Puppy advice!

[NormaBates]

My little Shih Tzu Phoebe is 5 months old. I got her from a breeder at the age of 11 weeks. She was kept outside in a cage with the bigger dogs.
She was the only one in the litter that stayed alive. The first day i got her she was so afraid and ran to a corner when she saw me and tried to crawl up against the wall from fear. After one day she got attached to me and we both so in love. i have two other Shih Tzu's and they get along well.

But she is so different than my other two dogs, she follows me everywhere, she must always be around me, and when i get visitors she lets out a scream and run upstairs hiding out until they are gone. She can only handle myself, husband and our cleaner and caretaker. I am worried about her as my other dogs loves all people and i dont know where her fear comes from,

Awww bless her!! I love Shih Tzu's! There adorable!! It’s awful when something has obviously happened to them previously
My brothers dog is a rescue and super wary of children. It’s ok for him as he doesn’t have young children anymore but he’s got to be so careful whilst out walking.

 

[NormaBates]

So I have one last question I think which seems to have different advice when I’ve read up...
And I’d like advice from somebody who’s had succes!!
Going for a pee when crate training.
So thru the night when doggy is in bed in his cage what do I do?
I know he goes for a pee before bed but do I keep getting him out during the night or do I leave it til he cries or alerts me??
I’m worried that by constantly getting him out he’ll never learn to sleep but equally i don’t want him peeing in bed.
apart from this I’m feeling much more confident now thanks to all your help

 

[TJ90]

So I have one last question I think which seems to have different advice when I’ve read up...
And I’d like advice from somebody who’s had succes!!
Going for a pee when crate training.
So thru the night when doggy is in bed in his cage what do I do?
I know he goes for a pee before bed but do I keep getting him out during the night or do I leave it til he cries or alerts me??
I’m worried that by constantly getting him out he’ll never learn to sleep but equally i don’t want him peeing in bed.
apart from this I’m feeling much more confident now thanks to all your help

I just used to leave our pup overnight with a puppy pad in his crate. They then get used to holding it as they don’t want to do it where they sleep. Obviously it takes time but eventually they’re dry at night. That’s what worked for us anyway. Once we went to bed at 10pm ish we left him until 6am.

 

[Base2019]

You can try it in the crate but I found this stressed me out as I didn’t want pup to be sleeping near their wees. If you’re comfortable you can leave the crate door open at night and leave a puppy pad outside the crate beside a door (see my comment in above post about leaving it by the door). We done this with our pup and it worked well until fully trained

 

[NormaBates]

I just used to leave our pup overnight with a puppy pad in his crate. They then get used to holding it as they don’t want to do it where they sleep. Obviously it takes time but eventually they’re dry at night. That’s what worked for us anyway. Once we went to bed at 10pm ish we left him until 6am.

Honestly I’m getting really stressed now as everybody does it different and I’m so worried what is best
The majority say take them out of cage every few hours but then like you say they need to get used to holding on??? And now I’ve just been told by a friend that you don’t close the cage door at first?? Is this true? You build up to that. So what do you do the first few nights? As if the cage is open surley the little fella will be out like a shot
honestly thinking maybe I’m not cut out for this. Babies seem easier

 

[TJ90]

Honestly I’m getting really stressed now as everybody does it different and I’m so worried what is best
The majority say take them out of cage every few hours but then like you say they need to get used to holding on??? And now I’ve just been told by a friend that you don’t close the cage door at first?? Is this true? You build up to that. So what do you do the first few nights? As if the cage is open surley the little fella will be out like a shot
honestly thinking maybe I’m not cut out for this. Babies seem easier

Personally I just shut the cage at 10pm and that was it. Didn’t come down to check on him or anything as I knew he was safe. I did the same with my first dog too. What I would say is whatever you decide, be consistent. He’s 10 months now, sleeps with us in bed so we don’t have the crate anymore.

 

[NormaBates]

Personally I just shut the cage at 10pm and that was it. Didn’t come down to check on him or anything as I knew he was safe. I did the same with my first dog too. What I would say is whatever you decide, be consistent. He’s 10 months now, sleeps with us in bed so we don’t have the crate anymore.

