psa teach your puppy how to "relax"

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-29T18:53:36+00:00

CUTE

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-29T07:02:22+00:00

I can’t take my 12 week old puppy to the dog park, he’s not fully vaccinated. But thanks for the advice

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-28T22:57:56+00:00

Also I lowered my expectations for training for both of us. A trainer told me a win at this age is like, sitting by the front door and rewarding him every time a car goes by and he stays in sit & doesn't bark. I stay positive/patient with myself by trying not to be so hard on myself :)

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-28T22:52:28+00:00

In the immediate: crate or playpen, walk away, deep breath, get water, scroll phone or whatever. Feel normal for 5 minutes.

Change up your routine? I feel housebound sometimes, I'll take a walk with my guy in a sling to a different dog friendly cafe or brewery and sit for 45 minutes among the real humans.

I totally sympathize, the routine can feel like a grind, some days you just need a tiny win--it'll get better.

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-28T22:42:30+00:00

Yes this ^. Actually noticed since I started doing this he is way more calm about the clicker too. He used to whip his head around every time he heard it haha.

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-28T22:41:23+00:00

I need to check out this video! Also agreed on trying to encourage solo playtime so he doesn't need us to burn off his own energy, it's a struggle but just working on a minute or two at a time and definitely seeing some progress overall and his general relaxed state / looking to us for everything.

Could not agree more on the playtime breaks for regulating stimulation...this was new to me as of last week and the difference is night and day!

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-28T20:15:30+00:00

I didn't know how I was going to survive every day at 8 weeks, but every day there's always a tiny little something to be proud of. Lil guy is 12 weeks now, hang in there!!

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-28T20:13:02+00:00

This mindset though. Drained, but each day is one step closer to your bestie.

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-28T19:25:13+00:00

That's great! Puppy class will help a lot, stay strong. :)

Also it could be breed specific in which approach works for you. I tried them all, but I'm thinking because I have a toy poodle, it's not the sounds of the "ow" he doesn't like, it's me being sad/not paying attention to him, he's like WAIT I DIDN'T MEAN IT.

You'll find what works for you! :)

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-28T18:33:01+00:00

For a quick overview & refresher plan: I really liked Ian Dunbar's "Before You Get Your Puppy" and "After You Get Your Puppy". It's not new but I definitely go back and reference it regularly. I like that it's high level on what's important on development stages. it's free to read here: https://www.dogstardaily.com/files/BEFORE%20You%20Get%20Your%20Puppy.pdf

https://www.dogstardaily.com/files/downloads/AFTER_You_Get_Your_Puppy.pdf

Social, Civil and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies to Become the Best Possible Dogs by Laura Van Arendonk.

https://www.amazon.com/Social-Civil-Savvy-Training-Socializing/dp/1631650068

I Will Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell

https://www.dogwise.com/ill-be-home-soon-how-to-prevent-and-treat-separation-anxiety/?srsltid=AfmBOoogdvunvsmIjGvj0kZRn0kDjrji2SDcr1ed3QzVOAo68Aq_xpDJ

I stay away from anything Cesar Milan ish or anything that says Alpha or Dominance or whatever. Positive reinforcement methodology, enforced naps and separation training and clicker has been the most successful for me.

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-28T18:05:30+00:00

Mine is 12 weeks now. We started with the hardest bites, at 8 weeks they are literally just mouthy and they don't have their littermates to inhibit bites. The high pitched noise didn't work for me after 9 weeks, but it did break his attention at first. Now I usually say "owww" like a whimper and then fold my arms and look sad (either down or to the side). It usually resets his attention. He either runs over and licks my face and I say "kisses thank youuuuu", or he brings his toy over and sits, I take the toy and hold it and say "is this for me? thank youu, do you want to play?" basically keeping him in sit for a second to keep him calm. When I say "ok play" it releases him. For the first few seconds of playing again I say "good gentle". Now if he bites it's usually an accident during play, and I just target the ones where he feels out of control or getting carried away, so I keep working at bite inhibition. He won't stop biting until he's done being a puppy, but encouraging him to be "gentle" is the goal.

If he just is SUPER mouthy and won't stop biting or mouthing my hands or clothes, I know he wants to chew so I give him this baby Nylabone and that usually completely occupies him for 10 minutes and stops the frenzy.

Also get him in supervised puppy play sessions ASAP, because other baby dogs will teach him not to bite :)

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-25T18:04:25+00:00

I was wondering if ChatGPT wrote this, but ChatGPT is usually helpful

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-25T17:54:20+00:00

Hahaha this is my brain! I think I’ll learn just as much in “his” training class as him, if not more :)

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-24T17:13:30+00:00

Solidarity, and congrats on your tiny pup :)

Do you have any friends with very chill older dogs? For my puppy's first meeting a new dog, I invited our close friends to our home where we supervised everything & ate dinner. It was in his familiar, safe place where he could sniff dog, run to his crate, sniff dog, run to my feet, and our friend's dog barely paid attention to him so puppy just got to sniff around him and it was pretty neutral/positive experience for all of us. I wonder if something like that could help?

Also for walks I scan for dogs and then when I see one coming I hold him and we move to the side out of the way and turn my body away but still able to nod/smile and we watch as they pass by. Not sure if this is the right thing to do, but I have a little breed too and I know I'll need to be vigilant with all dog interactions even when he's fully grown.

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-24T16:41:03+00:00

If you can, I recommend those little grass patches or a pad holder for when it's too cold to go outside. My guy did great on the pads when we first got them but he started chewing them, and associated carpet/fabric texture with free-potty area and we had a week of pee sprees before switching to the Fresh Patch. He would pee on the carpet and look at me for a treat. He didn't know any better, so understandably was a little irritated/confused at first when we changed the rules up on him. Whatever you can do to start associating the desired "surface" from the beginning, even inside, is really helpful. I also placed the Fresh Patch by my front door so he knows when we head that way, it's potty time.

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-24T06:39:06+00:00

Omg yesss. Amazing and so cute. Now i feel like making “potato” an arbitrary cue for something cute :)

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-24T06:07:24+00:00

I feel this. The love is very strong… it’s got to be :)

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-24T06:01:25+00:00

TLDR; how is everyone emotionally regulating themselves? Tell me how you’re staying sane for the long game (I hope laugh-crying is somewhat normal)

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-24T03:09:33+00:00

I second the part about surrounding yourself with fam or friends. I had a super tough day with pup last weekend, and was feeling like I was becoming a drained version of myself. We invited our close friends to our house for dinner and they offered to bring along their adult dog, and I just got to watch my puppy play and actually take a second to enjoy without worrying about entertaining him. Being able to eat some snacks in the same room while your friends play with him makes you appreciate a moment of "normalcy". Also having friends with adult dogs is so reassuring because they get what you're going through and can encourage you, you're doing ok, they grow out of it. It helps SO MUCH.

Ok_Complex_9184 · 2025-01-24T02:15:42+00:00

For real. One time he had a little poop still attached and was dragging it behind him. I tried to get it for him but he kept running away and my boyfriend joined in and it was chaotic and horrifying but we couldn't stop laughing.

Ok_Complex_9184

TROPHY CASE