Fussy Puppy

[Lia]

When Bella plays she does growl and all though it sounds vicious it's cute, but when it gets to be a bit much we stop playing immidiately. I read an article and it was teaching us how to correct her the way her mom would but in a human version. For instance, if she was playing too rough her mom would normally pin her down with her teeth, it did tell us we could use our own teeth if we wanted, lol, but a more human like way would be to use your first 3 fingers and place them on the puppies neck as if it were her mom biting her. Do note that the bite does not hurt, but it is firm so she can snap out of it and know that no means no. Once she is calmed down then you can let her go and then walk away. The article does say this is only used if she is being persistant with her rough play and has not listened to you telling her "NO" or walking away previously.

I had to do it to Bella a couple times, but I only did it when she was about 10wks because I wanted her to get used to me before I had to correct her and be the "party pooper". She still loves me the most and is my little baby girl. Now when she gets wrapped up in playing and bites a little bit firmer, not even hard, we just say no biting and then she corrects herself and continues playing, or we just give her a toy and she is perfectly fine. However, she does growl a bit at times, but she's just playing. It's harmless. Oh and one more thing, at the beginning I didn't let her play rough at all because I didn't want her to think that was the only way to play. At 5 months I'm just now letting her play a little rough. Not sure if that was the right thing, but it made sense to me.

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

Our puppy just turned 8 weeks old, ...
She's a whiner!! She'll go right to sleep in her crate if she's tired, but after her late night potty breaks it takes her a lot longer to stop crying and whining and to go back to sleep. i'll try sleeping on the floor with her until she's out and i put my fingers in there with her, but she still takes forever to lay down and go back to sleep. it drives us crazy listening to her yap and yelp. We're so sleep deprived and exhausted that my DH got a terrrible headache and threw up last night and i'm getting a cold from all the potty breaks outside in the rain. we're just pooped out and wish there was an easier way to teach her not to cry in her crate and just go back to sleep.

Any advice here? Advice about stopping the whining and about the biting on my hands would be great.

This is one of the reasons for NOT getting a puppy so young. When they are taken away from mom and siblings too young, they lack that sense of security that helps them rest and go to sleep on their own. As "crazy" as you and your DH are, think how the puppy is feeling. They do not like to whine, or stay up all night. If you are sleep deprived and exhausted, the puppy probably is too. Another month and the puppy will be much better adapted to sleep on its own and hold it's potty breaks at night. That is why I would not let mine go to new homes til they were at least 12 weeks old and older if they needed it.

Try to buy one of those heartbeat/warmer dogs -- it is a stuffed puppy that has a pocket in its belly. You put these warmers in there along with a little heart that gives off a "beat" -- they are great for reassuring those tiny puppies taken away from their mothers too young. I bought them for my puppies when I lost a mother dog. If you cannot find one, you can use a rice bag, wrapped well with a towel along with a wind up alarm clock. Other than that, the only thing that will help is time.

The problem with biting your fingers too hard can be seen more in puppies taken too young too. Truly, they learn some reserve while being with their mother and siblings. They learn that when their siblings bite, it can hurt. They learn if they bite their momma, she will gently nip them to teach them not to do it. So, you have to become the momma and sibling. Gently nip (with your fingers instead of teeth ) the back of puppies neck and say firmly "no" or "ow." Eventually, they learn that is not a good behavior. It takes longer, because I was never willing to really hurt them. Instead, they just learned it was a tone of voice that they did not like as much as the "good boy" tones. So, it takes longer than the momma nipping them into better behavior.

Hope these things help.

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

is it normal for her to deliberatly bite me, this isn't chewing or nibbling, she's being mean and she's growling and barking at me and i can tell she's being mean not just playing rough...her eyes change and she's evil

what do i do here?

This is very frustrating to read! You were warned over and over about taking a puppy away from its mother too young. You chose to do it anyway. Now that she does exactly what a puppy too young to be away from its mother is expected to do, you call her evil? That is not fair to your puppy at all. I hope you are not holding this against her and letting her sense your feelings that she is evil and mean. That will not add to her sense of security at all!

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I hope you are joking, puppies are not evil, people are. I'm really upset with breeders who continue to ignore, the recommendations set forth by the YTCA. Sure you can take an 8-week-old lab home, but they are like a 4 month old Yorkie. You need to get it out of you mind that this is being evil, it's being normal, what's not normal is for her to be away from her mother and littermates at this age. Sure people have done it, and they say their dogs are fine, but in many cases they have other dogs at home, that can help teach what the mother teaches. Puppies do a lot of biting and chewing the first year, they are teething nearly the whole first year, first they are getting the baby teeth, and then start losing those and get the adult teeth, furthermore, dogs have a huge need to chew, so please don't think of this as being evil, or you might be tempted to discipline her in a very inappropriate fashion. I don't know if she has all of her baby teeth yet, but I can tell you, it' hurts when they bite with those, they are like pins. Many people recommend saying no or making a dog-like yelp and saying no, and setting the puppy down, and give it a chewing stick. I can tell you this biting doesn't stop overnight, and if you have children, please don't let the child around the puppy, it might bite the child, who would just react by dropping it. Your baby is scared, it is your job to make her feel safe, and I think you can do more training at a later time.

