honeysmum Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 I dont quite know where to begin as i have so many issues its just not funny. I brought home a puppy last saturday,having thought about it for quite a while,months in fact.I had a gorgeous old boy for 15 years (Oskar,a lab) and lost him 2 years ago,just after my daughter died. Well meaning friends put the idea in my head that a new puppy would be a great thing,but I have not felt able for it until recently.I bought honey from a pet shop,rescued her really, as I was chatting to one of the guys that worked there as I knew him from Uni.Anyway,he told me some terrible things about pet shop puppies,ie they had Honey from when she was 8 weeks old,so she has been living in a pet shop cage for the past nearly 2 months.They dont ever get out,only if a prospective buyer wants a look.They sleep,wee,eat and everything in this cage.Also honey was getting close to her "sell by" date,and so she faced an uncertain future.I felt like I couldnt leave here there as she is only a little scrap of a thing(Lhasa Apso) and felt that with my experience of Oskar, all would be well. Well,Im afraid poor old Honey lucked out in the bad owner stakes...she is so different from what i remember oskars puppyhood to be..She whines almost non stop,she seems oblivious to my attempts to house train her,she jumps at her own shadow,she is so very needy and needs to be around me all the time,whines if I dont constantly pet her and sook over her.She howls if i take her in the car,I have done it 5 times now, 5 minute trips,and she did it every time,I nearly had an accident. With the toilet training, I am at my wits end...Oskar trained himself almost.But this little one chews up the puppy training pads I put down, wees and poos everywhere but on paper,rund around my feet as Im walking to the point where I cant take a step without the risk of tripping,seems constantly demanding and no matter what I do, cuddles, playing,outside every half hour, etc etc I just cant seem to do anything to please her. The one bright spot has been that i put her bed in the laundry from minute one,she has toddled in there whenever she wants a sleep, and sleeps in there while Im at work without complaint(lady next door has been listening out,and there is no whining or crying.) I work in a school close by and so am home at 3pm, plus I dash home at lunchtime to let her out and have a play with her. She puts herself to bed in there of a night, and theres no problem at all. until this morning, when i took the day off to give the place a really good clean and try to create some sembleance of order in the chaos.I put on the washing machine,and closed the laundry door with honey in there so i could wash the floors.well she howled and so I put her in the garden instead.she howled out there too desperate to come in but i left her there for 30 mins so i could finish the floors. Since then, she wont go into her bed at all,but is napping on my feet if i sit long enough. I think this is the last straw,as I have probably traumatised her now or something.I am so at my wits end. I know its not her little fault,its mine, thinking I could do this. I guess its time to find her a better/more trained owner? Sorry for the epic essay, i could go on and on, but I will use up the eentire forum. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSDhandler Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 puppies do howl a lot, and sonce she is a petshop pup you took on a handful to start with. every dog is different (goes without saying, but i need to say it) so she will not be the same as oskar. my pup howled every time i put her hout, until i left her out there with her water bowl, a bit of kibble. and i went in to sort out sme chaos in my room. after about 30 minutes she stoped, so i let her back in. played and cuddled her, and just kept doing it. now she is ok by herself. as for house training, only persistance will do it. waht are you cleaning the floors with. anything with amonia in will encourage her to keep doing it. as for laundry, thats my pups place when we go out, so try and teach her during the time i am home that its a nice place. i feed her in there, and keep her water in there, with the door jamed open, and it seems she is getting a lot better with it. do try and stick with it. passing her onto someone else may be better or may be worse. as i said, she was a petshop dog, so after 2 months of having no human (or social at all) contact she will be a little sketchy. try and arange a few quiet playdates for her on weekends, to start socialising her. good luck ps sorry for my spelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honeysmum Posted September 11, 2008 Author Share Posted September 11, 2008 puppies do howl a lot, and sonce she is a petshop pup you took on a handful to start with.every dog is different (goes without saying, but i need to say it) so she will not be the same as oskar. my pup howled every time i put her hout, until i left her out there with her water bowl, a bit of kibble. and i went in to sort out sme chaos in my room. after about 30 minutes she stoped, so i let her back in. played and cuddled her, and just kept doing it. now she is ok by herself. as for house training, only persistance will do it. waht are you cleaning the floors with. anything with amonia in will encourage her to keep doing it. as for laundry, thats my pups place when we go out, so try and teach her during the time i am home that its a nice place. i feed her in there, and keep her water in there, with the door jamed open, and it seems she is getting a lot better with it. do try and stick with it. passing her onto someone else may be better or may be worse. as i said, she was a petshop dog, so after 2 months of having no human (or social at all) contact she will be a little sketchy. try and arange a few quiet playdates for her on weekends, to start socialising her. good luck ps sorry for my spelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honeysmum Posted September 11, 2008 Author Share Posted September 11, 2008 puppies do howl a lot, and sonce she is a petshop pup you took on a handful to start with.every dog is different (goes without saying, but i need to say it) so she will not be the same as oskar. my pup howled every time i put her hout, until i left her out there with her water bowl, a bit of kibble. and i went in to sort out sme chaos in my room. after about 30 minutes she stoped, so i let her back in. played and cuddled her, and