New puppy, the first few days…

So it’s the third day in our puppy’s new home and be seems to be settling ok.
He’s turned into a bundle of energy now he’s happy with his new surroundings and goes from being off his head to sleeping baby within seconds at times lol

Anyways I thought I’d check in to get some top tips and a bit if advice to make sure where all on the right track.
He’ll be toileting in the garden eventually but for the first few days I’ve concentrated on getting him to go on newspaper in the kitchen which he’s managed prob 90% of the time which is awesome.
We’ll be using a crate for his den in the house and when where not here and have been slowly introducing him to that which is going well, no majors dramas so far.

The main thing in my mind at the mo is dealing sight he night time. First night was spent in the cage after he’d been introduced a good few times during the day. I put the cage in our bedroom to make things easier for him and set an alarm every 2 hours or so to toilet him. He did really well, no accident in bed and went on the paper as soon as I put him on it when I’d taken him to the kitchen. He went back to sleep every time but the 5.30 was a bit laboured and I slept on the floor so he could see me which settled him down and kept him happy and in there until 7.30

So last night was the second night. Left his cage down stairs in the back room where its going to be. He’d already had two or three one hour+ naps in there during the day. So I thought I’d sleep in the room with him to settle him down. This worked a charm. I set my alarm but during the night he whined every time he needed the toilet, woke me up and then I toilette him in the kitchen, back to bed, three no. 1’s and a no. 2, good stuff I thought.
All going well until we hit 5.30 and he’s going batty again. Whining clawing the cage etc, way to noisy to sleep, I try to ignore him for a bit but he’s not for chilling out. So I go to the cage, wait for him to settle then give him a fuss, wrap him up and leave him again. 5 mins later same story. By 6 I except its a lost cause for now and we get up.

So my main concerns are…

1. What’s the best way of making sure he gets up when I say its time to get up, not him.

2. What the best transition to get him to be sleeping on his own down stairs. I’m happy to sleep in the front room for a bit if need be so I’m close by but not in the same room but don’t want him to get dependant on being there to deal with his every whim.

Say hello to Bobby everyone!!

Awwww puppy!

Awww.

Oh, did you ask something?

Awww, puppy! 😀

I try to ignore him for a bit but he’s not for chilling out. So I go to the cage, wait for him to settle then give him a fuss, wrap him up and leave him again. 5 mins later same story. By 6 I except its a lost cause for now and we get up.

Ignore him (its not easy) but at the moment your rewarding his crying and so he is controlling you not the other way round.

Just leave him downstairs on his own. He might make a bit of noise for a few nights but he’ll get used to it. I think you’re trying a bit too hard, let him get on with it.
Plenty of stuff for him to chew so he won’t get bored!
Looks lovely 🙂

What Muke said. Sounds like you’ve got further than this, but we started with the crate in the bedroom, then gradually moved it further away… landing, top of stairs, bottom of stairs, then downstairs. Worked ok.
Dog (now aged 5) still yaps to wake my wife up at 6am now though, but I reckon that’s cos I’m not there anymore.

Firstly I would say don’t sleep near him. He will quickly get used to you being there. YOu really need to ignore him. Unfortunately puppies will wake at stupid o’clock and it could be 6 months before you get a full nights sleep.

For my dog I used a pen with training mats at the furthest part to the cage. She soon learnt to use them. I also trained her during the day to go outside. After every meal and sleep I would take her outside and use an associated word for when she had a wee or poo.

He’s very cute!

dont let him sleep in your room, if he’s whining ignore it, only let him out the crate when he’s stopped whining and fighting for your attention…. even if it means sitting silently near the crate checking your phone or something whilst you wait, he needs to understand that acting like that wont make you appear to let him out.

if you can get on top of the early stages of separation anxiety at this stage he’ll be awesome with the crate as he gets older 🙂

Our monster is now 3 months (plus another of 7 years).

Just stick the crate downstairs. Get some earplugs. 2-3 nights and it’ll be fine. No need to let it out during the night. Didn’t with either of ours without a single incident.

Early starts. Older dog when a puppy had to be dragged out of bed or would happily snooze until mid-day. Current one gets up at 6:30. We get up at 6:30. Looking forward to BST. If it was earlier we’d be using the earplug approach.

