Luna Update!

[FunkyMunkie]

Good Morning everyone!

Just writing a update on Ms. Luna...

Well, we put her down in her area, which for now is the guest bathroom shower (which in an area measuring about 6 by 4 feet) at around 1am. She must've known it was bedtime because before long she began crying up a storm. I didn't understand that because the whole day when she would sleep, she wouldn't cry one bit! So, we pulled out the radio and left it at medium volume for her. She seemed to calm down after about 5-10 mins.

Luna was wonderful throughout the night! Not a peep! I woke up at 7:30am and found her quietly sitting on her puppy pillow, looking at me with her cute little eyes, as if wanting to play. I felt really bad that I left her in her area for about 6 1/2 hrs, considering that I've read that one should leave the pup enclosed for more than 6 hrs. So, I got her out and played with her for about an hour, hoping to tire her out and put her back to bed. Boy oh Boy was I WRONG! lol little Ms. Luna wanted more PLAY! She was crying her little heart out, once again, when I left her in her area.

I then brought her to my room and left her in her basket but she still wanted to play some more and even jumped out of her basket! I was then tempted to bring her in my bed with me, which I know is a big NO NO, but I just had TOO! And she fell right asleep.... Now she is back in her area taking another nap.

Her personality is so wonderful! Luna is so energetic at play time, and so, so cuddly when she's getting tired. I am so thankful that she isn't one bit nervous! She seems like she's going to be quite a piggy, she has been eating up her food every chance she gets! (which by the way is left 24 hrs until she gets a bit older, as instructed by the breeder)

Anyways, I'm sure you all know what it's like to have a puppy, but just thought of sharing my first night experience either way.

I do have a few questions, which with your help I could probably understand and become better at raising Luna.

1- Treats? Can Luna, who is just about 9 weeks old, already be given treats? Are their specific treats I should give? I'm not too sure on how the praising should be. So far, all we really do is pet her and praise her if she does something good.

2- Housetraining? We've had approximately 5 or 6 accidents in the house. Although her accidents are very minimal and easy to clean up, I want to know if I should startle her, by clapping or coin can, and take her to her wee wee pad as she is about to go potty. That is what the "Puppy for Dummies" book suggested but I am afraid she will get nervous or something...

3- Nap time? The breeder suggested that for everyone 1 hr of play time the puppy should be napping 3 hrs. What did you do with your dogs when it came to napping and play time hours? Is there specific schedule I should follow?

4- Sleeping through the night? What I did last night, leaving Luna by herself in her area to manage on her own, is that good or bad? Suggestions are highly needed in this area!!

Sorry for being a bit lengthy, but I really want to try my best and provide everything Luna needs, especially in the beginning. Thank you all for your help and support!

I hope your babies aren't misbehavin'!

[sngglz]

Hi I will try and help you with some of your questions.
1) I gave charlie pup pepperoni and puppy milk bones.He really likes them even when he was a puppy.
2) I did what your book said and Charlie has done great. He still has some accidents but once I fixed him and he got a little older he has done great.
3) I never really gave him naps. I worked so during the day he stayed in a crate and rested now he stays in my kitchen. I put up a baby gate and he has a little bed and a towel with toys on it. I alway leave food and water.
4) Now for the sleeping at night problem. I put charlie in a create and set it where he could see me and if he barked I had a squart bottle and would squart him. That teaching them not to wake you up. But the first week you may have to take them out and let them go to the bathroom. I would not let charlie sleep in the bed with me until he was one years old. They say it is not good to let them sleep before that.

I hope some of this helps other may have more ideas this is just some I learn and done.

[Higgin's Mom]

I'm smiling all over myself here..... Maggie getting her little hooks into ya! Those cute little eyes......

Our friend Bettyeanne, Toto's mom, says that Yorkies are "velcro dogs" and I agree with her 100%! They like to be WITH you, and you will soon have play areas throughout the house.

The treats we give our dogs were recommended by the vet when we got Higgins: They are the Lamb Jerky treats by Solid Gold. When they are babies, divide the treat into 4 little pieces and give her one little piece 3 or 4 times a day. These are all natural and VERY healthful for furbabies. They also help avoid any hypoglycemia problems. Both are dogs still LOVE them. Rewarding good behavior right from the beginning is a good thing (Oh Martha!).