I’ll be honest this is what I thought you would do. If they got a bit fussy or upset of course take them for a wee. I’m 55 now and I know things are loads different but when I was a kid and we had dogs although we didn’t use crates we put the in the kitchen and they stayed there til morning. I’m not a fussy person but I’m not cruel either and I want to do the best thing but the advice seems so conflicting

 

[Blahblahahaaa77]

Congrats on getting a puppy! We’ve just been on a similar journey too...
I would decide one way and stick to it, there are far too many different ways and it’s your dog
Puppy pads - so I was all for these in the beginning but then I realised they were making me a lazy dog owner and creating problems for the future, he needs to know that the outside is his toilet so I would encourage taking him outside as much as possible so he understands from the beginning
Crate training - I didn’t expect this to be so difficult, our puppy cried continuously for hours. It caused a lot of arguments in our house as I wanted to give up and take him out but my partner stood firm and we did get there eventually! I would let them out in the night for a wee though, they can get even more stressed doing it in their beds and at the end of the day they’re babies!
Lead training - that was a great tip from someone else, get them on the lead ASAP and it will be less of a ‘thing’ down the road
Food - I once had a dog with a gluten allergy and he was really poorly so I’d just be aware that not all food agrees with all dogs

I’m super jealous that you get to do it all over again, it really is such a lovely time! Just enjoy it and you’ll get there!!

 

[NormaBates]

Congrats on getting a puppy! We’ve just been on a similar journey too...
I would decide one way and stick to it, there are far too many different ways and it’s your dog
Puppy pads - so I was all for these in the beginning but then I realised they were making me a lazy dog owner and creating problems for the future, he needs to know that the outside is his toilet so I would encourage taking him outside as much as possible so he understands from the beginning
Crate training - I didn’t expect this to be so difficult, our puppy cried continuously for hours. It caused a lot of arguments in our house as I wanted to give up and take him out but my partner stood firm and we did get there eventually! I would let them out in the night for a wee though, they can get even more stressed doing it in their beds and at the end of the day they’re babies!
Lead training - that was a great tip from someone else, get them on the lead ASAP and it will be less of a ‘thing’ down the road
Food - I once had a dog with a gluten allergy and he was really poorly so I’d just be aware that not all food agrees with all dogs

I’m super jealous that you get to do it all over again, it really is such a lovely time! Just enjoy it and you’ll get there!!

Thank you for the reply!
It’s causing me sleepless nights all this! I really want to get it right!
Can I ask a couple of questions pls?

So on the first night home do you put puppy to bed in the crate and shut the door?

And then take out at regular intervals for pee? Do you wait for cue, or just do it every few hours?

I’m not worried thru the day, it’s just the nights that I’m worried about!

Ive decided (I think) to not use puppy pads and just take him outside lots thru out the day.
To put his crate in the kitchen and I will sleep on the sofa near him for the first week or so. And it’s near the back door for wee’s.

I swear I was less worried having my kids

 

[Lulu Goss]

Just wanted to say socialising with other dogs is so important! As soon as you can (after vaccinations etc) get them used to other dogs so they learn how to interact. My rescue dog was a stray but we quickly learned she hadn’t been socialised properly as she is absolutely terrified of other dogs. We tried everything over the years but she has to be walked on a lead and shakes/cries if she sees another dog. She’s the loveliest dog with people, always just wants a cuddle, but I always feel sorry for her that she can’t get off the lead to run and play like other dogs. So socialisation is defo a big one!

 

[Saddlesoap]

Honestly I’m getting really stressed now as everybody does it different and I’m so worried what is best
The majority say take them out of cage every few hours but then like you say they need to get used to holding on??? And now I’ve just been told by a friend that you don’t close the cage door at first?? Is this true? You build up to that. So what do you do the first few nights? As if the cage is open surley the little fella will be out like a shot
honestly thinking maybe I’m not cut out for this. Babies seem easier

Puppy in crate at bedtime and shut the door. If you hear puppy cry get up. Theoretically puppy shouldn't want to toilet in his bed, so the crate shouldn't be too big.
I did this with mine and will do it with the next one and had no problems.
Hot water bottle and clock may help them settle, but haven't used personally.

ETA I don't have kids, but you surely don't wake them up to go to the toilet when potty training them?

 

[Pip30]

This sounds really silly but keep puppy away from your dirty washing. Mine had a habit of getting into the laundry basket and rooting for socks and pants! When he was only 16 weeks old he managed to eat a pair of my pants and they were in his tummy for a week until he got poorly and had to have them surgically removed.
I felt horrendous but the vet said it was really common with cockerpoos and when I went to collect him there was another cockerpoo in there having a sock removed from his tummy!

Even after his surgery he tried to again so the laundry basket lived in the bath so he couldn’t get to it

Also I got a doggy doorbell from Amazon that he used to nudge to let me know he wanted to go outside...just don’t treat every time as mine used to do it for attention as well as the toilet

 

[NormaBates]

This sounds really silly but keep puppy away from your dirty washing. Mine had a habit of getting into the laundry basket and rooting for socks and pants! When he was only 16 weeks old he managed to eat a pair of my pants and they were in his tummy for a week until he got poorly and had to have them surgically removed.
I felt horrendous but the vet said it was really common with cockerpoos and when I went to collect him there was another cockerpoo in there having a sock removed from his tummy!

