Need immediate advice

[drbarb]

I adopted a 9 week old pup on Sunday. I have read all the information on crate and potty training; unfortunately my puppy is too young to read and none of the instructions are working. I am trying to emotionally prepare to return her to the breeder.
I have set up a crate, following all hints, and she screams all the time she's in there (actually, it's no so much screaming as the noise a rabid duck would make while attacking). I can't praise her when she's quiet because she never is; she's frantically trying to chew through the wire and flinging herself against the door.
Same at night; tried the crate, tried putting her in the bathroom with a pad and bed. She screams all night. I had to take a sleeping pill last night just to get a few hours sleep.
I obviously can't potty train her this way. I tried using pads and she won't stay still long enough.
I am a wreck and don't know what to do.

[impish]

She's 9 weeks old. Yorkies should be with their mom until about 12 weeks. Your breeder shouldn't have let her go that early! I think this is the major part of your problem is she's probably going through separation anxiety because she's so young.

I'm hoping others will have suggestions.

Mine would be to be with her as much as you can for the next two-three weeks and not worry about the potty training so much at first. If you need to contain her make sure there are pads everywhere, and if you can put her in a little kennel by your bed so she feels close to you that might help.

You will get through this but understand there's nothing wrong with her - she's just too young.

[drbarb]

Hmmm, they certainly didn't tell me that part. Neither did the vet.
I have put her crate right next to my chair in the living room and next to the bed - doesn't matter. She wants out and she wants out now!
If I put her in my lap she snoozes blissfully. But I can't do that even when I'm home from work.
Oh, and the pads? She chews them up and swallows pieces.
Can yorkies be possessed by demons?

[horsnaround]

Try a stuffed animal one without any thing she could swallow. Like buttens for eyes or nose. She may cuddle up with it. But must not have anything dangerous sewn on it. She is just missing her mom and litter mates. Her life just changed so much try to understand. It's a scary new world for her.

[drbarb]

Haven't tried the stuffed animal. I'll pick one up on my way home.

The vet suggested children's benedryl but that makes me uncomfortable.

Thanks

[horsnaround]

I think it just will take time. She is trying to figure this all out. You just need to keep her safe. Sounds like she is having very bad separation anxiety. Hopefully you can work through it. Is it possible for her to sleep with you? Also put a t shirt or something that smells like you for her to curl up and sleep with. The breeder should have sent something with her that smelled like home. Keep us updated

[Mistymillar]

Maybe you could order one of these? They warm up and have a heartbeat to replicate their mom.

Snuggle Puppies - Official Home of Snuggle Pet Products

[impish]

Also get one of these pads - they are great. Simple Solution Washable Training & Travel Pad for Pets

will illuminate the chewing issue and cheaper. There are people who also sell cute handmade ones here on YT.

[Anny Mendoza]

Your pup is still so young.
I don't wanna sound harsh but she's only 9 weeks old and she's been with you for only 4 days. You can't expect to potty train her that quick.
Also remember that she was used to being with her little brothers and sister and never alone. Try using toys and clothes smelling of you when she's alone or in her crate.
She still has to get used to being alone.
Do you play enough with her? Try getting her tired before putting her in her crate. And when she's in her crate and stays quiet, praise her for that. Praising helps a lot.

[My lil friend]

Originally Posted by drbarb

Haven't tried the stuffed animal. I'll pick one up on my way home.

The vet suggested children's benedryl but that makes me uncomfortable.

Thanks

Your vet suggested benedryl to calm the pup down,please tell me I didnt read that correctly. First I would find another vet,REALLY.

You might try an expen,a bit more space, on tile. Put the crate with the door open,so baby can go in and out. You can get washable potty pads,kinda like using cloth diapers,but they cannt eat them as easially. In the pen baby needs blankets in crate,potty pad,toys that are age appropriate,food and water. When you are home,this is a baby and therefore it needs your attention. This stage does not last forever,with a bit of patience,by the time your baby is 12 or 13 weeks old you may of been able to build enough of a bond that baby wont cry as much.

[melaniebosano]

First of all sorry about your emotional upheaval and secondly take some comfort in the fact that its all perfectly normal!

Internet advice is terrible contradictory and you have got off to a bad start with your new baby - fear not though it can be rectified!

Every dog that we bring home leaves me worrying, panicking and even regretting that I took on the commitment - you are not alone! A puppy is hard work, really hard work they are tiny babies after all, and you should have expected that - the breeder should have told you what to expect.

Crate training

Crate training should be done over a few days and if you are shutting your puppy in without giving her a chance to be relaxed in there then you are causing emotional trauma. Take crate training gently and put a comfy bed in there, feed puppy in the crate and always leave the door open. As the others have suggested give her a warm toy. Trapping her in there will upset her a lot. She is used to being in a group of warm bodies after all.

Play with her as much as you can during the day to exhaust her so that she looks for a bed, then have the crate and bed in a place where she can be in it and close to you, throw treats in and allow her to go in and out ... and leave the door open until she is happy to be in the crate. gradually she will feel secure and go in on her own, then you can start to shut the door.

I suggest you sleep in the same room as her for a couple of nights to rebuild the security which has been lost, have the crate right by where you sleep and leave the door open but put her in there, she will eventually relax, poor little thing must be so confused.

Toileting

Every hour during the day take her out and when she toilets give her a little treat and tell her she is good. Always take her to the same place and always wait for her to go. Ignore her until she has been then make a big fuss. If you see her trying to go in the house take her to the pad and even if a tiny drop lands on the pad do the same praise and reward. Never punish her though because it will break down the trust between you.

I hope this has helped. You will get through these times and she will settle down, just beware of internet advice, always treat puppy positively and never punish her, try to understand why she is doing things instead and reshape her behaviour ! Good luck !

[McheleM]

Seriously??? Do you think children just become potty trained in a week or two? It takes time.... And patience. And training.

Why is the puppy in a crate all the time? She wants to be near her person, since she was taken away from her mom 3-4 weeks sooner than she should have been.
The only time my dogs were crated was at night, and they now sleep in their crates with the door open. I trained them to "go night night" and now all I have to say is to night night and they all 3 go to their crates to go to sleep.

I would scream and cry too if I were locked up.

[kimp5]

Hi, I get your frustration. I know the first couple months I was completely out of my mind and had "buyers remorse" because of the work involved. Jess barked all night in her crate. I will tell you it WILL STOP. Your pup is pretty young but mine was older and she still did it. Shes scared and doesn't understand why she isn't at her home anymore. Not much unlike a infant who is now in the "outside world" who starts crying ALL the time when not in moms arms.
My suggestion is to get a shirt with the moms scent from the breeder and then slowly transition to one of you. At night if you want to sleep have her sleep next to you and just pillow off an area so she doesn't fall. She needs to hear and feel you. Also put a washable pee pad under her so she doesn't mess your bed. Slowly put her in her crate with the door open each day with a little treat in there. Let her go in and out on her own. Put a little blanket over the top to make it cozy. Also put the shirt in there. Make it a happy place. Its a ton of work but it will pass. She is no different then any other pup trust me. As to potty training, I would let that go for a few weeks. Just put washable pads under her wherever she is. Walmart baby section 2/13.00....

[kimp5]

oh and slings work great. put her in a sling and carry her around when your home. It gives you hands free to do whatever. If she feels secure she will stop the barking. The crate should only be used right now to let her explore it with the door open.

[horsnaround]

How did last night go? Hopefully a little better