I got my 4-month old west highland terrier crossed with toy poodle puppy when he was 12 weeks old. This is my first puppy. He had recently been vaccinated. He was a joy at first until he settled in and since then it just feels like problem after problem. I have had him for over 4 weeks now, crate training is going nowhere, he still won't sleep for longer than 30 minutes in there (I have tried kongs, frozen carrots, chews, a multitude of things to settle him that only work briefly), I have tried in-the-night toilet trips and often he just doesn't need to go, he's just crying to get out. Any movement I make wakes him, he cries, and I have practiced briefly leaving the room, coming back in, etc. and there has been no progress. The only training he has retained is "stay".
I live on a main road with both the front and back garden area that projects the noise. He hates it. Always in a rush to get back in when toiletting, and on the odd occasion he settles outside enough to play, he wants to eat everything (but I understand that is likely just teething). I will say, he has surprisingly done really well with the toilet training outside, but I am wondering if he just toilets so quick outside so he can rush back in?
We started walks about 2-3 weeks ago and he hates them. I try for only 5 minutes and he is always trying to pull me back, any sound or person/dog near sends him into a screaming frenzy. He will jump, pull, fall over and hurt himself etc. I try to remain calm so that the lead isn't tense, but I must admit it is getting me down. He also seems to be resource guarding now, and no matter how much I try to train "drop it" or "trade for a treat" it isn't working.
I guess I just don't know what to do really. I live with my grandparents, he is very familiar with them and gets pets and they know what training I am trying with him etc so they try to follow that as much as they can, but he still growls and barks at them, and only seems to be comfortable if he is with me and only me. I have been in alcohol recovery for a while too, but this is really beginning to push me to relapse which is scaring me. I knew it would be a hard process, but I at least took solace in knowing I could probably get out of the house with him. Now I feel like a prisoner in my own home, too scared to leave him and leave that burden on my grandparents. 🙁
submitted by /u/Electronic_Grand_674
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