Even after his surgery he tried to again so the laundry basket lived in the bath so he couldn’t get to it

Also I got a doggy doorbell from Amazon that he used to nudge to let me know he wanted to go outside...just don’t treat every time as mine used to do it for attention as well as the toilet

I shouldn’t laugh
Poor little thing! I would never have thought of this so thank you for the heads up!
i think if I wasn’t 55 I’d just have another baby!! Joking I’m so excited I just want to give him the best start

Puppy in crate at bedtime and shut the door. If you hear puppy cry get up. Theoretically puppy shouldn't want to toilet in his bed, so the crate shouldn't be too big.
I did this with mine and will do it with the next one and had no problems.
Hot water bottle and clock may help them settle, but haven't used personally.

ETA I don't have kids, but you surely don't wake them up to go to the toilet when potty training them?

Thank you. I appreciate your advice and you obviously know what your talking about!
so if he did have an accident in the crate is it just a case of change the pee pad and back to sleep?
And if he is crying do I take him for a pee to check it’s not that and then back in. And just leave him?
sorry I’m asking so many questions on here!! You’ve all been so helpful it’s so appreciated

 

[Saddlesoap]

I shouldn’t laugh
Poor little thing! I would never have thought of this so thank you for the heads up!
i think if I wasn’t 55 I’d just have another baby!! Joking I’m so excited I just want to give him the best start


Thank you. I appreciate your advice and you obviously know what your talking about!
so if he did have an accident in the crate is it just a case of change the pee pad and back to sleep?
And if he is crying do I take him for a pee to check it’s not that and then back in. And just leave him?
sorry I’m asking so many questions on here!! You’ve all been so helpful it’s so appreciated

Yes and yes

This sounds really silly but keep puppy away from your dirty washing. Mine had a habit of getting into the laundry basket and rooting for socks and pants! When he was only 16 weeks old he managed to eat a pair of my pants and they were in his tummy for a week until he got poorly and had to have them surgically removed.
I felt horrendous but the vet said it was really common with cockerpoos and when I went to collect him there was another cockerpoo in there having a sock removed from his tummy!

Spaniels are notorious for foreign body surgeries.

 

[NormaBates]

Yes and yes



Spaniels are notorious for foreign body surgeries.

Wow good to know this!! I’ll keep an eye on our undies then

 

[Jessie2020]

Completely wrong place but I follow this forum and I know some of you are very well up on dogs . Can you guide me where I can get advice about my setter/spaniel , 6 months old and shook my son by the t shirt aggressively ?

sorry in advance and delete if inappropriate

 

[WilmaHun]

Just resurrecting this thread. I'm collecting my cocker spaniel this weekend.

We're going to use a crate. I want to put the crate upstairs with us for the first few nights so he knows we're not too far away. Partner is absolutely adamant that he should be downstairs, and if he cries we need to ignore and he'll get used to it. I think I'm going to struggle with that! Am I just being too soft?

 

[Cindy-Lou Who]

Just resurrecting this thread. I'm collecting my cocker spaniel this weekend.

We're going to use a crate. I want to put the crate upstairs with us for the first few nights so he knows we're not too far away. Partner is absolutely adamant that he should be downstairs, and if he cries we need to ignore and he'll get used to it. I think I'm going to struggle with that! Am I just being too soft?

I was the same with our pup. My husband was adamant that I was making things worse by going down to her when she was crying but it was horrible.

The first couple of weeks were hectic and I spent them worrying about every little thing but it didn't take long for her to get herself into a routine and learn that we would always come back to her. Once she got that she was more comfortable and slept for longer periods until she finally started sleeping through the night.

You'll find your own routine. One that's perfect for you, your family and your new addition. Give yourself time to adjust as it's like having a newborn in the house. He'll be amazing I'm sure and bring so much happiness and joy to your household. I couldn't be without our Penny now and I never even wanted a dog.

 

[Bobbleowl90]

We slept downstairs for a week with our cockapoo in his crate, because I didn’t want any accidents mainly. He cried once or twice so we would get up and take him outside for a wee and then straight back in the crate. After a week we left him downstairs alone. He is 13 weeks now and sleeps 10-7/8 no accidents.

 

[Saddlesoap]

Just resurrecting this thread. I'm collecting my cocker spaniel this weekend.

We're going to use a crate. I want to put the crate upstairs with us for the first few nights so he knows we're not too far away. Partner is absolutely adamant that he should be downstairs, and if he cries we need to ignore and he'll get used to it. I think I'm going to struggle with that! Am I just being too soft?

Personally I wouldn't put crate in the bedroom. Our pupper was in a crate in the hallway from day 1.
Ask the breeder if you can give them a blanket to put with mum until you pick yours up, so there's a familiar smell.
Have a hot water bottle for your crate
Get some pet remedy spray