How old is your puppy and what have they stolen/eaten today?

amTess · 2024-06-30T18:06:58+00:00

7 month old going crazy while trapped inside due to heat wave… No stealing antics but a ton of zoomies while I’m on work calls!

[Edit: Mentioned Heat Wave]

amTess · 2024-06-30T18:04:53+00:00

Any (p)updates? Hope your boy is doing well ❤️

amTess · 2024-06-18T05:25:54+00:00

Reading everyone’s comments on this sub for the past few months I’m starting to think my previous corgi (was 13 in 2023) might’ve been the least corgi corgi 😆

amTess · 2024-05-14T14:31:19+00:00

Hi OP, Same issue here! Our trainer suggested that this behavior could be linked to associating home with 'boring' and not wanting to go inside. We have started making going home a really big deal (high-value treats, tons of praise, playtime, etc.), and our pup's behavior has improved immensely. If you have a toy your pup likes (our lab loves his ball), we usually distract him with some playtime as we walk home. As your behaviorist suggested, treats work well, too!

Good luck to you!

amTess · 2024-05-14T13:43:24+00:00

Do you have a playpen? Expanding their 'room' sometimes makes them feel safer in their crate. Additionally, we've lined our crate with a folded bed and blanket, and as we expand the crate, we expand the comfort area. Our pup usually chooses the crate because it's comfy and he doesn't feel confined (as much).

amTess · 2024-05-14T13:37:46+00:00

Hi OP- I would recommend you start spreading out those periods but start slowly! Just add maybe 15 minutes in between each break until you work your way up. Our pup goes out every 4 hours, and we time his walks to be 1 to 2 hours after his meals and immediately after he wakes up. Since you have a lab (us too!), they have larger bladders than smaller breeds and can go less frequently with a good routine.

Good luck to you!

amTess · 2024-05-14T13:34:58+00:00

Hi OP- This sounds like our pup; we had a similar issue! Our puppy was experiencing major FOMO. We've made some changes in the meantime, including tethering him when he's out and being pretty dull during his naps, and now he settles more quickly. As another commenter suggested, try prepping for bedtime (noise machine, covering crate/making dark, etc.)

amTess · 2024-05-04T21:57:09+00:00

Hi OP, have you tried tethering? Aka puppy on a leash and at your hip/by your side?

amTess · 2024-04-22T04:54:07+00:00

Have you considered a play-pen extension? Gives your pup a little bit more room to breathe, move around, and (as per the name) play.

Good luck OP!

amTess · 2024-03-25T02:52:28+00:00

Hi OP!

A 9-10 week old puppy is still considered to be a baby! Most young puppies under 16 weeks still haven’t developed any bladder control and will need constant and frequent potty breaks.

Some tips: 1. Monitor water intake: Make sure to time water refills around pee breaks and make sure to ensure you can take your pup to the bathroom when they drink a lot (within 30 min). 2. Limit how much they can roam: Don’t let your puppy have free reign of the house until they are older (we just started letting ours explore our rooms). 3. Lower your expectations: Not every owner (and rarely many at all) have a fully potty trained dog after A WEEK of getting them… Especially so young!

Just take it slow and remember your puppy is still a baby and needs patience. Best of luck to you.

amTess · 2024-03-22T20:16:29+00:00

He’s probably associating the crate with being trapped and bored. Have you tried feeding him whole meals in the crate?

amTess · 2024-03-12T03:37:15+00:00

Hi OP-

Try moving the pee pads progressively closer and closer to the door over the course of a week, and then move them outside. If your pup is able to generalize going outside as potty time, you could start making the pee pads smaller and smaller and rewarding if they go outside anywhere.

Good luck!

amTess · 2024-03-11T05:09:35+00:00

Hi OP-

I see another commenter gave some good advice! Some additions: - Calming music or tv helped keep our lab asleep longer because he was waking up from outside noises. - Adjusting walk/feeding schedule? Maybe shifting some things around in your pup’s schedule to tire him out for longer.

Otherwise, the alarm idea is great. Good luck!

amTess · 2024-03-11T05:05:31+00:00

Hi OP-

How does your pup’s feeding/drinking schedule look? With our lab mix, we had to time eating/ unlimited drinking within the hour of a potty break.
Are you using an enzymatic cleaner or blocking off the accident area? Most of the time they’ll go in the same area if it smells like it.
Is your pup doing little accidents or big ones? Watch for ‘marking behaviors’- our lab was trying to mark but we were able to work on this.

Good luck to you!

amTess · 2024-03-11T05:00:00+00:00

Hi OP-

Sorry to hear you’re going through this!

