Puppy training questions

Our new puppy Remy is super sweet. She's very loving, but very needy and HATES to be alone. She also is still having accidents. She just turned 3 months, we've had her for the last month. She was 9.4lbs when we brought her home, she is now 14lbs.
So I have a few questions that maybe someone can help with.

1- she has serious separation anxiety. If we leave the house we put her in her crate. But she barks and makes a huge fuss the whole time I'm gone. I know because my tenant tells me. And it's not like she's left for long. Usually no more then 2-3 hours and not even every day. She will nap in her crate and sleeps there over night. So it's not that she hates the crate, she just hates when I leave. It is even so bad that in the morning we will walk her and then gate her in the kitchen to eat her breakfast so the kids leave her alone. If I go back to my room to watch the news or take a shower, she cries at the gate.

2- she isn't all that mouthy, as far as puppies go. But she is always grabbing my younger DS by his clothes. I know she just wants to play with him, but it's cheat she is trying to dominate him. I stop her and get in between them and she calmly sits down. But the second I walk away, she will try it again.

3- how long did it take to housebreak your dog? She is walked almost hourly and still has accidents. Yet she has no problem holding her bladder if she is in her crate. And she doesn't seem to realize she is doing something wrong because she will do it while I'm standing right there. If I catch her I say no and take her right outside. If o don't catch her I just clean up and move on. But either way, it doesn't seem to be getting that much better.

Re: Puppy training questions

My last dog had severe separation anxiety. I adopted her when she was around 2-3. It took a lot of work but we were able to manage it.

I don't know that I would stress out too much in your circumstance - she is just a puppy, and has only been in her new home for a month. She is used to being with a pack so she will need some time to adjust to her new surroundings and gain confidence.

One thing that really helped me and my dog was to go to obedience school and work hard on tricks/training. It was mentally stimulating for her so when I left her she was good and tired, and it also works wonders for her confidence. If you don't want to take her to school - just work on her basic commands - sit, stay, down, touch, etc. There are plenty of books and you tube videos. a few 5-10 minute sessions of training a day are all you need and it really helps with the dogs confidence and should make her feel more secure when home alone.

If you read books and such about SA they say to gradually build up the time your dog is left alone. Like leave her for 1 minute, then come back. Then 2, then 5, etc. This was impossible for me because I did have to work, etc, but I did this as much as I could when I was home or on the weekends. It really did help - I would give her a special treat she only got when she was left alone (she liked a kong with peanut butter), I would give it to her and walk out of the room for a few minutes, etc.

I think with a puppy it should be a lot easier - I have heard of puppies simply outgrowing it as they get used to their new environments. Its very stressful for sure.

Re: Puppy training questions

When I first got my dog he also had huge separation anxiety issues. I spoke to a few people about it and was able to curve it a lot (he still follows me around the house- 2 years later!) When you are home try putting her in her crate and walk away and continue locking her in the kitchen and walking away. If you continue to do this while you are home she is going to eventually learn to stop and it will curve her crying and barking when you actually leave. I know it is a little annoying to listen to her cry but if you let her out because she is crying she will think its positive behavior.

As for her accidents, try not to take her out so often because it teaches them that they do not have to hold it. She holds it in her crate because they don't like to go potty where they sleep. I would take her out approximately every 2.5-3 hours. If you catch her having an accident in the house say "NO" in a very stern voice while she is peeing. If you say it after she is done she will not associate it with the peeing. Dogs respond very well to word association so if she is told "NO" while she is actually in the middle of peeing she will learn that it is wrong.

Hope this helps!

Puppy training questions

I recommend taking her to puppy Kindergarten. They can help you with issues like this as well as basic training. Doggie U K9 Academy in Bay Shore is the best. I took my fur baby there for training years ago. We still go there today for agility. We've created an incredible bond from it as well.

Puppy training questions

I don't have any advice about the separation anxiety, but wanted to tell you don't get frustrated about the accidents. I have two dogs - one was basically instantly potty trained a week after we got him and never had accidents, one still had accidents until he was 6 months old. Just remember that even if it seems like they can and should hold it until you take them out, they're still puppies until a year old so simple things like playing can make them "forget" that they're supposed to go outside until they HAVE to go. Just keep taking her out frequently and even make her stop playing or relaxing to go outside.

As for the grabbing your DS's shirt, how old is your DS? Is he old enough to tell her no himself? She obviously sees you as a leader but it seems like she's exerting dominance over him - maybe because he's smaller, maybe because he doesn't discipline her, who knows. If he can, have him either stop and say "no" or make a high pitched yelping noise to her when she does it so she gets that he's in charge too.

Puppy training questions

I agree with the accidents with Mrsblt. This is a baby that's only 3 months old. You have to work with her and not expect a lot in the beginning. Please don't get mad at a "baby" as they are learning (not saying you do).

And puppy class is GREAT. They give you all sorts of tips and tricks to help train YOU to become a better puppy mommy and daddy. We did the one at Petsmart and it was great. They gave potty tips. Leave it and YES, "time out". I cant tell you how much my dog responds to time out.