Seeking answers ASAP for new puppy issues.

[Melissa]

Hi everyone!  We are new to this group and glad we came across this site.  We have had dogs before, but this is our first venture with a puppy.  We just picked up our 9 week old goldendoodle puppy from the breeder one week ago.  While we realize each dog is unique we are seeking some general answers to help guide us to be better parents for our new puppy, Buddy.  Specifically:

 

1.  What is the TYPICAL period of adjustment we should expect for a puppy going from the breeders home to the new owners home (a couple weeks, several months)?  Of course we want him to feel comfortable and to be well adjusted, but how long should we allow before becoming concerned?

 

2.  Our 9 week old puppy intensely dislikes being confined to his sleeping crate or a larger playpen-sized enclosed area.  He barks incessantly if we are not present (within view).  Yesterday, he barked for two and a half hours nonstop until we came to let him out.  We have tried covering his crate with towels to no avail.  It is difficult for us to listen to his barking without wanting to respond.  The only time he doesn't bark is when he finally falls asleep (usually in our arms).  Then upon putting him in the crate to sleep, he wakes up.  Is this normal?  Is there a solution? 

 

3.  My husband and I both work from home so there is always someone here 24/7 to provide attention and companionship to Buddy.  We believed this would be the optimal situation for him, but he seems to need an exorbitant amount of attention.  Indeed, during the first week that we have had him we find that we are attending to him during most of our waking hours (and not getting much sleep at night either).  This situation is not sustainable, and we are puzzled about how people who work outside the home fulltime are able to manage.  What makes for a good balancing act?  Are we doing something wrong (being over-attentive)?

 

4.  We have introduced Buddy to a puppy-sized Kong.  Everyone says this will keep him occupied for hours.  In reality, he works at it for about 20 minutes before finishing it or becoming bored with it.  We are using the Kong stuffing instead of peanut butter, does that make a difference?  How should we load the Kong so that it is effective for a longer period?

 

5.  We suspect his barking may be due to pain he is experiencing from teething.  Is this possible?  Buddy has chew toys (different textures) but at this point he preferes to nip at the fingers that are holding the chew toys.  Does anyone have any thoughts about this?

 

Any suggestions and guidance is greatly appreciated to give us insight into this process that should seemingly be joyful and not so exasperating.  Thanks!

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

1. How long have you had Buddy? Each puppy is different but depending on how much time he is getting to bond with you one on one can make this transition go by very fast or very slow.

2. No puppy really likes the crate, it is something they have to learn to like and something that you have to help him with. This is normal but most puppies settle after 20-30 minutes. You may need to sit a crate in the middle of the room where he can see you during the day and socialize him to the crate by feeding him his meals in the crate. You can also sit by the crate with him in it and feed him cheese every few minutes, scoot further away each time until you have worked up to a point where you can be up and out of the room without distress. He just needs to know that you are there and are coming back for him. I do not want to make assumptions but if your puppy lived a very solitary life in a kennel or with little human contact being alone can be very stressful for him.

3. Bringing home a puppy is like having a new born child and yes it is consuming.

4. Kongs are great but that junk that they make to go in them is terrible. They are best with raw food and moist foods that can be packed into them. You can moisten his dry food and stuff the kong. Ideally he should be getting his meals from the kong. A better food toy yet is the Buster Cube because it was designed to dispense dry food and be a challenge for the dog. The treat balls and other food dispensing toys are a sham and do not compare- food just falls out of them and there is no challenge.

5. He is not barking because of his teeth, he is barking because of anxiety? He is telling you he needs you, food, water or to potty or because he is bored. Nipping is very common for puppies.

I highly recommend perusing the library, bookstore and internet for some books on raising puppies and enroll in a puppy kindergarten class for support and guidance as soon as possible!

Where did you get your puppy and what advice does your breeder give?

[Laura & Chewie]

Hi Melissa,

First of all Welcome and congrats on your new addition...Buddy is adorable! I also have an F1B mini goldendoodle, Chewie, who is now 9-1/2 months old. I will start by saying, it definitely will get better, but puppyhood is definitely a challenge, but in so many ways, a wonderfully fun period. I am by no means a "puppy expert" but will try to respond to some of your concerns based on what we have just recently gone through.

1. Chewie seemed to adjust almost immediately to our home. I would say by the second day home from the breeder, he was exploring and making himself comfortable. With that said, all puppies are different, yet at that age I would think now that a week has passed, he should be feeling right at home. What is it that makes you think he doesn't?

2. Chewie also had a crate and a pen area. We had one bad night (2nd night home) and then I put his crate higher up where he could see me at night and from then on he slept all night. After a week or so, I lowered the crate to the floor again. I found that Chewie did better contained when he did not see us. If he saw us, he wanted to play. I agree with previous poster...Buddy needs to learn that the crate is a good place to be. She gave wonderful suggestions. Also, maybe during the day, put his crate inside penned area (if possible), so he can come in and out as he likes. I also know there are instances where some puppies just never adjust to a crate, but I definitely would not give up yet.

3. Yes, puppies are so time consuming...especially the potty training. If your house is adequately "puppy proofed" and you restrict his roaming area by closing doors, it will make it much easier and less stressful. He also should be sleeping a lot at this age.

