Here’s the full layout on my almost 7mo puppy because I just need advice and support. I understand the way that i’ve done some things may not be typical (or maybe they are) but I am simply remembering the way my parents have raised there dogs and they turned out to be perfect family dogs.
I adopted him at 5mo from a rescue. Unknowingly he had a stronger attachment to women than men but we’re almost completely through that. He was with a foster parent for X amount of time but the foster had to bring him back because there dog did not get along with him for reasons unbeknownst to me. The rescue told me he’s potty trained and to an extent I do believe that the foster parent did train him or was still training him because he knows that peeing inside is bad and he NEVER poops inside.
I’ve had him on a decently consistent schedule (some days slightly different but not dramatically). We wake up at 5:30am and I let him outside. He usually always pees. We go inside and I feed him and allow a decent amount of water. When he’s done I bring him on my room and close the gate so he can’t run around the apartment and chew on things he’s not supposed to. All of his toys are in my room at this point and I shower and get ready for work. He still manages to find things to chew up like the tags to my comforter but that’s a separate issue we’re working on. When i’m ready to leave I take him outside one more time (about 45 mins after eating and drinking) and he usually pees and poops. Then he goes in his crate.
I return for lunch around 12pm and take him outside immediately and may go for a small walk with him. He usually just pees. Then he’s allowed to have all the free time he pleases around the apartment while I eat lunch. I may play with him inside like tug of war or throw his ball. Sometimes we even practice things like “drop it” or “sit” which he learned very quickly so I know he’s smart. Then around 1pm I crate him again and head back to work.
Around 4:30-5pm I get home again and immediately let him outside. This time we go for a walk around the complex and sometimes I bring a ball and we go to the dog park inside the complex. He’s pretty good about letting me know if he wants to go for a walk or if he wants to go back inside and play. Right now we’re learning not pull on the leash and to walk beside me which he’s struggling with because he’s so curious and just wants to smell everything and go everywhere. After all that is said and done I feed him and give him ample amount of water. I take this time usually to eat my food also. He then either chews on his toys or plays with me. I usually let him out an hour or so after that. The inconsistent part is usually after dinner between when it’s time to go to bed around 10 or so. I will take him out an hour after. Sometimes he pees in the house before then, sometimes he holds it until the hour and really had to let it out and sometimes he doesn’t have to pee at all when that hour comes around. But the times he pees very little or hell even when he unloads he may come back inside and 30 minutes later pee in the house. And he’ll go run off in a corner or something and try to hide doing it which again, means he knows it’s wrong or shameful. I’ve bought a bell for the door and have been teaching him that the bell means he needs to go out but he’s not getting it.
Now here is where a lot of you may disagree. My parents and even my sister who’s has 2 rescues that are great always rubbed there dogs noses in the spot that they pee or poop so they understand it’s bad. With them that may have also came with spankings but I don’t really do that I just give a LIGHT (and I do mean light) swat on the muzzle with 2 fingers. Then they take them outside and then immediately crate them after coming inside which is what I have been doing. Of course, if I find the spot and I know it’s been there for more than 20 mins then he probably won’t remember and I won’t rub his face in it or scold him (or maybe I should and that’s why he tries to do it somewhere he can get away with it because he won’t get in trouble).
If he does get crated then after about 30 mins or so I let him back out and he’s all happy again and then somewhere around 9 or 10 I let him out again before bed. The weekends are different because i’m home more of the day.
SIDENOTE: Usually around 8 or 9 is when he starts getting grumpy and doesn’t want to listen to anything unless I physically get up and get in front of him. Whether that’s “sit”, “come here”, or even a simple “no”. He becomes very rebellious and you can visibly see it on his face that he knows he’s doing so. He never gets physical in his rebellion but he’ll just act like you’re not there or not saying anything to him. Not entirely sure what to do about that either because it’s generally the same time every night. I’m not sure if he’s just getting grumpy cause it’s late or what the deal is but i’m not sure how to fix it.
submitted by /u/JuniorDriver4707
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