Puppies

[Doggish.Obsession]

-_______- <--- That, is an exasperated face.

Do you know why I am exasperated? MY MOM!!!! She keeps moaning about 'keeping that smarter puppy'. See, my puppy right now is kind of.... BOiNG to the world methinks. My mom keeps saying its a dumb dog. *Roar*

But I heard that all puppies are like that? Woozy for a little while?

Also, its doing OKAY with housebreaking. Actually, its not. I'm telling my mom over and over again to buy Ododr and Stain Remover, and she keeps saying something about being a waste of money. -_- Disagreeeable mothers exasperate me.

Anyways, we were having a yelling match about the puppy. She's tired, and whatever, and she keeps ranting about 'Geez this puppy is the stupidest dog in the world! It cant even pee in the right place!'

Just a question. I bought this toy that is similar to a Kong thingy-ma-bobber. Its like a oval-shaped ball with hundreds of holes. I have just stuffed the holes with yummy food, and yet, the puppy isnt interested. Any tips?

And I'm asking that question because of crate training. I have to put the puppy in, jerk my hands back, and slam the cage door closed.

---I am going to paper train my puppy, not take it outside---

And my mom's being a nitwit again. The crate's HUGE (I know, I know.....) and on the first night I got it, I divided it so it would be small. (Its sleeping area is small) But my mom took out the dividing thing, and she says, well, one portion can be for peeing and pooing, while the other can be its sleeping area! I just kind of.... sighed and nodded.

So.

1. Are puppies normally woozy with the world? (I understand they're just going through everything all of a sudden, but my mom's threatening to get rid of the 'stupid' puppy.)

2. Should one side of the crate be for sleeping and the other for pottying?

3. Why isnt my dog interested in the toy with all the food in it? (Thats another reason my puppy is being related to as stupid- I dont think the puppy even knows the food is in there!)

And thats all I want to know about. Its confusing me, and I need to have a few comebacks for my mom while we're screaming at each other.

 

[yoko]

ok first off... young puppies i've know have been.. kind of out of it but if it seems pretty bad i'd ask a vet about it.

secondly NO DO NOT LET YOUR DOG GO TO THE BATHROOM IN THE CRATE you don't want it to make a habit of it going to the bathroom on one side and moving to another!

i can't remember how old your puppy is off the top of my head but maybe wait until it is a bit older before bribing with food. or atleast give it a little more time. when i first got yoshi she'd ignore the food treats just to be able to be around me.

also just wanted to mention, you probably shouldn't be crating your dog like that. you don't want ot to associate the crate as 'the place you lock it up' try blocking off an area nd putting the crate there. put stuff it really likes in the crate and let your puppy wander around until it chooses the crate on its own. always make sure the puppy doesn't start associating the crate with bad things

 

[corsomom]

Please tell me this is not as bad as it sounds. You pup must be terrified.Never slam the crate door on pup!Does you mom even like dogs?Having a new puppy should be a happy time. I would not worry about all the treats now, just a good food. Has pup been to the vet?Please tell you mom that puppy is not stupid, he is a tiny baby.Is this your first puppy?Please look up all the info on this site on housebreaking and crate training.

 

[Serena]

-_______- <--- That, is an exasperated face.

Do you know why I am exasperated? MY MOM!!!! She keeps moaning about 'keeping that smarter puppy'. See, my puppy right now is kind of.... BOiNG to the world methinks. My mom keeps saying its a dumb dog. *Roar*

Your puppy is not a dumb dog, it is a typical baby needing training and guidance.

But I heard that all puppies are like that? Woozy for a little while?

Each pup is different so to say that all pups are like that could be misinformation. I have worked with pups that seem oblivious to the world around them and others that were very focused and intense at a young age.

Also, its doing OKAY with housebreaking. Actually, its not. I'm telling my mom over and over again to buy Ododr and Stain Remover, and she keeps saying something about being a waste of money. -_- Disagreeeable mothers exasperate me.

Anyways, we were having a yelling match about the puppy. She's tired, and whatever, and she keeps ranting about 'Geez this puppy is the stupidest dog in the world! It cant even pee in the right place!'

Would your mother be willing to come to the forum to get some advice? I think she would benefit from the advice to be had here in regards to this puppy.

Just a question. I bought this toy that is similar to a Kong thingy-ma-bobber. Its like a oval-shaped ball with hundreds of holes. I have just stuffed the holes with yummy food, and yet, the puppy isnt interested. Any tips?

There could be a few things, your pup may not be interested in the treats, maybe he is not food motivated, it goes on and on...He may not be hungry when you present it to him...

And I'm asking that question because of crate training. I have to put the puppy in, jerk my hands back, and slam the cage door closed.

Stop doing that immediately. If you want to crate train your puppy properly you must teach him to view the crate as a positive thing...he must learn to view and accept the crate as his own personal safe haven...his den if you will. If you are slamming the door shut he will learn to fear the crate and view it as a negative thing...You will be wasting your time crate training if you continue with those actions. The crate is an awesome and valuable training tool when correctly used.

---I am going to paper train my puppy, not take it outside---

Are you going to want to have your pup go outside when its older? If so are you aware that you will have to start over and re-housebreak your dog and it will be more difficult.

