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Author | Topic: Frustrated mom... |
sillysillypuppy Member ![]() Posts: 14 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Perhaps because this is our first dog, I had too much expectations. My maltipoo seems to understand things, and then, regresses, not progresses. He started going poop on the puppy pads (because we take him there), but he will never pee there! He stops at the rug right in front of the bathroom and pees there consistently! I try to wash it out with Nature's Miracle, but I dont know if its helping. On top of everything, he gets up all hours of the morning (every 2 or 3 hours) and whines and barks at us until we get up and play with him. Is this normal for a 9 week old puppy?? Or is he trying to be the boss of US? I suppose I am just really frustrated because I want to be a great mom to him, but it feels as though i'm failing miserably. I feel awful and disappointed at myself and completely lost on what i should do!!!! IP: Logged |
karma Member ![]() Posts: 77 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Hi, Nine weeks is very young. I wouldn't expect too much at that age, even if it does seem he's learned a little. He hasn't really 'learned' until he does it no more. I believe that most sources say not to expect complete housetraining until 16 weeks. But that's just a rough guide. One of our dogs still made 'mistakes' up until she was 6 months! - and believe me, we were on her as much as was practically possible. But don't let this discourage you. Let's see- I'd probably take that rug away and see if that doesn't help. If it's a wall-to-wall carpet, be sure you're cleaning every trace out of it. Is he getting enough play/exercise during the day? If so, I'm surprised that he's wanting to play so often at night. One thing you shouldn't do, if you're trying to stop a behavior, is to reinforce it by giving in. Sounds like he's training you to get up and play with him when he has the whim- and he's doing a pretty good job! Since he's only nine weeks, I'm assuming you've only had him a week or two? Everything is still new to him- he's exploring, he's seeing what boundaries there are-- he's still very, very immature. I'm not sure that a puppy brain at this age has the capability of much real learning. So be patient, and don't be discouraged. Get a couple of good puppy training books. They will address all of your concerns. Good luck, and let us know how you're doing. IP: Logged |
sillysillypuppy Member ![]() Posts: 14 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Karma, thanks for your words of encouragment. I calmed down a little and I know that I need to give him some time. As for the playing at night...since he's so young, he literally plays 30 mins and sleeps 2 hours day and night. I think we're going to try to play with him for longer period of time around 7-10, so that it tires him out. The giving in part, you're absolutely right. I think we gave in because it was 3:30 am and we live in a condo, so we didnt want him to wake up the neighbors. But i realize this will persist and worsen if we allow him to get away with it. As for the crate, i've been deliberating on this and I was hoping for some opinions. my maltipoo is currently 9 weeks old and weighs about 1.6 lbs. All the crates we've seen are too big for him so i was thinking of using a laundry basket. Is this no good?? Also, what is the rule with the crate...as in...how often should he be let out...he's not potty trained yet. Once again, I thank you for your time, and this forum is my everything right now! Thanks! IP: Logged |
karma Member ![]() Posts: 77 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Hi again, Definitely try to keep him playing in the evening, so he'll conk out at least a little during the night. He's probably just in that particular sleep/wake stage for now and it'll change- he's start adjusting more to your routine. I don't know that a laundry basket would make a good crate- I would think he might try to jump out of it. And there is a rule of thumb for pups as to how long that can 'hold it' - of course, it increases with age but at nine weeks it's probably only a couple hours or so. Again, get a couple of good books on puppy training- they will explain all this. It will be a great investment for you. You're going to have millions of questions as you raise your pup, especially since this is your first. Not that we mind helping, of course, but there's really so much you need to know. And a book will explain about things to watch for as he develops; so when they happen you'll know what to do. So much better than guessing and trying something 'on your own' and finding out later it was the wrong thing... then you have to undo it. You know? Good luck! IP: Logged |
