Category: Top Dog

We have a 12 week old puppy, only got him last week! We have a create in our room, and a play pen in the living room. He sleeps during the night in his crate, and naps in the crate (he’s doing so well with this! I hope I don’t jinx it😂). He spends the rest of his time between being on a leash supervised, or in his play pen playing independently.

Does puppy stay out with you majority of time, or in the play pen? Our puppy doesn’t really protest in the play pen. Will play independently, but of course would much prefer to be with us. Just curious how others do this? It’s our first puppy. Thank you !

Holy crap, this is my 3rd puppy but might be the most difficult potty training (and I got my first in an apartment)!

He's 3 months old and I am taking him outside every 1-1.5h when he's awake and straight after an activity change (nap, play, eat). He's learning the command "go potty" and gets big praise afterwards.

The problem is that he keeps having accidents still!! He's always on a leash when he's not in his crate but he'll go to the back door and just go! We literally run to try to pick him up so we can put our coats and shoes on to take him out, but nope – he pees as soon as he gets to the door. He doesn't whine or bark or signal in any way. We've ordered a bell but it's not arrived yet.

We clean it up and spray with enzyme spray but he still keeps going around the back door area! We do have some floor mats there that he goes on, but it's for winter boots so we can't really get rid of it. We yell to try to stop him and rush to take him out after, but it's so fast. I feel like he knows he shouldn't though cause he runs off to hide afterwards. 😭 We always catch him in the act cause he's always supervised when not crated, but he just ninja pees. No circling or sniffing or anything.

Could this just be him marking?? It's literally like 20 mins after we just took him out. And both times, it's tiny pees. He only has big ones in the mornings or after a big nap. Otherwise if we take him out every hour, it's always little pees. I feel like he's just not learning to hold it even a little bit? Any advice??

Has anyone brought a new puppy home to other dogs and when doing the introduction, the new puppy was the issue?

I just brought a 4 month old puppy home, and have done an introduction to one of my dogs so far and the puppy is the one correcting and scared. My older dog is still young and very playful, so I get the puppy being scared. We’ve had some sessions after this that are going well, but he still won’t play with my older dog, which is fine. I just want to remain hopeful!!

Hi!

My 8 month old english cocker spaniel puppy barks every time I leave the house. I put him in the crate in which he sleeps all night without any problems (we sleep upstairs so he is alone downstairs). He also likes to spend time in crate and is totally fine there when somebody is home.

As soon as I leave though he starts barking (have been doing so for 4 months since we got him). Right now I leave him with a treat (as soon as he finishes it, starts the barking).

We have tried everything – starting with leaving only for 2 minutes and building it up but I have to go away from home for longer sometimes and then ofcourse he is barking. Tried to leave the radio on etc. but nothing seems to work. I'm really sad and stressed to leave him but I can't take him with me all the time.

I have also tried to leave him outside the crate. He doesn't go crazy or break anything, just the barking.

I read that maybe I shouldn't give him a treat before leaving?

Can anyone help?

It's been a month since I've got my Westie puppy. He's 13 weeks old and I'll say, it's been a lifetime change of experience of doubt, questioning, frustration and tears…

BUT IT DOES GET BETTER

After a month of having my pup, I can see the changes happening. He's almost potty trained by this point, runs to his puppy pad to do business if he's across the room and rarely has accidents. He's doing better now in some understanding of what he can/can't from the tone of my voice and treats. Yes, he's a still little bite monster but that's normal and now I can tell when he's overtired and needs to be put down in a nap. During the night, he sleeps without whining.

What still is a problem is leaving him alone in his pen. Previously, I couldn't leave the room without him throwing a fit. Now, if I do take too long, he'll make small whines. When it comes to leaving him by himself at the apartment for an hour or few, that's when the fits start. Barking, whining and of course destroying his puppy pad… it's frustrating but I also feel bad for him too.

Overall, it takes alot of patience and devotion of raising a puppy. It did a blow to my mental state for the first week but I'm feeling better and so is my puppy! He is very energetic, goofy and a huge mamas boy.

I was so kindly given a puppy for Christmas after my soul dog passed away suddenly. I’m not new to dogs or puppies for that matter and I had asked for a dog in the house because I always had one and I feel safer with a dog. Problem is this go around of me having a puppy I am ebf a six month old and I’m trying to potty train my toddler at the same time. So unfortunately for her I can’t give my undivided attention to her and I can’t always get to her fast enough when she whines.she sadly spends a lot of time up in the crate because my toddler is her biggest target to nibble on. Long story short i have set her up a 10×10 kennel outside for during the day and she has a crate inside at night now. But will her being out all day confuse her even more with the potty training?

Also to add she had really bad worms from the breeder so I was convinced after we solved that she’d have less accidents but that’s not the case I’d have to give the dog multiple baths a day and switch out crates all day long. Most of the time she doesn’t even warn anymore

Greetings! My gf and I have been discussing getting a puppy for some time and I just want some general guidance on looking. How did you find a reputable breeder? How long did it take? What tips would you give to someone in this situation when its their first time. How was the process for you? Thank you in advance!