just kept doing it. now she is ok by herself. as for house training, only persistance will do it. waht are you cleaning the floors with. anything with amonia in will encourage her to keep doing it. as for laundry, thats my pups place when we go out, so try and teach her during the time i am home that its a nice place. i feed her in there, and keep her water in there, with the door jamed open, and it seems she is getting a lot better with it. do try and stick with it. passing her onto someone else may be better or may be worse. as i said, she was a petshop dog, so after 2 months of having no human (or social at all) contact she will be a little sketchy. try and arange a few quiet playdates for her on weekends, to start socialising her. good luck ps sorry for my spelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Toileting training with a pup that has been in a pet store for two months will be difficult because she has had been 'trained' to toilet whenever, wherever, including in the area she sleeps and eats. You've only had her since saturday - so not even a week yet. You need to give her time when it comes to toilet training etc - comparing her to you old dog won't help because he was a pup almost twenty years ago :D When it comes to toilet training, do have an outside grassed area that you want her to go on? I would try to encourage her to toilet there more than anywhere else, and would leave paper out for her at night time. Watch her like a hawk and as soon as she goes to toilet inside, take her out to the grass and when she toilets there give her BIG praise. I would also read up about crate training. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 ahh the impulse buy. You bought it you need to train it. 1) set her in a routine and socialise her. No feeling sorry this puppy needs some major life lessons learned. If she whines or stresses ignore and guide her. 2) buy a crate and use it. She needs to feel secure and safe hence following you around. If you want her out of the way put her in a puppy pen with food, water, toys in visual range of you or put her to sleep in her crate. As for puppy pads you are probably better off with a large shallow cat litter box and enclosing her in a small area. Leave a tissue with some of her urine in there and the smell will attract her (breeders choice paper cat litter is the way to go, no clay or crystals) 3) She's whining in the car because she is not used to it so train her. Let her explore the car with you when it is in the driveway. Then feed her in there ... progress to turning the engine on and letting her play in there a little. Then go for a drive. A car is a novel concept to an unsocialised dog. 4) get her onto a good, colour/flavour free diet and feed her small meals. Royal Canin I love for the littlies and give her a chicken wing to play with in her pen. Dont free feed - she gets fed in her play pen/laundry/crate so they are good things 5) ignore her whining. If she's afraid dont sook and cuddle her she has to learn to cope. Pat her when she settles and relaxes, not while she 'eeeeer eeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeee eee" or you reward stressful behaviour. Yes its hard but you buy a petshop puppy who's lived in a box for the most critical period of its life and they have bad habits. Routine, firm but fair and guidence is all this puppy needs. Its only a confused baby dont put it in the too hard basket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honeysmum Posted September 11, 2008 Author Share Posted September 11, 2008 Thanks.I didnt know the story behind pet shop puppies,Oskar was from a breeder. I suppose I am perpetuating a bad thing by buying from there,but my heart went out to her and I couldnt leave her there.I have read copious stuff over the last few days but its all conflicting advice...my head is spinning! I think I have bitten off more than I can chew.I certainly dont want to add to Honeys troubles by not doing the right thing in dealing with her, I dont know how much love and attention is too much or not enough,I dont know how firm is too firm or not firm enough,Im exhausted and worried to the point of weepy.i truly dont know what to do.And I feel so very responsible for this little creature,i want to do the right thing by her. I had thought of puppy pre school in the vets,but they tell me she is too old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam&Saki Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 I'm sorry for your difficulties and that you've become so disheartened :D Some very good reasons here why to never ever get a pup from a pet shop! I don't think you're necessarily a bad owner, you've just bought a pup with some difficulties due to its time in the pet shop. I hope everyone here gives you some useful advice to help you overcome this stage and your pup grows into a calm, happy, healthy pet in time (but that you encourage others to never buy from a pet shop and don't fund that pet shop by buying your pup's supplies from there!) Good luck x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 calm down and read my post. firm means you dont stress, you dont make loud noises but you dont smack or hurt the dog. Seriously have a nonchalant attitude. You're whinging - eh get over it. I'm going to leave you till you do. Dont want that food - tough wait till the next meal when you're hungry enough to eat it. Every dog is different and you simply see what is working and what is not. Dont stress out - dogs live in the moment. If you mess up and create a bad habit you can literally change your method tomorrow and the dog will accept it. Everyone has made mistakes before so don't feel like you're the only person with a problem dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Oh,Dear---- first up- are you saying you locked pup in the laundry with the machine going??? :D Poor pup. The noise in a confined area would not have been good at all. No wonder she won't go back there- it was her 'safe' area- now it is not. Honey is institutionalised,and retarded in her devleopment. May I recommend you give us your location so someone can recommend a trainer/behaviourist for you? Very good advice can be obtained from forums like this- but 1:1 sessions with a professional are the best way to go,I think. One thing I will tell you- do NOT cuddle or 'comfort' Honey- this is ,in effect, praising her for being fearful/howling, etc. Give her HEAPS of quiet praise when she is being bold and settled .... It's hard to NOT comfort a