Moeka's Update

[Nadini & Moeka]

Hi everyone,

Moeka is now just over 4 months, and I thought I'd give you all an update and get some advice!

She's doing amazingly well with her training (including her potty training). We still have a few accidents but it's mostly our fault for misreading her subtle signals!

She does seem to have a problem eating sometimes. It's not consistent...but every 2-3 weeks there seems to be a day or two where she will not eat at her regular times. This tends to bother me because I'm not certain why she does it! Is she depressed? Is she not hungry? Does she think we won't leave until she eats?!

Also, recently she's started submissively urinating, which I don't understand at all. She's never done it when I've been around. However, she has done it with my sister and my SIL. As soon as they let her out of her crate, she just peed. They didn't even have a chance to take her out. Also, my husband took her for a walk and told me she got so excited when she met someone, that she piddled a bit. I've read a few articles on here about how to train her out of it, so I'll be trying first to see if we ignore her response if she will grow out of it.

Otherwise, she's a beautiful, energetic, playful puppy!

[Olivia & Chanel]

Hi Nadini,

We also also have a 4 1/2 month puppy.  We actually just brought her home from the breeder this weekend.  With the breeder, she was crate trained and sleeping through the night.  we have only had her two nights, but she seems to be urinating while still in her crate when we get home and when we take her out of the crate when she's been in there a while. It seems like she gets a little fearful or scared and will pee while still her crate.  I've tried to get her out of the crate quicker, but I don't seem fast enough.  Today I tried blocking part of the crate with a box and also not paying attention to her immediately upon arriving home (after about three hours in the crate).  It seemed to help a little, but I am also very  interested in hearing people's advice!

[Nadini & Moeka]

Hi Olivia,

I find what works best with Moeka when she's in her crate is I sit in front of it first, so that she sees it's me. I'll talk to her for a couple seconds, I may let her lick my fingers through the bars and then I open it. She'll usually come out and sit down for belly rub or to have her ears scratched then I take her outside.

Chanel is still young and very unused to you though, so just be patient. It's more likely a result of her needing to get to know you. Did you limit her space in the crate?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Most dogs do outgrow the submissive peeing.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Yarrow was always a grazer. And on top of being a grazer, her appetite fluctuated and some days she'd hardly eat anything.  I used to stress over it.  Also, she would never want to eat anything before 2 pm.  And now, at 8 months old she's finally started eating breakfast with the cats and our senior dog.  She has this funny habit of taking a piece of kibble and walking around while she chews it.  Then she goes back to the bowl for another piece and walks around chewing.  I guess she's at the other end of the spectrum from the food gobblers who need those special bowls to make them slow down.  Nibbling and chewing slowly are probably better

What helped me was remembering that my kids were the same way.  Hardly touching what was on their plates some weeks and then devouring everything in sight other weeks.

[Olivia & Chanel]

@deb and yarrow. That is too funny because our new pup does the same thing. She will pick one piece of kibble from her bowl, carry it over to her bed and them slowly nibble and munch it. Then she'll go back to the bowl for another piece. She is so dainty!