New puppy blues?

[Jenna & Cider]

Hi Everyone. I am a new doodle owner. My little guy is named "Cider", which is my grandpa's nickname having been in the business of distributing hard cider years ago. My dood is super relaxed and has had no problem going potty, which at 10 weeks is great. I am having a VERY hard time with walking him, he does not care for the leash and it's very challenging right now. He is stubborn and isn't easily coaxed and does not come to me when I call him.

I felt exasperated the past couple of days andtrying to do the right things when he whines during crate training etc. I had myself believing that I made a mistake, that this was too overwhelming for me but I've also heard that this is normal... but is it?  I have him starting puppy training classes on Sunday but was wondering if anyone had any advice or anecdotes of feeling new puppy blues? I am hoping that these feelings will subside, he's a beautiful dog and I just want to do the very best by him.

[Margaret]

He really is beautiful!!!  I have a 20 week puppy that we've had for 6 weeks.  It will get better!!  I, too, found the walking very frustrating when we first got him.  He would just sit down or lay down, wouldn't come when called, and I would get frustrated thinking that this was his main opportunity for exercise, and he just wasn't getting any.  The thing that I've found that helps most are treats!  I was very leery of giving him too many treats in the beginning, but through the training class I'm taking I'm learning about their incredible motivational power.  The treats that you buy at the store will likely be way too big, but you can tear them up into smaller pieces (like half the size of a pea) to try to lure him ahead. Soft treats are also easier to work with, because you can break them up, and they don't take the puppy so long to eat.

Also, our puppy, Farley, still doesn't know his name very well.  We work with him on leash to come when we call his name.  (We call his name "Farley", say "puppy, puppy, puppy," and kind of pull the leash in to us so he comes to us, and then say "yes" and give him a treat when he gets to us.)  Our trainer has encouraged us not to use his name when he's not on his leash and we can't make him come to us.  She's also very big, on giving lots of positive rewards when he does come to us, and to never call his name to come and receive any kind of punishment.

Hang in there!  I'm sure that you'll find the training class very helpful, and reassuring, and it will get better soon!

[Jenna & Cider]

Thank you for your kind words an advice!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Congratulations on your new puppy and what a great name you chose for him.  It can be quite overwhelming in those first weeks and a lot of work.  I think you are doing great with the Potty training and that's a huge plus.  Perhaps you are expecting a bit too much?  At ten weeks he is still a baby and too young to be going for walks so at this stage it's just getting him used to having a collar on and a leash attached.  Using lots of praise when you call his name and using a high pitched 'enthusiastic' voice should help lots.  Whenever he comes to you praise praise and more praise.  He needs to know that you are the person who makes his world a very happy place.    Ian Dunbar offers great advice for new puppy owners (check the link below) and this is worth a read.  I wish you the best of luck, I'm sure you get lots of help here on DK

http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/AFTER%20You%20Get%20Your%20Puppy.pdf

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

You are just beginning with this little guy.  You shouldn't have too big of expectations for him yet.  There are many people here that if the potty was going great at 10 weeks they would be ecstatic.  I would encourage you to join the puppy madness group on here if you haven't already.  You will find lots and lots of good advice.  10 weeks is actually a little bit young for puppy classes.  I would be very careful about where you are taking him as he has not had all of his shots yet and you certainly don't want him to get sick.  One tip that you might find helpful is to leave his leash on him when you have him in the house.  That way if you call him and he doesn't come, you are able to grab him a little bit quicker.  You'll find lots of puppy blues in the puppy madness group, but you will also find lots of people that say this to shall pass.  we've all been there.  The end result is definitely worth a few days of puppy blues.  Good luck with your new little guy.  He is adorable.

[Carolyn and Ruby]

Jenna,

This too shall pass!

It's normal to feel a little regretful when your life is turned upside down.  The first month with Ruby (back in November), I really really wondered if I had made a terrible mistake.  My life was no longer my own.  After the first month, I started to adapt, and those feelings of doubt, sadness, and confusion passed. 

Hang in there,

Carolyn and Ruby

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Training is an excellent way for you to bond with Cider and help control his puppyness.  I would have encouraged you to do that no matter what.  They will have some good tips for you.

