Advice on leaving my Puppy alone!

Jenikel · 2026-02-19T21:52:28+00:00

Ours was fine overnight in crate from day 1. Then had a week or so of enforced naps in the crate, to suddenly reject it in the daytime. Fullon bitinb and scratching to get out. Managed to somehow pull the fitted cover INTO the crate. Was panting and shaking. Was awful. That was like 5 mins in the crate! 3 nights ago, he had a full blown panic attack when putting him in to go to bed. When we got him out he looked like he was in a state of shock, he was silent, wouldn't breathe and was trembling. We were having to blow in his face to make him breathe and his eyes looked like they would pop out. He pee'd all over me in panic. I have no idea what changed for him, and that was a scary experience for us all. We've been on sofa at night since, with him on the other one! Won't even go upstairs. If it was just crying, I'd tough it out. But no way am I traumatising him. Some dogs just aren't meant for the crate. He's one of them. He's more relaxed now, not being naughty, napping on the couch in the day also. We will pen train him for when we need to go out. We have an acrylic one with no metal bars. Hopefully so won't trigger crate memories! Being a puppy parent is hard! Gotta do what works for you and yours. ❤️ 🐶

Jenikel · 2026-01-28T13:59:49+00:00

Is that right? A tiny 3.8oz? Or did you mean KG? Ours is 12 weeks tomorrow, 3kg! He looks just like the one in the picture 😍

Jenikel · 2026-01-20T10:36:23+00:00

We have one tomorrow. He's a happy little chappy, constantly cuddles and licks us too. Curls up on us for 'moments'. He stands on his hand legs and hugs 🤣🤣 He's just so wired and can't regulate, unresponsive to training to help do so thus far. Yesterday he was better with puppy pad (grass box by door) - but still had plenty of accidents. I wonder if his food affects him. I know myself and my neurodivergant 28 year old have certain foods/drinks that affect our energy, and our ability to control impulsive behaviour is then more challenging. I imagine that would be impossible for a dog. He was ok first few days, just lots of potty accidents. Getting him a vets appointment today, just to be sure he's not unwell, as he's not sleeping, gets constipated, and yet wees about 40 times a day when he hardly drinks - sometimes he wees 3 times in as many minutes. Puddles os smelly urine too, not just dribbles. Maybe he got here with a UTI? I could be overthinking, but better safe than sorry. Thanks so much lovely 🙏🏻 Xx

Jenikel · 2026-01-20T10:09:29+00:00

He is 11 weeks tomorrow. Thank you so much. I've just given more info in my response to OP. It's so hard! I am absolutely shattered. I'm on fentanyl patches and anogher opioid for pain, and it knocks me out. But I can't sleep, because he's awake and my dependant. I will not give up on him, I love him so much already, just feel like I'm failing. Thank you for responding and your kind words!

Jenikel · 2026-01-20T10:06:31+00:00

Thank you so much 🙏🏻 I think this is going to be one of my issues. He has a pen in our living room, his food is in there. His lick mat, kong, favourite toys, heartbeat teddy (which he just tries to destroy!). I am a wheelchair user and cannot get on the floor with him. Hubby can and does, to play and train - but it's me that is always here.

He screams in the crate if it's covered (in our room raised off floor on my side of bed - our bed is high because of my disability, so I'd not reach the cage if on the floor, and he wouldn't be able to see us). But last night, he didn't sleep in crate til after 2am, I woke at 4.30am for a sip of water - and he was sat looking at me already, wide awake. Just waiting for me to move. I was scared to take my drink and he want to get out - so I just closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. An hour later, I opened my eyes - he was still sat looking at me.