Obligatory picture of the monster:

I would let him sleep in the bed so he’s not all lonely without his mum and put some paper out on the landing for his mess for now but then I’m not some kind of inhuman monster like you. Give it a week or so then start all that training business for goodness sake, look at him, bless. Crate training is equally horrible if you ask me, never did it with either of mine, sounds a bit “kennel club”. If you wanted convenience a puppy was prolly not the way to go.

old fashioned tick tock clock and a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket

After almost breaking me in the first 3 nights, with our pup sleeping in her cage in the bedroom I put her in the kitchen with the cage open and fitted a baby gate (we’re semi open plan) to keep her limited to the lino. Left paper out away from her cage and let her do her business whenever she felt the need and we never looked back.

Pretty much full nights sleep ever since and pup never soiled her crate.

J

You sleep in the kitchen and let the dong ahve the bedroom, problem solved!

Seriously though you have to just ignore the whining and barking at night it does stop although it can take a week or more, just tough it out. It is better for you and the dog in the long run. Try to stick to the same routine as much as possible this is what they prefer. And dont shout and make a fuss over the barking as this negative response has the same effect of making your puppy into a needy and insecure dog!

Do give lots of fuss and praise when he has been quiet and settled.

nice pic.

Cheers guys, really appreciate the input.
I might just leave him in the cage downstairs then and but a training pad at the side of his cage, he good at going on it anyways. Think ill still get up a couple of times in the night to toilet him though for now so its not all to much to soon.

I would let him sleep in the bed so he’s not all lonely without his mum and put some paper out on the landing for his mess for now but then I’m not some kind of inhuman monster like you.

Your right I’m not trying hard enough, ill but some spikes in the cage and maybe plug one side into the mains.

On a more serious note that’s top advice from FFEJ. Don’t lock him away in a crate that’s just not good and there is no need.

Also you might find the absorbent mats you can buy less hassle and more sanitary than newspaper.

Pups are great! Not without challenges (I wasn’t fan of the razor sharp teeth phase) but stick with it.
Then..
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Ffej sounds like a good plan. Why people close the cage is beyond me…. Dogs will not want to sleep anywhere near their wee/poo, let them out.
We just put ours out in the stable at night from day one and never had a problem. In fact the current dog can’t wait to go to bed – at 10:00 every night she comes to me with a slipper/teddy ready to go! (I may cover her with a blanket if its chilly though!)

go to boots and buy a job lot of ear plugs.
put cage down stairs.
put blanket over cage so he/she feels enclosed.
kick him outside for a wee/poo
stick him in cage.
go to bed
place earplugs in ears of all occupants of the house who get woken up by very cute puppy.
go to sleep.
wake up in morning and go down stairs.
DO NOT acknowledge the excitement.
open back door
open cage
boot very cute puppy outside telling him/her to have a wee/poo
make huge fuss when they do
continue with your day.
worked a charm for us and our springer. and my mum and hers. and my aunty and all her dogs. and most of my friends who tried it.
the important thing is not making a fuss of them when you are trying to gain control over a given situation. middle of the night, returning from being out etc. ignor them until they calm down then fuss them. if you fuss them straight away they take tat as being the acceptable greeting. if you ignore them until they are calm then they will stay calm so you fuss them. you may want to go down in the middle of the night to let them out for a wee/poo as their bladder/bowel control isnt that great when they are tiny. do not make a fuss just open the door and boot them outside. dont deliberately let them do their business in the house. straight outside. they learn quicker that way.

shutting the cage helps them to learn to hold in what ever they need to do as they dont want to mess their bed. not sayings its fool proof but thats the theory and it worked for us. 🙂

where are you based? any thoughts on what sort of training you’ll do with him?

he’s gorgeous by the way

I put her in the kitchen with the cage open and fitted a baby gate

Same approach as me. Hated the thought of locking her in a cage! She now just has her basket and has the full run of the Kitchen and hall and is always the last one up.
Dottie the day we got her.

