Help I'm starting to hate my puppy!!!

[Peace Love Hens]

Thought I would let you know that things have been getting a lot better with the puppy.

She has learned that throwing screaming tantrums has no effect and she will be ignored, so now she has not had one for several days!!!

I am making her sit calmly before I allow her in or out of a door. Also before I take her out of her playpen when I feed her, and if she wants to get picked up and petted. Any demanding barking means she gets nothing. She will now automatically check herself and realize she needs to be quiet and sit nicely. If funny to see he little mind working.

She is enjoying her longer and more frequent walks... and she is playing much nicer with my older dog.. far less wild and now I very rarely see her get into the aggressive angry mood with her when playing. It was like when children get too excited and tired and then throw a tantrum. In fact, that has not happened for a few days too.

I think my older dog is smart in the way she handles the puppy. If the puppy constantly barks at her and jumps at her will ignore the puppy and stop playing. This seems to have sent the message to the puppy that if she wants the game to continue she has to calm down.... which she does now.

Since her behavior has improved we are starting to bond more with her, and see her less as a mini devil dog and more like a cute puppy.

House training is also getting a lot better. The biggest improvement has been that she no longer tries to bite us or struggle if picked up when she was in a bad mood.

The only thing that still needs some work is the feeding. My older dog will not eat if the puppy goes to her food bowl. The puppy is not even aggressive over the food.. just barks at the older dog once and the dog will leave the food. So still feeding them in different rooms. Also, the older dog wants the puppy food, and the puppy wants the adult dog food!!!!!

I can see things will keep getting better now. I thought there was no hope before and was stressing out. Now I feel encouraged and happy to keep working on improving the puppy behavior and teaching her how to be a nice pet.

Thanks again for all the advise.

That's so awesome! So glad to hear it. I hope that my advice made a difference for you and your puppy. Good luck and if you have any questions, let me know.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

I once adopted a 4 month old Terrier. She was a hand full, to say the least. She was notorious for sneaking off to poo on the floor. Finally, after trying all corrections, out of sheer desperation, I put her on a leash and took her to her latest steaming creation on the living-room floor. I got down on my hands and knees and proceeded to unleash a volley of high decibel insults and curses at that "NAUGHTY, NASTY, DIRTY POOP". i yelled up one side and down the other side of that poop. Then, I scooped the thing up, and dog and I took that poop outside and deposited it at the edge of the lawn where I had been taking her to go potty. I then proceeded to praise that "Good poop" up one side and down the other for being where it was supposed to be. The dog watched this whole episode, and I'm sure a few neighbors heard me singing the praises of that poop. But, as bizarre as this behavior was, that dog NEVER pooped in the house again!

LOL! I love it! This was so great, I actually had a comic visual playing out in my head as I read this!

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Wow...I'm going to vent a little here!

Shocked at how many are quick to suggest to get rid of the dog-just get rid of it! Pass that problem on to someone else girl!

I understand that sometimes it just doesn't work out but that is after you've exhausted ALL other options! I'm starting to understand why so many animals are abandoned..it is NOT okay just to dump a dog at the humane society because they are difficult... just WOW!

jak2002003 your plan is a solid one!

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Thought I would let you know that things have been getting a lot better with the puppy.

She has learnt that throwing screaming tantrums has no effect and she will be ignored, so now she has not had one for several days!!!

I am making her sit calmly before I allow her in or out of a door. Also before I take her out of her play pen, when I feed her, and if she wants to get picked up and petted. Any demanding barking means she gets nothing. She will now automatically check herself and realise she needs to be quiet and sit nicely. If funny to see he little mind working.

She is enjoying her longer and more frequent walks... and she is playing much nicer with my older dog.. far less wild and now I very rarely see her get into the aggressive angry mood with her when playing. It was like when children get too excieted and tired and then throw a tantrum. In fact, that has not happened for a few days too.

I think my older dog is smart in the way she handles the puppy. If the puppy constantly barks at her and jumps at her will ignore the puppy and stop playing. This seems to have sent the message to the puppy that if she wants the game to continue she has to calm down.... which she does now.

Since her behaviour has improved we are starting to bond more with her, and see her less as a mini devil dog and more like a cute puppy.

House training is also getting a lot better. The biggest improvement has been that she no longer tries to bite us or struggle if picked up when she was in a bad mood.

Only thing still needs some work is the feeding. My older dog will not eat if the puppy goes to her food bowl. The puppy is not even aggressive over the food.. just barks at the older dog once and the dog will leave the food. So still feeding them in different rooms. Also the older dog wants the puppy food, and the puppy wants the adult dog food!!!!!

I can see things will keep getting better now. I thought there was no hope before and was stressing out. Now I feel encouraged and happy to keep working on improving the puppy behaviour and teaching her how to be a nice pet.

Thanks again for all the advise.

I can't believe how similar our issues are! I have a 13wk old chocolate lab, just adorable...but she is a terror! We have an older dog a husky/malamute mix that could eat her but she walks all over him. He won't sleep in his bed anymore because she laid in it, he would rather drink out of the toilet than out of the same water bowl...she nips at his legs, jumps on his neck, barks at him, will take his food...she was going to the bathroom all over the place but found out she had a UTI so that has gotten better and I had to learn a few things too. Saying she's a handful is an understatement-she's a terror but we love her! And she has gotten herself stuck under the sofa so I have to go help her.. glad things have gotten better-I'm going to take some ideas off your plan

 

[Tesumph]

Wow...I'm going to vent a little here!

Shocked at how many are quick to suggest to get rid of the dog-just get rid of it! Pass that problem on to someone else girl!

