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

[Beer can]

Think about it this way, puppies/dogs are a lot easier to train than babies/kids. Lol.

The best grain free puppy food helps a lot. We actually went through a few with our most recent puppy a lab until we found one that agreed with her. Before that we made home made.
They shouldn't poop more than once or twice a day. The frequency of outside visits are much better than length of time, the more often they get a chance to go outside the better.
We've had very good luck house breaking puppies through the yrs don't usually go in the house more than a couple times. Everyone was different, some easier than others. Some go out and do their thing immediately some are pains in the butts and have to find just the right spot first, thats a pain when it's freezing cold in the winter or raining.
Though we have a older bichon frise, miniature pinscher mix who looks like a long hair chihuahua that does the 'revenge' poop. Anytime she's mad at us your guaranteed to find a turd in the middle of your bedroom floor.

 

[tripletfeb]

The advice you have gotten recently is very good. However, you have to remember that dogs are group animals, much like our chickens are flock animals. The puppy needs to see you as the dominant dog. Puppy is testing his limits, trying to figure out where it stands in the group. Your older dog sees you as dominant and that could be why she has not tried discipling this puppy. When puppy bothers your older dog, it is up to you to set it straight. Even if it means holding the puppy down like a dominant dog would. I am not saying to hit it or be mean, just very firm on what you will accept as good behavior. Everyone will be happy in the end when puppy realizes who is top dog (you). And I am not sure if this was mentioned but get the puppy spayed or neutered as soon as it is old enough! Or all this training will be for nothing when puberty hits. Good luck!

 

[llombardo]

Try some mental stimulation too. It has to be balanced between physical and mental. I would do very short 5-10 minute obedience sessions with her. Any longer then that and she will get bored. Make it fun but a learning experience.

You can simply put boxes or bowls down and put treats under a couple of them, call her in and tell her to find it. She is using her mind. They have dog puzzles you can get. On walks use obedience. Work on sits, stays, leave its and watch me. Make her think, that tires them out more then physical exercise sometimes.

 

[lazy gardener]

Just 2 comments.

Someone mentioned that they allow a small dog to nip ankles, b/c it's a terrier, and that's just what terriers do. NO!!! Not acceptable. No matter the size or age of the dog, they should be taught that teeth do not come in contact with human flesh. A penny can, or a squirt bottle will quickly stop this behavior. It will also stop "jumping up" and most likely stop un-necessary barking as well.

As for the pup having accidents in the crate, I have found that when the pup goes out to play, she is often so intent on playing that she holds back her poo or urine until play time is over and she comes back inside and then relaxes. So, when you take her outside, be sure she has that "down time" outside before bringing her back in. When potty training my dog, I gave the "go potty" command every time she peed or pooped. Be sure to praise her for her successes. I do believe this training is helpful in re-directing a dog away from their current exploration outside to "taking care of business". As other posters have stated, you can expect a pup to need to be toileted after every nap, after every meal, and generally every 2 hours (or what ever their current behavior dictates. ) Also, look for behavioral cues. If the puppy starts pacing, then it's time for her to go outside to pee.

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!

Love the leash idea. This teaches so many valuable lessons: Leash training, come on command, Human is in charge, keeps the pup from sneaking off to destroy something or to soil the carpet.

 

[TheGoldenGirlz]

My advice is that you rehome her and get a breed that is laid back, easier to housebreak, etc.. Maybe Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, Heeler, or a Boxer.

I wouldn’t say that any of those breeds are a better fit. LGDs are stubborn, while Heelers and boxers are extremely high energy.

 

[snow5164]

My advice is that you rehome her and get a breed that is laid back, easier to housebreak, etc.. Maybe Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, Heeler, or a Boxer.

Please don’t recommend breeds unless you know them . Great Pyrenees are very high strung , boxers are full of anxiety, a shepherd ?really??

All dogs just like people have good and bad character traits , the thing is you are the leader ( I said adult before obviously that was the wrong word)

you’ve raised many puppies before , you must decide how much of your time and energy you’re willing to give.

Good luck and you only have to answer to you

 

[PirateGirl]

My most recent puppy was my most challenging. I was honestly unsure if I could keep her. She drove me to tears on more than one occasion. I HIGHLY recommend working with a personal trainer if you can. It sounds as if you have experience as a dog owner and have raised other pups, sometimes the normal "training" you do will not work on a pup due to a different personality. My trainer saved my relationship with my pup. We were able to focus on correcting some very worrisome behaviors, and now my pup and I have been together for 6 years and I couldn't imagine life without her. I cannot speak more highly of the experience and if you are committed to keeping your pup it will be worth every penny. Good luck.

 

[PirateGirl]

I have now read all of the comments, and I have to say your plan sounds good. You are right, not all old dogs are the same and you have to look out for the well being of your old dog. If you old dog is not good at stopping the puppy from bothering him, you need to be the one to intervene. They will get along better over time, but you are right, you need to stop the jumping on the old dog, and do the separate feedings, and be sure to give you old dog special time just with you. Maybe some snuggles without the puppy around

Also as @lazy gardener mentioned, work on pairing a phrase/command with going pee/poop outside. It will help later. I always take my dogs out one last time before bed so I don't have to get up in the middle of the night. Sometimes they don't really have to go at this time and they are more interesting in hunting squirrels or something, I give the command and they start looking for a spot to do their business instead of running around the yard.

I agree that the nipping needs to stop. If you cannot curb this behavior, please seek a trainer for this. For some breeds it is very instinctual and a hard habit to break, but if a pup nips the wrong person, you could end up in court even if no injury occurred. Nipping is never ok in our house and if my dog nips at me while we are playing, she knows she is in serious trouble because I become the scariest person she's ever met. Game over. No more playing, mom is pissed. Some dogs will respond to the lack of stimulus. What I'm saying is that if the nipping occurs while doing some activity, that entire activity needs to stop. The toy/dog/person that is involved needs to go away. If the pup nips you, you leave the room and leave her in her playpen. If the pup gets too wound up with a certain toy, the toy goes in the closet. If the pup is too crazy with the other dog, the two get separated. Nothing fun or rewarding can happen until the pup is totally calm again, like laying in the bed on the verge of a nap calm. Then the pup can be rewarded for being calm, pet, treats, toys. Always reward the calm moments when you catch them. Good luck!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

What breed? What age? How old was the puppy when you got her?

 

[Birdsong 82]

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Puppies are rough. A few years ago I adopted a yellow border collie. Wow is all I can say. When I read your first post I automatically said in my head Yep she’s got a border collie. Sounds like a much well bigger version of your Chihuahua. I’m sure since you’ve had dogs before she is getting enough active play time because that’s a big one. But I noticed when I stayed 100% consistent with her discipline it slowly started to smooth out. Usually her punishment was going back in her crate for a certain amount of time. Sometimes even 15 minutes was enough for her to get the picture. I had a problem with her trying to rule over my older dog who is just a little bit smaller and not nearly as strong so that was an issue. Definitely take some time but I think if you’re consistent and persistent you’ll get there. Never owned a Chihuahua though. Raising puppies can be just as stressful as raising children sometimes it just doesn’t last as long. I don’t know how many times I told my husband I was going to kill mine. Just hang in there