What should my priorities be at 3 months?

[Billyh]

Hello all,

I have a couple of concerns and I tried to search for solutions but the search command is not working. I am sent to a blank page and the status bar says "done". I have checked all of my settings and can't figure out why it doesn't work. So, I tried searching the manual way... but it is so time consuming.

I am hoping some frequenters will have some patience (which I have noticed is abundant on this board!) and either be able to help, or point to some great posts to read.

In a previous post I was worried about my puppy's massive affection for me vs. my girlfriend (who the puppy was for). We are working on that now...

I read some posts on anxiety and had some more questions. We currently have our puppy sectioned off in the kitchen. It is a very small kitchen, approximately 2' x 6'. We have the pee pad on one side and his crate on the other. At night, we leave him in this "pen" with his crate open and some water in the pen.

At night, we try to leave without any warning so that there is no build-up. He whines for a bit then goes to sleep. Last night, we went to bed at 10 and he whined at midnight, 1, 3 and 6. I am assuming that he wakes up because he as to go pee and then whines afterward. He falls asleep after about 10 minutes or so (I am guessing.... because I was so tired).

Is this method correct? I know that others mentioned that they have to get up and let their puppy out every 2 hours or so. We would like to train our puppy whatever way is best. However, he has not yet received his final bout of boosters and we live on a farm. We would like to keep the outside time at a minimum at present. So, should we be getting up when he whines at night eventhough he has access to the pee pad?

I was thinking of another method that I could try. I could try getting up at pre-determined intervals to play for 5 minutes or so. I could then extend the duration of the intervals until he realizes that we will be returning in the morning to play. Or should I just let him whine a bit and he will eventually figure out that we will be back in the morning? If it is just best to do whatever we want and ignore the whining, then that's what we will do.

In trying to make him realize that his pen is a place he wants to be, I put him in there during the day every now and then. I am not certain how often I should be doing this... I will stick to a schedule if I knew what it should be. As most of us, I want to find a balance between not neglecting him, but not being overly affectionate to the point where he is too dependent on us.

At the moment, I put him in his pen and he cried for about 5 minutes, then went to his crate to lie down. Is this what I want? Should he not want to play on his own a bit? So far, he either lies down or whines in the pen. How long should I wait to let him out during the day? If I wait until he wakes up, he is whining and I don't want to let him out for fear of him thinking that whining gets the attention he wants. If I go in before he wakes up then I am essentially waking him up... which he does not seem overly happy about. I was thinking that once he falls asleep, I will find a way to open up his pen to the small living room where I am. That way he can make his way out to see me when he wakes up. If we do the same thing in the morning, then at night he will know that at some point the pen/gate will be open for him to come out.

How long should puppies be sleeping vs. playing?

On another note, if we anticipate that our yorkie will eventually be able to sleep near us, should we be starting with him in an area away from the bedroom? I have heard that some people put the crate in the room with them at night but I believe our little one will whine regardless. He whines in his pen during the day eventhough we are 5 ft away. As well, if we put him in the room with us now and he does have to go to the bathroom, we would have to move him back to his pen and then back to the crate again.

As well, what are some priorities to work on at the moment.... there are so many to consider.


Examples like:

touching the teeth, the feet
housebreaking
cleaning the eyes

I can work on the tricks later... want to knock the priorities off first...


Sorry for the long post. Again, if there are similar threads... point me there! Any help is appreciated in any way to help with anxiety issues.

[phfgkl]

In a previous post I was worried about my [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]puppy's[/COLOR][/COLOR] massive affection for me vs. my girlfriend (who the puppy was for). We are working on that now...Who bought the pup home? The reason I'm asking, is because my hubby picked up both our little girls. The first one is now 11 mos. she really didn't want much to do with me for a few days, now is a mommas girl. I think it's because she bonded with my hubby first since he brought her home. I maybe missed it too, as far as age, 3 mos?

I read some posts on anxiety and had some more questions. We currently have our puppy sectioned off in the [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]kitchen[/COLOR][/COLOR]
http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/l...rey_loader.gif
. It is a very small kitchen, approximately 2' x 6'. We have the pee pad on one side and his [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]crate[/COLOR][/COLOR]
http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/l...rey_loader.gif
on the other. At night, we leave him in this "pen" with his crate open and some water in the pen. Do you have a pee pad down for him? If not, he needs one, he is a baby, and hasn't learned how to control his bladder yet. If he's whining and there is no pee pad, then he needs let outside(if you're housebreaking outside).

At night, we try to leave without any warning so that there is no build-up. He whines for a bit then goes to sleep. Last night, we went to [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]bed[/COLOR][/COLOR]
http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/l...rey_loader.gif
at 10 and he whined at midnight, 1, 3 and 6. I am assuming that he wakes up because he as to go pee and then whines afterward. He falls asleep after about 10 minutes or so (I am guessing.... because I was so tired).I always tell mine good night, and they get a belly rub and then get covered up. I also tell them momma loves them(I know, sounds corny, but, they're my babies.) when I leave to go somewhere, I tell them momma will be back in a little bit. Mine know when I say time for bed, for them to hit their beds. Then the 3 oldest ones turn over for their belly rubs real quick, they know the drill. The smallest one(she's 11 mos) has a puppy hut and she gets in it, so she gets her belly rub before bedtime, then the baby that is 4 mos. is already learning, belly rub at bedtime.

