I've got a question I haven't seen answered.
I see people talking about about how new pups need constant supervision to get housebreaking done quickly. Here are my problems in the 12 hours since I've gotten them.
Last, ever feel that you know all the answers and can recite all kinds of training manuals with everyone else's dogs but your own? That's what's happening now. Then again it is 5:30am and I am getting a bit goofy.
I see people talking about about how new pups need constant supervision to get housebreaking done quickly. Here are my problems in the 12 hours since I've gotten them.
- My pups sniff around ALL the time. They're always sniffing around, sometimes with what appears to be an arched back but they don't do anything. I'm experiencing quite a few false alarms. Worse, both pups decided to pee within a foot of their food bowls. It's tough to know when they're peeing because there's quite a bit of hair and not far to squat. I usually can't tell until their done.
- I take them outside to go potty and they've peed. I praise lavishly but they don't care a fig for the treats. They don't care for the nylabones, are disinterested in peanut butter stuffed kongs, ignore the ball I got. I don't know what to use other than praise. They don't care for any of these toys either inside the house or out. Granted it's quite cold outside now and snow seems far more interesting. One pup has found a corner of floor moulding he's determined to chew instead. Distraction with a kong or nylabone proves useless. He's determined to chew that corner! Tomorrow I'm buying a playpen for them. Could this be just adjustment stress? How long does it last?
- What do I do at night? Do I stop access to water at a certain hour and, if I do, does it lengthen the 2-hour bladder limit generally attributed to a pup this age? At what point do I actually sleep if I have to be awake to take them out every 2 hours? They haven't been crated before today and, sadly, I had to start. I've read I should work-up to crating but what do you do with them during that period? Not crate them? If not then put them where? In the pen with a bed and a weewee pad?
- Is 8 weeks too young for crating? As they don't seem to care a fig for treats or toys, how can I entice them to use a crate?
- I'm concerned about using a leash with them outdoors because it seems at 8 weeks their neck is so delicate. Should I use a halter instead?
- I'm also concerned about sounding stern (as with the wood chewing) so early when they barely know me. I want to reinforce the sense of, "all good things come from me," but when they don't seem motivated by treats or toys, I'm left with nothing other than praise. I don't want them to be afraid of me yet I know consistency is important.
Last, ever feel that you know all the answers and can recite all kinds of training manuals with everyone else's dogs but your own? That's what's happening now. Then again it is 5:30am and I am getting a bit goofy.