Getting to attached ??

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Well, I finished day 3.
I would say Derby is fairly assimilated to us. I have been around & close by almost 24/7. We have left her in crate when leave for no more than 3 hrs for dinner. I have given up my normal routine for the next few wks so I can try to establish her potty schedule.
This pup is a sweetie. I find it hard to believe she could ever change that. She is a bit of a diva though.
she really is only happy when I am in her view & she is in my space.
Her potty behavior I would grade as a B+. She is so non plused by the poochie bells..I swear when I ring them she looks at me as if I'm nuts! Her responses outside are running about a 96%

These are some of my questions:
She is 3 lbs. going out to pee about every 30-45"after eating or drinking maybe even sooner.she is only eating twice a day. Not interested in a mid day meal. She has not peed & pooed at the same time. Always separate trips....strange?

Also what are crate time outs ? i thought you are supposed to make the crate a happy place to remember. How's that done?

Thirdly, and for us right now most important...Being a female she is true to her roots,...she is vocal. Whenever she wants to let me know she is unhappy etc...she whinnies, & can go into a yelping/howling scenario . I know the deal about distracting & then addressing her issue..not reinforcing the noisy behavior...but I gotta say...this is not easy & I think the message is missed on her(?)
She needs one more Parvo shot to be able to take walks...so her physical activity is limited till then..a few wks still

She is sleeping in her crate at nite very near my bed. My husband for a good nights sleep is in another room. something wrong with this picture?!
I have moved her each nite a little further away from my bed, but I am in her vision.
I am figuring this could be a slow process of removing her from Mom real soon.
Has anyone had similAr experiences? During the day I only use small kennel if I leave to go in another room. She is not fond of crate in day time...if she has do e what she is suppose to outside I let her in her area either sleeping on a bed or playing...I have to add area is in my kitchen..so I am there.

I am hand feeding her & she seems very attached to me, but this was not. By my design...ami doing anything wrong or right?
Thanks to any responders

[Adina P]

I'll respond to crate time outs.  Time Out is used in SO many ways by people that it can have a bad connotation for dogs in a crate.  But really the way you use a time out in a crate is basically not too negative.  You just remove the dog from the situation and give it a break.  If your dog is accustomed to the crate even if you're angry about it, it won't really ruin the crate experience.  At least it hasn't been a problem for me and my dogs.  Your dissatisfaction with your dog's behavior and consequent crate time for puppy won't make him fear his crate.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Ok, thanks..I believe most of puppy management is logic, but I wanted to make sure. I have changed her layout a bit. She was in my kitchen area..medium sized with a stand alone island in the middle...her small kennel under my desk and of course all gated in. However, it started getting to messy with dog paraphernalia & toys, etc.. So, I opened a metal collapsible dog pen in area that is near where I usually am and will continue to keep crate under the desk. I appreciate your reply. The Doodle Kisses site is an amazing source of support !! and all the responders are so caring about the members & the dogs..it's soo great!!

[BG and Gavin]

I was going to address this too.  It seemed to me that the worst puppy behaviour came in the evening when Gav was over-tired/over stimulated.  The crate represented calm time for sleeping.  When I popped him in the crate during these times he calmed right down and went to sleep.  So, not really a punishment, more like a behaviour cue - if that makes sense.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Thanks, luv the suggestions & the back grand info..makes me less worried. How scary is this...she's not my first dog!!

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Bailey hardly ever poops and pees at the same time outside.  When she was a puppy, we would go outside every 30-45 minutes also. As she got older we would extend the amount of time we waited to go on potty breaks...  

As far as her crate is concerned.  Is there a special toy that she likes.  If so, I would only give it to her while she is in her crate.  It might make her crate experience more fun for her.  Maybe a special little treat that she might like to eat.  When we would try to have Bailey go into her crate, I would put little treats in and put a couple in a Kong for her to find. 

Since you can not go for walks yet, try doing some basic training with her like sits and downs.  You could also start to leash train her if you have a backyard or in your house.  Mental exercise will also tire her out a little. 

Good luck and hve fun with your new baby...

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Thanks, luv the suggestions & the backgrand info about your dog..makes me less worried. How scary is this...she's not my first dog!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I had to chuckle when I read this title!  The sheer fact that she is a doodle means that she is going to be attached.  Doodles like their people and want to be with their people.  This is one of the reasons they should not be outside dogs.  I honestly don't think I've gone to the bathroom by myself in the 5 years since I got the girls.  I call them my shadows!  I think at this point have her crate beside your bed is an ok thing.  It is going to save you some sleep because you won't have to get up to comfort her.  Just lay you hand down beside the bed and calm her.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

The doodle attachment thing makes sense now...she is my shadow...and I do love it, but I didn't want to be creating something that was not good for either of us long term

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

I have fed my guys in their crate so that it is a place they like to go.  I don't always close the door so when they are done eating they can come right out now that they are older. 

As for potty time, I took Shaggy out every 30 minutes, everytime he stopped playing, and everytime he woke up from a nap.  If he didn't go potty in 15-20 minutes outside then he came back in and went into the crate with a toy or treat.  Then 10-15 minutes later I would take him out again for another shot at pottying.  If he went then he could come inside and stay out of the crate until the next potty time if not then back into the crate for another short time.  Doodles are so smart that with consistency, praise and treats when they do their thing, they learn quickly when and where to go. 

As for a lot of barking, crying, and whining in the crate - I was told by my trainer friends to NOT give in and let them out, talk to them while having a fit, or scold.  This was HARD!!!  I had many sleep deprived nights but again doodles are smart and when I was consistent it worked itself out within a few weeks. 

I wish you the best!

[a.k.a. Rodney]

So kind of you ...she is getting better each day. Neat to watch & very impressive.. She made a giant leap today..peed & pooped on same potty break!! Threw a big party!! Doc was amazed at her friendliness & calmness. He couldn't stop saying it & kept letting her kiss him all over for 40 minutes.
I started giving her very small tiny pieces of Natural Balance food roll..doc approved...she's knows its coming when she goes...I think I have an Einstein!!

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree with Cathy K--the quickest way to stop the crying etc is to pretend you are deaf--if you know that she has been out and has been fed, then you just have to let her get over it and cry it out--she will eventually tire. I know that with some pups it goes on forever--but every time you look at her in there or scold her, you start over because you have just given her your attention. Friends of mine were banging on the crate to tell them to quiet down and they made no progress until they just did nothing--then the dog learned that crying and whining was not the way to get out of the crate--another thing you can do to reinforce this is to put her in her crate when you are doing something nearby and if she quiets down and lies down or is even just quiet for even a minute or 30 seconds, say "good quiet" and let her out--do that over and over and for longer periods of time--she will get it..

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Thanks, great suggestion. I am learning to ignore her noise & she does get quiet..been walking out of room
Today she was amazing..saw lots of progress, but I know it can be fleeting However, if i am one thing..I am consistent!! That's why DK is so great for me...a thought, idea or suggestion works for others I will implement it and carry it thru to the finish line!!