Duncan's making such great progress

[Sally]

It was just a few months ago that I was so overwhelmed with raising a puppy that I could barely see the joy that came along with it. Well, now Duncan is just about 7 months old and I totally can't imagine not waking up to his comic routine every morning. He's really a well adjusted pup who's fully house trained, only chews on his appropriate chew toys (unless someone leaves their sneakers unattended:) loves all people, loves driving in the car, allows me to brush and comb him, clean out his ears and eyes, bathe him in the tub etc. He knows his commands (sit, stay, come, leave it, down, paw etc). And we've really come a long way walking nicely on a leash. Once we work through his wimpering in the crate when i'm out running errands I'll be even happier. I would love to hear how others noticed their dood's progress. Milestones etc. Oh and I've attached some pics.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Sounds like Duncan is doing great. Our Guinness is four months old, and he also cries in the crate while I am gone. He's fine in his crate at night, but he's in our room so he can see me. I've tried everything I can think of. Putting him in the crate for very brief periods and then adding five minutes each day, special toys and treats in the crate. Nothing seems to be working. My neighbor tells me she hears him crying the whole time I'm out. We've tried sending him to Doggie Daycare occasionally thinking that would help him to gain independence, but even that doesn't seem to help.

[Sally]

aww... Guinness! When Duncan was 4 months he would howl and bark pretty much the whole time i was gone too. Now, he doesn't really bark at all, he just sort of waits anxiously for me to return and makes some smaller wimpery sounds. He doesn't eat any treats, or play with any toys or sleep until I return, but he's not in total panic mode like he was when he was really small. I work from home so he really bonded and that is part of the reason he hates for me to leave. Although most people felt that he would grow out of it, I got a behaviorist to come and help me figure out some plan to help him along. The things that work best are putting them in their crates during the day when you are home for 20 minutes at a time, multiple times a day. Best time is after going potty and playing so they are ready for a nap. Just sitting on the couch watching tv or washing dishes in the kitchen while he is in the crate allows him to be calm enough to nap. The more he associates the crate with comfort the more apt he'll be to relax in there when i am gone. I also play "crate games" a lot. I have him retrieve treats in there but ask him to sit and stay for a few seconds before he comes back out. Repetition is really a good thing. And then there are all the "desensitization" techniques. Get your keys and purse and put on your shoes and then don't go anywhere. Do this lots of times a day. Then add a few seconds of leaving the room. Do this lots of times a day. Keep adding a few seconds until you can get to the front door without Guinness barking or getting anxious. This takes weeks but does help. Hope this helps.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks...great suggestions. I really like the idea of the crate games.

[03pilqobzlvp7]

Wow, that is one adorable puppy! So glad he is so wonderful for you. Duff is about 8 months and has also learned what to chew on and what not to. He doesn't try to jump on furniture, which we didn't really have to train him on (weird...and awesome). He goes into his crate when asked and doesn't bark or whine anymore. The one thing that remains a problem is when we are in the car and pull into a parking lot. He loves to ride! However, when we are about to stop, and then do stop, he whines like he's having a panic attack. It's so sad. I'm trying to wait to get out until he calms down, but it's not pretty and it's often embarrassing. I've stopped thinking I can run into a store and grab something while he's in there because someone will call the police, I"m certain. THey'll think I'm torturing him! We'll see how this one plays out.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

how did they learn what to chew on and what not to? We are working on Peri (15 weeks) with Leave It, etc...but she cannot be unattended or something will be destroyed. Does that come with age??? you all give me hope.

[Sally]

Well, Duncan isn't left unattended that much. I'll leave him gated on my second floor (living room/dining room/kitchen) when i go up to take a shower or maybe check a few emails on the computer. So 20 minutes would be the most that he is alone. (he was never alone (except in crate) until between 5 and 6 months. So Peri is still to young to be expected to not chew on things when unattended.) He hasn't shown any interest in chewing on carpeting, furniture etc. Even the remote controls will be on the couch and he doesn't really find interest in those either. Now if I left my shoes or socks that might be another story. When we are walking outside and he finds something to chew on that he shouldn't be (paper towel, food garbage etc. I tell him "drop it" and shake my treat ziplock. I'll actually give him a treat for things that i know he has a hard time letting go of. but sometimes he'll just test me with a leaf or he'll chew on the leash just so i will tell him to drop it and treat him. I have grown wise. Now when he chews on the leash i stop walking and ignore him. He gives up after a few minutes because he'd rather continue to walk. When we are at someone else's house it's easier for him to access things he shouldn't chew on but even that is usually only a flip flop or sneaker.
Lots of Nylabone "for powerful chewers" products helped Duncan when he was teething. Oh and ice cubes. he loves to chew up ice cubes. good for cooling the gums too:)

[03pilqobzlvp7]

I don't know why Duff is so aware of what to chew and what not to. He leaves shoes alone and he only grabs socks and underwear when he is really bored and wants to be chased, which isn't very often, thankfully. He doesn't even eat food off our plates when left unattended. If we leave a plate on the coffee table he just sits and looks at it...well, he won't eat it as long as I'm aware of the situation. As long as he knows I'm "watching from the other room" he just looks at it. Outside is a different matter, he like to eat the shrubs and roots, which is going to make him sick one of these days.

[Kyoko]

He is sooo cute!