So, my boyfriend and I just got a 6 months old Pomerania puppy a week ago. He is very adorable. He has being adjusting to some rules for now. For example, we took him out on a walk to the beach yesterday and he ended up peeing outside for the first time, which we praised him a lot because we want him to stop doing his things at home! (I do understand he's still young, so if he has an urgency we have the peeing mats ready for him). We used to have a problem the first two nights, and that he will bark at random times, and constantly try to get on bed when we don't want to (because he has peed on it, and there is barely space). The dog breeder (which we maintain contact just in case), suggested he might be scared of the dark since it's a new environment, so we hang some soft, christmas lights I had lying around (they're tiny), we put them above his bed. The barking stopped.
Now, where's the problem? Well, while he poops and pees on the peeing mat and we do praise him for it, he still poops and pees OUT of it also, and scold him and take him to the mat to learn he has to do his things there. I can't understand yet why, when we praise and scold, still does his things outside. We put a peeing mat next to his bed when we go to sleep because we close our room door. First night great, he did all his things there. Second night the mat was dry and there was poop and pee everywhere in the room (looked like a mine floor at that point). Also, another problem. We just can't get enough rest. He is way to hyped and needy. The moment we even BREATHE, or just TWITCH a bit on place, he inmedately reacts, and looks for constant attention. He won't stop following, whining, shivering, getting in the middle of our way, won't stay in bed when we ask to at night and constantly tries to get on ours (specially in the morning, at night it takes a bit before he gets tired and goes to bed). He tries to get in the sofa and like, wiggle his paws in front of me for attention, constantly. I try to ignore this unwanted behaviour or push him away by saying "tsk, hey. No". But he keeps going, and the more he goes, the more he thinks I'm trying to play with him.
It's mostly the potty training (we are trying to get him used to do his things outside and stop doing his regular things indoors, except accidents), the neediness and the fact he just won't stay still and won't let us rest no more in the early morning. Also, he just won't stop whining when not given his attention or when we scold him)? Which we just say "tsk, hey!". Even give him a little touch on the back or butt, or just ignore him when he's seeking attention constantly.
We ordered a crate. My boyfriend has read that it is best not only to get him used to it, and because the crate is a small place to do his things, so he won't have to poop that much and have so many goddamm accidents in a moment, and see if he can learn to not be around us 24/7. (Mind you, we take him out twice per day, 1 hour or 2 max, with a lot of breaks. He munches on his toys, and when he's all relaxed we do praise him a lot). Problem is, we do have another pet… A bunny. The thing is that our bunny is used to roaming free around, and we love to see that! But we are afraid the puppy will hurt him somehow (he has tried to bit him once, and tried to play with him, but got his paws all over and scared him away, he now ignores him, but still we are concerned). It's obvious the bunny is tense and a bit scared, and we hate to see that because we had him for longer. We thought the crate was great to make him use to see the bunny without doing anything. I also thought of moving the crate in the living room at night again, covered with a blanket, but leave a bit of space just so he can see the lights, and close the door so we can rest and he can get used to being alone.
Just, I don't know what to do, and how to crate train the puppy (I am looking up on the internet for some info, but I want to hear personal stories). I just want my puppy to be a bit more calm, but I don't want him to be afraid or something.