Question
9 wk old Chi-weenie
We just got a 9 wk old chi-weenie 2 days ago. He's very sweet and affectionate, and wants to be wagged around or held all the time, which our girls are happy to do.
However today my girls are gone, he wants to be wagged around and I can't get anything done! Don't want to let him down to explore the house since he's not house trained yet. We've been taking him outside once an hr or so during the day.
I got him a carrier but he isn't used to it yet, whines and barks. I wait until he gets quiet before I let him out so he's not rewarded for whining. But he's so loud I can't stand it.
The last 2 nights he's whined several times so my oldest has gotten up with him. She takes him outside but then has been sitting up with him, watching tv so I told her just to put him back in the carrier and go back to bed.
Any suggestions on getting him used to the carrier and how to get him to sleep at night after he's relieved himself?
Thanks!!
AnswerHi TKA...
It isn't unusual for a puppy to experience separation anxiety for the first week or so after being separated from it's mother and siblings. You need to be consistent in training him and have patience that the "bad" times will pass. He doesn't understand why he's being left alone now after receiving so much attention from the girls the past few days. Make his adjustment a family project and have everyone take an oath to help the puppy be a good family member and vow to be consistent with the rules.
I prefer an x-pen or a play pen to using a carrier or crate. Put a bed, a wee wee pad, food and water within the x-pen or play pen and get the puppy use to staying in there when he can't be supervised. And be consistent with supervision and play - designate certain hours when the girls can play with him (not during the hours that he's expected to sleep or be alone when the girls are at school or elsewhere). This little pup has a really short attention span and he's looking for the comfort and attention he got from his siblings right now. Your girls were filling that need and he's at a loss when he's not getting attention from them.
You can still take the pup out to do his business, but let him use the wee wee pads as well when he's in his confined area. At bedtime, make sure you give puppy a warm meal before confining him for the night and try this: Take an old sock and partially fill it with rice (fill up most of the foot area) and tie the sock in a knot so the rice doesn't pour out. Put that in the microwave until it's warm (not hot) and put that in the pup's bed. Also take an old wind up clock and put it under the bedding. The rice sock will comfort the pup and make it feel like it's not alone and the sound of the clock will replicate the heart beat of the mother and siblings. And no hard play right before bedtime that will stimulate the pup and make it difficult to calm down and rest. Play should be much earlier than bedtime.
See how these things work. I know that the whining is getting to you, but patience and consistency will pay off along with those things mentioned above. Oh, and give LOTS of positive reinforcement when he has been quiet for a period of time or when he has slept through the night. Give him things to entertain him in his confined area - toys (including the new interactive toys), appropriate chew toys (no rawhide or greenies) - things like that.
Jo Ann
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