tiny shivering thing- but dogs aren't human bubs, and it works differently Glad you have come here- you will get a lot of useful info with which to work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 (edited) 1. Take a few deep breaths 2. Have a stiff drink or a good cup of tea 3. Read everything you can on here and practice it. 4. If that doesn't work, summon a professional to your home. I'm sorry but if you paid money for the puppy from a pet shop you didn't "rescue" it. You've bought a dog out of pity - and you're one of many people who do it. But it's done now. It's time to suck it up and turn a puppy who's had a bad start in life into the adult dog she can be. All puppies, wee and poo everywhere, whine and make their owners wonder if they've lost their minds. You're starting further behind the 8 ball than most because your puppy has had its natural instinct NOT to wee or poo where she eats or sleeps eliminated by being forced to eat, sleep, play and eliminate in the one totally inadequate space. She's been stuck there through the most critical period of her life.. and now she's suffering for it. It's not insurmountable but it will take work. Work you can take very considerable pride in doing when that impulse buy becomes a dog you are proud to own. And no, please don't buy another pet shop puppy.. learn from this experience and tell others too. Edited September 11, 2008 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honeysmum Posted September 11, 2008 Author Share Posted September 11, 2008 Oh,Dear----first up- are you saying you locked pup in the laundry with the machine going??? :D Poor pup. The noise in a confined area would not have been good at all. No wonder she won't go back there- it was her 'safe' area- now it is not. Honey is institutionalised,and retarded in her devleopment. May I recommend you give us your location so someone can recommend a trainer/behaviourist for you? Very good advice can be obtained from forums like this- but 1:1 sessions with a professional are the best way to go,I think. One thing I will tell you- do NOT cuddle or 'comfort' Honey- this is ,in effect, praising her for being fearful/howling, etc. Give her HEAPS of quiet praise when she is being bold and settled .... It's hard to NOT comfort a tiny shivering thing- but dogs aren't human bubs, and it works differently Glad you have come here- you will get a lot of useful info with which to work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honeysmum Posted September 11, 2008 Author Share Posted September 11, 2008 Thanks to those people who are replying to me. What really worries me is that from what Ive taken in so far in all my reading is that you can destroy a puppy by not doing the right thing early on, and so maybe anything I do from now on will have no chance of working,if she has been kind of institutionalised for the past two months.I put on the washing machine etc,because I thought it would do her no harm to be getting used to these kinds of things,as her bed is in the laundry,she will have to get used to the washing machine.Shows what a goose I am.Im trying to do what I think is logical,but so much for that idea. To the person who suggested putting me onto a local trainer, thats an excellent idea. i live in Albion park, NSW if anyone knows of someone here who might be able to visit and help me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 What really worries me is that from what Ive taken in so far in all my reading is that you can destroy a puppy by not doing the right thing early on, and so maybe anything I do from now on will have no chance of working,if she has been kind of institutionalised for the past two months. She's not "destroyed" just developmentally slow. She CAN be a happy healthy dog. I have a friend who bought a pup in a similar situation to yours. She was successfully toilet trained and is obedience trained.. it just took more work than it might have done with a puppy from a better situation. I put on the washing machine etc,because I thought it would do her no harm to be getting used to these kinds of things,as her bed is in the laundry,she will have to get used to the washing machine. Good idea.. but locking her in with it wouldn't have been how I started.. at a distance with an opportunity to get away would be better. You "flooded" her.. and that's probably a bit full on for this pup.. baby steps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam&Saki Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 You are just overwhelmed at the moment, take it a step at a time and things will look brighter very soon, you'll see :D x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBL Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 I suggest getting her to a puppy school - you said you are in Albion Park - I am in Wollongong and can recommend some to you. This will give her some socialisation with other dogs and people and give her some confidence. There are some trainers to avoid and some good ones around to. Dont be disheartened, it will just take some work to get her to become a great companion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 There would be very few members here who haven't sat down at one point with every puppy they've had and thought "OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE". I know because I'm one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBL Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 There would be very few members here who haven't sat down at one point with every puppy they've had and thought "OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE".I know because I'm one of them. *waves* Me too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 There would be very few members here who haven't sat down at one point with every puppy they've had and thought "OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE".I know because I'm one of them. *waves* Me too! No tme, I learnt my lesson with human babies! Give me an adult dog anyday (and an adult human ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 There would be very few members here who haven't sat down at one point with every puppy they've had and thought "OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE".I know because I'm one of them. *waves* Me too! No tme, I learnt my lesson with human babies! Give me an adult dog anyday (and an adult human ) Chicken! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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