to our family because we constantly work with him. Keep on keeping on, and don't be a stranger to the forums. Lots of experience, professionals, successful, and otherwise good people frequently respond.
I echo what the others say, but would add: There should be no punishing involved in toilet training (or any training), full stop. Not just no punishing because she is unwell....
Hi Carrie (hugs) I read your post on the puppy blues thread and no, you are not loosing your mind. If you weren't at all phased by an 8 w/o puppy, *then* something would be wrong indeed. You didn't mention if she is on other medication: urinary infections can cause painful bladder spasms and stones hurt so perhaps have a chat with the vet to make sure she's as comfy as possible. For the interminable clean ups, get puppy pads and cut them into four pieces. One will usually mop up and another with a spritz of enzyme solution usually cleans up nicely. Keep stacks of them at hand. If possible sleep when the puppy sleeps. Try to get out in the sunshine as much as you can. I would try very hard to find a puppy class because this will reassure you, if only that others are suffering too. I would probably go thru the motions of toilet training with zero expectations of success. She'll catch on fast once she's feeling better. Don't forget to take pictures because she'll grow up quickly.
I sometimes wish for the little puppy days back. Kyko was a very, very easy puppy. He's about to hit 13 months & adolescence has stolen my little baby . Had to take things back to basics as he seems to have developed terminal deafness