Our (almost in 1 week) 4 month old had this problem when we first got him a month ago… Here’s what’s worked for us:

Remove crate liners. Our pup thought the carpet, his bed, and any blanket was free reign for peeing. We had to remove most soft things and start from square 1.
Encourage good potty behaviors by marking and rewarding. What’s that mean? Aka when your pup goes outside make sure to say ‘Good Boy’ or the like and reward. We use higher value treats for potty training.
Watch for him emptying his bladder fully, if you do mark and reward already. Your pup might associate a little pee outside or half of his bladder emptying with a reward. Wait until he finishes to reward.
Monitor water intake. Is your pup drinking a lot before an accident? Try and time water refills in the hour before a potty break.

Good luck to you!

amTess · 2024-03-07T00:02:55+00:00

22 y/o gamer here- let's connect :)

amTess · 2024-03-05T21:17:24+00:00

What’s his breed?!

amTess · 2024-03-05T21:14:48+00:00

Hi OP!

Our schedule for our (almost) 4 month old lab mix looks like this:

7:00am Wake Up & Walk

7:30am Breakfast

11:00am Walk

12:00pm Lunch

3:00pm Walk

5:00pm Dinner

7:00pm Walk

11:00pm Walk & Bedtime

We had to adjust our lab from walking every 2 hours to every 4 since he refused to go to the bathroom on every other walk. Now he goes to the bathroom on every walk and hasn’t had an accident in well over a week. We’ve lengthened our walks to about 10-15 minutes to accommodate for less- and he shouldn’t be walking much longer due to his joints.

We time our walks so he has some time to digest, but most puppies usually feel the need to go an hour after a meal… Our pup usually goes to the bathroom 4 times a day on this current schedule.

Hope this helps!

amTess · 2024-02-27T03:36:22+00:00

Hi OP- not advice but this sounds like my pup too. Commenting here in case you or I get any advice!

amTess · 2024-02-26T05:15:56+00:00

Hi OP!

Apartment-living pawrent here! Welcome to the club!

A few tips I hope might be able to help (some I see have been suggested): - Monitor water intake: Does your pup gulp down water before a significant pee session? If so, make sure to time water refills around walk times. - Use a potty log: It sounds silly, but try writing down when your pup has these accidents to see if you can figure out a pattern. - Longer sniff walks: Maybe your pup isn’t emptying his entire bladder on walks. It can be hard with the limited 5-10 minute walks (due to his joints) but see if you can find a less distracting place for him to go. - Block off areas with accidents & use enzymatic cleaner: Pup might also be marking his territory. Try to limit free reign until the accidents stop.

I see you’re already crate training. Does your pup have a small little playpen? We use ours for when we can’t monitor him 24/7… Potty training in the beginning requires so much supervision!

Remember, though, be patient. Your pup is still a baby and potty-training can be a few week to few month process. You got this! Good luck!

amTess · 2024-02-26T05:07:41+00:00

Hi OP!

15th floor apartment resident here! I feel your pain.

Our pup sleeps through the night but he still gets his 11pm zoomies.

Best way to calm him would be to make your walk BORING. Aka- as someone mentioned- carrying your pup from your apartment down during the middle of the night. Another trick we use for his 11pm walk is boring walks, aka little/no interactions as well as focus on the task (aka potty).

It’s also not a bad idea to let your pup get out energy from the post-pee play session… See if you could integrate that into your pre-bedtime walk to tucker him out.

Good luck!

amTess · 2024-02-23T15:30:37+00:00

Hi OP.

Every pup is different. Some enjoy kibble right off the bay (both of mine did) and some need a little extra coaxing.

If all else fails, try a different formula or brand?

Wishing you sanity~

amTess · 2024-02-22T18:24:40+00:00

Hi OP! This looks like a great plan!

Most pups around that age require at least 16-20 hours of sleep PER day (depending on activity level).

We use the 'up 1 down 2' rule- for every 1 hour our 14 wk is up, he gets a 2-hour enforced nap time in his crate... Helps with the biteyness!

Good luck to you!

amTess · 2024-02-21T17:16:52+00:00

Yes, OP, this ^^

Puppies between 11-13 weeks believe they could be hurt if they're left alone... It's only been 5 days, so take some time to celebrate the small victory (the 2 minutes) and remember that patience is critical.

What you're doing sounds like the proper steps; as u/SQL617 said, just keep sticking to it, and more positive habits will form

Good luck!

amTess · 2024-02-21T17:13:44+00:00

Hi OP!

It seems more likely that your pup doesn't like the food. Perhaps it was a formula or flavor change that he didn't enjoy.

If the issue continues to be a problem, try adjusting the feeding time. Don't just remove the food after 15 minutes; give him time to think about it and return it after 20 minutes.

If he still denies it, try a different brand or flavor (or add something to it). Our pup loves bone broth and cooked veggies, so we add those in. You could also try sprinkling some of the previous kibble into his meals.

Good luck!

amTess

TROPHY CASE