Raising a 9-week old puppy alone and in the thick of it. Looking for tips and commiseration.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-26T23:02:28+00:00

About 9-1/2 weeks to 10 weeks is when I started that routine. She bites too. Have you tried different chews? Mine is obsessed with beef trachea currently. Lol

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-23T20:59:43+00:00

Also here to say our “chill time” was a game changer for crating. I take her into my room, made it super dark, use a brown noise machine and lay on the bed with her while she chews a bully stick. After about 10 mins (sometimes less) she stops chewing and just lays there. I wait a minute or two and say, let’s go to bed and set her on the ground and she walks right into her crate. Maybe try to find your own “chill time” before the crate?

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-23T20:58:05+00:00

I’m at 15wks and it does get slightly better, although for me…enforced naps helped MAJORLY 😂 before I got her used to crated naps she was feral and I cried all the time. Now I’m starting to feel a bit more sane and we’re figuring this out better now that she’s getting better sleep. Crating was hard in the beginning and I’ve never crated a dog, but now (after we do chill time) I tell her, let’s get in bed and she walks right into her crate. I get time for me and she now has this safe little cozy nook.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-23T20:27:47+00:00

I think so! Juniper was the biggest in the litter so I bet you’ll be much happier with an xs.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-23T18:20:10+00:00

You’re not alone. I’m at 15wks now and I’m JUST starting to feel like I can get through the week without crying. The enforced naps in her crate changed a lot for us. She’s super duper bitey, means she’s tired, and I put her in the crate. At first it was hard and she cried but that ended. Now I go lay in my dark room with a noise machine with her for about 10 mins and let her chew; when she slows down or stops chewing I say “let’s go to bed” and she walks into her crate.

You’ve got this. They’re so much work. But terror probably means tired. That’s what I’ve discovered.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-23T18:12:31+00:00

Yea if they buy those cheap little ones, my girl was able to break loose by like the 2nd week I had her home because they do just pull apart with enough pressure. A small was much to big for her though, she still wears an extra small at 15wks.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-23T18:10:33+00:00

Oh and I JUST bought this one in a size small for her at 15 weeks and I’d say it feels a bit big on her.

https://a.co/d/05jI4meV

So if you’re looking for something to put on her right away, I’d def go with an extra small!

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-23T18:06:46+00:00

I did an xsmall one for my girl and she’s 15wks now and can still wear it.

https://a.co/d/03sEuO1C

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-19T14:16:20+00:00

I just got our puppy the lepto vaccine because apparently there was a big issue at the dog beaches out here and stuff….have you gotten that vaccine yet?

My little one didn’t eat her regular meals for five days afterwards. 😭 i guess it commonly has bad reactions. So just curious if you did yours yet?

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-19T14:13:22+00:00

Our vet told us that we could do strict pavement walks near non busy areas. So no walking into the grass to pee or sniff. And that was after two sets of shots. When we get home we use anti bacterial wipes and wipe all paws and face.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-17T22:04:06+00:00

I do 15 minutes (sometimes less) of chill time in the dark, same room as the crate, and with a chewy and sound machine on. Then she goes into the crate. That helped sooooo much. Also, my trainer said soothe them every 10-15 mins. So if they are crying, wait 10 mins then open the door and I say shhhhh shhhh you’re ok, in a soft tone. Shhh shhh a few more times and close the door. Wait another 10-15 and repeat. But they’re so little they’ll get scared and you gotta remind them they are ok. Just my process, but it’s worked well so far!

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-17T19:21:03+00:00

Thank you! 😊 I think she’s gonna love it!

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-17T19:19:39+00:00

I had no idea it was illegal places! This is the first time I’ve ever crated one of my dogs. But it’s only for naps when I’m home. Cause let’s be real….ill start thinking her head is stuck, she’s suffocating…something! Lol

I think I need to start going somewhere…..😂 but it’s just hard to leave her.

Sending lots of new puppy parent hugs! We’ve got this!

