For the past few days when Rolo wakes up, usually about 6.30am, I have been letting him in the lounge with me. The first morning he was so good had a little play and then settled in his bed and snoozed, bliss! Now he goes wild running around biting nipping at me and the furniture, I have put him into time out several times and he comes back in just the same so now I have put him in the kitchen behind the baby gate where he is now in his bed sleeping! Why is he so calm in there and like a raving looney in the lounge? I am really at my wits end. He has been coming into the lounge for over a week now, surely it's not "new" to him anymore and the novelty has worn off. I keep bringing him in to get him used to it. I have read Pippas article on an over excited puppy but no one has played with him or riled him up, he has gone outside to relieve himself and had his breakfast, should I take him out for a walk straightaway? I know it sounds crazy but I feel lile crying, every day there is a new issue to get my head round. Kris :-[
Re: At my wit's end! He's just a puppy doing puppy things. It's quite possible the lounge is more exciting. Or just makes a better race track. This kind of thing goes on for quite a while - although it can still drive you nuts, I think you do get better at just managing it.
Re: At my wit's end! Oh Kris, sympathies . You're right, with puppies you just get one thing fixed and something else goes awry : If it's any comfort, this is perfectly normal behaviour and it sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing; if he's good he can stay with you, too wild and out he goes. If you're not too much of a morning person, don't feel obliged to rush out for a walk straight away (at any rate it's best to wait a bit for his breakfast to go down). Could you feed him with a kong or treat-ball instead of just out of the bowl, or even (if it's just dry biscuit !) sprinkle it around the floor a bit so he has yo use his physical and mental energy a bit to find the food? Stay strong, these days will pass (My 18 month old was nutty too in the mornings as a pup. Now at weekends the early morning routine is out for pees/poos, breakfast, back to bed for an extended nap!)
Re: At my wit's end! Oh it is! And your time will come!! Seems like forever getting through the mad stage though (flashback to when my slippers were target practice for tiny teeth ;D ;D).
Re: At my wit's end! I have the same problem......My puppy goes nuts after his meal times. He runs into the lounge try's to attack my cushions and me in the process. I now remove the cushions and stand with my back to him to let him know I'm not playing. Try giving him chew toys to distract him. Good luck xx
Re: At my wit's end! Oh Kris, I do understand and remember the feeling so well. I didn't like Molly when she was that age and that frankly, no pleasure to be with. I thought I'd made a tremendous mistake bringing a puppy into our pensioner household. I was looking for an excuse to put her into rescue, but couldn't bring myself to do it because I felt that I'd made the mistake in getting such a large puppy and I didn't want to disrupt her life and put a query over her by sending her away. I read all the posts about when when they stop biting etc, but even four months seemed an age away. And it seemed terrible, like I was the only person wicked enough NOT to enjoy this creature messing up my life. Assuming that you feed him kibble, have you considered giving him all his food in treat balls, buster cubes etc? It gives you a break while they rush around trying to get the food out and gives them mental and physical exercise too. Kongs, which I also use do need preparation, which when you are up to your eyes in it trying to deal with a very normal, boisterous puppy is at a premium, but a Buster Cube or a Treat ball can be filled in seconds. For the first six months of their lives they need an awful lot of food so you have many chances to grab yourself a bit of much needed peace. Molly is 13 months now and she still gets all her food either in a Kong (while we have our meals) or in toys or hand fed while I am training her.
Re: At my wit's end! I hope you don't cry! We have all experienced the mad puppy or even the puppy who quietly gets into mischief seemingly non stop for hours! I usually take mine for a walk or have a game in the garden; even a 5 minute play can take the edge off.
Re: At my wit's end! I find a short training session can help, too. Wears out her little mind. It has to be something she enjoys, like "leave it"/"take it". I don't think working on a sit/stay would work when she's super hyper
Re: At my wit's end! Just going to say bit of training, or a chew toy or even a short walk seem to calm mine down. Doesn't have to be a marathon just a bit of fresh air.
Re: At my wit's end! Thank you so much for all of your great advice, I am still soaking Rolo's kibble but i could do half soaked in his bowl and half not soaked in a buster cube. (When do I stop soaking his food anyway?) I feel bad for complaining because he is such a good boy with most other things. Last night he slept in his crate from 9.15pm to 6am and he had a boring day not much playing. He hasn't had an "accident" in the house for over a week. I am just expecting too much and forgetting he is still so young. Thanks for all the great tips. Kris
Re: At my wit's end! It sounds as if you're doing really well with Rolo. Mine still have their mad moments and usually try to make themselves really obvious when they think it's food time! As Molly's owner has said, they enjoy working for their food hidden in Kongs and treat balls, so I either save some kibble or use low calorie treats for this. Try getting him to sit and wait while you hide the treat ball, rather than just giving it to him. I've never 'soaked' the kibble, but just put some water on it and give them their bowls straight away, so Rolo should be fine with dry kibble.
Re: At my wit's end! Yup, Rolo will definitely be fine with dry kibble. I put a bit of warm water on Willow's because it makes her slow down, but it's not soaked at all, still crunchy. I also like to do it because it means I know she's getting enough water. Other than for those reasons, she'd be on completely dry.
Re: At my wit's end! Another game I play with Molly is to scatter Kibble on the grass in the garden and tell her to 'go find'. Hubby likes this game too, longer grass slows her down, so it is so good of him not to mow the lawn . I also used to shut the kitchen door, and hide kibble around the skirting boards etc of the hallway. Again 'go find' set her off. This has evolved to her 'sitting' and 'waiting' while I do it until I release her. Which is a valuable form of training in itself. If you have young kids, either resident or visiting, they just love being the hider. As Molly has her kibble dry I always ensure that she has access to fresh water. It is a bit nerve-wracking, the free access to water when they are not toilet trained, but they do seem to self regulate and you have to leave them to it eventually.
Re: At my wit's end! I wouldn't give dry kibble until the pup is at least 12 weeks old. Guide Dogs have lost 3 to choking this way They don't have a proper 'choke' reflex until then. I was advised to soak Gypsy's food, even when given as treats - and to give the treats from below, not above.
Re: At my wit's end! We soaked Jack & Barney's kibble until they were 4 months which was when we went back to work, and there isn't time at lunchtimes to soak it, let them eat it and have some time afterwards. We kept soaking breakfast and evening feeds for a good few weeks after that and then stopped soaking their evening meal, then eventually their breakfast too. They have always had free access to water, even in their crate at night, right from the first day we got them, and luckily we have had no issues whatsoever with toilet training. Lou x
