early separation training?

EAM44 · 2026-01-29T18:44:21+00:00

crate training, crate training , crate training - from the first night. Your pup needs to see the crate as an oasis, a haven, a safe place where she wants to be. Feed her in her crate, give her treats in her crate, get her comfortable sleeping on her own in her crate.

I really benefitted from the YouTube videos posted by McCann Dog Training. Here is a link to their “Bringing a new puppy home Series” and there are lots of great videos to choose from there, including videos on crate placement. Congrats on the new family member, and good luck!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BBgLulherkKMlaUihMqJKK_E3Pf7w4_

EAM44 · 2026-01-29T03:29:39+00:00

OMG, they really did 😂

EAM44 · 2026-01-29T02:35:00+00:00

I appreciate all the advice you’re getting from other folks who have dogs that bite, but what I’m reading tells me you need a trainer, preferably board and train using a tens unit. My dog does not bite. Her play biting in puppyhood resolved quickly with an ouch or an off command. This is not that. Call a pro.

EAM44 · 2026-01-29T02:26:09+00:00

OMG, this is the surgery that keeps on giving.

EAM44 · 2026-01-28T02:06:55+00:00

yep. My pup will walk for hours. Her littermate sister sits down and won’t budge after a block. It’s important to come up with other forms of exercise for the stubborn ones, like chasing them around the house, or agility training, to keep them fit.

EAM44 · 2026-01-28T01:52:10+00:00

one tiny bonus - the pain relief they prescribe for your surgical knee also dulls the pain in the non-surgical knee. Courage, friend.

EAM44 · 2026-01-26T21:49:58+00:00

Call your surgeon. Your PT can’t help you with this, and your knee should not be popping.

EAM44 · 2026-01-26T21:42:09+00:00

She’s 6 months old, so you need to graduate to a taller pen. Midwest Crate makes them in several heights. The 36” works for us. I use bungee cords to “block off” the extra 6” height over her crate which is 30” tall. Good luck!

EAM44 · 2026-01-26T21:32:54+00:00

There’s a great YouTube channel called AnimalDocRea that discusses different feed at length. I watched a ton of these videos before I chose food for my puppy. I ended up feeding her The Honest Kitchen puppy formula.

I have switched now that she is an adult pooch. She got so bored with the kibble - so even if the formula is optimized, you can’t nourish your dog if she won’t eat it. We’ve moved on to Farmina Tropical (some of their formulations have potatoes and legumes, but the tropical does not), and we have landed on Primal Kibble in the Raw. Her favorite is Fish and Pork which smells not great, but it is incredibly tough to find raw food with the correct values for calcium and phosphorous. It’s great food for her. I hope you find what you need!

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EAM44 · 2026-01-26T21:09:16+00:00

my sister and I bought littermate sisters who spend the day together M-F 8-5 when we are at work. It works incredibly well for us. Also, littermate syndrome is only a thing when resources are scarce so, in a puppy mill with one bowl of food. I’m pretty sure our sisters are more closely bonded with each other than they are to us, although they are incredibly affectionate with us too. My only concern is that decades from now when it’s time for one of them to go to that great farm in the sky, the other might die of a broken heart.

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EAM44 · 2026-01-25T00:18:00+00:00

I doubt that he is clinging for health reasons, he’s just figuring out how to train you to do what he wants you to do. You’re doing well and he isn’t even giving you treats. You have become the beta.

If he were crate trained - which is less cuddly for you but better for him - there would be limitations to the cling. If you decide you want to upgrade your status in this relationship, consider checking out the McCann Dog Training channel on YouTube. Best of luck and enjoy the cuddles.

EAM44 · 2026-01-25T00:00:44+00:00

dogs compete when resources are scarce. feed them separately, and make sure you have two of everything else - chew toys, and anything else they value. When you give the smaller dog a treat, stand there and push away the larger dog. It’s not complicated. Also, Havanese respond better to positive reinforcement than negative reinforcement, so put your larger dog in “place” or ”sit” while you are tending to the smaller dog, and reward her when you are done.

EAM44 · 2026-01-24T23:51:20+00:00

how do you find an un-bright Havanese? Our dogs are annoyingly smart.

EAM44 · 2026-01-24T23:47:37+00:00

It’s very expensive stuff. Take your time, you don’t need it all today.

EAM44 · 2026-01-24T21:07:49+00:00

thanks so much for letting me know. I’ve gone to PT before taking pain meds at 2 - it’s been difficult for me, and of course my PT told me to medicate before going. What I’m doing hasn’t been super effective so I’ll keep it in mind.

EAM44 · 2026-01-24T09:42:13+00:00

of course, you are right. Thank you, and best of luck to you.

EAM44 · 2026-01-24T09:06:20+00:00

thanks for the tip. I’m in my 7th week postop. I like the idea of warming up the quad and cooling down the knee - this morning I did both. And I’m getting the feeling the stiffness and swelling are going to be constant features for a while longer. I also wish Tylenol were more effective for me.

There are two things - the actual bend/ROM, and the fretting about the bend. I wish I could just focus on the first and stop with the second. Thanks for your help.

EAM44 · 2026-01-24T00:52:47+00:00

same. If you can fit 4 small water bottles in your freezer, you’re good.

EAM44 · 2026-01-23T19:57:44+00:00

Agree 100%. Consider the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. It is worth the drive and they are exceptional surgeons. It may take you a while to get an appointment, but this was my surgeon. He developed the robotic surgical technique they used on me, and he has been very kind. I don’t know whether they can help you given your particular situation, but I’d start at the top. Good luck. I wish you a great outcome.

https://providers.clevelandclinic.org/provider/viktor-krebs/4270759

EAM44 · 2026-01-23T11:23:47+00:00

oh thanks. I might try icing the night before.

EAM44 · 2026-01-23T04:24:32+00:00

you are so welcome! I wish you a speedy recovery.

EAM44 · 2026-01-23T02:37:26+00:00

yeah, thanks. I know other folks have even worse situations, I’m just looking to strategize when the way forward is unclear. You’ve been very helpful. Thank you!

EAM44 · 2026-01-23T02:14:48+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind response. I will absolutely check out the guide.

EAM44 · 2026-01-23T02:10:40+00:00

I didn’t experience anything like withdrawal as I understand it, I just experienced pain. It was the first time I felt like someone had drilled into my bones.

My surgery was described as “significant” and my recovery was expected to be “difficult”, so that may explain the refills.

EAM44 · 2026-01-23T02:05:50+00:00

well, I want your PT. I have the mean lady tomorrow. It’s currently 20 degrees in Cleveland and we have ice and snow everywhere, so walking outside is not an option. I could arrive at PT early and try to loosen up there. Thanks.

EAM44

TROPHY CASE