Trouble Keeping 10 Week Old Puppy Busy

BarborousBarbra · 2023-09-05T13:40:54+00:00

Hi all. I have a 10-week-old terrier, and I just cannot seem to keep her busy unless I'm running around with her in the garden, which obviously I can't fo all day as I have to work (from home). I've tried Kongs, she has no interest, Snuffle/lick mats she does like, but makes short work of. I tried laying a trail of treats for her to find, again not interested. Any ideas?

Bonniethewestie · 05/09/2023 15:52

Pigs ears (or similar animal skin) are the best distractions for puppys. Calf hooves especially keep them super occupied (not pleasant but they work a charm with the teething).

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 05/09/2023 16:48

Puppies don't need to be that busy - most of their time should be spent sleeping at that age.

I wouldn't be giving pigs ears or cows hooves to a 10 week old either - they're too young for that kind of thing. Pigs ears in particular are very fatty and will likely cause a stomach upset.

If she likes lick mats, you could try freezing one to make it a bit more challenging and to help cool her down. You could also scatter her dry food in the grass (instead of in a snuffle mat). We do this with our beagle and it takes him ages and then he crashes out afterwards 😂

Janiie · 05/09/2023 18:44

Agree with pp they need to sleep a lot at this age so have a cosy quiet place for her to settle and sleep as much as possible. They get over tired, over stimulated and overwhelmed so easily which then results in hyper behaviour and non stop biting.

Goldenphoenix · 05/09/2023 21:51

Yak chews are good. She's still settling in but does need loads of sleep (like 20 hours a day!) so encourage her to nap more.

peanutcrumble · 05/09/2023 22:54

Yep lots of sleep. People seem to think that puppies need to be played with all day when the reality is is that they need to sleep loads. Furry rabbits ears are good at that age. Natural wormer too so bonus

Original poster

BarborousBarbra · 06/09/2023 08:00

Sorry all, did not have time to reply yesterday. She's my third dog so I know she's supposed to sleep a lot, and she has a quiet place to go, the problem is she doesn't want to sleep when I'm working. She also won't settle with any toy/chew for more than 5 minutes. I've restricted access so she only has one at a time but she quickly gets bored and wants my attention again. I run around the garden with her multiple times a day but nothing seems to tire her out! She's been checked over by the vet and all fine, so I'm at a loss.

OP posts:

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 06/09/2023 08:06

I mean, this all sounds very normal.

She's a young puppy - she wants attention. There's no way I'd have been able to work from home when mine was that age - he required way too much input and training.

Original poster

BarborousBarbra · 06/09/2023 08:11

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 06/09/2023 08:06

I mean, this all sounds very normal.

She's a young puppy - she wants attention. There's no way I'd have been able to work from home when mine was that age - he required way too much input and training.

I agree it's normal, but with my other pups, they'd play with a chew or Kong for a decent stretch and this one won't. entertain playing with anything at all for more than 5 minutes. I'm very patient, and I will play with her as much as I can, I just wondered if the not playing with toys/chews was weird as it's a bit unusual when compared to my other dogs.

OP posts:

Newpeep · 06/09/2023 08:30

They're all different.

My OH WFH with our pup and he got very little done for the first 6 months or so. He used to catch up when I got home. The first two weeks I was on holiday so got her into a reasonable routine that suited him before leaving him to it. It was hard. She needed a lot of contact and attention so he worked with her on his lap for quite a while, then she had a bed at his feet before she gained enough confidence to sleep away.

Lots of play and toilet training too.

It is hard work and I am not sure how anyone who can't be 100% flexible with their workload manages it.

Newpeep · 06/09/2023 08:32

Just to add that giving her the attention she needed when she needed it has turned her into a confident little dog at a year old who is happy to be away from us for hours in the house. It hasn't made her in any way clingy. We let her take herself off in her own time and never forced any separation.

Original poster

BarborousBarbra · 06/09/2023 08:45

Newpeep · 06/09/2023 08:30

They're all different.

My OH WFH with our pup and he got very little done for the first 6 months or so. He used to catch up when I got home. The first two weeks I was on holiday so got her into a reasonable routine that suited him before leaving him to it. It was hard. She needed a lot of contact and attention so he worked with her on his lap for quite a while, then she had a bed at his feet before she gained enough confidence to sleep away.

Lots of play and toilet training too.

It is hard work and I am not sure how anyone who can't be 100% flexible with their workload manages it.

Okay, so I guess I'll just roll with it for now. I'm lucky that I'm self-employed, so I don't have to work set hours. So, I'll just keep working around her instead of trying to get her interested in chews and toys. She does seem to love playing on my lap while I work!

OP posts:

Bonniethewestie · 06/09/2023 08:45

The puppy school we went to (well established) gave out the calf hooves on the first day and all the dogs loved them. I get what you mean about being fatty etc but most puppies done make much headway at that age (or take a really long time) depending on the breed.

I think most animals more interested in natural things like animal skin to chew on rather than artificial stuff. (I’m a veggie so wish that wasn’t the case but worked a charm for us)

Riverlee · 06/09/2023 14:22

How long have you had her? Maybe she’s just settling in. I pup took a couple of weeks to establish a routine.

Have you tried enforced naps in the crate when she looks tired.

Mental stimulus tends to tire them more than physical stimulus.

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 06/09/2023 14:45

BarborousBarbra · 06/09/2023 08:11

I agree it's normal, but with my other pups, they'd play with a chew or Kong for a decent stretch and this one won't. entertain playing with anything at all for more than 5 minutes. I'm very patient, and I will play with her as much as I can, I just wondered if the not playing with toys/chews was weird as it's a bit unusual when compared to my other dogs.

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I'd say it's more that your other dogs were a bit unusual, to be honest

There are quite a few threads on here from people who planned to WFH with a puppy and then realised it was almost impossible due to how much input they require for at least the first six months.

Mine was never interested in a Kong either so I had to find other techniques. They worked, but not for long periods of time until he was older and had more of an attention span lol.