This 100% (I think you were one of my mentors Caffeine Fiend during the early days).Its difficult if you dont have grass of your own but if you know for sure there are no unvaccinated dogs using it Id be ditching the pads and taking outside for all toilets. Pads only train a dog to toilet inside which is crazy because we dont want that long term. You could buy a patch of turf and that solely outside until pup is vaccinated. I take out every 30 to 40 minutes in the day time, after every sleep, play and meal. Stay with your pup until they go, use a cue word when they go. That way you will be teaching them to toilet on command. Lots of praise when they do go outside. Ive did the above with all my pups and theyve been toilet trained reliably v quickly. Im talking a few weeks max.
The crate training I wouldnt leave a dog to cry, especially not a pup, youl definitely get differing opinions on this but for me it goes against everything I did as a human parent to leave a small baby to cry. We slept next to the crate at night until the pup was happy to be left. That way if they wimpered or cried I could stick my hand through the crate to settle them. It also meant that I knew when to take them out to toilet at night. Out, toilet and straight back in.
The biting, make sure the dog is getting enough sleep, a 9 week old puppy should be sleeping 16 to 18 hours per day. The biting and hyper behaviour will escalate if the pup is over tired. When they bite, offer an alternative, frozen carrot, frozen tied up tea towel, tug toys etc. I found the best thing was to yelp and turn my back on them if they hurt. However do not tell them off for being nibbly, your pup is learning bite inhibition at the moment so its important they learn was is too much and what is ok. Its v normal and their wee teeth are sore.
Finally it does get better, I promise. I have hated puppy hood every time. Its so mentally and physically draining but its so worth it.
Just realised there are a pile of typos in my postI just remember bleeding constantly from the biting, again it was all very playful and I kept getting advice. The only one that worked was to replace ‘yourself’ with a toy and then she naturally grew out of it. Hope all is going well - I’ve said it a million times in this thread (and will continue to do, so as this thread was a haven to me when my pup was a baby) IT GETS BETTER!
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This 100% (I think you were one of my mentors Caffeine Fiend during the early days).
For me, pads didn’t work because they were either ignored or she’d find a spot. We bought a couple of bits turf for the garden which were really cheap from the garden centre and worked really well.
As for the crate, I also slept next to it for a couple of nights but she adapted to it really quickly. I like to think of it as her safe space/bedroom so if she wants quiet time, or to get away from strokes and playing she can go in there and know that she won’t be disturbed or her space be invaded.
It really doesnt work like that. I know it seems like it but it wont I promise. My dogs have the freedom to choose now and often will sleep downstairs. Particularly when its hot.Thank you guys so much! This is all so helpful. Turf is an amazing idea I will definitely look into that. we do sleep beside the crate but he’s in our room, we are hoping to move him out eventually into the living room. Is he more likely to adapt if we sleep on the couch beside his crate? I’m worried that if we never leave him overnight now we’ll never be able to. I know that likely won’t be the case, but it feels that way sometimes
Thats ok, I honestly wouldnt stress about it. If he goes in at night and is happy to be comforted through the bars work with that.This is so reassuring thank you! how long roughly would you say it took them to be comfortable with the crate? I’m happy to stay beside him while he’s in but I hate seeing him look sad in therea lot of the time he’s okay in there but without fail as soon as the door is opened he’s out
Yep, mine was fine over a few days I think (it’s all a blur) but she would wake up early and bark the house the down. So a quick in and out wee and she was fine. I would say within a couple of months she was spot on - bed at 10 and then only got up when I did. But it would obviously vary. Just keep going and understand that this is the hardest part and it’s so so worth it!Thats ok, I honestly wouldnt stress about it. If he goes in at night and is happy to be comforted through the bars work with that.
Dog Training Advice And Support on facebook has some great activities for training a dog to like the crate. Ultimately you want him going in there of his own accord in the day so throw a treat in, if he goes in and gets it and comes out great, if he stays in give him another treat. Create a positive reinforcement from it. At night Id just stay close and comfort.
All my dogs have been different with the crate. One has never liked it and wont go in now. The others have grown to see it as a safe space. I didnt do anything different with either of them.
You’ve had some brill advice so I won’t add much else but just wanted to say that sometimes it feels like 1 step forward 2 steps back and when that happens you have to go back to basics with regards to treats and praise for doing what you want them to do.This is so reassuring thank you! how long roughly would you say it took them to be comfortable with the crate? I’m happy to stay beside him while he’s in but I hate seeing him look sad in therea lot of the time he’s okay in there but without fail as soon as the door is opened he’s out
Uh oh, you're at that stageCan someone please tell me at what age it gets easierI literally can’t get a minutes peace, he’s constantly biting, yelping, barking. Anything we give him to bite instead of the furniture he isn’t interested, if he bites and we turn our back to ignore him he keeps jumping about biting anyway and doesn’t even notice we’re ignoring him. He cries so much if you do anything else but sit with him. I feel like we just can’t get anything done and this is the first day that we’ve really felt like we’ve made a mistake and are in over our heads. I’ve never felt so sleep deprived. I don’t even know if I’m writing this for reassurance or advice or just to vent or all three
A while, I will not sugar coat it. Cockapoos are intense as puppies, all puppies are but these creatures are something else.Can someone please tell me at what age it gets easierI literally can’t get a minutes peace, he’s constantly biting, yelping, barking. Anything we give him to bite instead of the furniture he isn’t interested, if he bites and we turn our back to ignore him he keeps jumping about biting anyway and doesn’t even notice we’re ignoring him. He cries so much if you do anything else but sit with him. I feel like we just can’t get anything done and this is the first day that we’ve really felt like we’ve made a mistake and are in over our heads. I’ve never felt so sleep deprived. I don’t even know if I’m writing this for reassurance or advice or just to vent or all three
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