MyBabyShihPoo Member ![]() Posts: 206 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Your frustration is completely understandable, you are surely not alone!!! Almost every new dog owner, and experienced ones as well, experience the same feelings of frustration as you are. The "puppy stage" is the hardest and most challenging stage of dog ownership. The first time you bring your puppy home you are just filled with excitement and joy, then a few days (sometimes a few weeks) later, reality sets in, and often comes as a rude surprise to many. There are a great number of people who will openly admit that they came VERY close to just throwing in the towel and wanting to go back to life without a puppy. I often hear that from frustrated dog owners, and I always tell them to hang in there (it is easier said than done though). Just remember, the puppy stage does NOT last forever! Suggestions for your situation: ~If the rug he is eliminating on is removable, by all means, remove it. ~9 weeks is VERY young to expect a lot. Keep in mind that his surroundings have just recently drastically changed, and he is still trying to adjust...not an easy thing for a puppy. ~Also, since you do have a small breed dog, and considering that he is only 9 wks. and 1.6 lbs., his ability to hold it is very limited. His bladder is VERY SMALL! At that age, I was lucky if my pups could hold it for an hour. Unless my pups showed signs of needing to go outside earlier than scheduled, I would take them out every 45 minutes. As they got older, I would increase the time intervals. Obviously, your pup's ability to hold it for longer periods of time will increase with his age. ~Keep a VERY close eye on him at ALL times so you can catch him in the act to correct the wrong behavior. And when you can't keep a close eye on him, confine him...I used our kitchen most of the time for that and sometimes their crate just to get them used to it. ~Watch out for those infamous "signs" that your dog will exhibit when he needs to eliminate. When you catch him in the act, say a firm "NO" (along with a clap of the hands to get his attention if need be), immediately pick him up and bring him to his proper eliminating spot. If you have a word for it, be sure to use it as you bring him to the spot. And just a note, getting upset with a puppy after he has eliminated in the wrong spot is completely worthless, correction is only necessary when you catch him IN the act. The more times a dog eliminates in the house and is not caught, the more you are inadvertently reinforcing the negative behavior. That is why it is so incredibly important to keep a REAL close eye on him. The more you catch him or prevent it from happening, the sooner he will be housebroken. ~Some dogs are successful when it comes to paper/puppy pad training, but for many dogs it is very confusing. Many dogs just don't understand why they can eliminate indoors in one spot, but not another. ~When he does eliminate in the proper place, go crazy with lots of positive praise, and give him a small treat. As weird as it may sound, make eliminating in right place a fun and exciting thing for him. ~As far as crates go, I didn't use them a lot with my dogs. Whenever I would leave I would close the gate to the kitchen (which blocks them off from the rest of the house) and leave the kennel/crate in the kitchen with the kennel door open in case they wanted to go in there (which I would often find them in when I came back home). Of course I would crate my pups enough until I knew that they were comfortable being put in one in case need be in the future. That particular method worked great for me and my pups! Now that is how I handled the crate situation, but everybody has their own opinions on it. ~If your interested in finding a crate for him, I would go ahead and buy a bigger one so he can "grow into it." Just section it off to fit his size. If you buy a small one for him now that fits him perfectly, you will have to buy another one for when he gets bigger. ~As far as your puppy getting up in the middle of the night, that is pretty common when they are that young. Just try and tire him out the best you can, especially in the evening hours so he will be more likely to be tired and sleep for longer periods of time during the night. When he does get up in the middle of the night, see if he has to eliminate, then go right back to bed ignoring any of his winning or barking. If you give in to him now, he will soon catch on that if he wines and barks, he will get what he wants. The whole point is for you to train him, not vice versa! LOL Housebreaking a dog, and training in general, requires a lot of patience, persistence, and time. Just give it time, your puppy is still very young! Don't be disappointed in yourself, there is no need to be, just arm yourself with those necessary qualities and time, and you are well on your way to a well-trained pup! Hang in there!!! Keep us updated on your success, it is sure to happen! Wishing you all the best!!! [This message has been edited by MyBabyShihPoo (edited 03-06-2004).] IP: Logged |
