puppy is driving us crazy

Darlyd

Alphy is a mad one. He rips up the paper we put down for potty. Keep's jumping up at Molly (she so far just walks away) BUT When Molly is on the sofa, he jumps up nips her paw, she then growls and I put Alphy back in his cage, But he can't live in there all the time. We do let him in the kitchen leave his cage open just close the stair gate. But I don't feel it's fair on him.

We keep telling Molly she is a good girl, But she does not like him, we have only had him for few days, so I know there is still plenty of time, I am just so worried about Molly hurting him. Sometimes it looks like Molly just wants to play, then he jump up at her and she runs off, It's kind of funny but I think she knows he is to little to play yet, she looks at him sometimes and sighs as if she is saying, get away with ya, ya to little lol..

Got to admit though, he has brought life back into this house, we loves him to bits, little cutey..



Any tips?

Caroline_a

Best way is to let the dogs sort themselves out. When he plays with her (and be aware that the dreadful noise they make when they are playing isn't her hurting him, rather him being a wimp!). If you crate him every time he goes near her they won't be able to form a relationship. Sooner or later they will decide between themselves which one is the leader and which the follower.

If you treat them fairly (so treats for both, etc), and only crate him when he's being totally over the wall and needs time out, or when you leave them together, then they will be fine soon. It's very early days!

jetta_wales

Lots of walks together to reinforce that whatever is going on between them you are still the one in control of both of them (wether they like it not lol). It also encourages them to enjoy the time together as dogs love going on walks so it can be a common ground for them.

And ditch the cage get a pen if you really have to but caving him just for being a busy puppy which is just puppy's nature, isn't really fair.

Darlyd

OK He is only 8 weeks, so cage stays till we feel ready. It's his safe zone, with the kids as well coming down, only takes a second for my dog to get in. Can't wait to take them for walks together, but have to wait a little longer for his jabs first. He is only allowed out on the patio so far and not in the garden itself yet as we have foxes and cats who come and leave their mess. .

We let him in to play, and we tell Molly go to on the sofa when he gets to much for her, and he will follow her, which is fair enough, but when he grabs her paw when she is asleep or watching him with one eye lol. We have to remove him as Molly starts to growl as she don't like it.

I am sure as time goes by she will get more used to him, But I just know he will be a hyper dog, you can just tell..... And Molly is to old for that type of play, she and Sam used to play rough, Alphy to little for rough play and is to vulnerable to stand up for himself just yet. This is why I wanted to get an older dog from rescue, but hubby wouldn't that is a different story!

Any tips on the potty training? Molly never ripped up the paper, Alphy does. I told hubby to wait till he is 10 weeks at least before starting to worry to much over him messing everywhere, It can be cleaned, BUT he told me he will start rubbing his nose in it if he carries on messing on the rug, he could at least use the paper, of what's left before he starts to rip it up. He has mounds of toys and shoes to play with.

Shepherd1

Hi I have a 7 month old german shepherd and I never used papers with her. I took her out to the garden every hour during the day and got up every two hours at night and did the same, by the time she was 12 weeks she was completely clean in the house (got her at ten weeks old).

It is hard work with a pup but it does pay off in the end. I see you can't use the garden yet but just take him where you want him to do his business and when he does make a huge big fuss of him.

Good luck and enjoy your puppy.

Caroline_a

Agree with the above poster - rubbing the pup's nose in it is a real no-no, as he won't understand why he's being punished. Dog's have no memory of what they did 5 minutes ago, so that would just be cruel. You have to take him out as often as you can and praise to the rooftops once he's performed. Can you not make a part of the garden safer for him? The cats shouldnt bother him, but you should try to discourage foxes from coming in - foxes urine can have Weil's disease in it, and could affect not just the dogs, but also you and your kids.

As far as the behaviour goes, personally I would leave them to it. She will warn him off if she's had enough. She will also punish him if he ignores her, but she won't hurt him unnecessarily. If you remove him before he is punished he will find it difficult to socialise with other dogs as he will assume all is ok as you won't have removed him.... until it'ls too late.

jetta_wales

Anybody that thinks it's ok to rub a dogs nose in his own mess shouldn't own a dog.

gratefulforhelp_2

It's the puppy's job to drive you mental...it will settle down.

Maybe get puppy pads instead - may be harder to rip up?

Darlyd

Caroline_a wrote: »

Agree with the above poster - rubbing the pup's nose in it is a real no-no, as he won't understand why he's being punished. Dog's have no memory of what they did 5 minutes ago, so that would just be cruel. You have to take him out as often as you can and praise to the rooftops once he's performed. Can you not make a part of the garden safer for him? The cats shouldnt bother him, but you should try to discourage foxes from coming in - foxes urine can have Weil's disease in it, and could affect not just the dogs, but also you and your kids.

As far as the behaviour goes, personally I would leave them to it. She will warn him off if she's had enough. She will also punish him if he ignores her, but she won't hurt him unnecessarily. If you remove him before he is punished he will find it difficult to socialise with other dogs as he will assume all is ok as you won't have removed him.... until it'ls too late.

I have explained above, he goes on the patio, garden is not good at the moment until he has had all his jabs. Cat's and fox mess etc.

I remove him for his own safety

Darlyd

jetta_wales wrote: »

Anybody that thinks it's ok to rub a dogs nose in his own mess shouldn't own a dog.

I totally agree

Darlyd

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

It's the puppy's job to drive you mental...it will settle down.

Maybe get puppy pads instead - may be harder to rip up?

Not heard of these.