I was out this morning for a couple of hours and i left Izzy in her cage. She had messed whilst i was out so had the joy of that when i got home, but then the rest of the afternoon she became the devil dog again! She ran mad, biting, chewing, annoying my old dog, weeing in between wees and eventually pooing in the bedroom! I am totally exhausted, and at my wits end! She eventually settled at teatime. Help!
Re: Rubbish afternoon Ah, a bad day with a young pup. I hope tomorrow is better. Peeing and pooing in a crate is not a good thing - if you have to leave her longer than she might be able to hold poo or pee, then leaving her in a pen with newspapers outside her sleeping area is the thing. Otherwise, you may damage her instinct to keep her "den" clean - an instinct that you need to extend to your whole house - making toilet training altogether harder. Plus, it's really not fair on them to have to poo and pee in their bed.
Re: Rubbish afternoon Poor you, I can imagine you're exhausted! She's still very young so I would say this kind of behaviour is still quite normal for a puppy of her age. We struggled to leave Inca for more than an hour until she was about 10 weeks so just try and be patient and she will get there. Are you currently giving Izzy the run of the house or did she break through to the bedroom on her own? We restricted Inca to the kitchen and the utility room only for a long time as she still thought the other rooms were there to toilet in. We have introduced her to the rest of the downstairs rooms as she became more reliable. I would maybe try and restrict Izzy's access to other rooms as much as possible just now. What have you done with Izzy since you got home? When Inca was at the same age I was constantly exhausted and just wanted to crash out with a cup of tea but just doing 5 minutes of very gentle training can make a big difference as it tires them out mentally. Either that or a bit of chasing around in the garden. I don't know if that's any help at all but that's what we did with Inca to make things easier. It's tiring enough at this time of year without a naughty little puppy to run after! Keep going and a glass of wine every evening definitely helps
Re: Rubbish afternoon It feels like ive done everything wrong. Ive let her have the run of the bungalow, ive left her in her cage too long and now she thinks she can toilet wherever she likes! Im so tired and weepy, im beginning to think ive made a big mistake getting Izzy.
Re: Rubbish afternoon Have a big hug and take a deep breath - and a good glug of wine if you're a drinker! We've all been here, don't you worry. you're exhausted and it's overwhelming, but you've not done anything wrong. You love your puppy and are just learning how to get along with her the best way. These things don't come instinctively to us, we have to learn them. There's nothing done that can't be undone - in fact, nothing that *needs* to be undone. It's simply having a slightly new plan to approach these first few weeks. As everyone keeps saying, it *does* get easier. The idea is that instinctively, puppies don't like to soil their dens. This is very useful for us so we can toilet train them, but they don't come with a built-in understanding of what their den is. If the crate is too large, they will toilet in it, so you need to make sure it's big enough for her to lie down, but not much bigger. We used a partition (home-made by hubby) for the first couple of weeks for this. Then she can gradually learn that her den extends beyond this, to the whole of the room that the crate is in. Then on further to other parts of the house. Eventually, she will see the whole of the bungalow as her den and will try not to go to the toilet in it. To start with, you need to make sure you're helping her and yourself as much as possible by taking her out for a loo break after all trigger events (waking up, after eating, after drinking, during playing etc) but also you'll learn to interpret her other behaviours to know when she wants to go to the loo. You'll get better and better at this, and she'll learn to help you by sending you stronger signals, too. Believe me, there's not a puppy owner out there who hasn't felt deflated and defeated at some point. But we get through it eventually and come out the other side with a lovely, cuddly companion. Get a nap if you can - they say it's like having a baby and you should sleep when your puppy sleeps - but if not, I can strongly recommend gin
