Depressing puppy day...

[Sharpie]

Not the best of days today...Daisy (15 weeks yesterday) has driven me to distraction with her behaviour all day...the list includes...

never ending biting (sin binned several times)- most of it ok, but some really viscious- she seriously hurt me at one point...squaling oww just doesn't work, and nor does the sin bin...

Howling & banging the stair gate every time I go upstairs (I work from home & have been working in the kitchen, but occasionally I need to print stuff from the office- can't let her up there)

Barking loudly & endlessly at everything

Eating the post....and just not leaving it alone...

Weeing inside (twice), with a glint in her eye as if to say "ner ner"

We have had a nice walk (quite well behaved on that), plus some click and treat training at regular intervals, and a treat ball, which has been ok....but the rest of it has just been constant aggravation..No chance ever of a nice cuddle as she just bites all the time

She has seriously been the devil's dog today!

I am hoping for a better day tomorrow...

Anyone else have days like this?

[wendall]

Yes.  It does get better tho

[fenby]

I think most of us have had days like yours when they were puppies, but honest it does get better.

[lisalh]

I had several days like this and TBH the crate was a godsend - and I healthy love affair with red wine also helped (check out some of my early COL posts - I hated my puppy sometimes but wouldnt be without him now - it does get better and you are not alone xxx

[Ruby Tuesday]

Rewind a year and you'd be describing my Jem.

Now, she is still spirited, but she is the sweetest, most loving dog ever. I adore her. I know just what you mean about the glint in the eye but she is just being a pup. Have you read this?-


I AM YOUR PUPPY

I am your Puppy, and I will love you until the end of the Earth, but
please know a few things about me.

I am a Puppy, this means that my intelligence and capacity for learning
are the same as an 8-month-old child. I am a Puppy; I will chew
EVERYTHING I can get my teeth on. This is how I explore and learn about
the world. Even HUMAN children put things in their mouths. It's up to
you to guide me to what is mine to chew and what is not.

I am a Puppy; I cannot hold my bladder for longer than 1 - 2 hours. I
cannot "feel" that I need to poop until it is actually beginning to come
out. I cannot vocalize nor tell you that I need to go, and I cannot
have "bladder and bowel control" until 6 - 9 months. Do not punish me
if you have not let me out for 3 hours and I tinkle. It is your
fault. As a Puppy, it is wise to remember that I NEED to go potty
after: Eating, Sleeping, playing, Drinking and around every 2 - 3 hours
in addition. If you want me to sleep through the night, then do not
give me water after 7 or 8 p.m. A crate will help me learn to
housebreak easier, and will avoid you being mad at me. I am a Puppy,
accidents WILL happen, please be patient with me! In time I will learn.

I am a Puppy, I like to play. I will run around, and chase imaginary
monsters, and chase your feet and your toes and 'attack' you, and chase
fuzzballs, other pets, and small kids. It is play; it's what I do. Do
not be mad at me or expect me to be sedate, mellow and sleep all day.
If my high energy level is too much for you, maybe you could consider an
older rescue from a shelter or Rescue group. My play is beneficial, use
your wisdom to guide me in my play with appropriate toys, and activities
like chasing a rolling ball, or gentle tug games, or plenty of chew toys
for me. If I nip you too hard, talk to me in "dog talk", by giving a
loud YELP, I will usually get the message, as this is how dogs
communicate with one another. If I get too rough, simply ignore me for
a few moments, or put me in my crate with an appropriate chew toy.

I am a Puppy; hopefully you would not yell, hit, strike, kick or beat a
6-month-old human infant, so please do not do the same to me. I am
delicate, and also very impressionable. If you treat me harshly now, I
will grow up learning to fear being hit, spanked, kicked or beat.
Instead, please guide me with encouragement and wisdom. For instance,
if I am chewing something wrong, say, "No chew!" and hand me a toy I CAN
chew. Better yet, pick up ANYTHING that you do not want me to get
into. I can't tell the difference between your old sock and your new
sock, or an old sneaker and your $200 Nikes.

