If it's not one thing, it's another

[Sandy]

So I'm working on the whole mouthing/nipping thing, and today seemed somewhat better. Right now we are saying "NO!" and pulling right back, basically ignoring him for 30 seconds or so. He doesn't like that and will bark at us, and then lay down as if to say "Hey guys....I didn't mean it." BUT.....today he peed on the hallway floor three times. Thank goodness it's ceramic, but still. Up until today he hadn't had an accident in a couple of days. What's up with that??? Also, he's been sleeping right through the night, and last night he was up at 3:30. There I was, in the backyard in my housecoat. Was anyone else out at that time of night? :)

[Adina P]

LOL...there are days where it gets WORSE before it gets better.

Just remember puppy won't just STOP nipping suddenly at this age...it will just slowly fade away until one day you realize "wow he hasn't nipped in months!" When you ignore him try to go somewhere where he can't see you for that 30 seconds if you don't mind missing a pee while you are 'gone.'

some days they drink more and pee more. Some days he may have only emptied his bladder part way and goes again inside. my rosco seemed to need to pee every 15 minutes during the day as a young pup!!

And even people sometimes have to pee in the middle of the night every now and then. I know I've woken up randomly and SINCE i was awake I noticed my bladder and decided might as well get up and go to the bathroom. Puppies will do that too.

Hang in there Sandy...soon you will look back and NOT believe he was ever NOT potty trained or ever nipped...it will all be a distant memory!

[22y8rmuouwttt]

Hi Sandy,
I'm still waiting for our new puppy to arrive but I've been doing quite a bit of looking around the internet. I came across this little video training excercise you might find useful about biting. There are 2 or 3 other videos on their website like teaching your puppy "the chill" that I plan on using with my new pup when she arrives! Here is the link: http://www.perfectpaws.com/video/puppy_biting1.html
Good Luck!

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Hi Sandy, we're still waiting for our new puppy too..and like Jane & Clint have looked into that perfectpaws site also cute little video.

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

Oh yes - my pup LOVES 3 AM!!!!!

[Stephanie]

Are using a crate? Brody would wake us up at 3-4am but once we started using the crate he would sleep throught the night.

But the nipping/biting...Brody does this horribly. We're still working on it.

[Kathy Brady]

Hi Sandy,
Tully is 11 weeks old and by turns loving, defiant, docile, and crazed! It's difficult to predict which puppy he will be as the day progresses. He can be very nippy at times; other times he's just a kisser. He was nearly potty trained when we got him (thanks to Patty Barnes, his breeder, who puts a litter tray in with the pups), but he certainly has had lapses. He doesn't "tell" us in any way that he needs to go out, but he happily complies when we take him out, about every 45 minutes or after playing or eating. We are sooooooooooo lucky as he has slept for between 10 and 12 hours, but--much to the chagrin of our neighbors--I have been outside in some rather questionable outfits (or non-outfits, if you know what I mean!) at all hours of the day and night! That is real Puppy Madness!
Kathy

[Sandy]

My dog is also, in turn, an angel, a nipper, a barker, and a running fool! Glad to hear I'm not the only one. He isn't sleeping too badly, but today was SO excited and nipping everyone. Man. I was outside in the heavy frost last night at 3 a.m., but he just peed, pooped, and went right back to bed. I really, really need to stop the nipping though.....

P.S. Kathy - our dog is a black Goldendoodle too - aren't they adorable?

[Kathy Brady]

Hi Sandy,
I know how fast my daughters grew up, so I'm trying to appreciate Tully's puppyhood. It ain't always easy; I had to take a break while I'm trying to grade papers for my classes tomorrow. Tully apparently feels that Bic pens are dangerous killers that must be stalked and taken from human hands (mine, of course!). Oh, and 5-8 page papers written by college students, are a threat to Doodle World and must be eaten by the nearest Doodle puppy. Wait until I tell my students that MY dog ate THEIR homework!
Tully is a chocolate labradoodle with a wavy fleece coat. I'll try to upload a recent picture, but if I can't, look at my page.
Kathy

[Park Mom]

Hi Kathy,

We're waiting for a puppy from Patty also. Just a quick question -- did you continue to use a litter box? Or did you go through a period of retraining your puppy to go outside? If so, how long did that take? Our trainer suggested bringing the litter box out and putting it under a tree.

What size is your dog going to me? Ours will be on the small side of medium, I understand that has a lot to do with making it through the night.

Thanks!

[Sandy]

Thanks for your support. I absolutely love this board - it's a lifesaver. I will hang in there, because there's nothing like a sweet puppy running to greet you at the door! And he's so darn cute..... :)

[Patty Barnes]

It can be helpful to remove food and water by 5:30 p.m. and let the puppy out when you go to bed.

[Sandy]

We've been taking the water away by 8:00, but maybe that's too late. Maybe I'll take it up earlier in the evening.