Puppy Driving Me Mad

SweetPea23

supermezzo wrote: »

We get our puppies at six weeks and I'm afraid that they do cry, albeit some more than others.
During the day, ignore the 'chunnering' but the second the pup is quiet then stroke him, tickle his ears but gently, don't make an enormous fuss. Just re-assure him that you're there and he will eventually make the leap that noise = nothing and quiet = good stuff. This won't immediately help with the night time crying but will have a knock on effect (eventually). The night time crying can be helped by loads of the above suggestions, all of which are great, but the crate should be seen by him as his 'den', his place fo safety - what you're aiming for is your dog getting the same feeling of going into his crate as you get when you come home form a bad day at work and shut the front door, IYSWIM.
I'd advise not shutting him in during the day, rather leaving it open with his bed and toys in it. If it's the enormous crate you can also make yourself look really daft and actually get in it yourself which if nothing else reduces the kids to hysteria when you get stuck. If you can, try going to bed as late as possible and then getting up once or maybe twice to let pup out to relieve himself. He won't go all night at this stage - however, a bit like night feeds with babies, keep the lights dim and a calm atmosphere and simply put him out then back to bed ( unlike during the day when he goes outside and he gets a reward etc). That way he doesn't learn that gettin up in the night gets a treat.
It does get easier (honest!) but these first few weeks are vital, especially in one so teeny so you will need the patience of a saint.
What are you feeding him btw - If it's dried food are you wetting it for him as it makes it easier for them to cope with as he's clearly not had enogh time to be weaned properly.
And as the others have said which I'm sure you have done, a trip to the vet for jabs etc.
PM if you need any more help and I'll rack my brains (latest one is now 9 months and fortunately, the memories of the first weeks fade).

Fantastic advice, thank you so much. He's going to the vets on Monday to be checked over and my mums friend who breeds Beagles has given me some stuff for his fleas, although I can't see any on him at all now but rather be safe than sorry, he's been wormed too, bless him! He's on wet food for now which he loves but he gets bad wind from :rotfl: Thankfully my husband hardly sleeps so he lets him out regularly to use the toilet, not that puppy is keen in this weather, bless him. He is a little treasure and fast asleep after playtime at the moment. Thanks again.

SweetPea23

ladysparklexx wrote: »

My 10 week old lab puppy has been crate trained as my house is open plan. He sleeps with a great big dog teddy in his crate which is also a hot water bottle cover, he loves this teddy, its bigger than him and he always sleeps over it. It might be worth getting him some teddies to snuggle up to and sleep over as he would of his brothers and sisters. My puppy is not happy at the moment as he has done a wee on his teddy who is now in the washing machine, he is whining next to the door as he can see it through the window.

Awwww bless him that is so sweet. I will have to fish out my sons hot water bottle and cover which he never uses, the puppy already has an assortment of soft toys my son has donated, poor little thing can hardly fit in his bed! Thank you for the advice.

SweetPea23

ajaney wrote: »

Radio 4 is the best station for dogs imo. Voices all the time, very little music.

You pup is young to be away from Mum but there's lots of good advice on this thread to help you settle puppy in!

I know when I found out just how young he was and the fact my husbands friend had already had him for a few days I was fuming and voiced my opinions to my husband, to me he is a baby and babies need their mummies. Little Reeve (puppy) has a surrogate here though with my husband, he's his little shadow :rolleyes:

SweetPea23

Kavanne wrote: »

My in laws dog sleeps in a crate in their room... he's no trouble at all and as he got older he'll sometimes sleep in his bed downstairs... why shouldn't they have a choice? He likes to sleep downstairs if the whole family isn't home (ie: he's expecting someone else to come home) hehe.

I've found my puppy will happily sleep in his bed with minimal fuss when we go out the front door because then he waits for us to come home, when we go upstairs he just doesn't understand why he isn't allowed up there. I think I will move the bedroom round and get the crate up there and see if that makes him fall in love with his den. He loves his little bed so if I stuff it with blankets, fleeces and toys he might decide the crate isn't too bad after all.

SweetPea23

Thank you everyone for your advice, last night we had his little bed in our room and he slept until 6.30am when he started crying so we have progress already. At the moment he can't chew but the reason I want him crated over night is because he will be downstairs and I just know I'll come down to no doors or something so I will put the crate up tonight in the bedroom with his bed in. I think he's got seperation issues which is understandable considering his age and I am home with him all day so he is always with someone, I just need to build up his confidence on a night so he knows it isn't so bad to be left alone to sleep as he'll see us in the morning.

He's at the vets on Monday so hopefully he should be getting his 1st jab and we can get some information on when he needs his next one, when he can get chipped and snipped (poor little man!)

Thanks once again for helping me and my special furry boy.

Horace

Good luck Sweetpea - your dog sounds really cute, hopefully he will soon understand that sleeping at night is good.

Oh and if you get a troll - just right click on their name and select ignore that way you won't get to see what they post.

Milford_Cubicle

You can have a pup chipped whenever you like, they usually do jabs at 8 and 10 weeks, or 8 and 12 weeks depending on the surgery. We had our pup chipped with her 10 week jabs. Once his second set are out of the way and he's waited a week, he can go for walks where other dogs have been. Take him out and about now though, it's good for socialising him and it might make him less nervous. Carry him around shopping centres etc, he'll love the attention

As for having him snipped, consider it very carefully as there are very differing views regarding the benefits and downsides. Do lots of research first.

Kavanne

Milford_Cubicle wrote: »

As for having him snipped, consider it very carefully as there are very differing views regarding the benefits and downsides. Do lots of research first.

I don't know much but I was always told it was best to have them neutered? for behaviour/temprement and so forth? Any reputable websites you know of where I could learn more?

SweetPea23

Kavanne wrote: »

I don't know much but I was always told it was best to have them neutered? for behaviour/temprement and so forth? Any reputable websites you know of where I could learn more?

I didn't know that either so I shall research it before booking him in, he won't ever be offlead when there's other dogs around anyway but I would hate for him to get a lady dog pregnant.

Waterfalls

he sounds lovely!

some basic pros for castration:
prevent/reduced chance of testicular/prostate cancer
unlikely to stray (looking for ladies)
unlikely to become fustrated
reduced dominance

cons:
may find it easier to put on weight/harder to lose it
(cant think of any more at the moment, but im sure there on the www somewhere)

also say ur post about some flea treatment, not sure what brand u have, but please bare in mind he may be far to young for a majority of treatments