And my mom's being a nitwit again. The crate's HUGE (I know, I know.....) and on the first night I got it, I divided it so it would be small. (Its sleeping area is small) But my mom took out the dividing thing, and she says, well, one portion can be for peeing and pooing, while the other can be its sleeping area! I just kind of.... sighed and nodded.

Please invite your mother to come here and "talk" with us...there are a lot of things that you are saying she is doing and saying that is given me concern about your puppy.

So.

1. Are puppies normally woozy with the world? (I understand they're just going through everything all of a sudden, but my mom's threatening to get rid of the 'stupid' puppy.)

Some are and some are not, each pup is different.

2. Should one side of the crate be for sleeping and the other for pottying?

Absolutely not the crate again is supposed to be viewed as the pups den...Animals by nature will not soil their den...if there is enough room in the crate that the puppy can sleep on one side and soil the other it is too large and you need to put the divider back.

3. Why isnt my dog interested in the toy with all the food in it? (Thats another reason my puppy is being related to as stupid- I dont think the puppy even knows the food is in there!)

Doesn't know or doesn't want? There is a big difference...there could be the chance he is not aware there is food there...unlikely considering the canids sense of smell...I'd be willing to bank he is quite aware the food is there.

And thats all I want to know about. Its confusing me, and I need to have a few comebacks for my mom while we're screaming at each other.

Again I will ask you to invite your mother to join us here...There are a few concerns that I think need to be discussed but it would not be appropriate to give you "comebacks" for verbal disputes between you and your mother.

 

[Violet21]

That doesn't sound like a very good situation. I have to say it makes me sad to hear of a puppy in a really negative enviroment like that.

A puppy is like a little baby and what its going through sounds abusive

What kind of dog is it? Are you sure you want it to go to the bathroom in the house? Why can't you take it outside?

I agree the crate has to be positive, slamming the door will do nothing..
It should be by your bed for the first few nights or weeks or until it gets comfortable being in there. You should praise the puppy lots and have it right by your bed so you can hang your arm and fingers near it.

The crate should be blocked off, and the dog should not have to sleep where it goes to the bathroom. That is very cruel.

If you are unable to care for a puppy, you really shouldn't have one.. maybe it would be better for you to adopt an older dog.

 

[IliamnasQuest]

You have a six week old puppy ... six weeks old! This is like having a human baby that is less than a year old. You are responsible for everything that pup learns at this point. He no longer has the advantage of having his mom and littermates to learn from and now he has been put into a situation where he doesn't have any idea how to act.

At six weeks old, he isn't very "smart" - if you tell your mom that at his age he is no more mentally advanced than a human baby maybe she will quit calling him stupid. When people put labels like "stupid" on a puppy, then they're going to treat the puppy wrong and the pup will grow up with all sorts of disadvantages. That's just not fair to the pup.

There are some things that you need to do. One is that the puppy should not be in areas where he can puddle or poop on carpet. If you or your mother are not willing and able to clean those areas thoroughly, then it will just continue to create problems. The best bet is just to avoid the problems by not giving the puppy access.

Two, you need to get your Mom to understand the concepts of crate training when it comes to dog behavior. The crate is not just a cage to get the puppy out from under foot. It's a training tool to help the pup learn to control his bladder. At six weeks old, I expect that your puppy will need to go out every couple of hours (maybe more frequently during the day). You just can't expect him to hold things very long. He has a tiny little bladder and is physically not capable of holding urine long (especially when he's active). The concept of the crate being a smaller area is to encourage him to try to hold it, but that won't work if he gets put in the crate for long amounts of time. I wouldn't even expect an 8 week old pup to go all night without having to pee, let alone a 6 week old pup. So someone needs to be willing to spend the time properly housebreaking and crate training. Slamming the crate door is only going to cause fear in your pup (as is arguing around him, yelling, getting impatient with him, etc. - not saying you're doing these things, but since your mom is evidently impatient with him it may be happening). You will destroy your relationship with this puppy if you build fear in him at this point. The next couple of months are absolutely crucial in the development of his personality. The people who are around him at this point are almost 100% responsible for how he turns out. So please keep that in mind with all your dealings with him - he's like a little lump of clay and you're molding him into what you want.

Your pup may never be food motivated. Some aren't. At his age he's not as focused on things as he would be (or will be) in a few more weeks. You've taken on extra problems by taking a pup so young. You have to make more allowances for him, have more patience and take things much more slower than you would for an 8 week old pup. Those two weeks make a world of difference!

Please contact a puppy kindergarten class in your area and discuss things with an instructor if you can. He's too young at this point to go to classes but they may have some materials for you to show to your Mom. You may also want to print off some of the recommendations on this website and other places online.

I'm really concerned for your pup - not because of what you describe of him, but what you describe of the situation he's in. A puppy this young may not be the right choice for you and your family situation.

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

 

[thewhitewitchone]

At 6 weeks old, I would be taking that puppy out every half hour (while it is awake) to go potty. A 6 week old isn't going to hold it for a couple of hours.
Sorry to say, but you and your mom certainly do not sound ready, patient or informed enough to have a puppy.

Pam

 

[Gallien Jacks]

We did tell you that taking a pup at a Young age would cause problems and they are starting already, maybe you should re home the pup to a more knowledgeable home