Dottie age 2.

our springer had no issues clearing a baby gate at about 10 weeks. 😕

Really cute Pup, when we went to Puppy training classes with our Pup the trainer said Dogs only really respond to two things. Food and sex.

Always carry treats with you when you are near him and every time he does something you approve of give him a treat and over praise her, but it must only happen on the event as Dogs cant reflect on past events. Never shout only treat. Get signed up to some Puppy training classes which were really helpful, if not just for the training but also the socialising with other dogs.

Spent alot of time with our Collie when she was a Pup but it was so worth it 2 years later we have no probs at all.

We had problems with ours, border collie, first year was him barking me awake at 5am every day. After a year we had him neutered, he wore the cone of shame, barked once at 5am,must have been like being in a megaphone, has never done it since

Disclaimer, I think it was a year but don’t quote me, it was a blur of no sleep

go to boots and buy a job lot of ear plugs.
put cage down stairs.
put blanket over cage so he/she feels enclosed.
kick him outside for a wee/poo
stick him in cage.
go to bed
place earplugs in ears of all occupants of the house who get woken up by very cute puppy.
go to sleep.
wake up in morning and go down stairs.
DO NOT acknowledge the excitement.
open back door
open cage
boot very cute puppy outside telling him/her to have a wee/poo
make huge fuss when they do
continue with your day.
worked a charm for us and our springer. and my mum and hers. and my aunty and all her dogs. and most of my friends who tried it.
the important thing is not making a fuss of them when you are trying to gain control over a given situation. middle of the night, returning from being out etc. ignor them until they calm down then fuss them. if you fuss them straight away they take tat as being the acceptable greeting. if you ignore them until they are calm then they will stay calm so you fuss them. you may want to go down in the middle of the night to let them out for a wee/poo as their bladder/bowel control isnt that great when they are tiny. do not make a fuss just open the door and boot them outside. dont deliberately let them do their business in the house. straight outside. they learn quicker that way.
shutting the cage helps them to learn to hold in what ever they need to do as they dont want to mess their bed. not sayings its fool proof but thats the theory and it worked for us.

+1 good advice sir. Very cute puppy btw 😀

Right cheers for info everyone. Pretty much what I was thinking but I think I’d been a bit over the top with the small bladder front. Had though about getting a playpen so will go down this route and have it attached to the cage with it left open. He’s so good on the paper anyway it makes sense at this stage (7 weeks) of night weeing. Ill introduce him to the garden this afto and start taking him out for a wee. It was snowing yesterday and I felt a bit tight! Lol

Phil Im Stockport way, right in the edge of the peak so plenty of fun near by for him.
Was going to do the puppy training as soon as I can.

Great thread, we’re going through the exact same phase as you Gravitysucks, our springer is 8 weeks and we only got he on Friday.
She is great during the day, no hassles with peeing in the house, she now tells us when she needs by going to the door. I’m currently off work after having an arthroscopy last week so getting to spend plenty of time with her.
Night time is different, i followed the above advice and put her outside for the bog, the fired her into the cage for the night at 11pm. First night very little crying and a dry bed @ 6am when i got up, second night the same, little crying but an accident, last night the same as night 2! So i’m thinking i will get up around 3am to let her out for the toilet as i’ve read how distressing it is for the pups to mess their own bed..
This is Sona; 8)

Like you, she is also a bundle of energy when she is awake, needle teeth but stunning nature with the kids. She got her first jag yesterday and was a star, but its going to be a long 3 weeks until she can get out and about..

This is her currently as i type..

second night the same, little crying but an accident, last night the same as night 2! So i’m thinking i will get up around 3am to let her out for the toilet as i’ve read how distressing it is for the pups to mess their own bed..

If she’s crying in the middle of the night, rather than just after you put her to bed then I’d definitely get up to let her out to the toilet, don’t say a word, go outside with her until she goes, then pop her back in the crate and go back upstairs. At that age being able to hold on all night would be a serious achievement.

shutting the cage helps them to learn to hold in what ever they need to do as they dont want to mess their bed.

Sorry but that’s just not possible at 8 weeks. It is wrong. Let him get out of the cage for a pee on some paper.
When he’s bigger you can try that method if you feel the need but not when it it’s impossible for him to comply.

