Need Help with my new sheltie puppy

[alchyu]

Hi tinyziek,

Thanks for sharing ur experiences..

Right now my wife and I are trying our best to pick up signals of what Max likes and dislike. Hopefully we can make him happier and be more understanding.

This is the 3rd night and my wife and I played till Max was very tired. it is quite adorable to watch him sleep once he tire himself out.. however his tireness was quickly energized by a short nap which brings to my worries that he wantes to keep on playing and it is way past our bedtime.

Tonight I am sleeping together with Max in sight and hopefully it understands and quickly get used to our rest time and also more importantly our play time.

I am really worried and confused that if everytime he whines and seeks attention, should i really go and comfort him or tell him to rest cause it is late.

Sorry all for the flooding and the late replies cause I was playing with Max and also brought some work home from office so only managed to reply ur posts now. Sorry again and thanks for sharing all ur wonderful experiences with ur pups..

 

[sailor_titan]

sailor_titan,

Max didnt pee when whimpering, my guess that it wants attention.

Thanks for ur advice, i will try the coins in a can method and see wad is his reaction.

You're welcome, and good luck!

http://www.dogpatch.org/sheltie/barking.html has more info on barking if you're interested.

 

[BarbV]

Hi

It's not clear, but it sounds like you are not crate training your pup. If not, I highly recommend that you do.

It's not cruel. The pups will treat their crate as a den or safe haven, as long as its introduced properly and never used for punishment. At night, bring the crate to your room and put him to bed. I suspect if he's close to you and crated, he will stop waking up scared and wimpering, and looking for attention. If he wakes, he can see and hear you, know you are nearby, then curl up and go back to sleep.

If you are crating him, and its a metal crate, consider covering it partially with a towel or blanket so he can create that "den" feeling. I use a soft-sided crate for Bacca and it's perfect! It's cosy, but as mesh windows on all sides so he can look out, but curl up tight against the soft walls.

And do consider going home at lunch for at least a couple more months. 8 hours is a long time. Granted he'll sleep most of the time you are away, but that might also be why he's waking up at night....too much sleep!

Good luck! You're doing great, and asking all the right questions.

 

[tinyziek]

Hi tinyziek,

Thanks for sharing ur experiences..

Right now my wife and I are trying our best to pick up signals of what Max likes and dislike. Hopefully we can make him happier and be more understanding.

This is the 3rd night and my wife and I played till Max was very tired. it is quite adorable to watch him sleep once he tire himself out.. however his tireness was quickly energized by a short nap which brings to my worries that he wantes to keep on playing and it is way past our bedtime.

Tonight I am sleeping together with Max in sight and hopefully it understands and quickly get used to our rest time and also more importantly our play time.

I am really worried and confused that if everytime he whines and seeks attention, should i really go and comfort him or tell him to rest cause it is late.

Sorry all for the flooding and the late replies cause I was playing with Max and also brought some work home from office so only managed to reply ur posts now. Sorry again and thanks for sharing all ur wonderful experiences with ur pups..

you're very welcome. hopefully your max is a quick learner and will know when bedtime is and when playtime is. it takes time. ziek took a few months and although that seems like forever, especially since you're tired, it'll be worth it. just make sure he has things to play with while you and your wife are at work. best of luck.

 

[Crystal1]

I guess nobody is going to say it, so I will. Once you go to bed and Max starts to make noise, leave him alone and he will go back to sleep. If when ever he cries, you get up and comfort him, he will continue to cry because you are rewarding him. You need to make sure Max goes outside before you go to bed, and if he can't hold it all night, then get up once and take him outside. Do not pet him or play with him, just give him a chance to do his business, then go back to bed. Try going through 1 whole night and see if he can hold it. Does he hold it during the whole 8 hours you are at work? If he can hold it all night, then just ignoring the crying would be your best option. Don't worry, wanting to be good pet owners and putting the work into it is a great start.

 

[davemize]

Crate training?

I agree with Barb, crate training will really help with your new puppy. Be sure to cut off food and water early in the evening, and give the puppy plenty of opportunity to void his bowels and bladder before bedtime. Then comes the tough part... hunker down and ignore the whining that's sure to come when you put the puppy in his crate. After a couple of nights, he will get used to this routine. You might have to take him out once during the night for a while, too. Just try to keep it "all business", then back in the crate.

Consistency is the key here. Puppies usually settle into a routine easily. Good luck-

 

[alchyu]

Hi

It's not clear, but it sounds like you are not crate training your pup. If not, I highly recommend that you do.

It's not cruel. The pups will treat their crate as a den or safe haven, as long as its introduced properly and never used for punishment. At night, bring the crate to your room and put him to bed. I suspect if he's close to you and crated, he will stop waking up scared and wimpering, and looking for attention. If he wakes, he can see and hear you, know you are nearby, then curl up and go back to sleep.

If you are crating him, and its a metal crate, consider covering it partially with a towel or blanket so he can create that "den" feeling. I use a soft-sided crate for Bacca and it's perfect! It's cosy, but as mesh windows on all sides so he can look out, but curl up tight against the soft walls.

And do consider going home at lunch for at least a couple more months. 8 hours is a long time. Granted he'll sleep most of the time you are away, but that might also be why he's waking up at night....too much sleep!

Good luck! You're doing great, and asking all the right questions.

Thanks BarbV, I will take note of that, my wife and I rotated to go home during our lunches to take care of Max, I do hope this help improves his trust in us.

 

[alchyu]

I guess nobody is going to say it, so I will. Once you go to bed and Max starts to make noise, leave him alone and he will go back to sleep. If when ever he cries, you get up and comfort him, he will continue to cry because you are rewarding him. You need to make sure Max goes outside before you go to bed, and if he can't hold it all night, then get up once and take him outside. Do not pet him or play with him, just give him a chance to do his business, then go back to bed. Try going through 1 whole night and see if he can hold it. Does he hold it during the whole 8 hours you are at work? If he can hold it all night, then just ignoring the crying would be your best option. Don't worry, wanting to be good pet owners and putting the work into it is a great start.

He doesnt hold it during the whole 8 hours when I am at work. That's why my wife and I are rotating to come back at lunches during our work to take care of him.

He always does his businesses everytime before he goes to bed.

The night barking, howling and whimpering happens not because he cannot hold his business but I believe he wants to play with us and seeks attention

 

[alchyu]

I agree with Barb, crate training will really help with your new puppy. Be sure to cut off food and water early in the evening, and give the puppy plenty of opportunity to void his bowels and bladder before bedtime. Then comes the tough part... hunker down and ignore the whining that's sure to come when you put the puppy in his crate. After a couple of nights, he will get used to this routine. You might have to take him out once during the night for a while, too. Just try to keep it "all business", then back in the crate.

Consistency is the key here. Puppies usually settle into a routine easily. Good luck-

Thanks for your advice, I will let Max have a stricter crate training.

 

[Marco]

Hi, what i did with my first puppy was to sleep on the couch and have his cage besides me, so when he wake up my hand was there to comfort him. i did this three nights, but it is smart to be with the puppy at home at least two weeks, and start him to get used to being alone, small periods first and longer and longer. then the puppy feels more safe when you leave him. because he knows your coming back It's true what the others say here, it is not cruel to let the dog sleep in a cage, as long as it's soft and comfy, my dog loves his cage, and when he is bored of us he goes to his cage to rest and have his own space. He feels safe there.