We've had our Wire Fox Terrier puppy for a week - she's 13 weeks old, and she's absolutely gorgeous! My 3 year Lakeland Terrier has surprised us all, and is getting on really well with her.
The only problem is, I thought, night times. We've been putting her crate with the door open in a puppy pen, so that she has room to sleep in the crate, and can pop out of it in case she needs the loo in the night (we've put paper down for her). She started off horrendously - the first few nights we were up all the time (it felt like!!), and we expected that. She has improved a little, but she's waking at 4am, and then not really getting back to sleep after that (even though we let her out into the garden for a wee - she prefers to go out there than in her pen tbh.)
I have to work - I work 2 half days and a whole day in a Preschool (and I come home for 45 mins for lunch on the whole day), and I go to a pilates class for another morning.
I came home from a morning in work at lunch time today, and was accosted by my neighbour. She was really quite aggressive, told me that the puppy was barking all morning, and that her and her dh had been out into their back garden, because they thought that we'd left the puppy in the conservatory (?? She was in the kitchen!!), and that we had to do something about her. I told her that we had her in the kitchen, and I couldn't get her any further away from their dividing wall, I apologised, and said that she was just a little puppy, we'd only had her a week, and that I'm sure she would improve with a bit of time and perseverance! She said it wasn't good enough, and that I had to do something. She was fed up with listening to her bark all morning. I asked what she would suggest (she'd already made the comment that they had had dogs in the past, but hers weren't 'yappy' little dogs) - she said I would have to move her 'away'. I asked her what she meant, and she shrugged. I'm assuming that she wants me to get rid of the puppy after a week. I'm livid, actually. I had to walk away, because I would've said something that I know I would have regretted (or not!).
I'm really genuinely worried now about what she's going to do. I know her and her dh have been very aggressive towards other neighbours in the past (in that passive/ aggressive kind of way). I'm trying my bloody best with the puppy - I adore my dogs - exercise them loads, train them - but how I'm supposed to work bloody miracles in a week, I'll never know!!
Does anybody out there have any advice for night times? I opened up the puppy pen bigger and put my 3 year old dog in with her when I collected my ds's from school today - I couldn't hear her barking when I came home (I made the children tip-toe up the drive so that we could listen!!), but I don't think he will be terribly impressed with being locked in there with her at night - he usually sleeps on the floor in our bedroom.
To be honest, I'm desperate for some advice - or even just some reassurance. Ok, even if someone comes and has a go at me - and gives me a reason for it, I'll be satisfied!!
Thankyou!