New Pet.. questions

We got a puppy yesterday. He is an older puppy 6.5 months. He is the sweetest thing, slept through the night and is asking to go out to pee/poop. Not one accident inside so far! (cross your fingers)

He is totally attaching to us and to my 3 year old. He is terrified though. He is much calmer today than yesterday (and he even livened up a bit) but, he still will only stay in the living room. He won't come in the kitchen. We actually got him in this morning but, my son got excited and stepped backwards and knocked into the easel sending the dog running.

So, my question is this.. how much should I push him to come into the kitchen/bedrooms/bathroom. We have an insanely small house so he has to leave the living room at some point! LOL. Right now, we are carrying him outside and he is heavy!! He LOVES outside (bassett hound and sniffing everything) and we have to carry him back in because he just loves it so much. He played with my son for over an hour outside. He is already in love with my son.. feeling is mutual.

I thought about all of us sitting on the kitchen floor and putting up a baby gate so he has to stay in there with us and showing him how nice it can be. Right now the food/water is on my living room carpet and that isn't going to fly!! Dh thinks it cruel to do that and that he will come in when he is ready.

2nd question... he is not eating... he refused everything yesterday, cheese, dog food (same stuff he has had all along) and treats. Today my son got him to eat a treat. (told you he loves my son). So then I place a treat in his bowl and he fished it out of the food and ate it. Now he is crying for more. I can't let him live on treats so I didn't give him anymore.. he cried. I sent dh to the store to get some of the dog gravy stuff to put in his food (just for now until he gets eating). Is this just nerves? It hasn't been 24 hours yet. I know my mom's dog goes on a hunger strike when she goes on vacation. I am thinking it's the same thing. We always have to cook for her dog or give him some of the gravy stuff in his food to get him eating. Any tips? Should I worry? I am glad he ate the treat today and is showing interest in more. He is drinking/peeing/pooping. Everything is normal and solid looking.
uPdate: we gave a tiny bit of the doggie gravy and he liked the bowl clean!! Yeah!!!!

Message edited 2/17/2013 1:51:04 PM.

Re: New Pet.. questions

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Bassett Hounds!!!! I have a bassett/bulldog mix and he also loves outside. If you have a fenced in yard, I would allow him to stay out as long as he wants. He'll come in when he's ready. As for the food, give him time put his dish where you want it then keep showing him where it is....he has to get hungry sometime. My guy will go days without eating and then eat well for a couple weeks, then cycle again... Lastly, enjoy the time when he wants to stay in the living room, very soon he'll get over his fear and be all up in your business! Bassets are known for having boundary issues! Haha!

Also maybe he needs a friend...where do you live?

Message edited 2/17/2013 3:50:23 PM.

Re: New Pet.. questions

New Pet.. questions

I'd give him some time to adjust and not try to push him.

The best thing you can do for any new dog is to keep him leashed when he is not in his crate. My trainers likes to do basically what they call the umbilical cord the first 2 weeks. If he is not in the crate then he is on the leash always supervised. So if you are in the kitchen, he is in the kitchen, you go to the bathroom, he goes to the bathroom. The first month is a huge adjustment for everyone. But this helps the bonding process and it will also set up good behavior for going in and out.

Re: New Pet.. questions