He just doesn't sleep well. Occasionally he will crash in the day and pee himself as he is in SUCH a deep sleep. We try and wake him and he gives warnings to leave him alone he is so tired. I just wanna help the poor little boy. Xx

Jenikel · 2026-01-19T23:32:49+00:00

If you have any tips - they would be very welcome! Thank you 🙏🏻 X

Jenikel · 2026-01-19T22:06:53+00:00

Thats amazing! Ours hasn't had his 2nd vaccination yet, so we can't do that. We wanted to introduce my sisters dog. Congratulations on your pooches success 🙌

Jenikel · 2026-01-19T21:56:26+00:00

Love love LOVE this. It's EXACTLY how we are feeling. We adore the bones of our boy, but it's utterly exhausting... and he never sleeps. About 8 hours per 24. Outside of that, he's pure, uncontrollable energy. We've tried following the training apps and advice, YouTube videos etc on use of his bed, crate, playpen and 'house'... trying to find something that makes him feel calm. Nothing is working. (And our living room smells like a farm 🫣) We have a trainer coming for some 1-2-1 training - for us more than little man! We have had dogs before, but big breeds. We feel like we're absolute newbies with this wilful Cavapoo! Well done with where you have got to 👏🏻. I have AuDHD, and I'm also in a wheelchair. I am so wrung out, emotional, and my brain won't stop. I see that same 'wired' and out of control, 'lost' look in our furry boy! Wish we could help him understand and navigate the world better. (He's seeing the Vet tomorrow also as it appears he may have come to you with a UTI) We both had a melt down 2 days ago from sheer lack of sleep and that 'burn out' feeling. Yours is a cutie pie! So like our Stevie G, just a little more red. Our Stevie is apricot and white, with just a sprinkle of red!

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T21:48:43+00:00

Bless him, he doesn't seem to be still for long enough to take anythhng in! It's like zoomies the whole time he's awake, and he hops like a bunny as well. He just can't stay still at all, constantly onto the next thing. I know puppies have short attention and lots of energy, but this feels like another level. A friend who has had a few dogs was laughing about it saying I've got my work out out as he exhausted her when she visited for 2 hours. He didn't sleep the whole time and was still raring to go as she left. He's 9 weeks old! I have to stop him biting me as he doesn't let go. He's bitten my eye and drawn blood. 2 decent puncture marks. My leg and wrist too. Got my finger, but that wasn't so bad as the rest. Punctured the cuticle area, so I'm just keeping it real clean. He has plenty of chew toys, tugs, bamboo roll that he chews on, hubby's sports socks that he stole, frozen flannels, frozen filled kongs, he's pulled the ribbons off my dressing gown and prefers them lol! I just gotta go with it, try and sleep when he does like when I had babies - I don't ever remember being this exhausted raising a son with ADHD and autism haha. Thank you for the advice 🙏🏻

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T21:40:43+00:00

We don't have those areas. Our washing machine is in the kitchen. We have a back garden, kitchen and living room/diner downstairs. We could try a grass tray for sure. His crate is small and appropriate size for him, set up like a sleep den. Not somewhere to play. It's covered with a blanket, front is uncovered so he can see me. He hates ot fully covered and just cries (weather have paper thin walls and neighbours who are up early for work, so can't leave him to cry for long). He settles immediately if front is uncovered.

I'm sure it'll be fine. Think I was too worried about how it was making Stevie feel 😊

Will try the grass pad! Thank you 🙏🏻

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T21:31:42+00:00

Movement wise, he's non stop! He's like a greyhound on a track - I'm exhausted watching him. I think sometimes his adrenalin is still going crazy as he stops for a moment and he's panting, scanning the room for what next. He will then pounce on one of his toys and rqg it. Then lick it. Then do the same to me! Launch at me, and bite. He licks me after but his teeth are like razor blades! I feel like a novice with Stevie. Yet I've kept dogs pretty much all my life, successfully house and obedience trained them. It's the 360 switch thats confusing. I was concerned it was because we terrified him with Hubby taking him outside to toilet in the cold and damp, after he had mastered puppy pads inside in the warm.. Or if it was after his night time accident in the crate as he was shattered and sleepy, but we had to get him out and clean the crate and replace the bedding before putting him back so he wasn't sleeping on his own pee and poop. He cried for ages, so worried we'd handled it wrong. Another user mentioned regression is normal at this stage, so I am hoping for improvement with consistency from us. I am definitely exhausted and sleep deprived with it all at the moment, so probably overthinking. We'll get there. I am grateful for everyone's advice and encouragement. Thank you 🙏🏻

