Puppy people! New mom needs help!

17 years ago

I have a new Sheltie puppy in my home. It's been more than 10 years since I did this and apparently, I've forgotten a LOT. As soon as I'm able to sleep again, I'll post some pictures of this most-adorable (but noisy) creature. She's seven weeks old and just came "home" on Friday morning. I thought seven weeks was young, but she was weaned.

The housebreaking is going very well. We're doing "crate training" and there have been NO accidents. She potties outside - faithfully - and even goes to the same area in the yard. I think she's a smart little dog. She's also learned how to "fetch" and she follows me around wherever I go.

I've already spent hours online, reading different advice from different sources, but I still have questions:

1) How big is a six-pound Sheltie's bladder? How long should a tiny dog like this be able to "hold it"? She's waking me up twice at night (2 am and 5 am) for pottying. I don't know if it's "Mom, I'm lonely" or "Mom, I gotta go" but she whimpers and begs and when we go outside, she potties immediately. But I'm *tired*.

2) Do puppies know when to stop eating? I put out dry kibble and she doesn't seem too interested, but then other times, she eats a lot. Do puppies have the sense to stop when they're full?

3) How much time should they sleep during the day? She spent four hours in our fenced-in yard chasing me and following me and playing with the neighbor's dog. FOUR hours. And the she took a 20-minute nap and was raring to go again. I thought puppies slept a LOT.

4) How much time should they be in the crate during the day? I just bought a puppy playpen (will be delivered soon) because I don't want to put her in the crate, too much! But when she's out, she's chewing on everything and anything. And yes, our floor is already *covered* with doggy chew toys. She prefers the woodwork, the rug, our shoes, my toes, etc., to her chew toys.

5) She's adorable and funny and silly and sweet, but I'd forgotten how intense puppyhood is. It's like having a new baby in the house! When do puppies stop trying to kill themselves in your house? When can you leave them alone in the house?

6) Whining. She whimpers and whines a LOT. If her people leave the room, she goes nuts with the whining. Is this just because she's still such a baby? She doesn't just whimper; she carries on as though someone is causing her great pain. As soon as her people appear, she's ecstatic. Is it possible to spoil a little puppy? She prefers to sleep in our lap but there are times when we need a little break.

I'll have more questions soon. I'm going to take a nap right now because the baby is sleeping. You know what they say...when the baby sleeps, the mom should sleep.

Thanks.

Rose

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Comments (20)

rosemaryt
Original Author
17 years ago
Photos of the little beastie girl.

Maybe she's whimpering so much because of her name. It's Theodora Duncan Doughnuts Thornton, or "Teddy", or (the hubby's preference): "Miss Tedd."

Puppy checks out Sampson, the neighbor dog, through the chain-link fence. Sampson looks unimpressed. Sampson is such a GOOD dog.
suzieque
17 years ago
Hi Rose - first of all, congratulations on your new addition! I'm looking forward to pictures.

Think regarding the whining and crying when people leave the room. Think of how her life has changed - - - one moment being with her mom an littermates and the next being with none of them and a person (or people?) she's just met. She is used to cuddling with Mommy and brothers and sisters constantly for 7 weeks. If you leave and she's all alone, that's a very big change and she is lonely and most likely frightened.

I am far from an expert, but I think that 7 weeks is too young; IMO, 8 weeks is the minimum. It goes beyond just being weaned. They still need time with their "dog family". But - you have her and I'm sure it'll work out fine. But you do have to be her substitute Mommy now. As she gets older she will have fewer of the baby-needs.

I don't think that going out at 2 AM and 5 AM is unreasonable. I think it's amazing that she is already letting you know! What a good little girl!

Again, congratulations. What's her name?

Suzieque
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suzieque
17 years ago
Oops = I was still typing while you were posting. She is adorable!
susan_on
17 years ago
She's just adorable!
solstice98
17 years ago
OMG - Teddy is the cutest puppy!!! I have two Shelties and don't think I could live without them. I know that sounds extreme but they are the most amazing dogs. One of mine is 11 and the other is 14 so it's been too long since I had a baby in the house.

Crate training is a wonderful decision and it will be good for all of you, including Miss Tedd.