Re: Rubbish afternoon Oh Wendy...HUGS!!!!! Your Izzy is just a tot yet...you are learning her patterns and behaviours...and in time you will both know much better what to expect from one another. My Bella is 15 weeks and she can be a terror at times...especially after she has been made to be still longer than she wants. She goes to work with my hubby during the day...and this time of year is always super busy, so she is in her crate for longer periods than she likes. When she is out of the crate....she is all about zooming and destructing! Thankfully we have ample supply of cardboard boxes that she can attack without trouble...We try and do lots of fetch games with her....give her her favorite purple squeak toy...and just encourage her to get it out of her system. Some days are wilder than others...but generally a good rowdy 10 minutes or so, followed by some interaction and training and treats go a long way towards getting her to mellow out for the rest of the evening. But we are also not afraid to toss her back into her crate for a time out if she gets too rough in her play. It doesn't usually take that much, but it's an option we do use....especially if OUR patience is thin. Regarding potty accidents....we always try and do any extended crate time after a potty break, so she goes in empty. She has only had one accident in her crate, it was a poo...and was clearly our fault for either the duration we asked of her, or not recognizing her request to get out for a poo. : As you get to know Izzy better, you will know her routine better and accidents that are your fault (for not seeing her cue) will be minimized. Our Bella has the general run of the house too, and a bell on the front door for her to ring if she needs to go out. she is about 85% accurate with her bell rings...but because she also spends time at work with hubby who doesn't have a bell...sometimes WE miss the signal she gives. She generally will run down the hallway to do her business. I never scold her for them...as if I do a mental rewind over the last 5 minutes I always see the cue she tried. I just clean them up and toss her outside to be sure she doesn't have any reserves saved up. We have been struggling the last few nights ourselves...since our Bella is grown up enough now that she can hop on and off the bed at her whim. So in the middle of the night when she used to come up by my head and wake me with whines/licks to go outside...well, now she is more self-service (she thinks) and so she just hops off the bed and goes to the door... This is less reliable than an ear lick obviously...so I'm sleeping with half an ear listening for her to hop off the bed, or rattle to door to let us know she needs to go. Well...obviously...this is working only part of the time... : and the more tired I get...the less I'm inclined to hear... : Anyway...last night...I woke up to her licking my face...front feet on the bed, back feet on the floor...and one sniff...and whoops....I missed a cue apparently. : I just got up, took her straight outside without a word....came back in, picked up the poo, dabbed up the pee....spritzed the area (carpet of course : ) with oxy spray, retrieved Bella from the outside...and back to bed we went. Later in the night I caught the rattle the door cue she gave...so that was it for the night. I'll also add the disclaimer that my Bella has a persistent UTI...so we generally get up a couple times every night anyway...but the poo in the room was not much fun...firm and easy to clean up anyway.... ;D Hang in there Wendy, get some rest...and in a few weeks you'll both be much better!!!! xoxo
Re: Rubbish afternoon Hey Wendy It really is exhausting but stick at it they are worth it!! I've spent the evening trying pippas 'click for quiet' technique as Bella starts barking and whining as soon as she's put in the kitchen area or crate, I've tried ignoring but moving on to the click for quiet. As Inca says re toiliting it must be normal, Bella will go outside but she has done a couple of wees and poos in the living room as well as the kitchen and tends to also do it when I leave her even if I'm in the house. I don't make a fuss, just clean it up, when she does it outside I say 'be clean' and praise madly..... She'll get there...Her crate door is open during the day so she can get out of it, but kitchen is cornered off with a pen. We are all learning! Get some rest, I'm taking naps when she is!!!
Re: Rubbish afternoon It's like having a baby, you can't leave them for a minute unless they are in the crate. I don't think it matters that you gave her the run of the bungalow, just be very vigilant re house training, every half an hour or hour, pop her outside, lots of reward when she does it. It is utterly exhausting but IT DOES PASS eventually. I think everyone feels like you do at times, but fortunately we forget as you will ;D
Re: Rubbish afternoon Thanks for the hugs everyone, I know I'm getting over emotional cos I'm tired, so I've come to bed early. Izzy is happily playing in her crate with a Kong, and hopefully we will all go to sleep soon. I think if I have to go out during the day ill put the crate in the kitchen and leave the door open and put some paper down, maybe cordon off a bit of it.....I don't have a pen and can't afford one at the moment.