It is just my opinion, but I think that startling a little baby at this age isn't the best approach to housebreaking. I just give LOTS of praise when they do it in the right places and quietly clean up the rest. YOU will be the one who is trained for awhile.....putting her on a pee pad regularly and particularly just after she wakes up.

Some puppies like to nap more than others. They are a lot like human babies....they will be playing like crazy and all of a sudden they just lie down and sleep! Higgins still takes morning and afternoon naps, just not as long as they used to be.

Sounds like you have a good start on Luna's sleep arrangements. However, Higgins has slept in bed with us right from the day we brought him home. So does Pogo. They are my footwarmers! And I love being awakened by the cutest little dog in the world licking my face and welcoming me to the new day.

So far, I think you're doing a GREAT JOB!!

[fasteddie]

Luna's doing great, housebreaking takes a bit of time and patience from both of you.

We gave our Yoda Pupperoni treats (just a little bit) when he would pee pee outside or listen to our commands. Heavy, heavy amount of praise when they do something right, and then a stern NO! when they don't.

[FunkyMunkie]

Thank you all very much for your generous help!! I already got her the Lamb Jerky treats and gave her a little when she came after being called, she loved them!

Going potty is obviously still not accomplished, but soon enough I hope I can teach her right. I'm still trying to understand her potty pattern.

Seems like Luna is getting even more comfortable with us... she has been so HYPER around here today. lol, We're so glad!

Well, today will be night #2... wish me luck! hehe

[FunkyMunkie]

Last night was such a different story! I think Luna is getting more comfortable and is starting to realize that we really love her. So, here I was at 2:15am, hearing Luna crying away. I got scared because she just wouldn't stop, and it was a much louder cry then I have heard from her.

I really didn't know what to do to calm her down, and I didn't know if just letting her cry was what I should have done. So, I took her out and she was of course all energetic! I decided to get her play pen and put it next to my bed to see if that would calm her down, but she just wanted to jump out of there. So I put her puppy pillow with my radio (which has a heartbeat sound option) under it because the one that comes with the pillow must be too low. Well wouldn't you know? Luna feel right asleep and didn't wake up for another 4 hours! I was really happy about that because I could finally sleep again, hehehe.

I'm not too good with understanding how Luna's sleeping pattern should be. Am I suppose to control her sleep intake? As in play with her an hour and then put her to bed for another 3 hrs (it's what the breeder said, but I'm not sure if it was literally or that strict)? Is that teaching her right? I really need suggestions, I am having the most trouble with this because when I put her back to nap she cries and cries... then seems to fall asleep within 10-20 mins. I am afraid that she falls asleep because she feels she has no other choice and is tried from all the crying. I don't want to send her mixed messages, so please help me here.

Thank you.

[Higgin's Mom]

Melissa, sweetie, you just relax and let Luna set her sleep/play schedule. Some puppies need a lot of sleep and they fall asleep most anywhere. Others don't seem to need as much sleep. Just see that she gets several really active periods of running and play each day, and make sure one of those is after supper, before bedtime so she'll sleep through the night.

I don't think you can "put them to bed". Just slow down the playing and cuddle her for a few minutes. Talk to her and maybe take the opportunity to brush her hair very softly. Then just let her fall asleep on your lap and/or then put her on her bed/pillow.

Your idea of putting her playpen next to your bed is a good one. And the pillow and radio are good, too. You might also want to put in a nice soft shirt that you have worn, so that your scent is in it. Just put on an old soft shirt that you no longer care that much about and wear it around the house for a few hours. That way, Luna will think she is cuddled up on you in her playpen.

[FunkyMunkie]

Thanks for your reply. I do need to relax because I didn't understand if what the breeder told me was literal or not. We've been taking it that way. We play with her for an hour and put her back in her area. Then we don't wake her up for another 3 hours, when she pretty much awake anyway.

[Maddie-Rudy-Mom]

They are so smart, they pretty much know how to control us Higgins mom is right they make there own schedule, but once you give in and let them sleep with you it's over, they will kock you down to get in the bed. My bed buddies or three dogs and I hate to admit it sometimes I have to go to the other bed because the are so spread out. In there bed they sleep all curled up in mine they sleep all streched out. What we will do for our furbabies..................Cindy

[Gypsy Rose]

The breeder was probably only giving you guidelines but in any case I found that the pups never read the same books and manuals as people do!! Certainly Gypsy Rose and baby Gizzie never did, they made up their own rules as they went along and I just let them do this!! After active play as long as there is a little bed they can call their own, they'll just "pass out" for as long as they need to, then it's "puddle time" then play time and the whole process starts all over again! With a bit of food and water thrown in for good measure! In a week, you'l wonder why you ever worried about Luna!! She is settling very well by the sounds of it!