Everything you are experiencing is normal. Puppies don't come trained to walk on a leash, most don't come potty trained at all, etc....they are HARD.  I remember almost 3 years ago when I brought Peri home - the first few weeks were not very good.  I recall just collapsing on the floor, crying , thinking to myself "what have we DONE????"  She did not walk well on a leash - tried to bite it the whole time.  I just kept working with her and she got the hang of it. Use really happy, high voices when you are pleased with Cider. For instance, if he goes a way without pulling on the leash or getting distracted, give him lots of "good boys" in a babyish voice (annoying , I know) and give him a treat.  Do the same when he looks at you when you call his name - you want him to associate listening to you with positive actions (happy voice, treats, etc...).

All of this being said, the first few months are hard, but it will get easier.  And by training now and working with Cider on a daily basis, he will become a wonderful companion for you in the years to come. 

My Peri was a hellion and she is such a wonderful, wonderful almost 3 year old doodle now!  I can't even believe how the time has flown (scary!).  Good luck - you have Doodle Kisses for support!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I doubt any puppy owner hasn't had moments when the thought that a mistake was made doesn't occur. It does get better and you'll get lost of advice on this site about specific things to do and not do. I wish I'd known about when Luca first arrived. Enjoy your puppy.

[Adina P]

Sounds totally normal and not at all like you have anything to worry about :-)

And most of this will be solved through continued obedience training.  Dogs don't come when called naturally--ultimately it takes training so that you are confident that they won't choose to do something else when you call them to come to you.  Same for leash walking.  It's not a natural skill for a dog to enjoy being collared and leashed and taken somewhere on leash.  These are all training issues and pretty much all new dog owners have these same issues and they are ONLY fixed with the work you do in obedience training.  Just be sure to continue past 'puppy class' because puppy class is the bare bones basic type training and won't help you permanently.

[Denis and Rhonda]

Congratulations!  Cider looks terrific.

You are doing the right thing, enrolling him in Puppy classes.  I feel obedience training should be mandatory for all dog owners.  Remember, the training is as much for you as it is for him.  Whatever you do, don't give up on the classes.  Too many people find they are too challenging or they don't really need them.  But that cute little puppy will one day grow up to be a big dog.  Those classes could mean the difference between a "darling dog" and a "demon dog".  No one wants to have to deal with a 60 lb demon dog.

Have fun!

We have a 12 week old puppy in Puppy Kindergarten right now and our 9 month old has completed Advanced Obedience and is in a 'Click-A-Trick' class.  We already see the difference that the classes have made.  Everyone who comes to our house comments about how well behaved our puppies are.

[Ashley, Ronnie and Ruby]

It gets better!! I had the puppy blues really badly when we got Ruby. I cried and felt overwhelmed often. I read of others haven gone through this but I had trouble thinking I would get to where they were. Ruby is now 10 months old and I can't imagine life without her. It really does not take long for the blues to go away. You make a new routine and new reality. It works out. Don't give up.

[Jenna & Cider]

Wow! I am so grateful and truly overwhelmed with your kind words and advice. It makes a difference, makes me have confidence that this isn't abnormal to feel like this and we will get through it.

 

Last night he slept in his crate. He was very resistant to getting into the crate and would cry and whine. We got up several times in the night to go potty and he would continue the whining and crying each time he had to go in the crate. I did not say anything, I just let him whine and he eventually stopped. Today I gated off a hallway and left his crate open for him to get into and left his dog bed in the hall. When I went home at lunch to let him out, he was laying in his crate, didn't have an accident and nothing was chewed up. I feel so grateful that he really is a wonderful puppy and it could be much worse. His behavior isn't bad, I think I'm the one who is having the harder time adjusting! It's amazing how you know going into this that it's a big commitment and you think you are ready but in action, it's much more daunting.

I browsed this website before getting a puppy, trying to read up on information. I knew that this site would be a perfect source for information and support. Thank you all so much for taking the time to share. I do think I had unrealistic expectations and thank you for making me realize that!  Have a wonderful day. :)

[Lindsey & Cocoa]

"I think I'm the one who is having the harder time adjusting!"

I think this is more the problem with most of us when we first get a puppy. We had our routines and now everything you do revolves around this puppy until your routine readjusts.  I went 6 months with out a dog but my dog before was 8 years old and at that lazy stage so it was a HUGE wake up call.

It does sound like things are going great and in a couple weeks I promise you will look back and say to yourself how easy its getting.   I started off with a sick puppy and it took 6 weeks to figure out it was just a food issue. No allowed to give treats ect so I just wanted to cry for that first month... She is now almost 18 weeks old and things are looking up.  She is ALL puppy and I will admit I still have my days with her..lol  but we start training classes in 2 weeks :)