Is this method correct? I know that others mentioned that they have to get up and let their puppy out every 2 hours or so. We would like to train our puppy whatever way is best. However, he has not yet received his final bout of boosters and we live on a farm. We would like to keep the outside time at a minimum at present. So, should we be getting up when he whines at night eventhough he has access to the pee pad? Just read, he has access to the pee pad, that's good. no, I wouldn't get up at night if he uses the pee pad. I would let him continue using it until he's a little older and can go all night without going potty. When you're ready to start having him go outside to potty, start moving the pee pad closer to the door you want him to use, when you see him going to the pad, take him outside, then praise. Actually, it's great to have them trained both ways(if you want one gong outside). Mine are strictly pad trained, but, when we go in the back yard for play time, they will also potty out there.

I was thinking of another method that I could try. I could try getting up at pre-determined intervals to play for 5 minutes or so. I could then extend the duration of the intervals until he realizes that we will be returning in the morning to play. Or should I just let him whine a bit and he will eventually figure out that we will be back in the morning? If it is just best to do whatever we want and ignore the whining, then that's what we will do. I would never get up and play with them in the middle of the night. They have to learn when it's bed time, it's bed time, just like a child

In trying to make him realize that his pen is a place he wants to be, I put him in there during the day every now and then. I am not certain how often I should be doing this... I will stick to a schedule if I knew what it should be. As most of us, I want to find a balance between not neglecting him, but not being overly affectionate to the point where he is too dependent on us. Does he only have a pad in the pen or does he have one accessible to him at all times? I never put mine in the xpen, except at bedtime or when I go somewhere, the rest of the day I'm out here with her, where when I see her potty in the wrong place, I can take her to where she's supposed to go pee

At the moment, I put him in his pen and he cried for about 5 minutes, then went to his crate to lie down. Is this what I want? Yes Should he not want to play on his own a bit? Mine don't like playing on their own, and even though I have 5 inside dogs, they would much rather me being on the floor playing with them. So far, he either lies down or whines in the pen. How long should I wait to let him out during the day? If I wait until he wakes up, he is whining and I don't want to let him out for fear of him thinking that whining gets the attention he wants. If I go in before he wakes up then I am essentially waking him up... which he does not seem overly happy about. I was thinking that once he falls asleep, I will find a way to open up his pen to the small [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]living [COLOR=green! important]room[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] where I am. That way he can make his way out to see me when he wakes up. If we do the same thing in the morning, then at night he will know that at some point the pen/gate will be open for him to come out. No, you don't want him to be able to get out when he cries. How long have you had this little guy? You probably said somewhere and I just missed it

How long should [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]puppies[/COLOR][/COLOR] be sleeping vs. playing? Mine sleep a lot!

On another note, if we anticipate that our yorkie will eventually be able to sleep near us, should we be starting with him in an area away from the bedroom? I have heard that some people put the crate in the room with them at night but I believe our little one will whine regardless. He whines in his pen during the day eventhough we are 5 ft away. As well, if we put him in the room with us now and he does have to go to the bathroom, we would have to move him back to his pen and then back to the crate again.
Of course, mine don't sleep with me, I'm one who feels they have their bed and I have mine, but, to each his own. Mine sleep at one end of the house and me the other. Now, my new little girl has only whined one night since I got her last Friday. So, I can't complain. She's 4 1/2 mos old

Sorry for the long post. Again, if there are similar threads... point me there! Any help is appreciated in any way to help with anxiety issues

[Billyh]

Hi phfgkl...

Thank you so much for your time! Your suggestions will definitely help out and I will let you know how everything goes. I am sure in a couple of months all of this will be long behind us!

I will also post a picture of our little guy when I get the chance!

[phfgkl]

Originally Posted by Billyh

Hi phfgkl...

Thank you so much for your time! Your suggestions will definitely help out and I will let you know how everything goes. I am sure in a couple of months all of this will be long behind us!

I will also post a picture of our little guy when I get the chance!

Please do, love seeing pictures of everyones babies. Yes, you will be surprised at how fast time goes by.

[JoeyP]

Dogs are pack animals and they do not like being alone
so your puppy crying esp in the beginning is nothing out of the ordinary
It is important tho that he learn that it is ok to be alone sometimes

If it is your wish to eventually have him sleep with you I would suggest one thing first
MAKE SURE he is at least well paper trained before you let him sleep with you on your bed
It is always better to prevent a problem than try to correct a bad one later on

and the sending him outside .... best to have his shots and boosters all completed before you do that

[phfgkl]

Originally Posted by JoeyP

Dogs are pack animals and they do not like being alone
so your puppy crying esp in the beginning is nothing out of the ordinary
It is important tho that he learn that it is ok to be alone sometimes

If it is your wish to eventually have him sleep with you I would suggest one thing first
MAKE SURE he is at least well paper trained before you let him sleep with you on your bed
It is always better to prevent a problem than try to correct a bad one later on

and the sending him outside .... best to have his shots and boosters all completed before you do that

He already said somewhere in his post, that he didn't feel it good to take the puppy out until he's had all his shots, as he lives on a farm.

[JoeyP]

Yea ... I had seen that and wanted to confirm that he doesnt send the dog out until he has all his immunity in place esp when there are other animals around

[phfgkl]

Originally Posted by JoeyP

Yea ... I had seen that and wanted to confirm that he doesnt send the dog out until he has all his immunity in place esp when there are other animals around

My main concern on living around farm animals, is that his little guy might require a lepto shot, and those shots scare me to death.
I didn't know if you had seen that or not, and I couldn't find where he had said that(about going outside) and my eyes were too tired to read all of it right now