I understand that sometimes it just doesn't work out but that is after you've exhausted ALL other options! I'm starting to understand why so many animals are abandoned..it is NOT okay just to dump a dog at the humane society because they are difficult... just WOW!

jak2002003 your plan is a solid one!

I would rather a dog get surrendered while it’s still a cute puppy and has a chance of being placed in a better home, than when it’s an adult and not as trainable and very unlikely to be adopted. Anyone who works in rescue will tell you that.
Thankfully OP has figured it out and is sticking with it, but please don’t shame the people who are responsible about rehoming. They’re taking the time to properly surrender to a rescue instead of dumping the dog in the streets when it’s no longer “cute” and they’re sick of it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Wow...I'm going to vent a little here!

Shocked at how many are quick to suggest to get rid of the dog-just get rid of it! Pass that problem on to someone else girl!

I understand that sometimes it just doesn't work out but that is after you've exhausted ALL other options! I'm starting to understand why so many animals are abandoned..it is NOT okay just to dump a dog at the humane society because they are difficult... just WOW!

jak2002003 your plan is a solid one!

I think you misunderstood everyone that said, including me, that this may not be the right dog for the OP. If a person truly hates or can't handle a puppy it's best to find a more appropriate home while that pup is young and adaptable. Most dumped dogs are between the ages of 6-12 months. That's also the time people give up on a dog because they don't understand how long it takes to raise a good dog. At that age most behaviors are set and it can be hard to change them. A young pup a person can still work on stuff and be successful.

I'm glad the OP was able to switch stuff up. Every pup is different. I have had a few take up to 9 months to be house broken, and some are good by the age of three months. I've had destructive puppies, and very mellow puppies. You always have to expect you will have the worse puppy, and be happy when you have the best.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

I would rather a dog get surrendered while it’s still a cute puppy and has a chance of being placed in a better home, than when it’s an adult and not as trainable and very unlikely to be adopted. Anyone who works in rescue will tell you that.
Thankfully OP has figured it out and is sticking with it, but please don’t shame the people who are responsible about rehoming. They’re taking the time to properly surrender to a rescue instead of dumping the dog in the streets when it’s no longer “cute” and they’re sick of it.

This is my opinion you don't have to agree..."rehoming" should be the LAST resort not a knee jerk reaction to a stressful situation. This person was reaching out for help because they obviously wanted to keep the puppy. Many other options and great techniques were suggested. I was and still am in shock at those who were so quick to suggest "rehoming" the puppy! Thank God she has chosen to try other options and I sincerely hope it works out for all in the family!

 

[Bettyboop7499]

I think you misunderstood everyone that said, including me, that this may not be the right dog for the OP. If a person truly hates or can't handle a puppy it's best to find a more appropriate home while that pup is young and adaptable. Most dumped dogs are between the ages of 6-12 months. That's also the time people give up on a dog because they don't understand how long it takes to raise a good dog. At that age most behaviors are set and it can be hard to change them. A young pup a person can still work on stuff and be successful.

I'm glad the OP was able to switch stuff up. Every pup is different. I have had a few take up to 9 months to be house broken, and some are good by the age of three months. I've had destructive puppies, and very mellow puppies. You always have to expect you will have the worse puppy, and be happy when you have the best.

I agree completely, As I said "rehoming" shouldn't be the FIRST option not that it isn't an option! A pet owner should always exhaust all options before deciding to give up on their pet! Rehoming isn't a bad thing it just shouldn't be the first thing. And that is what some were suggesting! Not, have you tried training, talking to a vet, or switch up your technique, it was get rid of it! And just because you use the term "rehoming" doesn't make it any less traumatic for the animal. If seen what be rejected does to these pets-it's horrible and they don't understand and most of the time it could be resolved.

 

[Shezadandy]

I agree completely, As I said "rehoming" shouldn't be the FIRST option not that it isn't an option! A pet owner should always exhaust all options before deciding to give up on their pet! Rehoming isn't a bad thing it just shouldn't be the first thing. And that is what some were suggesting! Not, have you tried training, talking to a vet, or switch up your technique, it was get rid of it! And just because you use the term "rehoming" doesn't make it any less traumatic for the animal. If seen what be rejected does to these pets-it's horrible and they don't understand and most of the time it could be resolved.

Well- speaking of the kitten we had to rehome - our humane society has(had) a "cat cam" in their kitten room. He wasn't with a group when we picked him out- he was recovering from the kitty crud. After this experience, I will never adopt another kitten/cat that isn't with a group of other kitten/cats - watching their social interactions tells you a lot.

When they put him back up for adoption after his standard medical hold - he went back completely healthy, but of course they have to do the medical hold- a couple days later- and back in the kitten room, I sat and watched for quite a long time. I watched as he repeatedly and intentionally knocked sleeping kittens off shelves, jumped on and rolled poor little kittens that were just trying to play with a toy as itty bitty kittens do - and over the course of however many hours- just as we experienced when we had him at home - he didn't stop for more than 20-30 seconds at a time. Pretty soon every kitten in the room was scared of him, and rightfully so.

Someone did adopt him that same day - and I watched the website for a couple months afterwards- he didn't come back within 3 months anyhow - and it could be they had a house full of kids and dogs that loved his antics- I hope being honest in the paperwork helped him find his match. Within 2-3 weeks we knew it wasn't going to work for the animals already at our home and for us- and the fair thing to do - for us- for our existing animals- and for the kitten- was to give it an excellent chance to find a home suited to its personality and energy level while it was still little and cute.

I'm glad the OP found a new approach to the situation and is seeing great results. Of course that's the preferred outcome. But sometimes - sometimes you just wind up with the wrong animal. Kittens who are exhausted and are laying flat and panting after the 4th time that day of extended (20 minutes per time) hard play shouldn't then get up and clobber your older cat immediately. And yet ...