sillysillypuppy Member ![]() Posts: 14 |
![]() ![]() ![]() MyBabyShihPoo Thanks for your kind words! It means a lot to have people who have "been there" give me adivce. We just bought a crate at PetCo and it is "just right." At this point, we are more concerned on potty training him correctly than anything so we dont mind buying a bigger one later.=) This crate training is so hard to figure out! I mean, there are very conflicting views and methods on this issue! I'm so lost on how long i should keep him in there. I'm taking hour intervals and letting him to the potty pad, but do i do this until when?? Until i can open the gate and he goes in/out and poo/pee by himself?? Another thing is that my puppy seems to have lost his appetite. =( Stress, new environment...i'm not sure...but i'm really hurting for him. =( And it's hard to reward him with a treat when he's not eating. Also, i tried putting toys in his crate, but he's reallly disinterested. Nevertheless I thank everyone for their words of encouragement! We will keep on strong and by the way, everyone would be happy to know that we are being strong and not giving in when he gives one whimper. It's hard, but we're trying to do it! BUT it still breaks my heart listening to him whimper! =( IP: Logged |
MyBabyShihPoo Member ![]() Posts: 206 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Glad I was able to provide you with at little bit of help! You are absolutely right in saying that the crate issue is a very conflicting one because indeed it is. I didn't make a big deal out of using a crate all the time only because I am not fond of the idea of confining a dog to such a small and cramped space. I did not use a crate to housebreak my pups, and they were housebroken quickly. Like I said before though, they were put in their crate every so often so they would be become accustomed to it. It really did not take them long to become accustomed to it, and they often would go in there voluntarily. But, if I were to have used a crate on a daily basis, I would NEVER leave them in there for more than 2-3 hrs. In my opinion, it just doesn't seem fair to leave them in there for any longer than that. If you are able to keep and eye on him, and he really doesn't need to be in his crate, let him out. Just be sure to keep him very close by, in other words, don't give him free run of the house. As far as the toys in the crate goes, there really isn't much room to play with toys in a crate, so that may be why he seems disinterested. It will take a little while before he learns to go to the proper eliminating area every time he needs to eliminate. Be very persistent with this, the more persistent you are with it, the faster he will catch on. You also mentioned that it is hard to give him treats. Find a treat that he REALLY likes, trust me, there is bound to be one that he likes. When he does eliminate in the correct area, reward him with a LITTLE treat (the treat itself really doesn't need to be any bigger than about the size of an eraser on a pencil). As far as his food goes, keep in mind that small dogs usually don't eat a whole lot of food. To make his kibble a little more appetizing, I would try mixing in a little canned food in with it. Be sure to mix it in really well so he doesn't just pick out the wet canned food and leave behind the kibble. Also, I am glad to hear that you aren't giving in when he whimpers. I know how hard it is to resist, but the consequences if you do give in now are far too great. You'll be happy you didn't give in! If you have any more questions, please feel free to post! Hope all goes well! IP: Logged |
sillysillypuppy Member ![]() Posts: 14 |
![]() ![]() ![]() once again, i think i just needed to hear that i'm not horrible and i'm not doing everything wrong. thank you and this forum for making me sane though i've not had more than 3 hours of sleep due to my new puppy in the last 3 nights... i will survive!!! lol! By the way, my maltipoo is SO HANDSOME and i love with with all of my heart!! Though it's hard now, i know it'll get better. Hopefully! And if anyone crate trained their dog, i'd love to hear how they did it and how lond it took. Thanks!! IP: Logged |
