It's home!

[puppypalavas]

Got our puppy today.
Been about 8 hours since we’ve had her and I’ve got puppy blues already!
She’s doing ok toilet wise. Maybe 3 inside, 3 outside and a poo outside.
Got her confined to the kitchen at the mo and she’s got a playpen in here.
We’ve got a deep sided box for her for our room tonight.
We’ve put her in her playpen probably 5 times, for short durations, 15 mins or so.
Then we went to the shop to find a box for her for tonight, so we were out for 40 minutes.
She’s howls and cries and barks solidly in her playpen.
As soon as she’s quiet we go in and praise her. Sometimes getting her out and sometimes leaving her in there.
Every single time though she has barked and howled in her playpen until she’s vomited. She’ll be losing weight at this rate.
Am I doing the playpen thing right?

[adaline]

Honestly OP it sounds like you're doing really well.

The early days are tough - just adapt what you read to your puppies needs and remember the dog hasn't read the book on how to act and when!

[KittensAndChristmasCake]

Good luck for tonight. I hope she settles well 🤞

[puppypalavas]

So, up and down most of the night.
Let her out for 3 wees, and she went each time so no accidents in her crate.
Each time we put her back into her crate she settled quicker and quicker each time.
So last one this morning at 5am was 5 mins of not even proper barking and she fell back to sleep.
I know lots of people don’t like to crate train this young and breeder said ignore her all night, so this was a middle ground.
Didn’t get much sleep but at least she wasn’t screaming and distressed for 7 hours.

[billybagpuss]

Well done thats sounding positive. Usually after a couple of days they start to settle into their new environment. She will start to sleep more during the day as she becomes less anxious and feels safe. Its been a traumatic few days for her.

[Wolfiefan]

I bet you’re tired but at least she’s settling and yay to no accidents. I used a crate from the start to stop madam eating the house or injuring herself!!

[BiteyShark]

I used a crate from the start.

Sounds like a good night even though you are tired. These early weeks are tiring but it will get easier in time.

[CollyWombles]

I got a puppy in march this year. Lab/German shep Cross. I did not leave her on her own for any length of time until she was 6 months old and even then it was a gradual build up. I did not want a dog with separation anxiety which is what your pup will get if you keep leaving it on its own.

My pup slept on our bed for the first three months, moved herself to the floor because she quickly got to hot and now sleeps in the hallway because it's the coolest part of the house. There was no way in hell I was going to stick her in a crate and leave her to whine all night. Dogs are pack animals and prefer to be close to their pack. We all slept great including pup.

House training, we took turns and got up in the night for around 4 months to take her out for the toilet, then first thing in the morning, after any nap, after eating and before bed.

My pup is now 8 months old and life is much easier than the early puppy days. She sleeps well, eats at her set times, two walks a day and has been fully house trained for about 4 months. Also eats the Christmas tree baubles, trips me up all the time because she stalks me all day and my bathroom floor has been munched on a bit.

It gets better but you have to put in the work and it is exactly like having a newborn. If it's too much for you, that's okay but put puppy back before it gets too old!

[Orcagirl]

Watching this thread with interest. Did you keep the crate downstairs OP? Sounds like you’re getting there

[puppypalavas]

Yep crate was downstairs.
I’ve noticed from this thread that everyone does it differently, but this is what works for us.
I had the school run this morning, but husband started work late, so she was in her crate for 20 minutes when we were both out.
She went in her crate without a peep and when I got home I peeked through the window and she was fast asleep.
So this method is working for us.
She was never in a home, she was bred to be a working dog, so hasn’t been round her mum and siblings for a couple of weeks.
She’s been in an outdoor kennel.
Think we are doing the right thing!

[puppypalavas]

On another topic, any recommendations for dog bed I can put in the crate that is machine washable and that I can tumble dry? Can’t be doing with wet items on radiators!

[Costacoffeeplease]

For young puppies I just used scrunched up towels and fleece blankets

[puppypalavas]

That’s exactly what we are doing. She rags them all up in there tho and they end up shoved in one corner while she sleeps on the hard plastic. Poor thing.

[knockknockknock]

Vetbed fleece is great.

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

Vetbed is ace. It looks really expensive but is really robust and lasts for ages. I haven’t tried tumble drying it- sorry.

You are completely right to do what works for your family and your puppy. It sounds like lots of success overnight and I’m glad the school run went smoothly.

[billybagpuss]

www.amazon.co.uk/Bunty-Waterproof-Washable-Hardwearing-Mattress/dp/B0185OIMQQ/ref=sr_1_44?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1545132532&sr=1-44&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A4281668031&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I don't think this is the exact one we have but its similar and has been one of our better buys, its very easy wipe clean. She doesn't want anything snuggly, she just likes the fact that its quite cooling to sit on. She also hasn't eaten it, which believe me over the next few months that is a big plus.

I think ours came from the vet.

Also if next summer looks like its going to be anything close to this summer, get a gel cooling mat early before they all sell out ours was a godsend.

[starcrossedseahorse]

Another vote for vetbed. It washes and dries so easily and is particularly good for pups and oldies. I use it in the rescue all the time and my own dogs still sleep on it.

[puppypalavas]

Will look at those thank you.
She’s just got in her crate for a sleep with the door open and not escaped! That’s progress!

[puppypalavas]

Gosh this is peaceful!
Never thought I’d see this day.
Dog out for the count, toddler eating lunch, I’m doing housework!
No crying, barking, wees or poos on the floor!
Peace and quiet!

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

Ahhhh peace. That’s lovely.

[Doggydoggydoggy]

I actually agree with the breeder tbh.

We left my little girl in her crate as a baby all night, probably about 11 to 7 and just cleared up any mess in the morning.

I am a housewife so she wasn’t really left alone much but we did leave her for an hour or so here and there from the early days.

[puppypalavas]

Well she was an absolute angel in the crate last night.
Hoping we’ve nailed it. She whimpered maybe 3 times for honestly 15 seconds. Then slept the rest of the time.
We went and woke her for 3 wees and she wee/pooed every time.
She goes in her crate for 30 mins or so in the day, while I’m mopping floor or doing the school run and she just sleeps in there.
And in 3 days she’s only done maybe 4 wees inside.
It makes the first night of being up and down all night and the crying/whinging worth it!

[Wolfiefan]

I’m so pleased. Hoping you’ve nailed it too!!

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

Sounds brilliant. She and you are doing so well.

[KittensAndChristmasCake]

Ahh it was just that first night she was missing her mum 😢

Hope you've nailed it now 😁

[Costacoffeeplease]

So much better than day 1, good job you posted here and took some of the advice, seems like it’s paying off