is my puppy sulking and how do i deal with it?

[Doggylover2021]

I didnt really expect to be facing this but I guess want to know is it possible for puppies/dogs to sulk?

I've had my puppy for a week now and I've noticed in the last few days what appears to be definite sulking. For example, this evening I put him in his pen after playing with him as I had some tidying to do. I still stayed in the same room. He seemed put out and then went and sat in his crate. 20 mins later I went to get him out but he just ignored me and continued to lie there.

He did this yesterday. I'm slightly unsure what to do. Am I projecting human behaviour onto him and being completely stupid? And if not, what do I do? I don't want to pander to this behaviour if it is his way of sulking. I've noticed that although he knows a couple of commands like sit now, he is quite stroppy about doing them and always seems aggrieved I'm asking him to work for his food - even though the sessions are short! A few mins!

I need to give him his last meal but he doesnt seem particularly bothered even though he loves his food.

Am I projecting human behaviour onto him

Yes
He sounds tired.

Puppies need a lot of sleep and it's probably that he's resisting relaxing in favour of wanting to play etc but actually when you leave him to settle he starts to get fatigued.

He is not sulking. Just let him be. If he is comfortable and resting in his bed that is great - encourage it

He's not sulking. He's tired and probably overwhelmed. He's been in your place for a week, and this strange person keeps trying to interact and make him do stuff. No wonder he's knackered!

If he's practicing calm behaviours in this crate then this is great. Leave him be til he's recharged and ready to go again.

There's something wrong with you if you think he's sulking. He's a baby. He misses his mother and siblings. You're new, the house, the smells. All new. You need to chill out.

God I wish my puppy wanted to stay resting in her crate!

A couple of rules of thumb:

*An 8-10 week puppy needs three hours sleep for every hour awake in the day, plus a full night's sleep.
*Their brains are still growing incredibly fast. Something as simple as a sit is really really hard! They have to work out what the strange monkey means and get their still a bit wobbly bodies to cooperate, when they haven't really figured out cause and effect yet. 90 seconds per training session is plenty at that age or you'll fry their tiny brains.

Sounds like he's doing the equivalent of quadratic equations whilst running a marathon, in an entirely new environment. He's quiet cos he's pooped. Let him rest!

You’re seriously over thinking this and attaching human emotions to a small, probably tired puppy!!! He’s allowed to sit in his crate. It is a good thing that he isn’t constantly your shadow.

He's tired. Leave him be. And be extremely grateful that you have a puppy that will happily sleep in its crate!

Yes, i see. My point was he wanted to interact, but when I ignored him he went and sat in his crate upset. And then ignored me later on when I went over.

So it didn’t feel like he was ignoring me because he was tired but more because he was upset if you see what I mean

They always want to interact (ie play). They’re exactly like toddlers. If you stimulate them they’ll stay awake but get overtired and then go mad running round screaming “I’m not TIIIIIIRREEEED” but if you ignore them they’ll (eventually if you’re lucky) settle

But he's not a child - he's a dog.

You were busy so he took himself off to sleep. That's an amazing thing for a dog to learn to do!

. Am I projecting human behaviour onto him and being completely stupid? I'm afraid so

Haha ok. Fair enough! I was worried I was making him depressed or sulky.

He is a very good boy. I guess I am expecting far too much from him. Poor thing. Thanks everyone!

‘My puppy hates me’ and ‘my puppy’s cross with me’ were common thoughts during my first few weeks with dpup!

@Doggylover2021

He is a very good boy. I guess I am expecting far too much from him. Poor thing. Thanks everyone!

We all do it. When my current two year old came home I planned lots of enriching stimulation and fun. We went places! We sniffed things! We met (carefully selected) dogs for playdates! We did lots of training! We had fun!

And it was fun. But, after three days my puppy just collapsed in my lap and slept for six hours straight. I was that worried I phoned the vet. "Is she dying????" She wasn't dying - she was just totally worn out.

Your puppy is lucky to have an owner who wants to put time and energy into bonding with them. This is good! In a few weeks time you'll need every drop of that time and energy, and will long for the days when he would flake out in his crate.

If you stimulate them they’ll stay awake but get overtired and then go mad running round screaming “I’m not TIIIIIIRREEEED”

And, yes, this totally. Realising that my once lovely puppy had turned into an insane biting whirlwind because she was overtired was a real lightbulb moment. At that stage I used to have to enforce naps and she would scream herself to sleep whilst I sung lullabies to her.

Good days.

My dog loves a lie in and won't get out of bed until she's either desperate for a wee or thinks something tasty is on offer. Her bed has very high value for her so I just leave her to it and get a coffee in peace. If your pup wanted a play there's no way they'd waste time sulking. Sounds like a calm dog who will be an absolute delight to you :)