Re: Rubbish afternoon That sounds like a good plan! The Kongs are a good idea I have 3, but I want a few more now as I know they keep her occupied! I know what you mean, I'm lucky my parents already had the pen as they are expensive but mines only opened out to divide the kitchen in 2, so I'm sure you'll find another way. Have a good rest
Re: Rubbish afternoon Leaving her in the kitchen sounds like a good idea hope you get some sleep tonight
Re: Rubbish afternoon If it makes you feel any better my pup poo'd in the CAR crate 3 times in a ROW!!!!! Pheweeeeee that is really distracting when you're driving for a whole 5 minutes to the vet : : : honestly he'd had so many chances to go to the loo before we went. It's all a dim, distant (and only slightly traumatic) memory.....this will be too. You've had some great advice ;D
Re: Rubbish afternoon Hug from me too Don't worry, it's totally normal to feel overwhelmed and at the end of your tether at this stage. After all, who says "What I would really love as a pet is something that will bite my arms and ankles relentlessly, charge around like a demon possessed, poop on my carpet, pee in the kitchen, bark at absolutely nothing, destroy socks, undies and footwear and leave me totally sleep deprived". Unfortunately that's what we get initially and it's enough to drive anyone to drink But hang in there, and take heart, as it really will not last for a long time. You will get to the point where you can't imagine life without her (really!!).
Re: Rubbish afternoon [quote author=Wendy68 link=topic=9215.msg132250#msg132250 date=1419370215] Thanks for the hugs everyone, I know I'm getting over emotional cos I'm tired, so I've come to bed early. Izzy is happily playing in her crate with a Kong, and hopefully we will all go to sleep soon. I think if I have to go out during the day ill put the crate in the kitchen and leave the door open and put some paper down, maybe cordon off a bit of it.....I don't have a pen and can't afford one at the moment. [/quote] Lots of sympathy from here too.... I remember being quite sure we'd done the wrong thing getting a puppy, it was just exhausting (and Pongo was actually a pretty trouble-free pup compared to most). I spent those weeks of my life being nothing but an unpaid toilet attendant to a small dog who just didn't care. Hang in there..... I promise you we've all been where you are and it is really normal.... and it will pass! Rosie
Re: Rubbish afternoon [quote author=bbrown link=topic=9215.msg132261#msg132261 date=1419372917] If it makes you feel any better my pup poo'd in the CAR crate 3 times in a ROW!!!!! Pheweeeeee that is really distracting when you're driving for a whole 5 minutes to the vet : : : honestly he'd had so many chances to go to the loo before we went. [/quote] Haha I have totally been there Barbara! And what made it worse was that it only happened in my car and not in my boyfriend's. He still maintains it's a case of woman driver! Big hugs Wendy! There is no wrong or right way of bringing up a puppy and one of the most important things I have learnt is not too worry too much if things go wrong - easier said than done I know. 8-10 weeks was the hardest point for us and 10-12 weeks was still hard work but after that we have enjoyed every second and I wouldn't change those first difficult weeks for the world as it has given us the bond we have with Inca. Keep going and it will improve before you know it
Re: Rubbish afternoon Having a puppy is hard work! Very tiring. Hope you enjoy the lovely puppy moments and manage to get some naps in. Merry Chtistmas!
Re: Rubbish afternoon [quote author=Wendy68 link=topic=9215.msg132235#msg132235 date=1419366893] It feels like ive done everything wrong. Ive let her have the run of the bungalow, ive left her in her cage too long and now she thinks she can toilet wherever she likes! Im so tired and weepy, im beginning to think ive made a big mistake getting Izzy. [/quote] ((hugs)) Puppy exhaustion comes to the most experienced puppy carers - it gets much better. Fear not - pups don't remember such things. Just make sure she's confined to the kitchen (with you) until she's 'safe'. If you do have to leave her longer than an hour or two be sure she can toilet somewhere away from her bed and clean it up with bio cleaner like Simple solution. At night pick up her water by 8pm and she will soon last all night. Then you can begin to recover and enjoy her training Here is an article which may help you - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/how-to-beat-the-labrador-puppy-blues/
Re: Rubbish afternoon Hope you're having a better day today. Good idea to put the crate in the kitchen and put paper down, but just be prepared for the paper to be shredded and scattered everywhere too! Keep going with the Kongs and freeze one if you can so it lasts longer. It's always worse when you're tired and puppies are hard work and tiring - worth it in the end, though.