7 weeks is pretty young - most people insist on keeping their puppies with mom until they are 10-12 weeks old, so you definitely have a baby on your hands. I would give in to pretty much anything right now and then in about 4 weeks start trying to lengthen the sleep time. Only give her a little water in the evening and that should help too. Not so little that she's thirsty, of course.
My dogs have always been fed twice a day and not left with food out so I can't advise you on that. If she can regulate her eating that would be great - I know some dogs can do it, but mine would eat whatever was there no matter how much! Little piglets!
Enjoy your puppy! You can sleep next month.

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mimi_boo
17 years ago
Congratulations! Callie says 'hi'! I'm a firm believer in crate training and I also feed her twice a day - not putting food out. Callie will wake me if she has to go but more often than not, I'm the one who is up and she automatically goes out at that time.
trinitytx
17 years ago
I too have a new pup, after almost 15 years of no puppy.
I forgot so much it was crazy, and am still having trouble with the potty training. It is really me, because this pup just hates to be scolded. It just breaks my heart, but I need to be a bit tougher with her.
She follows the lead of our other dog, which has been a great thing, but she really has not figured out how to alert me to her needs.
I don't crate, and may put in a doggy door soon.
In the mean time, think of me a 2 am and 4 am...I am awake with the animals too.

You have a cutie....hugs.

Trin
caflowerluver
17 years ago
That is one cute puppy! LOL I hope you a long and happy life together. It has been 26 years since I have had a puppy, so I can't give you any advice. I deliberately got an adult dog 6 years ago so I wouldn't go through all that you are going through now. Good luck.
Clare
redcurls
17 years ago
Love her....if I knew how to post a picture here, I'd put up one of my Sheltie....who my DH and I got for ourselves as Christmas present 10 years ago. Her name is Chia. They are very smart dogs, but usually have a bit of a mouth.....Love 'em, though....
alisande
17 years ago
Omigosh, how completely adorable! I find myself longing to experience puppy-smell . . . .
caroline94535
17 years ago
She's a sweetheart!

Young puppies of any size can't "hold it." Going out twice a night is what Harry did for about a year. The biggest goal in house training is to never give them an opportunity to go in the house. And remember, if they have an accident, it's the owners' fault, not the puppy's.

It's hard, but it won't take long.

I kept Harry's leash clipped to my belt and his collar. I set the timer; every 30 minutes, from morning to bed time, I picked him up, went outside, rushed to the far corner of the yard, set him down, and then wouldn't make eye contact or speak until he had gone potty.

Then I praised him, unhooked his leash, and we ran and froliced and played back to the house. Then he was again clipped to the short leash attached to me and we went back inside.

He was with me every step of the day. When I took a shower, I'd take him out before, then crate him, take a quick shower, dress, and take him back outside.

After two weeks of this I decided to test him. I unhooked the leash but never took my eyes off of him. He wandered to the door and looked at me expectantly. I opened the door, he ran to his corner and did a big boy peepee! After that he didin't have to be hooked to me. He 'got it', that fast.

He still spend nights in the crate, and had to go out 1-2 times a night, for several months. As soon as I'd hear him wake up, or whimper, I'd be up, scoop him up in my arms (so there couldn't be a mishap) and rushed him to the door. Too this day, he still potties in the far left corner of the yard. It sure makes the twice daily poo-patrol much easier.

Good luck with your little gal. It won't take long to train her. "Constance Vigilance" now will make a quick and sure completion to her house-manners lessons.

The night time outings will just have to be endured until her little body grows.

