new baby...need a little help (little long)

[jillianszeus]

We just got Zeus 4 days ago, he is 8 weeks old. Things are going a little rough. I think he is starting to adjust to being away from his mommy, but we just need a little encouragement to get us through the first week or two. I know it will get better!!

During the day while we are at work he stays in our utility room which is between the kitchen and garage. We use a baby gate across the opening and leave the tv on during the day. My neice comes by to check on him during the day, and take him out and play, and feed him. I have already noticed that he does not like to go to the bathroom in his room, even as big as it is...which is good! So I am hoping that will help in the potty training process. I do have a question though...

At night he whines and whines and my husband is a big softy and cant stand for him to cry, so he lets him sleep with us in the bed. We also have a 9 month old daughter who ends up in our bed for half the night! So I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for how we can get through this because we don't really want to sleep with him....or let me know how long it took their puppy to adjust and not whine all night...

Ok one more question, We are feeding him 3 times a day, but I am just wondering, about water, do we leave that down all day, or only when he eats? I wouldn't want him to get dehydrated or anything.

 

[hanley]

Sounds like you have a bed full! My bed too is full,thats what happens when we let them sleep with us,my baby is now 80lbs & a bed hog,the only time he sleeps in the floor,is when he gets hot.Your pup need fresh fresh water down all day, not just with meals. Hang in there, it gets better & they get bigger! Hanley

 

[hanley]

Please make a post in the introduction first & read rules. Hanley

 

[DivaJ's. Mom]

It Gets Better

I was told when a puppy whines that it was hungry or cold when they're that young. My baby has slept with me since day one and she is now 55lbs and takes up the whole bed. But I love her so I endure her. But if you make him a really warm and cozy bed when you put him down at night he should be better. Try some heat and comfy bedding they like to be comfortable! And on the H2O they need fresh water all day. Let us know how you're progressing and if this helps.
Good Luck!

 

[Julie P.]

I think the best advice I can give is to read the book "The Dog listener” by Jan Fennell. Fennell wrote a “super bonus Dog Listener” book with two books in one. I have had several puppies in the past and felt it was so hard that I decided to get my babies when they were older...like a 1 1/2 years older. After reading this book, I no longer have the fear of puppy hood and totally understand what I was doing wrong and how to better deal with the puppy stage. The book is easy reading. If you decided to get it, I hope it helps. I learned about the book from a BW post. I check it out at the library first before I purchased it.

 

[jillianszeus]

thanks!

Thank you for all the suggestions and support! Zeus is doing pretty well I think. He has been doing ok about going to the bathroom outside, as long as its time for him to go. If he doesn't have to, he just sits at the door. I got him a Kong last night, and he played with it a little bit, I think once he gets the hang of it, and realizes there's more stuff inside, he will like it alot more. I am definitly going to check out that book, it sounds like it should help alot. And I have come to realize that its probably a good thing we have a king size bed, because it doesn't look like he's going to give up his spot!!

 

[shazza36]

Im not alone..

Oh Im sooo glad that there are other 'softies' like me who let our little angels sleep with us. I did try the sleep by himself and spent the 1st few nights on the sofa whilst he was in his bed, However i did give in and have taken him to my bed.

He sleeps lengthways and will always start at the bottom of the bed, but when the 'ALARM' goes off in the morning he's always right next to me on the next pillow'..As Ive been told he;s going to be a big dog, I do worry Im gonna get squashed out in a few months..However There is just me so no worries I spose.

I was feeling really guilty as it seems most of the BW members of got all their dogs well trained/crated..Im not so alone after all.

 

[jillianszeus]

Us softies!

That's funny! Yeah I can only image what it will be like in a couple months for us too. He is really good at night, he can even hold it all night without having to go to the bathroom.

We are thinking of getting some kind of chest or something to put at the end of our bed and make him a bed on top of it. We'll see how that goes!

Well good luck with yours! Just wait until he wants to share the coves with you!

 

[Scrapper's Mom]

You realize that once you let the dog sleep in your bed, that's HIS bed too... We started out with Scrapper letting him sleep on our bed only on Saturday nights. Hah! Now it's every night and I am used to sleeping in an uncomfortable curved position so he doesn't get disturbed.

I would leave the water out all day and let the puppy drink when he wants to. If you want to take it up several hours before he goes to bed to help prevent accidents, I think that would be okay, but otherwise, he should always have free access to clean water.

 

[Zebbie]

Be Strong . . .

Our first week with our 3 month old was also difficult! We put him in his crate at nights, and while he hated it at first, he walks right in it when its time to go to bed. What worked best of us was to use a spray bottle and every time he cried we squirted him. This lasted for about ahalf hour and he never cried again. Actually, we've found the spray bottle works for all disciplinary needs. Good luck!

P.S. We're softies too, in the mornings he gets to snuggle for a half hour and longer on the weekends. Its a good compromise.