Nervous breakdown?Puppy Blues?Please help

[cloudcandy]

Thanks everyone
Felt alot calmer last night even though she squeaked and squeaked at 1am,2am,3am...and woke up at 5am ready to play(maybe because she slept early evening?)
I just got on with it,stroked her and left her to sleep.We brought her back into bed at around 7am to 9am so we could get some quite.Then she woke up and was very very hypa running around jumping on the sofa etc...I tried.to keep her in the pen and kitchen area to allow her to concentrate on her food....that didnt work.In the end we had a cup of tea and she is now sleeping on my lap.
I know some people say u should ignore her cries but firstly we live in flats so I dont want her our neighboirs to go mental and also I dnt want her tramatised....?

Also what would you say is more important to start asap socilaztion or training?Of course I plan to train asap but I have.no treats for her!Will she be bad because I have not started yet?

 

[Dekka]

You want to start soon, but a few days is ok.

Since she is half JRT (a brave woman you are for starting with a JRT cross ) you willl want to get on socialization and training soon. But they two aren't mutually exclusive, I find they both go hand in hand. PLEASE don't give in to all whining, terriers learn quick even this early. Cover her crate with a blanket and see if that will help.

Do they have puppy classes where you are? Classes specifically for puppies under 4-5 months? If so I suggest finding a good one and enrolling.

How much would you say she is eating? She is very tiny and may not need much.

 

[Moth]

Sounds like you are settling into puppy ownership I agree with the idea of finding a good puppy class (they usually include socialization opportunities for the puppies). I have always found that taking my dogs through puppy classes an invaluable experience for them.

If she is not interested in her food at all maybe offering a different food would be more palatable to her? I agree with Dekka that she is very tiny and may not need all that much food.

As for training treats when you get some. Soft treats that you can tear into tiny bite size pieces work best. Also the smellier the better

 

[cloudcandy]

Thanks,I will defintly be starting a puppy class asap,Ill probs take her to get her shots tomorow.Ive.made sure shes been doing new things,today we got.a train and met a toddler and experienenced loud music.I think.I'll have to clamp down on the whining,even though it might drive my neighboirs mad!I had to coax her 3 times last night I might practice it during tje day.Tomorow she will need to try and do some training.She seems to be getting used to me and Bf but Im worried she might become very whiny.She squeals and quels at home to jump on the sofa and then climbs to the bed and explores.However she is good at relaxing on our laps so that must be a good sign?
are jack russels thathard to train?I thought a mix would be easier than a full one amd her mother seemed well trained oooooo dear!!!!!!

 

[cloudcandy]

Really bad past day,took her out to meet family etc long day later on in the evnibg whilst playing with my sister (aged 11) she bit her(nothin new there i knew to xpect biting etc )but she wouldnt let go and was growlin and shaking her head.My poor sister was sobbing and i didnt know what to do,my sister had to pull her finger out in the end and it bled I felt awful.
Once she was home I had calmed down a bit and me and bf tried to teach her playin games and decided we really need a whole day of this.I did also leave her in her cage to whine and she did eventually hush.Tonight was bad shes been crying all night and im exhausted om starting to feel like "i cant live like this" i dont know what to do....everyone loves her and thinks dhe is lovely and im like the devil mother...who cnt see it
I honestly feel sick to my stomach about what to do
in a wierd way writing is helping so even though i sound silly ill post this

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

You need to teach her bite inhibition and fast. If you don't, this will not be the last time she'll break a human's skin because she won't know any better and you do NOT want a dog with a bite record.

How to STOP Puppy Biting

 

[cloudcandy]

I have been trying to do the clenched fist and offer of toy in other hand which almost is working?
How long do puppys take to make it through the night?I feel the situation would be 80%easier if mynights were calm and relaxed

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

It took my dog until she was nearly a year old to make it longer than 6 am in the morning. You either need to start getting her off food earlier in the evening so she'll be empty before going to bed or getting her really tired during the day to have a sleepy puppy at night.

Not sure what you mean by clenched fist but a small breed puppy like that probably could have used an extra week or two with its littermates so you'll have to teach it not to bite the same way they do, by letting your puppy know that biting hurts. You can do this by yelping (NOT yelling) when you get bitten and refusing to play with the puppy (don't even look at it) for a while so they get the idea that biting is not ok.

 

[Laurelin]

Awww bless you! I promise it gets easier. You just need to look at every little situation as a learning experience for the puppy. It will get better.

I love raising puppies and have had quite a few but my last one had me in tears a few times. But if you put in all the time you'll have a wonderful dog.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Smudge was easy going as a puppy, and had a preference to go on grass when he arrived at 14 weeks. That said he was 8-9 months old before he quit waking me up at 5-7am regardless of what time we went out to pee last and what time we went to bed.

Getting up in the night is part of having a puppy. It gets easier, but it's part of why not everyone wants to deal with the puppy stage and gets older dogs.

 

[Moth]

My guy is almost 6 months and he wakes us up at 5:30 am pretty much without fail. I was acually surprised when he slept until 6 am this morning. Also keep in mind you have a tiny little dog which means a tiny little bladder

It will get better...I recommend afternoon naps with the puppy if you can get them in. Also a nice walk or good play session before bedtime to make sure she is sleepy will help.

 

[cloudcandy]

I just don't know whats wrong with me tbh,I think I might have to go to the doctors,I am making it through the day keeping myself busy and just managing to get buy,by the time my boyfriend gets home I'm ready to cry and give up.Her behavior is manageable when she is napping but once she's awake and wants to play she's really hard to control,she wants to run around non stop,she climbs up the sofa to the bed when to many people are present she starts nipping everyone.
I still feel awful,my appetite has not returned,I'm a chubby girl I like LOVE food,I love eating and to not find any enjoyment any more is worrying me.
In terms of the toilet I don't know where else I can put it as I can't leave her cage door open at night??
I'm hoping this DAP makes a difference tonight...