Doggie doors are great if you can install one.
loggerbaby123
17 years ago
oh my gosh! id give about anything to have another dog, unfortunately i wont be able to do that until next summer and then ill have 2. my buster (think of the commercial there may be bugs on some of youre mugs but theyre aint no bugs on me lol) i got him when he was 3 weeks old was potty trained in 2 days yes he was amazing for a runt, but god forbid for 8 years he was without me..omg hed howl scratch bite you name it he was up my butt 24/7 when i was cooking cleaning anything...i ended up keeping him in bed with me and my ex guess who had no bed lol ok so i have no good advice but he did go out a t least 3times in the middle of the night, ex hated i did it for him but hey when we gotta pisha we are a hop skip and a jump from a bathroom or the nearest bush right so they should have that priviledge too. have patience and dont be harsh or holler because they get scared a wee-wee anyway or they get happy roll on their backs and wee-wee because they miss you. lol jeeze fat lota good i did you huh? oh a ps..when they are puppies they will never sleep when you want to...welcome not to insanity but tons of puppy kisses and insomnia!!!
Pieonear
17 years ago
My best friend just bought a puppy to give her mom for Christmas. She told me that she read that for each month old add 1 and that is the amount of hours they should be able to hold it. For instance if your puppy is 2 months it should be able to hold on for 3 hours. I have no idea if this is right or not, but thought I'd throw it out there for what it's worth. You sure have a sweet little puppy. I hope you post pics as she grows.
minnie_tx
17 years ago
I love to watch Me or the Dog on Animal Planet channel Victoris from England shows just how to train them She is not working with puppies however but you can get a few ideas to use in the future. Your fur baby is so sweet and I too would love some of that puppy smell Just think how rich you'd be if myou could bottle it!!
chisue
17 years ago
She's BEAUTIFUL!

I wouldn't be feeding her kibble at such a young age, but ask your vet. She probably needs to eat four times a day. Does she have her first shots? Did you get her from a breeder? (I hope so, but doubt it as most don't place puppies this young. If you did, the breeder should be willing to help with any questions.)

When DH and I got our first Westie about 40 years ago we were given a good, hardcover book authored by a vet. It covered all the breeds; diets; characteristics; training; etc. I still refer to it now. We are on Westie #4. Get one.

You will want to start to establish 'routines' for a lifetime soon. Four hours is too much running around all at once, IMO. Get her used to the brush and comb soon -- this will become a daily event with a long-haired dog or you'll have hair all over the house and she will have painful tangles. She can get used to you cleaning her teeth, too -- with a rag or doggie toothbrush.

Shelties are sweet, intelligent dogs. Your girl needs the right nutrition and training now to grow up with good bones and a good attitude. Talk to a vet! Get a good book!

Good luck from Sue, 'Mom' of Charlie, Rosie, Pip and now Eliot (a puppy mill dog who came to us from Westie Rescue at 10 weeks and is now nine)
organic_donna
17 years ago
A puppy can hold it for one hour for every month of age. So 2 hours would be her max. Crating a dog is good for both the owner and the dog. It should be the dogs home and feel like a safe place for her to seek comfort. I'm not too sure about eating, talk to your vet about that.
Donna
rosemaryt
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for all your help. I really, really appreciate the responses! One last question: How long after you discover a poopy mess can the dog remember enough of the unpleasant affair to be told, "NO!"? Is it 10 seconds or 10 minutes?

Here's a new picture of Teddy "playing" with Thor, the largest cat in the 'hood.

And with Dad:
grammahony
17 years ago
I'd venture to say 10 second memory for a puppy. I'd take the puppy outside as soon as it eats, to go poopy. Then heap the praise on her.
Leslie
jannie
17 years ago
Congratulations. Your new baby is adorable. Definitely respond to those nightime requests to go out to potty. As shge gets older, I'm sure she'll sleep (hold it) through the night. Crates are great. My last two dogs used their crates as beds, places of shelter and comfort. It's not a "punishmment" to be locked in your crate, it's time to feel safe and take a nap. As I remember, puppies, indeed all dogs, seem to sleep a lot during the day. As yours gets bigger, assuming she has the run of the house, you will find she will pick her own favorite spots. Enjoy! And I love the photos-especiaaly the one with the cat!!!
chisue
17 years ago
As caroline said, the object is for the owner to PREVENT the dog from pooping indoors. Unless you catch her in the act, I don't think a scolding tone is helpful. And, if you can catch her in the act, you can catch her before she eliminates; pick her up; put her out.

We made a small, fenced and gated area with pea gravel just outside our back door; that was our dog's latrine. When we brought a dog home from the breeder we'd bring a little of the litter's poop and pee to put on the pea gravel. It tells the dog: This is THE place to go. Once the dog went, we took it out immediately and disposed of any poop in a small garbage can with lid and liner. (This is not an exercise area.) All our puppies were housebroken by 12 - 14 weeks of age.

Have you found a good vet? Had the dog checked? Do you have a record of shots and worming?

Puppy people! New mom needs help!

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rosemaryt
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