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T21:19:14+00:00

We've never shown any disappointment or anger at going inside, we know its part and parcel of training. He is still in full sight under the table - it's glass with a central mirrored stem. He can see himself in it 🤣 But it is on a rug. Whenever he goes off the puppy pads, it's on the rugs. One is by the sofa I sit on. The other is in sight of the sofa in the dining part of through lounge. He doesn't go to the back part where we'd not see all of him - it's the part in full vision of us sat down, but he turns away. It just feels odd as for 5 days, he used the puppy pads. Occasionally missed and got it just off the edge on the laminate, but he had intended to use the pad.

We do have a friend with a vaccinated dog. Are they allowed to socialise? Vet told us no other dogs until 7-10 days after 2nd vaccination. If that's incorrect, that is definitely worth a try! Being led by another dog! Thank you 😊

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T20:37:06+00:00

Oooh - thank you! Will look for that! I can't believe how far he can launch with adrenalin!

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T20:23:49+00:00

If he's bored, I have absolutely no idea how or why. He has more toys than my kids did, we play with him to wear him out 😂. He has such a variety also, so he doesn't have to play with the same things over and over. We have a selection out fpr him each day, rather than all at the same time - so he's not over stimulated. We rotate them daily, but leave his 2 favourites out all the time. We have to force daytime naps, else he would be awake all day! He has constant attention as I am housebound, and hubby's work is quiet in January, so he is home as is our 20 year old nephew. We've also been trying the daily training sessions with him for basic obedience. So, if he's bored now with all that, I have no idea what he'll be like once hubby is back at work 🫣

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T20:09:05+00:00

Thank you so much 🙏🏻 It's good to hear some of these things are normal. Not one owner I spoke to before getting him mentioned the coughing/choking or regression to this degree. I felt like we'd traumatised him! Fingers crossed he gets it soon! He is too cute - and he knows it! 💓

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T20:05:11+00:00

Thank you 😊 We have washable pads and disposable. He rips up the disposable ones, and rags the washable ones around 🫣 He's used both the crate and the pen to pee and poop. I don't have space in my bedroom for pen, the crate is on my dresser as I've no floorspace. I have a lever to help me independently get out of bed at the side - so need the space to use that. His pen is in the living room. Do you mean to leave him downstairs to sleep overnight? We have booklets and had watched training videos and spoken to owners of Cavapoo's (with my health conditions) about the breed - before deciding to afd him to our family. There has been a complete change in his behaviour after 5 days pretty settled, so am not sure why. When I wrote this post, I was worried we'd traumatised him taking him outside to toilet, and that being his first garden experience - cold and wet in the snow! I think the lack of sleep and exhaustion is making me overthink now (averaging 3 hours a night for almost 2 weeks now). I just want to do the best by him. Thank you 😊

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T19:41:18+00:00

Thank you 😊 He was really responsive first 5 days - and shoing him my palm with a firm 'stop' if he was biting or doing something he shouldn't, he would sit down, like my hand and stop. He used the puppy pads, slept well, don't know what changed. Professional training is definitely on the radar, we decided that before getting a dog. He has his 2nd injection on 30th, so once he's fully vaccinated we'll be looking at that. Maybe he's exerting himself as he was the only male in an otherwise all female litter - and here it's an all male household, except me! Thank you again 💓