dbuzzw Member ![]() Posts: 78 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Hi Silly. I also have a maltepoo - Baxter is now 17 months old - and thought I'd give you my 2 cents. I was also leery of crate training, but it did give me peace of mind at night. I never put my 2 babies in the crate during the day, but they sleep there at night. They know when it's time to get in their "beds". It really helped to get them to "hold it" for longer periods of time (since I was taking them out constantly, trying to housetrain them, they weren't good at holding it). I don't feel guilty doing the crate thing at night - I figure I'm in a confined bed area those 8 hours and so are they. As for treats, I had the same problem with Baxter. Try the yogurt drops at PetsMart (the Petco near me doesn't carry them). They are very little and come in an orange can. Those are our "potty treats" and "get in your bed" treats and they love them. Not too big to ruin their appetite either. Good luck! Diane IP: Logged |
JensMom Member ![]() Posts: 10 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Hi Silly, I really can't give you a lot of advice because I'm going thru the same thing myself. This is our first puppy...she's an 11 week old shih tzu. We've had her for 4 weeks now. The first 2 weeks were just as you described at night. Whining and barking for hours. I think we only got about 4 hours of interrupted sleep at night. BUT, it has gotten so much better. Now she only wakes up at 4am, barks for 10-15 min then goes back to sleep. It gets better...give it a few weeks and get a good pair of headphones (that helped us) IP: Logged |
sillysillypuppy Member ![]() Posts: 14 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Thanks once again for the support everyone. Unfortunately, our puppy got really sick and he had to be taken to the vet this morning. To my hearbreak, he has to stay overnight with IV fluids being given to him in a incubater. He lost a lot of fluid through vomit and diahhrea. He is our first puppy, brand new to our home for just 4 nights and now i'm absolutely heartbroken. The bill alone for just one night at the vet is costing $500, and though money shouldnt be an issue, i'm afraid of anything possible to come. Nevertheless, at this point, I just really want him to get well. So potty training/crate training can wait! When he comes home tomorrow morning, I want to spoil him rotten and not let go of him, at least for a while. Please have him in your prayers because he is the most handsome little angel. IP: Logged |
MyBabyShihPoo Member ![]() Posts: 206 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Keep us updated on your little guy! IP: Logged |
love2shar Member ![]() Posts: 14 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Hi Silly…I am so sorry to hear that you are having such hardships with your new baby. I have a Maltipoo as well and we got him at the very too young age of 6 weeks. The first few weeks were the hardest. We started out with him in our bedroom in a crate….that lasted 2 days cause he cried all night and I ended up "hardly sleeping" with him on the floor next to our bed. On the third day my husband came home with the best gift possible. It was a “play pen” from PetSmart. We set it up in our TV room where we spend most of our time. It allowed us to put our pup in a 4’X4’ area which he can see thru. Its large enough to fit his crate: feeding area : wee wee pad and an additional sleeping pillow in case he wants to sleep outside of his crate. It was a “miracle cure”….he slept thru the night until 6am…and it only got better. He now lets us sleep as late as we want. One thing we noticed is that when my husband comes down in the morning he wants to play…but he tries to make very little eye contact with him and just sticks to freshening up his water and feeding him, it feels icky at first ignoring him but he got used to it. By the time I get up he is all ready to play….and we do a lot of that. The one thing that we found that tires him out is to throw his squeaky stuffed animals across that room and have him fetch…hi can do it for an hour. The one thing I do have to mention is that our baby was only 1.5lb when we got him and he needed to eat every 3 hours on the dot….otherwise he would yelp at the top of his lungs. The one thing that the breeder and the vet stressed over and over to us was that he needs to eat every 3 -4 hours and that he must get the NutriCal Vitamin Paste because of their tendency to get dehydrated and hypoglycemic. You might want to get some NutriCal from your vet before you bring him home tomorrow. One last thing….about food, I tried 4 diff kinds of soft food (which I know is a big no no ) in a short amount of time. He burped up the Eukanuba, disliked Innova, Snubbed Nutro. He liked the Science Diet kibbles ground up with warm water so I had him on that for a while, but found that it’s not the healthiest to foods. He is now eating Advanced Pet Diets Select Choice(puppy food) and loving it. He eats the kibbles and they are small enough for him to eat…even when he didn’t have all his teeth yet. I wish you and your baby all the best …and hope he makes a speedy recovery. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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