Bored puppy

chris_n_tj

First of all a week old puppy has to learn the art of going to the loo on command? house training can in some cases take months (if you are unlucky it never happens) Any puppy should be taken outside at least once every hour, when puppy has performed its biusness praise well with as much enthusiasum as you can. Acciedents will happen, remeber puppy doesnt know any better, its your job now to take over the roll of parent and teach manners. If you get it wrong now then it makes it harder in the future. ( My rule with toilet training is I never go back inside until puppy has at least had a pee)
Have you tried a crate? Maybe you could cover a crate over with a blanket. The thing is, with the breed you have chosen is, they need to be entertained and given somthing to do. They get easily bored.
Chris n TJ

chris_n_tj

Londonwriter wrote: »

Any other suggestions? He can't come into the rest of the house. Even though he goes out to the loo every hour, he still manages to poo and pee in the living room. Sometimes, he doesn't go for five hours and then goes four times in an hour! He needs constant supervision (and I mean constant - I have to stand over him) in the living room as a result. When I'm working, this isn't possible.

I tried watching TV with him out last night and he hid behind the clothes rack to poo so I couldn't see him. It was over in seconds. I don't shout at him for pooing so he's got no reason to be covert, but it's possible he doesn't like being carried outside when we see him about to go.

If I take him out, he will try to leap out of my arms (and scratch and occasionally bite). When I took him to the vet (15 minutes walk), it was like being in the wars. He managed the playground (5 minutes walk) to meet some children, but still tried an escape attempt when we got there. It's like walking while sticking an octopus in a string bag.

Is there any way I can physically and mentally stimulate him in the living room during the periods I have available to stand over him to stop him stealth pooing? As I say, I've tried puzzles, hide the treat, agility (which I know I'm not supposed to do), tug and chase games.

I'm sure we'll be fine once he can go out and we can go for a little walk together (and, when he's older, agility, long hikes, bike rides and runs). It's just I don't know what to do for the next fortnight. I am trying hard to socialise him - we are going on a bus to puppy classes (which will be 'interesting' - it's good he's cute - people are tolerant), he is meeting my friends, parents, clients, friends' children, friends' dogs and cats, friends' children when they are going riding horses...

I desperately need something realistic I can do that's puppy suitable. As I say, the most successful thing I've found so far is the Nina Ottosson Dog Fighter - he still can't solve that consistently. Note: I found the puppy Kong a dead loss, although I'm happy to try again. I put a dog biscuit in it with the end poking out and he nibbled the end and then ignored it. It didn't leap about so he could bark and pounce on it. Apart from the Dog Fighter, his favourite toy is a squeaky Tony Blair. It's slippery so it skids away from him and makes a noise. He sees it 'escaping' and 'squawking' and chases it around the room getting more and more excited - this can entertain him for a whole fifteen minutes.

I love his energy and excitement - it's why I adore the breed. I just wish I knew how to channel all that energy while we can't do sporty stuff together.[/QUOTE

Also 15 mins is a long time for a puppy,they havnt the stamina at that age no matte rwhat breed they are.

Londonwriter

chris_n_tj wrote: »

The thing is, with the breed you have chosen is, they need to be entertained and given somthing to do. They get easily bored.
Chris n TJ

This is what I'm asking - what do I do with him to ensure he remains entertained? He sees me for two minutes every hour to go do doggy business, and he gets a few hours quality play every day, and he's STILL bored.

It's not realistic for me to give him 24/7 play. Even if I was a stay at home mum, I still couldn't be a full-time entertainer to my puppy.

I have a crate in the playpen. When he's sleeping, I lock him in it so I know when he wants to toilet. If I have to pop out for more than an hour, I leave him in his long-term confinement area.

However, I can't give him free run of the house because most of it is carpeted. Even if I take him to the toilet every hour, he still manages to mess the living room. His toilet habits aren't regular as clockwork. He can go five hours without wanting to use the loo (and whining and being miserable when I wait outside for ages in the hope he'll go) and then go four times in an hour.

If I am available for play, I let him into the living room so I can watch him and rush him out if he needs to poo/pee. The problem is that this isn't enough. Long-term, it's fine because we can go out. The world is our oyster. It's just it isn't at the moment. And I don't know what to do for the next fortnight until he has his second set of vaccinations.

I'm not complaining about the puppy. I wanted a smallish, high energy dog. I jog for an hour most days. Over the summer, I walked over 70 miles over several days starting with a climb of Ben Nevis. So I couldn't exactly get a Peke. I'm just worried that he gets bored/destructive because he's trapped in my little house at the moment, and he can't go to the park unless he's carried. We are both fed up with the situation - he and I - and I want to know how to make it a bit more bearable.

Fire_Fox

An hour without seeing you would be a long time for a small child and it's no different for a puppy. Did you consider an adult dog? They are generally much more comfortable with being left for an hour or two.

Have you tried a puppy Kong with a mix of kibble and peanut butter or a thick meaty paste that he can lick out? Kong actually make stuff to put in, obviously not the cheapest but might help you for now. That will smell much more than dry and he will get a small 'reward' each time he goes at the toy. Also have you tried the balls with adjustable holes that you fill with kibble? Are you putting him on the lead when you take him out to the toilet and giving your chosen command as he is doing his business so he associates the two?

chris_n_tj

Londonwriter wrote: »

This is what I'm asking - what do I do with him to ensure he remains entertained? He sees me for two minutes every hour to go do doggy business, and he gets a few hours quality play every day, and he's STILL bored.