4. Do a google search for some healthy kong recipes...yogurt, cheese, moist kibble...most of these foods are probably healthier than the stuff in the can. Even some high quality canned food. One way to make it more challenging and last longer is to freeze it, but I think 20 minutes to keep a 9 week old occupied with one item is good. Have you tried bully sticks? Those would keep Chewie occupied for quite some time and are very digestible. One would last him forever and he loved them and they are completely digestible. Hint: Buy the Moo brand...no odor.

5. I also don't think he is crying from teething. I don't doubt teething can be uncomfortable for him, but really don't think it would cause crying. Puppies will bite on anything and everything, including fingers. Not to alarm you, but that will probably get worse before it gets better. Again, bully sticks will help with teething.

It is probably too soon to start a puppy class as he isn't fully vaccinated, but I would start at home training. It helps build the owner/dog bond and is mentally stimulating to them. They learn very fast at this age and can be lots of fun for both of you. Also tires them out.

There are and will be lots of ups and downs, good days and some not so good, but it's all normal and part of helping this little one grow and mature. I highly suggest searching the forum or Puppy Madness group for individual concerns. I think you'll get lots of good advice that way more specific to each issue. This website is a wealth of wonderful advice and information and very nice people always more than ready to share their experiences and opinions.

Good luck and looking forward to hearing how Buddy progresses!

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

Most good training facilities start puppy classes after the first or second round of vaccines. More dogs die from lack of proper training and socialization in shelters than they ever do from distemper and rabies. A good trainer knows this.

Since Buddy is 9 weeks old he should be ready for round 2 of his vaccines and rabies in 2-3 weeks.

[shelly]

Hi Melissa! Welcome to DoodleKisses. As everyone has said, each puppy is different but many of us have had the same problems you have stated. Did you join the Puppy Madness group? There's a lot of EXTRMELY helpful information there, and you'll find the support you need at difficult times!. We started Tori in a crate at night IN our son's room, where she could see she was NOT alone. I also put a tee shirt that he wore that day outside her crate so she could smell him, but not chew on his shirt. Is the crate smaller? WE think that a puppy would like to have a larger crate, when in reality a smaller one is better for them. It also helps with the potty training. We actually had crates with a piece that could make the 'sleeping area' smaller, and moved it back as she grew. We had borrowed a crate from my sister so Tori could have one in the bedroom and one downstairs in our den for times when she needed to be in there. I never left her alone in the crate with any toys because she was a chewer from the beginning. She would even chew on and tear her cozy crate pads. I know that during the next few weeks, even months, you may feel very frustrated and feel like this "puppyhood" will never end, but it will! There IS a light at the end of the tunnel and it is truly wonderful. I can't believe what I am going to say, but in a way I miss the puppy days... I guess it's like childbirth in a way... you forget all the pain and sleepless nights, and go back and do it all over again! Good luck and WELCOME!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think you've received some great advice here already. There are just a couple things I would add. First, this is a new puppy just trying to get used to his new home and family. I believe that your primary role now is to help him to bond and feel safe and loved. I used a crate right next to our bed, and that is where Guinness slept at night. He could see me and hear me. He had a cozy blanket and a bear that had the scent of his littermates with him. During the day he was with me in whatever room I was in. He played or slept in a little bed that I moved from room to room as I moved. He was always happy as long as he was with me. I had him on a very regular potty schedule (every 30 - 45 minutes) and accidents were very rare. I played with him or held him a lot during that time. We only left for short periods during those first few weeks and then he was in his crate. At the beginning he would whine for about 5 to 10 minutes (we listened outside the door). We never made a big deal out of coming or going. We then built up our "away" times as he became more secure. I would not let a new puppy bark for two and a half hours. I'm sure he was very stressed after that amount of time. I believe that type of stress can actually lengthen the adjustment phase. I started Puppy K after he had his rabies shot, because that was required. It helped us tremendously. It gave me reinforcement and confidence. Puppy nipping goes with the territory. I always would make a loud "ouch" sound and just stop playing when he nipped at this age. When they're older if they are still doing it, I think there are more effective strategies, but this worked well at the puppy stage. He's definitely not barking because his teeth are bothering him - he's barking because something is else is bothering him. So, try to relax, and know this is a stage that will pass quickly. Enjoy every minute of falling in love with this new little guy who will bring you years of loyalty and happiness. With love, acceptance, and patience he will become the "Buddy" you've dreamed of.

[Leslie J]

When Cocoa was a puppy we kept her in the kitchen much of the time and spent as much time as possible in there with her (we have a large island in our kitchen where we can do homework, etc.). I also frequently tethered her with a leash to wherever I was. She could rest quite well as long as she was at my feet. I also took her out to go potty and run around a bit or I took her for a walk around the block if I had time.

Cocoa's crate is downstairs in our family room. For most of the first week I slept on the couch next to the crate and reassured her verbally if she cried. I took her out once at about 1:00 am to go potty during the night. By the end of the week she was sleeping in her crate just fine.

