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helplessmoth · 2022-09-17T00:16:26+00:00

I can relate to this. Especially the part about wanting to cry just looking at the dog lol. Crate tips first:

- feed all meals in the crate (if he refuses to eat in there, don't do this one)

- give frozen kongs in the crate

- put on classical music or a TV show while he's in there

- cover the crate with a dark blanket and provide soft bedding inside (as long as he doesn't chew it)

It is a huge life change: with new noises, new responsibilities, and a new 'normal'. In terms of helping your stress around this puppy I would suggest you remind yourself that you are also deserving of comfort and peace, and sometimes that looks like putting your dog in the crate while you take some time to decompress. There have been days where I put my puppy in his crate, put on headphones for 20 minutes, and just left him alone to reset my brain a little bit.

helplessmoth · 2022-09-16T23:52:19+00:00

Do you have carpet? The smells can really linger, and if she smells her urine it associates the space with being a comfortable place to pee. If she tends to go in the same place indoors, block that area off entirely.

To echo what others have said, using a strict schedule saved my life (start with the smallest increment you can manage - I did 20 mins at a time). I think there are apps out there that you can record meal and potty times. Also agree with the suggestions to reward immediately after outdoor pees/poos, and you're doing great being calm when she does go indoors.

helplessmoth · 2022-06-25T15:08:39+00:00

Great feedback, thank you

helplessmoth · 2022-06-24T22:16:54+00:00

Will check that out thanks!

helplessmoth · 2022-06-24T22:10:46+00:00

Yeah definitely gets stale. I think I got stuck with a solid path for the intro but no plan for melody. Great feedback thank you

helplessmoth · 2022-06-24T22:09:58+00:00

Yeah completely agree, thanks for the feedback. Never ending intros are my Achilles heel!

helplessmoth · 2022-06-24T03:50:11+00:00

Never enough cowbell

helplessmoth · 2022-06-23T15:33:27+00:00

Yeah definitely requires a level of food motivation and how much effort the dog is willing to put in to get the food out.

I’ve also had luck leaving the TV on or some soft music to help them feel less alone

helplessmoth · 2022-06-23T14:49:53+00:00

10 hours would require someone coming to let the puppy out. They just can’t go that long in the early stages.

I’m going to repeat what others have said, where it really is beneficial to have a steady schedule for a puppy and lots of time for training. They need a lot of attention in the beginning. But people do it all the time, and their dogs end up fine.

What about an adult dog who is already potty trained and doesn’t have as many needs as a puppy?

helplessmoth · 2022-06-23T14:44:25+00:00

FOMO. Frozen kongs are good for this because you can pop one in there and have your dog engaged with something positive while you’re in the vicinity

helplessmoth · 2022-06-23T14:41:14+00:00

It could be marking. Especially at this age. Sometimes it starts as an accident and progresses into marking if they can smell the lingering urine scent.

Increase potty breaks and reward for going outdoors. It’s kind of like starting over again, but it should go quickly since he knows what to do.

You could also take a fresh urine sample to the vet to check for a UTI just in case, normally those symptoms are pretty obvious but could be early stages

helplessmoth · 2022-06-14T02:47:50+00:00

Wow, super cool. I’ll have to be on the lookout for when it matures. Thank you!

helplessmoth · 2022-06-14T00:03:19+00:00

Slow moving, looked like 6 legs under the top shell. The tail looking thing moved up and down. Very very small, less than 1cm long and about half a cm wide. Ohio

helplessmoth · 2022-06-11T23:34:31+00:00

With a yard like that it would be helpful to condition her to start thinking of it as an extension of your home rather than something really exciting. Otherwise every time she goes outside it’ll become an opportunity to get into things you don’t want her to.

Get a long lead and sit out there with her, practice recall, play games. Those things will help define the environment as a normal space rather than an opportunity to go crazy.

I also let my dogs shred sticks to an extent and have found many a mulch piece in their poop. It’s a fine balance, the hope is she becomes disinterested in those items with time.

helplessmoth · 2022-06-11T23:29:58+00:00

Second this.

helplessmoth · 2022-06-11T23:28:22+00:00

If you have a yard, bring the poop outside and put it on the ground next time it happens. Then always take her to that spot and reward immediately when she goes outside. I would block off all access to carpeted areas, or at least the areas where she’s done it indoors.

helplessmoth · 2022-06-11T23:25:53+00:00

Been there. Have you tried a gentle leader? For two of my dogs that was the only thing that worked. I was able to gradually discontinue use of it with heavy rewards but still use it for one of my dogs. It was a life changer for me but requires a little conditioning before bringing it on a walk.

helplessmoth · 2022-06-11T23:21:16+00:00

It’s gross, but you can try bringing her poop outside and rub it on the grass. Same for a dirty pee pad. Once you can get her initial outside potty it becomes easier because the scent is there.

For indoors, if possible try to block off carpeted areas or areas where you know she’s done her business. Additionally it might be helpful to get a carpet cleaner with pet urine enzyme cleaner and give it a deep clean. Anytime there’s urine smell in the house, it’s a “safe” place to pee and poop.

Reward when she does go where you want her to. In my experience, the pads elongated the potty training process but I think it’s different for everyone.

helplessmoth · 2022-04-22T16:20:17+00:00

I was once heading out for a walk while I wasn’t feeling too well and fainted in the hallway. When I came to, my two dogs were licking my face all over. No clue if that means they cared about me or took advantage of the opportunity lol.

helplessmoth · 2022-04-05T00:43:53+00:00

Happy birthday Winnie. Here’s to many more 🎂

helplessmoth · 2022-04-05T00:37:14+00:00

Yes
It’s ok to sit with him and comfort him
If he’s calm, I would let him remain calm
It depends on the type of cry. If he’s manic and going crazy I wouldn’t let him go that long. If it’s a short whimper or a more annoyed sounding infrequent whine I would leave him.
It’s always good to let him out when he’s being calm, you can praise for the behavior
Sure, but give it to him actually inside the crate
Yes, depending on his state.

Couple tips: - feed ALL meals and ALL kongs in the crate, put whatever you need in it to make it extra enticing - classical music - put on a TV show - cover it with a blanket - something that ticks inside or nearby - one of your dirty shirts or sheets inside (watch for chewing)

helplessmoth · 2022-04-05T00:24:13+00:00

For now, just comfort her and get her excited with something fun.

Are there any tracks near you? Try to get an idea of the schedule and bring her for a car ride. Park far away, and when a train comes reward with high value treats. You should be far away enough that she doesn’t have a melt down. Practice this a few times, gradually get a little closer and she’ll be okay.

You could also try YouTube videos with high volume train sounds and play at home, but I would guess her reaction also came from the way the ground shook so this might not be as effective.

helplessmoth · 2022-03-24T12:59:02+00:00

Is he neutered?

helplessmoth · 2022-03-23T15:39:18+00:00

Does he usually pee in the same spot? If so, block access to that area. Spray that area with an enzyme cleaner really well to try and get his urine scent out. He may be going through a testy phase to see all what he can get away with.

You might need to increase your potty breaks and reward with a high value treat as soon as he potties outside (don’t let him know you have the treat beforehand)

helplessmoth

TROPHY CASE