Just keep swimming..

[Eva and Fenway]

I'm doing my best to enjoy the puppy phase. I knew she was the right choice, but that it would be very difficult for a while. It does seem that each new day presents a brand new behavior at this age. I guess this counts as a general update.. and also, how much of this is normal?

 

Commands come easily, but the desire to obey them does not. This must be the PADD I read about on here :)

 

She's great with other dogs, people, and doesn't hate my cats (yay)! 

 

She's mouthy, which is expected. Have been following all the ignore/yelp suggestions - to no avail. This is also to be expected, I will be patient with this although it's hard. She has also started snapping in the air at me instead. I can't even tell if this is better or worse, really. 

 

Barking is a minimum, no more separation anxiety-type barking, and is totally quiet all night now! Phew.. unfortunately, she barks for attention constantly if she's in an excited state and I'm not playing with her. I ignore this entirely and it goes away. My nerves are getting shot to pieces, though.. haha. Is this okay? We play together and interact several hours a day at 3 different times.

 

Finally, a quick question:

One of her favorite things is to go outside - this is limited to certain areas for now, but I was looking forward to some longer walks post-vaccine series. However, I have read mixed reviews on this - that she should NOT be allowed to go for walks until much older? I'm assuming this doesn't include playing, so we can at least go to parks?

 

 

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

All normal:)

As to parks...no. Not until she has had all her shots. You don't want to risk parvo. Are there any puppy play groups in your area? Sometimes you can find puppy socialing classes held in a safe environment.

Good luck!!

[Eva and Fenway]

Carla, 

 

Thank you! Yes, I have her at a puppy socializing class and she enjoys it although tends to fall asleep. :) My question was more about after the shots, since right now she's very limited in outdoor interaction.

[Sorana, Darwin and Chance]

I agree, the stages she's going through sound pretty normal, as does your frustration ;)  Hang in there - she'll grow up really fast.

 

As for the walking, the rule of thumb I heard is 5 mins for every month of age.  So 3 months old = 15mins.  5 months = 25 mins.  That's how long a single walk should last, but I believe you can go for more than one walk per day.  And as Carla mentioned, try to avoid spots where other dogs may have pooped, to avoid parvo.  Good luck!

[Eva and Fenway]

Sorana, this is perfect and exactly what I was asking for.. thank you so much! We have a parvo outbreak here in Phoenix so I've been using an abundance of caution :)

[Eva and Fenway]

Thanks Megan. I also like the logic associated with keeping the walks interesting. I may have had a few too-long walks early on and I could see she had gotten tired/bored. I've avoided that since then. 

 

The puppy people want us to be working on getting their attention during the short walk in our next little session. I can hardly wait since she has the attention span of a gnat. :)

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I am new to this myself.  Bexter is 10 weeks old now.  He is terrible about nipping.  That's his only annoying behavior really.  I yelp, but he doesn't seem to care.  He clamps down too.  It really hurts.  And it's not just my hands.  When we're outside (or inside sometimes) he nips at feet, calves, whatever is close.  He latches on to your pant legs and WILL NOT let go until I pry his mouth open (which is hard to do).  I am actually getting concerned about it myself.  I have tried yelping and also have tried NO BITE.  Like I said, nothing seems to have much effect.  Not sure if there are other ideas???

I took Bexter on a short walk around my neighborhood & stayed on the sidewalk (only once).  I feel your puppy pain!

[Eva and Fenway]

I'm right there with you Traci, although Fen does not clamp down. She plays with me as though I were a puppy, which makes sense since she left her mom when she was 7 weeks. I have found that the nipping only happens when she is overly excited, so I found that the 'yelp' method was pretty ineffective. Maybe I sound like I'm playing, but it really didn't impact the behavior. This morning during play time/training time/food time I did try the method Megan suggested and I was amazed. Shortly after the second time I gently grasped her muzzle post-bite, I saw her jaws open toward me and then she veered away and grabbed her stuffy or just would ran in the other direction!!! 

 

Megan, thank you!

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

Coco never responded to yelps either! She needed me to grab her snout! Then she stopped after a couple times. No smacking just closing her mouth and saying no. She will still try to chew on my dads hands because he let's her. You need to stop it now so it doesn't continue.
I would start with walks to the end of the block and back and as she gets older start going farther. I did that and she still loves a long walk!! We didn't go to the park until she was older and could do the one mile walk. Work in your neighborhood first and then when you get to the length of the park a few times go there.

[Eva and Fenway]

Thanks everyone :)  Today was a pretty good morning, all things considered. 

 

There is one more thing I forgot in my original post (how I forgot, I don't know). Fenway loves, loves, loves water. I mean LOVES. I don't really mind this since the one time I had to bathe her it was easy. Unfortunately it's almost impossible to give her drinking water. Quite literally within 30 seconds the water bowl is overturned all over the crate/floor/pup. If for some reason she can't upturn it, she puts her paws into it and then runs all over. 

 

I almost feel bad.. I live in a desert! Not many bodies of water here except pools for her to jump in when she gets older :)

[Adina P]

I liked the Buddy Bowl at this stage because dogs can't spill it.  Maybe try that =) 

[Adina P]

Puppies are notorious for learning commands quickly, but the 'desire to obey' only comes with consistent training and creating that desire to obey in her by your consistent response.  I wouldn't expect a YOUNG pup to be held accountable for commands with much consequences.  That's why I've kind of changed my personal opinion on teaching basic obedience commands to pups.  I used to believe in starting early, but with Boca I basically ignored any official training of commands (sit, down, come, stay) until she turned about 5 months and then we got SERIOUS and there was reward and consequences for things she'd learn that she did not follow through on.  Essentially I'd say just keep practicing things but don't expect her to obey in NEW circumstances and around NEW distractions until you've practiced in those places/around those things repeatedly.  Don't even give a command unless you're pretty sure she can and will do it until she's a bit older and has a better attention span.

Also I agree with on to parks.  It isnt the 'outdoors' she has to stay away from...it's exposure to places that other dogs likely frequent so that she doesn't come into contact with any fecal matter (and it doesn't have to be obvious fecal matter) on her body (paws for instance) because that's the most likely thing that will transmit parvo if it should contain it.

[Jess and Pippin]

Puppyhood is exhausting, no doubt there.  Time out worked really well for Pippin.  We used a crate for this.  When he was mouthy, first step was to say no bite, remove hands, stop play.  Then try again.  If he was still mouthy, say no bite, pick him up, put him into crate and say time out.  He would only be there for a couple of minutes and then be released.  It worked really well for him.   We also noticed that he was mouthier when tired, so is Fenway getting enough naps in the day?  Parvo is a real concern for puppies and not just the really young ones.  We live in a townhouse complex, so walks were on the pavement.  As Pippin got older and needed more exercise, we stuck to the sidewalks in our neighborhood.  He was not allowed on any grassy areas until after all his shots were done.  Walking/leash training is so important for young puppies, so I wouldn't wait until after the shots are done.  You can leash train in the house as well.  Put Fenway on lead, get her attention, walk.  Ask for a sit when you stop.  Do figure 8's and circles around chairs.  Keep it short and fun.  We used the book My Smart Puppy for both our pups and found it full of good info.