[FunkyMunkie]

Haha, settling well is an understatement! She is doing so, so well!!

By the way, I've decided to changed from wee wee pads to the outdoors. It seems like less of a headache, and wouldn't you know, she got her first potty in the grass today! I was so excited for her! Kisses and praises all over!

However, I'm still trying to set the schedule for her since consistency is key. I'm not to sure how to follow the "give her food then take her potty" rule because I have food and water set out for her 24/7, until she gets older.

Luna has been following me everywhere I go in the house. I guess she knows who her mama is now, since I'm sort of always the one home. haha. It's so cute, if I'm walking there's my little shadow. If I decide to stop she'll wait sitting next to me. It's so funny.

She has been crying though when I take her to her area, I'm not sure how to get her to like it. I'm afraid she will always associate that area with being left alone and never want to go in there. Any tips?

[fasteddie]

Have you tried setting a few treats in her area? I don't quite know how Yoda got used to it, but he got used to his area when we leave him at home now. At first, he chewed up the wallpaper (about a foot's worth too!), but now he's calm and fine when he's home alone.

[FunkyMunkie]

Well, I finally got the crate in the mail today! So, I decided to finally put her in her permanent spot, which is the laundry room. What I have done is placed her crate with her blankies and puppy pillow inside, and I gated the laundry room door with a baby gate (that way she can roam around the room and have her crate area for sleep). I have left the crate door open and I placed 3 little pieces of treats inside (as fasteddie suggested). I let her wander on her own to find her treats, she found them, and now seems to be ok with her crate. Although I can hear her whimpering a bit from time to time, when I peep into the room she's usually looking at me from her crate on her puppy pillow.

I guess the puppy pillow is what's made this task a bit better! Thank God.

PS- does anyone use a playpen for their pups? I'm not sure how I can incorporate it for Luna. I thought I could use it as a play area for her when we're home that way she isn't running around the house, but she doesn't seem to like it too much. She gathers all her might and tries to jump out, lol.

[Higgin's Mom]

I think they need to be able to run around the house....or some big area.....several times a day. Enough to get them panting. This way they build good muscles to support those delicate bones. We play fetch for a total of about 4 hours every day with Higgins. He would play fetch/tug 24/7 if we would play with him!

I think your idea of letting her have the laundry room is great. And they really like their crates....security. But do let her run around the house, or most of it, when you are home. She'll be a happier puppy and sleep really well at night. Just my 2 cents though.

[RubyC]

Welcome to YT Melissa and Luna!!!
You sound just like me when I got my Cookie about 4 months ago. I didn't get much sleep the first week. I had her crate right next to my bed and boy did she cry, jump and whimper...she would cry herself to sleep at times and I felt horrible about it. What made it worse was she got sick (diarrhea) so I had to keep getting up to let her go and clean up!!! Well after she was well again I gave in and she's been sleeping in bed w/ me ever since. As soon as I let her sleep w/ me she just slept all night.
It sounds to me like you are doing a great job!!!! Don't worry Luna will let you know when she is sleepy or tired. Now that her pillow is in her crate she will soon make her way to her safe place to take her naps. I used to follow a similar guideline w/ Cookie, I still do when I am w/ her all day on weekends. I would let her play and play from the time she woke up (8 a.m.) until nap time at 10:30ish. Lunch is around noon or 1 followed by more play & another nap. Dinner is around 6 or 7, etc. So by the end of the night I play w/ her to tire her out but she seems to tire me out instead. LOL! Cookie is now 6 months and she really only eats twice a day w/ snacks (baby carrots or peeled green apple pieces) in the middle of the day if she won't eat her food at lunch time.
I have a similar set up so I would put her in her crate, leave the door open but just put a baby gate up in the doorway. After about 10 min. she would climb into bed and take her naps. If you have things to do around the house the best place for her is definitely her room w/ toys, water and dry food.
Are you giving your furbaby Nutrical? I'm sure you've heard of it...i still give it to Cookie about 1/2 an inch to an inch to make sure she doesn't get weak on me from playing soo much. They never tire of play!!!
Anyway sounds like your baby is attached already...keep us posted...

-RubyC