It's not realistic for me to give him 24/7 play. Even if I was a stay at home mum, I still couldn't be a full-time entertainer to my puppy.

I have a crate in the playpen. When he's sleeping, I lock him in it so I know when he wants to toilet. If I have to pop out for more than an hour, I leave him in his long-term confinement area.

However, I can't give him free run of the house because most of it is carpeted. Even if I take him to the toilet every hour, he still manages to mess the living room. His toilet habits aren't regular as clockwork. He can go five hours without wanting to use the loo (and whining and being miserable when I wait outside for ages in the hope he'll go) and then go four times in an hour.

If I am available for play, I let him into the living room. The problem is that this isn't enough. Long-term, it's fine because we can go out. The world is our oyster. It's just it isn't at the moment. And I don't know what to do for the next fortnight until he has his second set of vaccinations.

I would leave him in his crate whenever you need to go out. How high is the pen you use, remeber as he grows he will be able to jump the pen. Try the crate even when you are at home. The whining is a crafty way of him getting your attention, they are not daft. The more you give in to the whining the worse the problem will be. Be firmer. Puupy is trying it on with you, and by the sound of it he is winning, I know its hard but, stop giving in to him. How is he at bed time?
Chris n TJ

sarabe

chris_n_tj wrote: »

.....Puppies shouldnt be given treats until they are at least 6 months old. .........

Why on earth not?????

This link might give you some ideas of things to do with him.

http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001c/ninebehaviors.htm

chris_n_tj

sarabe wrote: »

Why on earth not?????

This link might give you some ideas of things to do with him.

http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001c/ninebehaviors.htm

It has been known for a puppy to choke on treats. Ask any vet, most will say the same. Also look on the packets, it states not for puppies under 6 months.

Londonwriter

Fire_Fox wrote: »

An hour without seeing you would be a long time for a small child and it's no different for a puppy. Did you consider an adult dog? They are generally much more comfortable with being left for an hour or two.

Have you tried a puppy Kong with a mix of kibble and peanut butter or a thick meaty paste that he can lick out? Kong actually make stuff to put in, obviously not the cheapest but might help you for now. That will smell much more than dry and he will get a small 'reward' each time he goes at the toy. Also have you tried the balls with adjustable holes that you fill with kibble? Are you putting him on the lead when you take him out to the toilet and giving your chosen command as he is doing his business so he associates the two?

I tried a puppy Kong. He ignored it although, with so many recommendations, I might try again. The only toys I've had any success with are puzzles and a squeaky toy that slides away from him and squeaks when he leaps on it.

I did consider an adult dog because I wanted something I could go running with immediately. Unfortunately, I found it very difficult to source a decent working line dog that wasn't being retired because it was elderly. My husband couldn't have coped with losing an elderly dog, even if it could keep up with us. So, yes, we tried.

Ultimately, even if my office wasn't in an attic, I'm not prepared to have my puppy in my bedroom (except when he's being bathed) so, unless I put a bed in the living room for the next six months, he's going to have to endure being left for an hour at a time sometimes.

He comes out to the toilet off the lead when it's light and not raining. Just now, he whined to alert me to him wanting to go to the loo outside. So he sort of knows where he's supposed to go to the loo - he's just very little and has lots of accidents. I don't think this is a toilet training issue - he's nine weeks old.

Has anyone with working/hunting breeds found any toys (apart from Kongs) that keep them occupied? Or any suggestions for puppy-suitable tricks or games to play? Or exercises you can do in a confined space?

Any

Can't you put newspapers down for his "accidents"? I find that our puppy doesn't exactly want to play with us all the time (well, he doesn't have an option, we also work), he just wants to have the company.
When we are ignoring him he just settles on my slippers (probably because they smell of me?) below my feet and sleeps there.

lostinrates

chris_n_tj wrote: »

It has been known for a puppy to choke on treats. Ask any vet, most will say the same. Also look on the packets, it states not for puppies under 6 months.

TBH its been known for people/dogs/anything to have accidents with anything. there are warnings on everything about everything: some valid some over cautious.

its more likely poorly trained dog will hve an accident and I cjoose to use reward blased training as my prinary tool. Having given dozens of puppies under 6 months treats over my life, I feel the risk of not engageing with a puppy in the easiests and often mostpostive way. That doesn't mean I'd pour treats on the floor and leave a puppy to it, but treat given and taken politely (a very good early lesson) under supervision is an entirely different kettle of fish, IMO.

I don't think it helps op to discuss adult dogs or breed now, however valid the points maybeto some one still to choose a dog.

OP: I think you are in for a tough couple of weeks. You might expect to have to make some adaptations for a while. Is the pup going to the loo in the two minutes every hour? the can take a while. If the pup is generally staying clean, maybe extend five minutes. I'd keep the interactions through the day calm and quiet, not overly engaged. I think FCs idea of lifting the pup out for a walk is a good idea: it might tucker it out a little. Perhaps just a brief look a the outside world in your arms in the morning, and at lunch? See how it goes?

All the advice is, IMO, good, ultimately though,you have to find the idividual routine which suits your own circumstances.