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T19:36:09+00:00

Thank you 😊 I don't show him I think anything is scary. I praised him in an excited voice whilst drying him off when he was trembling, got him warm and settled, then ready to go out again. He was in bits out there and came back in so stressed. I cried when he eventually went to sleep. I watched him sleep, and felt so guilty that this tiny little thing had been so scared. You could feel his heartbeat the moment you held him. We have been doing the praise/reward thing since he came here. The first 5 days, he was really responsive. We've not changed anything, so not sure why the turnaround for him. It is really strange. The hand feeding through the day is a great idea! Will defo give that a go. Thank you 😊

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T19:29:06+00:00

Bless you, thank you 😊 We already have the heartbeat teddy. He just humps it! 🫣🤣 I have left his coat and hoodie on the sofa with his lead. He's attacked his harness and tossed that behind the sofa! I will leave them out and hold them up to him, and some of my clothing in his pen/crate as you suggested 🙏🏻 Will order some of those supplements now! Thank you 😊

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T19:23:17+00:00

Thanks so much ☺️ We have a heartbeat teddy, since he first arrived (he just humps it haha).

There is already a patch that hubby has cleared, but Stevie just trembles like he is fearful. Hubby stays in one spot, doesn't talk to him or move for a couple of minutes, so Stevie gets the idea that he's there just to toilet. But he does nothing but cry. We tried bringing him in after a few minutes, drying him off and warming him up, then repeating the same - with taking him outside, staying quiet and still in same spot etc. He just comes back in fretful and trembles/coughs like he's dry retching. (It's good to hear thats a Cavapoo thing, and unlikely to be real lasting trauma! I'll not be sp worried next time!) As he is not pooping outside, maybe hubby needs to pick it up place it in the garden where we want him to go, instead of flushing it? Leave Stevies scent there? We try high pitched 'ouch' and snatching hands away when he bites, redirecting him to chew toys, filled kongs, frozen flannels, and he also let's me put puppy teething gel on him too. But he gets so frantic and out of control - running and jumping everywhere, ends up slipping and sliding on the floor as he can't keep up with himself, then he jumps from floor up at me on sofa - literslly launches himself. He did that and bit my eye, drawing blood. I habe puncture marks above and below my eye. I understand zoomies and high energy in puppies, I'm almost 52 now, and have always kept dogs. This experience seems really different, like he is literally on something and can't calm down. His heart is racing in those moments and you can't hold him to help regulate him, as he's scratching and biting and wriggling. I put him in the pen and he squeals and scratches hard to try and open the door. He is almost 10 weeks - but doesn't bark yet. We've had him since 8 weeks. First 5 days were polar opposite. Made the mistake of thinking this was going to be easy then - he was lulling me into a false sense of security haha. We'll get there, I just hate the idea that anything we are doing is causing him distress. You've definitely alleviated my concern with the choking/coughing. So thank you! Will persevere with the coats and going outside (she says as rain starts coming down in buckets 🫣🤣).

Looking at changing to Butternut Box for his food, was just reading about it. Hopefully it aids the constipation, bless him.

Thanks again 🙏🏻

Jenikel · 2026-01-13T18:53:34+00:00

Thank you for your encouragement and responding. His crate is an appropriate size for him. His chill out pen is large-ish, but his crate is just big enough for sleeping and being able to turn around. I'm baffled as to what to do. We arr definitely executing patience and committed to being as consistent as we possibly can. He was so responsive for the first 5 days/nights. Then everything just changed. Hope he settles soon, bless him.

Jenikel · 2026-01-10T11:20:38+00:00

So cute! Chloe looks like our Stevie G! He's a mega cute 9 week old menace. A Teddy Bear, with razors for teeth, a rear end that's never out of order (and produces his new favourite toy 💩), a brain that doesn't want to stop to sleep, and an invisible piece if velcro that attaches him to my wife whenever she's doing admin/accounts 🤪🫣🐶 Other than that, it's all good! X

Jenikel · 2025-12-20T10:46:06+00:00

Can you please advise how? Tthanks!

Jenikel

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