I am a Puppy, and I am a creature with feelings and drives much like
your own, but yet also very different. Although I am NOT a human in a
dog suit, neither am I an unfeeling robot who can instantly obey your
every whim. I truly DO want to please you, and be a part of your
family, and your life. You got me (I hope) because you want a loving
partner and companion, so do not relegate me to the backyard when I get
bigger, do not judge me harshly but instead mold me with gentleness and
guidelines and training into the kind of family member you want me to
be.

I am a Puppy and I am not perfect, and I know you are not perfect
either. I love you anyway. So please, learn all you can about
training, and puppy behaviors and caring for me from your Veterinarian,
books on dog care and even researching on the computer! Learn about my
particular breed and it's "characteristics", it will give you
understanding and insight into WHY I do all the things I do. Please
teach me with love, patience, the right way to behave and socialize me
with training in a puppy class or obedience class, we will BOTH have a
lot of un together.

I am a Puppy and I want more than anything to love you, to be with you,
and to please you. Won't you please take time to understand how I
work? We are the same you and I, in that we both feel hunger, pain,
thirst, discomfort, fear, but yet we are also very different and must
work to understand one another's language, body signals, wants and
needs. Some day I will be a handsome dog, hopefully one you can be
proud of and one that you will love as much as I love you.

Love,
Your Puppy

Found: http://www.regalwise.com/ten_commandments.html

[Sharpie]

Aww- thanks for all your help- and especially for your post RubyTuesday...very moving.

I've had a big glass of wine and tomorrow is another day...

Onwards and upwards!

[MidwifeTori]

Glad you have wine 
I had a similar 'bitey' day the other day too- it got quite stressful. the thing that settled him was cleaning his ears!
fingers crossed for a better day tomorrow 

[black taz]

Don't forget as well when you are having a bad day it is difficult to see the positive stuff. It does get better.   Have you tried leaving a stuffed kong downstairs when you have to go upstairs (with really smelly food in it).

[Sharpie]

I have a small kong, but probably need a bigger one!! What sort of smelly food do you suggest? She has only been on kibble so far so I am wary of a squitty tummy!!

Someone mentioned smoked salmon mousse? Did I read that right?!

Thanks again for all your help

[Sharpie]

I have now found the answers in another post for Kong filler suggestions!

[PopPops]

The one real winner for Pops is dried tripe sticks. She smells like a horse when she's had one, but that keeps her attention like nothing else until it's gone, it takes her time to get through and has never yet upset her tummy as other things can. Has been very helpful when I really need to keep her busy.  I do notice too that some foods can swing her from 'usual puppy stuff' to 'crocodile on speed', we had some treat things in a packet that did it every time she had one until I caught on and binned them. Liver for some reason seems to speed her up too!

Days like that? Oh yes.  It's seemed like a bad day is often right on the edge of a developmental step forward. We have a day where I'm getting to the end of my tether, and then suddenly that issue is gone. It happened right before she suddenly clicked with toilet training and there was definitely a kind of a last hurrah with the puppy mouthing before that reduced overnight (now it's back because she's teething, but fair enough).

I'm stilll not allowed to go anywhere alone in the house either, but she's six weeks older than your baby, and I can see the gradual improvement between then and now, she's more confident to be behind the stairgate and wait for me. Can anyone puppy sit for a while and give you a break? Sometimes I just needed a couple of hours to recharge a bit. The glass of wine sounds a great idea.

[jonnytrabant]

Must admit, had a chuckle at your post, not in a Mickey taking way, but of the reminders my Harry put me through. And to see him now cuddled up beside me, all chilled and relaxed made me think of those long gone days.

But as all of the replies have have said, it does get better, it will improve, you've just got to hang in there.

[**purpleprincess**]

Oh bless!! 

I did have a bit of a giggle at this as it brings back memories!!  It really does get better, I promise. She's only weenie!! Luca is 9 months old now and totally different. I had days when I thought it would never end, but one day it just does.

 

[Honormum]

We had many of those days with Teddy not so long ago (my posts at the time sound desperate!), but it resolute true what everyone's said - they very quickly improve and fade into the dim and distant past. Hang on in there!

[Sharpie]

Thanks for your help and encouragement everyone! We actually had a lovely weekend, with good walks, some puppy training and lots of play with a friend's Cockerpoo...Daisy actually came and dozed on my lap last night and didnt bite at all....it felt like a complete joy, so feeling much happier..