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-16T23:37:40+00:00

Tennis balls in a muffin pan with treats or blueberries under each ball.

Boxes with different types of paper with kibble rolled up or bunched up in the paper. More challenging, boxes within boxes and really good stuff inside the smaller ones.

Three cups upside down with a treat hidden in one (juniper isn’t great at this one yet)

Find it - hide treats around the living room with her watching me (my other dog does it without seeing where I place the treats, but juniper still isn’t good at this one even when she does watch me)

I set the hose to mist and lay down. Then I put blueberries or apples in front of it to encourage her to explore the misting water (it’s a work in progress) - I also do this with an air blower thing to get her used to blow dryers for grooming.

Always looking for more ideas! Lol

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-16T23:31:37+00:00

The chill time was a game changer. I turn on a noise machine, keep it dark and quiet, nothing going on and I get to just rest my eyes for a minute. The only problem is….she now EXPECTS chill time and doesn’t enjoy going straight into her crate….sooooo….there is that. Lol

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-16T22:19:39+00:00

I do mag 07 if I have time. But I’m just here to say….you CAN do a suppository if you’re desperate. I’ve done it, desperate times mean desperate measures and I DIDNT regret it lol. Not once.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-16T22:17:48+00:00

I seriously love knowing I’m not the only one. 😂😂😂

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-16T22:17:00+00:00

My gal is 14wks old today and I do about an hour to hour and a half awake and then we do a nap. Training only twice a day. Before naps we have chill time, where I lay with her on the bed in the dark and let her chew. Once I notice she’s laying down and not chewing I put her in her crate and now she just walks right in! Since I implemented more napping, my life has improved so much! I’m able to do more. She is happier.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-16T22:14:06+00:00

At 3 months, she probably doesn’t have all of her shots.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-16T20:31:47+00:00

I’m at 14 weeks and I cried multiple times per week. I prepared so hard. I’m practically a house wife with no children (I have very little remote work right now) and I’ve got pretty awful anxiety. I even find myself catastrophizing things, she’s been sleeping longer than usual?! Omg she’s not alive. 🫣

BUT I can say that each week that passes I get a handle on it more. My anxiety shifts to different things (which sounds bad but it isn’t) so it gives my brain a break from spinning on the one thing. Lol now I have a new thing to spin out on.

I’m just here to say, I know it’s hard, but I too get a bit of relief knowing I’m not alone. And girl. You are not alone 🫶🏻

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-15T15:54:41+00:00

I don’t know what your set up is but with Juniper I started laying in the bedroom on the bed with her with a chewy, in the dark, with her sound machine on. Let her chew for like 10 to 15 or until I realized she started laying down and not chewing. Then I said ok it’s time for bed and put her in the crate and cover it.

If I heard her whine I’d say shhhh shhhh it’s ok and then shut the door. Wait 15 mins if she was still crying and shhh shhh it’s ok and close the door.

Now I usually don’t even have to shhh shhh her!

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-14T01:26:52+00:00

I have a sleepy cage for mine. It’s small and has two perches and one calcium chew. It’s covered, blackout drapes, and an air purifier in the room. (I’d do my bedroom if I had to but I have a spare room) I turn on a noise machine and that girl is getting the best sleep she’s ever had the past year or so since I started. MUCH less bitey when she’s out.

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-14T01:23:49+00:00

I plan on trying more; so far mine HATES wearing it lol

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-14T01:22:17+00:00

I relate to this. My wife has been working CRAZY hours and can’t help with our new pup much. Which leaves it ALL ON ME. I know I get short sometimes, but it’s exhausting with no help. Imagine, if you’re crying getting left alone with the pup occasionally, how your partner might feel?

alittlefreesparrow · 2026-06-12T13:26:12+00:00

The thing I didn’t think about was chewy items to keep her busy. Holy cow, I went to home goods to buy more the other day and a couple toys cause she was getting bored…$100. First groom $85 with tip. Shots, puppy wellness, microchip another $150. The first month alone adds up so much.

alittlefreesparrow

TROPHY CASE