New Puppy Advice

[Aryaswolf]

How long should it be before a puppy starts to show its personality. We have just brought home an 8 week old puppy. It seems happy to be beside us but it does not seem to have a particularly high energy level. It has eaten a tiny amount, pooped twice and pee'd a few times. It will follow us, and sit with us and will sometimes come when called. Other than that it is not hugely interactive. My concern is that we have picked out too chilled puppy rather than a playful one with moderate to high energy levels, which is what we were after. It has licked my sons face a couple of times. Last night it cried very little when put to bed in its cage, which was good because I was expecting a much worse night, other than that it was content so sleep in its cage. I made it into a den by draping a blanket over it. What should I expect over the next few days. It is a Tibetan Terrier btw. TIA

With ours he used to sleep a lot in the beginning then as he got older he got more playful. Too playful sometimes haha. Now he is 2.5 and a bit more chilled which is better all round.

They can be a bit quiet for the first day or two as they settle in so I wouldn't worry yet. As they get more confident you'll see the true puppy. Enjoy the peace whilst it lasts!

My pup this time round is a chilled little soul. He accepts what comes but is always up for a walk or game and even he has enough mad moments to make me appreciate nap time!

Have no experience in the breed so can’t answer specifically, but your pup is still just a baby, he/she will do a lot of sleeping. Just give it some time to settle in and am sure the personality will soon start to shine through

It's an 8 week old puppy that has just been separated from its mother/littermates and been plonked in a totally alien environment.

Where did you get pup from? What breed is he/she? Quiet natured puppies usually show when you first go to view them. My Shih Tzu pup was a naturally quieter puppy. I put a lot of effort into socialising her (carried her around outside in my arms before jabs, took her on public transport etc, I'm order to get her used to people. She's now a very loving people oriented dog.

It can take weeks/months for a pups personality to come through. Give the little mite time to settle in first.

Sorry. Just saw pup is a T Terrier.

Agreed that puppies can be very quiet at first. Try wiggling a soft toy around on the ground or tie it to some string to drag it along the floor.

My pup was very lacking in confidence (although I knew that when I picked him - I picked him for another reason) and even being an experienced dog owner I feel I pushed him too quickly. Everything is new. When it comes to socialising your puppy, a bad experience is worse that no experience at all, so keep everything positive and if your pup gets frightened then don't push it. They naturally grow in confidence in time.

Have you signed up to a puppy class?

Thank you all for your advice. The puppy was quieter when we went to look at her, she was one of the last two. The breeder told us it was because she had just woken up. I wanted to come back another day to have another look, but my children and husband were already smitten. We had previously agreed that we wanted a puppy with reasonable energy levels and to be fully health checked, including hip and elbow scores. Tibetans are supposed be able to be both chilled and high energy. Puppy buying was never this stressful when I was a child!

I am going to sign up to puppy classes.

I have 2 of the most chilled dogs you could ever meet, love nothing more than snoozing, but they are also high energy and playful when the mood strikes them, so don’t worry about it too much, a dog can be the best of both. Puppy classes are def a good idea though

At 8 weeks your puppy needs to be sleeping for somewhere between 16-20 hours a day. That leaves very little time for high energy and personality - at this age. They also cannot be active very long. Mine is a springer (i.e. a high energy breed) but he could not stay awake more than an hour (at the very most) when I first got him. By the time he'd fed, watered, been to the loo and had a little cuddle it was time to sleep again.

I would just enjoy it while it lasts - it won't seem like 2 mins until you have yours hands full so this time is pretty precious.

I totally agree with skeletonskins. There is all the time in the world but many of us forget that when they are little. Mine is now 5.5 months and already I find myself looking at video footage of when he first came home and feeling a bit sad I didn't just ENJOY that time more rather than focus so heavily on doing everything to get him to grow up well. All the socialisation etc is very important but it can be too easy to think you have to do it all in a day - and to think that the puppy you have now is the one you will have forever.

Enjoy each stage as it comes and for the next few days, just settle into a routine and enjoy cuddling the cute little guy. It'll be a week or so until he feels totally settled and could be a few weeks until he has the energy to be really playful.

Also, puppies do need teaching how to play and it can be weeks before they really get it. Just keep it all light and easy and don't push him too far. Also, stick to the rules of play now while he is little (e.g. jumping up at faces stops play, that kind of thing). Much easier done now than later when he has the muscle co-ordination and size to really leap .

Missbattenberg, one of mine is a springer mix, I loved it when he was that age, all he wanted to do was cuddle and sleep. It soon passed though

You will not be wondering this in ten weeks time

My terrier stared at me pretty much for the first 3 days, sat on me, cuddled me, acted like a little baby. Then she settled in and went crackers for 6 months, so much fun.

snowy1982 it soon passes indeed!

I love him now and am equally enjoying this stage in which he is goofy and enthusiastic and just starting to become independent. He makes me laugh every day and it's great to be able to go on longer walks which we both enjoy.

I just wish I had been a bit more accepting and enjoyed each stage as it came because they change and grow up so quickly. Sometimes I miss that snuggly little puppy who was easy to pick up and just wanted to be held...

Mine is nearly 5yo now @missbattenburg so have been through a lot of stages, he had the cuddly snuggly phase, then there was the crazy puppy stage (bad crazy then funny crazy), really independent stage and he is actually back to being snuggle and cuddly - he is quite a big doggo so it’s a bit harder to do this time.

We have another one who is 3yrs old, he is less energetic and a lot more cuddly, but he is also a sneaky wee shite

LOL at 'sneaky wee shite'

He really is the sneakiest wee thing i’ve ever come across. He isn’t one for playing fetch or playing with toys, pup1 loves to play fetch and tug etc, but if pup2 sees pup1 playing he quietly creeps up behind him, steals the rope or ball or whatever, takes it to his bed and lies on top of it so pup1 can’t have it.

Pup1 is much bigger than pup2 but is a much kinder, more gentle natured man so he lets him away with it