 

[MafiaPrincess]

In terms of the toilet I don't know where else I can put it as I can't leave her cage door open at night??

Dogs that learn to potty in their dens often become dirty dogs that are extremely hard to potty train. This is partly why ones coming from pet stores can cause such grief. Their denning instinct has been broken. You'd need a large crate to separate potty from the den, and even then it could backfire.

With a dog that young.. you probably need to set your alarm, and take the dog outside multiple times a night as it is younger than generally recommended to get a puppy.

 

[CaliTerp07]

In terms of the toilet I don't know where else I can put it as I can't leave her cage door open at night??

Most dogs won't go potty where they sleep, so putting them in their crates is a way to get them to hold it. You'll need to set your alarm during the night then to wake up and take your pup out of her crate, into her potty box, and wait until she goes. If she does, praise the heck out of her!!! (Even consider giving tiny piece of treats to reward her for getting it right). If she doesn't, she goes back in her crate for another couple hours.

Having a puppy is HARD. Personally, I think it sucks and I never again will volunteer to foster a puppy! I remember having serious anxiety when I first brought Lucy home (and she was 3 years old!) I worried that I wouldn't be able to meet her needs in an apartment, that it was too much responsibility, etc. But you know what? I adjusted. It was more of a 2-3 months thing rather than a 2-3 days thing though. It wasn't until I had her enrolled in training classes and we were working TOGETHER instead of against each other at something that I realized I was going to be fine.

That said...it sounds like you have a history of anxiety and panic attacks, so it might be good to go to the doctor for your sake, before you let this spiral further. I wouldn't give up yet though--you have to give yourself time to bond and get into a routine.

 

[Dekka]

Why did you get a high energy puppy if you get upset about a pup running around and being a puppy? What does the breeder say? Do they have any advice (good breeders are excellent resources)

You do leave a pup in their crate with the door closed at night. You keep the door close to your bed so you can hear when it needs to get up. Then you take it outside (or over where you want it to go). That is how you house train a puppy.

Puppies are a lot of work. I am saddened that your breeder didn't question you better and describe what living with a high energy puppy would be like. They are very much like toddler humans, know very little, want to explore everything and no sense of self preservation/safety.

 

[CaliTerp07]

Why did you get a high energy puppy if you get upset about a pup running around and being a puppy?

Why are you asking rhetorical questions that aren't going to advance the situation any?

The OP got a too-young mixed breed puppy from what is fairly obviously a BYB. (Which is something a lot of people on here did when they didn't know better) At this point, questioning why she did things isn't really helpful. Better to suggest ways to tire puppy out mentally and physically so that CC can take some afternoon naps to regain her sanity.

 

[Dekka]

No I realize she likely got from a byb, BUT some byb do try to do well by their dogs. I don't agree with their breeding practices but they could be decent dog people. The OP sounds like she needs some in person help. So I think other than my first somewhat rhetorical question they are valid honest questions.

Some chazzers admit to doing a bit of byb before they knew better, I can't imagine any of them refusing to help a puppy buyer.

 

[cloudcandy]

O lord,whats a BYB?
I'm going to have to change her den around then,her crate is in the same room as us so I assume that is close enough to me?
Dekka I appreciate your question actually,I guess I naivily believed what I had read about jack chi's that are a mix between the layed back chi and an energetic jack russel.
I don't know what i can do now,I'm having a sick feeling that I should'nt own her,I'm too embaressed to tell anyone this in real life and it feels hard to admit.
The worse thing is a dog I've lived with before(Long story I was not responsibe but he was rehomed as my bf(then 19)did not want the responsibilty anymore ...his mum brought him a dog at 14)We didn't get the option to take him in and he was sent to a dogs home,It absolutely broke our hearts,we didnt realise till around 2-3 years later what we had and why we had so willingly let him go.)I know I cant ever do that to a dog again and I'm starting to think how can I trust myself not too?I thought I could and now I'm scared I can't.I don't know what would be worse,giving up now and giving her a chance to have a loving family from day one or to try my hardest only to find out somewhere down the line I can't cope.

 

[~Jessie~]

Chihuahuas are definitely not laid back. lol. All of mine except for Rylie are pretty much constant energy and have terrier like personalities. It's a common misconception that small dogs are laid back. Just sayin'.

AKC website:

Graceful, alert and swift-moving with a saucy expression, Chihuahuas are highly intelligent and should not be underestimated even though small in size.

Chihuahuas are alert dogs with terrier-like qualities. They are good with families if the children are gentle and patient. Because of their small size, they require little exercise and are good city dogs, but can be sensitive to cold temperatures. Smooth coated Chihuahuas need very little grooming due to their short hair. Long coats need occasional brushing but still require minimal grooming.

 

[Dekka]

byb stands for back yard breeder.

When you cross breeds you don't get 1/2 all the traits. And because good breeders will strive to keep their dogs from being sold to people who will cross breed/or breed with out health testing etc, typically the dogs being bred aren't terribly good examples of the breed. (not that that is always a bad thing )

My suggestion might not be popular with some.. but can you give the pup back to the breeder? And then go adopt an adult dog who is past the puppy crazy stage. You could go to a shelter or rescue, or you could go to a breeder and adopt a retired breeding dog. That way you know what you are goign to get. Adult dogs are MUCH less stressful.

If you are finding this horribly upsetting ((hugs)) then its not likely going to be good for the puppy. This is not a critism but an observation.

There is NO embarrassment to saying "I am in over my head" One of my JRTs came from a lovely lady who had bought him with the best of intentions (from a byb who then didn't want him back) She rehomed him at 3 months of age because she realized he was too much. He was a great dog for me though