I think you are also expecting too much in the way of potty training. Most of us don't begin crate training till 12 weeks, and remember at best a yorkie can only hold 1 hour for each mouth it is, so an 8 week old puppy can only hold it 2 hours, if you don't want to get up every two hours, you can use a pee pad, in a larger enclosed area, this is what the breeder would have done. There are several toys that imitate a mothers heartbeat, and this has been helpful to young puppies who have lost their mothers. I know it's really hard on you now, I always tell new mothers to get lots of sleep before the puppy comes, even at 12 weeks, Joey was getting up every 2-3 hours, and it would take several minutes for him to get back to sleep. Raising a puppy is very hard, but if you are patient, you will not create any problems that could really be hard to fix. Best of luck.

I should have read the whole thread. Looks like you already hit most of what I posted, Nancy -- and as usual, very well said!

[Nancy1999]

Many people have recommended these to help a young puppy. There are called Comfort Pals, and have a heart beat sound. Doggles Dog Comfort Pals White Terrier : The Pampered Pet Mart Pet Supplies, and this one also has a heat feature. SnugglePuppie Brown Mutt Dog : The Pampered Pet Mart Pet Supplies

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

I should have read the whole thread. Looks like you already hit most of what I posted, Nancy -- and as usual, very well said!

Well since you are a breeder, you know a lot more than I do about this, and I'm glad you agree!

[MizMaRLeysMoM86]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

is it normal for her to deliberatly bite me, this isn't chewing or nibbling, she's being mean and she's growling and barking at me and i can tell she's being mean not just playing rough...her eyes change and she's evil

what do i do here?

Colt did this as well , because he was taken from his littermates and mother farrrrrr too early! He was already taken from them when I bought him so I took him under my wing and let him be a puppy!! You need to let yours be a puppy! I have found in situations like this the best expectations is to have none at all. Honestly. I have another dog, Marley who put Colt in his place when he bit too hard, she would bite him back and show him that it hurt or she would bark at him to let him know she meant business. Puppies are not evil. Colt growled at me too, don't take it personal. He still nips at my nose at times when I pick him up (he's 3 1/2 months now ) but as soon as I say NO! he licks my nose as if to say sorry momma, I know better. It seems like he is being mean as hell, but he's not, hes being a puppy. Just be kind and patient. I haven't kept up on your threads but you got her way too young, whether it was by choice or not. You have her now and all you can do it love her and if she starts to be too rough, give her a suitable chew toy, because FlDebra and Nancy1999 are right, she is teething and will be for a long time. Get her a few stuffed animals for dogs around her size that she can bite and thrash around. Hope this advice helps.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

is it normal for her to deliberatly bite me, this isn't chewing or nibbling, she's being mean and she's growling and barking at me and i can tell she's being mean not just playing rough...her eyes change and she's evil

what do i do here?

wow, evil huh? That's intense. Uni didn't even bark until she was 16 weeks old.

[MizMaRLeysMoM86]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

wow, evil huh? That's intense. Uni didn't even bark until she was 16 weeks old.

I remember when Colt learned to bark.. he was about 12 weeks.. he loved the sound of his own bark .. I would hear the mean bark... sad bark.. happy bark.. gimme a treat bark.. hurry up bark... ouch that hurt Marley bark...look i just used the pee pad bark... thats my toy bark... i think that sums it up

[mjharpst]

She is a baby. She will continue to get a few times a night just like a newborn would. It is completely normal for you to feel exhausted but you have to be patient and persistent- if you are then all your training will pay off when she is older. But for now frequent potty breaks and spurts of hyperness is expected.

[LilMissy]

Rachel, is this the first dog that you've owned? You seem awfully frustrated. It's only been one week since you got Sadie, you should still be in the honeymoon phase!

Sadie's just being a puppy. As the others have said, this is the price that you pay for taking her from her Mommy too early. I went through this with Missy, but I enjoyed every moment of it (honestly). I've *yet* to feel frustrated or upset with her and she'll be 1 yr old next month. Maybe there are other stresses in your life that are getting you so upset and it's not all Sadie.

Every single problem that you are dealing with right now is "normal" for a puppy this age. I personally didn't fight the sleep issues, I just brought Missy into my bed I've had a restful sleep every night since! As far as the barking/growling...are you dealing with her in a calm, relaxed frame of mind? Because if she can sense that you are uptight, she won't see you as pack leader. Try to calm yourself down, and use the tools that you've learned here on YT. Potty issues? HA! I was very lucky with Missy, she trained right away BUT I have heard several people on here say that their Yorkies aren't trained until a year or longer. So be prepared!

Try not to worry so much, everything will fall into place in the next few weeks. It will just take time.