I very rarely put Cocoa in her crate when I'm home. When I go out I stuff a chopped hard-boiled egg or some baked chicken in a Kong and she runs into her crate for it. I leave the house before she is done. When she was small, I never left for more than an hour or two- we heard her cry for us as we returned the first week or two, but then she learned to relax in her crate and when I get home now she doesn't mind staying in her crate for a few minutes while I unload groceries, etc.

It will get easier... but do remember that puppies are like children. If you reward their crying and whining with more attention or release from the crate, they'll keep doing it!

[Melissa]

Thank you all for the advice. We are going to take it and see what happens. My husband is going to get some bully sticks on his way back from work this afternoon and see how they work. We do believe that the Kong Stuffing might not be agreeing with his tummy as his bowels have been soft the past few days (we thought it was the antibiotics he was on). So I think we are done with that. He didn't seem too interested in the peanut butter, maybe we will try it again. We moved the crate to his pen area and this afternoon has been pretty good! I was out of eye sight but only in the next room. So when he quieted down I went into praise him (every minute or so) and give a little treat...before long he was lying down outside of his crate and then actually inside of it. We also moved the food bowl in there as well. I am definitely hopeful and I just hope it continues. We know it takes a lot of patience but it is VERY helpful to have people to talk to who have gone through similar situations. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I will keep you updated on Buddy's progress!

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

FYI on bully sticks, they stink and are rich so they may give him the poops : )

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

OH I agree, laughing cow is a great filler for kongs... but they are intended for disbursement of their regular meal l: )

[Donna K & Quincy]

When Quincy was a pup I also used his leash and took him with me wherever I went in the house. While I was doing housework I just slipped it over the doorknob of the room I was in. This solved two problems I was able to keep an eye on him to prevent potty accidents and he was happy as long as he was close to me. At night I would put him in his crate and stay with him for a little while. When he settled I would take off the sweater I was wearing and leave it just outside his crate and then sneak off. His crate was downstairs and he would usually sleep until 6am or so. When I was sitting in a room I would block off the exit so that he couldn't wander off and get into trouble. I also took his crate with me when we went in the car so that he was quite used to it. The leash worked really well and it's had an added benefit that we didn't anticipate. He is now a year old and whenever he is acting up(barking to play while we are trying to watch TV) I just slip his leash on and he lays down and he is immediately quiet. We also would take him out for a short walk 2-3 times a day. Hope some of this helps.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Hi Melissa: I just read all the advice and think I can use it also. I just brought home a new puppy, but she had been w/ a trainer for 4 wks. before I brought her home. I put the crate beside me in bed. Just this week we let our puppy, Sheila, a mini Australian Labradoodle, into bed for awhile to play. Then into her crate to sleep. She settles well in her crate at night, but during day she wants to be with me at all times. But after 1 1/2 weeks at home, she is MUCH more relaxed. Sometimes I crate her for 1/2 hr. if I need a break. Watching constantly for accidents is very trying. But I've raised 4 dogs (this is the 5th) and there is no easy way. The more time, attention, training one puts into these pups, the better the dog is for the rest of its life. Just like kids, really. But we do need to console and encourage each other, which this site does SO WELL. I only wish I'd had a site like this for my other dogs--AND kids too. It's more fun when you "raise" live things with friends. Read my blogs on my page to hear what a pistol this little girl is!! What is Buddy like? Did the breeder give you any hints about his personality? Fearful? Confident?

Some of the DKers hire a trainer to house visit a few times help you along until you can go to puppy class.

[Natasha]

Have you tried feeding your puppy in his crate?

We started feeding in the crate when Rouser first came home. He learned to like the crate fairly quickly (he's very food motivated). From there, we had a strict schedule:

1) Outside to potty every 45 minutes (saying, "go potty" and then giving him a treat as soon as he did). NO PLAYING. If he went, great. We would go back inside and then go back outside 5 or 10 minutes later to play. You want your pup to understand that play and potty are two separate things. Rouser was potty trained in just a few days.

2) Playtime would last up to 20 minutes. He would usually fall asleep before then, though.

3) After playtime, he was to go in the crate (with a treat and a toy) for at least 30 minutes. Typically, he would fall asleep and we would let him out when he woke up. Then we went directly outside and repeated.

Rouser's crate was in the room with me - very close to my work area. He could see and smell me. I also work from home so it was pretty easy for me to work this schedule. I think we did it for 2 weeks. After that, he was reliably potty trained, so I would take him out about every hour and just put him in his crate when I knew he would sleep and/or I needed to get something done.

The key to the crate is to completely ignore him if he is barking or whining. No looking, no talking. Let him see you going about your business. Wait until he's been quiet for at least 10 seconds, say "good boy" while giving him a treat, and then let him out. You can start with just a few minutes (in addition to feeding him in his crate) and he'll come to like it.

Also, have him walk into the crate on his own rather than placing him there. Lead him with treats and say, "in your crate" and then, once he's inside, give him a special treat (like a piece of chicken) and his favorite toy (just one).

Rouser slept in his crate (next to our bed) from the get-go and didn't protest, so I would say that he understood that it wasn't a punishment, but more of his den where he ate and slept (two things he loved to do) safely.