Helios – Member

If she’s crying in the middle of the night, rather than just after you put her to bed then I’d definitely get up to let her out to the toilet, don’t say a word, go outside with her until she goes, then pop her back in the crate and go back upstairs. At that age being able to hold on all night would be a serious achievement.

We never heard her crying in the night, if i had i would have been up and let her out, but tonight i will wake at 3am and take her out for her own sanity..

I hate cages, what exactly is the point? Just seems really cold. This is a pup in it’s most natural environment, no cages required just a baby gate to keep him on the hard floor. I suppose we had the benefit of another dog to keep him company.

Puppy Thread!

This is Roger on his first day with us.

He’s bigger and bouncier now, and ACE.

Sorry but that’s just not possible at 8 weeks. It is wrong. Let him get out of the cage for a pee on some paper.

Worked 100% with both ours. I’d assumed it was the norm. It certainly is “possible”.

steviegil – Member

We never heard her crying in the night,

Ahh – I misunderstood then. Fair enough. We used to set alarms for the first couple of weeks, but he quickly got to the point of sleeping through from 11-6 without issue.

joolsburger – Member

I hate cages, what exactly is the point?

Well for us, we can’t keep him in the kitchen because it’s too small and freezing cold, so the only option is our open plan living room. I don’t agree with giving dogs the full run of the house (ours isn’t allowed upstairs) and certainly wouldn’t want him roaming around our entire lounge before he was toilet trained and over his chewing/teething stage. So a crate was the best option for us. It means we don’t set him up to fail. I know some people think they’re cruel – but I simply don’t agree.

5thElefant – Member

Sorry but that’s just not possible at 8 weeks. It is wrong. Let him get out of the cage for a pee on some paper.

Worked 100% with both ours. I’d assumed it was the norm. It certainly is “possible”.

I understand that puppy walkers for Guide Dogs are instructed to do exactly this – personally I’m too much of a wuss to feel happy forcing him to hold it all night long at such a young age so I got up twice a night to begin with… It didn’t last long and a few nights of disturbed sleep for me was worth it to think he was comfortable.

Yup, never used a cage here either..

Just left her downstairs with Eric, and she followed his lead.

Think we may have one accident, and that was it. We sent them outside last thing, and again first thing, and she soon learnt to use the garden..

Esme the first day we got her:

It is possible as I know a number of people, including myself who use the method who it has worked for. I only recal a couple of accidents and she soon got the hang of going outside. I’m not saying its the only method. Use whatever you are happy with. All I’m saying is it worked for myself and a number if friends and family. Feel free to use whatever method you feel happiest with. 🙂

Gotta agree with topper’s routine, and that’s the key, Routine! It took us nearly two weeks but then he gave up the fuss at night. As long as you know they are safe then never go back. Looking back it was only two weeks, oh! then the vet cut his knackers off and we had to do it all again!

Ah Springer pups – the cutest things in the world.

Mine sired 9 of them …
We had one of them but dad did not get on with Elvis pup at all …
Boy – they have very sharp teeth

Cheers for the info guys and pics, keep them coming!!

So I’ve taken a bit of advice and built him his own room. Like above we also have a small kitchen that is freezing so I nipped over to pets at home and bought a run. With a bit of ingenuity, a fair few cable grips, an old buckle belt and some lino I nicked from my mum its come together pretty well. This way he has a bit more room to play, chew, has a toilet area away from his cage / bed. I’ve took the door off the cage so he still has his den.

Ironically now he’s out in the garden he wee’d on the floor once or twice and just wants to eat grass!
One step forward, two steps back eh!

Open pen when we are about…

Closed pen for night time…

And one tired pup in his new bed for the front room after spending the afternoon pouncing on my feet as I tried to put it all together!

Don’t be too concerned about them eating grass (I’m not saying you are). Mine eats it all the time. Always has.

The Cockapoo puppy…aka the fluffy terror. I win cutest puppy award. 😈 Also, I taught her to sit, lie and roll on command at 12 weeks and she was fully house trained by 11 weeks. Epic dog. Next trick is to play dead when I make a finger gun and say “bang”.

Wet puppy!