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I hope you are joking, puppies are not evil, people are. I'm really upset with breeders who continue to ignore, the recommendations set forth by the YTCA. Sure you can take an 8-week-old lab home, but they are like a 4 month old Yorkie. You need to get it out of you mind that this is being evil, it's being normal, what's not normal is for her to be away from her mother and littermates at this age. Sure people have done it, and they say their dogs are fine, but in many cases they have other dogs at home, that can help teach what the mother teaches. Puppies do a lot of biting and chewing the first year, they are teething nearly the whole first year, first they are getting the baby teeth, and then start losing those and get the adult teeth, furthermore, dogs have a huge need to chew, so please don't think of this as being evil, or you might be tempted to discipline her in a very inappropriate fashion. I don't know if she has all of her baby teeth yet, but I can tell you, it' hurts when they bite with those, they are like pins. Many people recommend saying no or making a dog-like yelp and saying no, and setting the puppy down, and give it a chewing stick. I can tell you this biting doesn't stop overnight, and if you have children, please don't let the child around the puppy, it might bite the child, who would just react by dropping it. Your baby is scared, it is your job to make her feel safe, and I think you can do more training at a later time.

I think you are also expecting too much in the way of potty training. Most of us don't begin crate training till 12 weeks, and remember at best a yorkie can only hold 1 hour for each mouth it is, so an 8 week old puppy can only hold it 2 hours, if you don't want to get up every two hours, you can use a pee pad, in a larger enclosed area, this is what the breeder would have done. There are several toys that imitate a mothers heartbeat, and this has been helpful to young puppies who have lost their mothers. I know it's really hard on you now, I always tell new mothers to get lots of sleep before the puppy comes, even at 12 weeks, Joey was getting up every 2-3 hours, and it would take several minutes for him to get back to sleep. Raising a puppy is very hard, but if you are patient, you will not create any problems that could really be hard to fix. Best of luck.

YEAH NO KIDDING!!!

If you could read you would see i never said she is evil i say her eyes turn evil looking.

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by LilMissy

Rachel, is this the first dog that you've owned? You seem awfully frustrated. It's only been one week since you got Sadie, you should still be in the honeymoon phase!

Sadie's just being a puppy. As the others have said, this is the price that you pay for taking her from her Mommy too early. I went through this with Missy, but I enjoyed every moment of it (honestly). I've *yet* to feel frustrated or upset with her and she'll be 1 yr old next month. Maybe there are other stresses in your life that are getting you so upset and it's not all Sadie.

Every single problem that you are dealing with right now is "normal" for a puppy this age. I personally didn't fight the sleep issues, I just brought Missy into my bed I've had a restful sleep every night since! As far as the barking/growling...are you dealing with her in a calm, relaxed frame of mind? Because if she can sense that you are uptight, she won't see you as pack leader. Try to calm yourself down, and use the tools that you've learned here on YT. Potty issues? HA! I was very lucky with Missy, she trained right away BUT I have heard several people on here say that their Yorkies aren't trained until a year or longer. So be prepared!

Try not to worry so much, everything will fall into place in the next few weeks. It will just take time.

Thanks, i started reading the Ceasar Millan book, about being the pack leader, and i realized that i let her get to me, and i'm not calm and assertive i'm not saying NO and not actually trying to stay focused on her changing it, i was bringing home stress from work and my husband and I were getting upset with each other because he's home all day and he doesn't clean up much and i'm working all day and hate coming home and cleaning house when i want to spend time with Sadie.

when i changed my attitude a little more, i got her up from a nap and worked on sit and down...she's got them almost already...she sat on command about five times last night and four/five times this morning and she's working on down and almost getting it...her attention span doesn't last long, but at first she's really trying to get it and do it for me...then she just quits and plays and i let her go on and play with me instead and put the treat jar up.

she also learned "lay down" last night when she went in her crate to bed...she's whine and i'd say "shhhh lay down" (really sweetly) and she's do her loop around the crate and lay down in the back....she got tons of whispered praise because hubbie was sleeping...she's so good sometimes...

and i didn't mean to say she was evil i meant her eyes look evil they look like she's meaning to hurt and fight me rather than play with me...i know she's little and just a puppy and i'm not stupid i know it takes time...i did get frustrated because i don't want her to hate me or resist my instructions and i didn't realize how much she was picking up on my mood, if i'm frustrated with her, she's wild and nippy, when i calmed down and took deep breaths before playing with her, she was really good and wanted to learn lots...

i've also learned that ignoring her when she's playing too rough works better than pinning her...she HATES to be pinned down and will bark, yip, get angry and fight me...ignoring her makes her go do something else or she'll crawl up on my lap and lay down...

she's learning....and SO AM I!!!

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

YEAH NO KIDDING!!!

If you could read you would see i never said she is evil i say her eyes turn evil looking.

This is exactly what you said:

"she's being mean and she's growling and barking at me and i can tell she's being mean not just playing rough...her eyes change and she's evil"

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

This is exactly what you said:

"she's being mean and she's growling and barking at me and i can tell she's being mean not just playing rough...her eyes change and she's evil"

sorry, my mistake, it was one of those i didn't mean it how i typed it situations, i really did mean that her eyes turned evil looking, not that my pup was actually evil...it just didn't come out that way in typing...sorry again, my mistake

it's all better anyways, i've learned the calm assertiveness i was lacking