Hello

[Susie B]

Hi - desperate measures looking for puppy forums ! Beautiful darling 10 week Parson Jack Russell - Tinks, and i have had her two weeks now - all going pretty well, she is going to door for wees and if i am not there to open door to garden she goes on paper ......mostly. Teeth as sharp as needles and blood drawn several times, little claws that she can abseil with .....and a face as cute as cute .... and she hasn't cried at night at all - she stays in my conservatory, i am not into those crate things and as it is quarry tiled it is ideal, as well as being my room of choice to sit in most of the time too - so why have i just had a big boo hoo? I am tired, torn, frustrated and just stood in the pouring rain for ten minutes - to come in, put the kettle on and find a wee ....not on the paper, which when i tried to clear up, she made off with the cloth and went into manic puppy on speed routine..... having been up since 5.30 this morning, it all seemed too much - no time for me any more, unless she is asleep, and constantly with her .... i took two weeks annual leave from the office to settle her in and get down to toilet training ...Ha.... i now can't wait to get back to office for some sanity ...don't worry, i am home lunch times and will be taking every afternoon off next week as annual leave again.

i so want to do everything right and for her to be a sociable little girl - which i know she will be soon enough - but oh my ....it is hard work isn't it.....and there is only me so nice to pour out on here - will wash smudged mascara off from cheeks now - she is asleep next to me on sofa and suddenly all is well again....until tomorrow ? any comforting advice out there for me?

[nick_j007]

Welcome to motherhood

I promise you it will improve a great deal. Stick with it.

Wait no longer than a couple of minutes for loo breaks, then come in if no joy. You'll also benefit from a brolly near the back door this timer of year.

Take dog out on lead, walk to set spot and use the word you use to encourage toileting. Treat and reward, come back in. Ask sit short sits as you go out and come back in - start on manners now. I went through all this myself a year ago and made a few short vids which may help help you: YouTube - AlphaDogBehaviour's Channel

Be sure to have a few rope raggie toys about to divert the dogs constant mouthing at this age. Any overt biting or grabbing at you can result in an 'Ouch!!' (hold your hand in pain-act it up!) then say 'No biting' firmly and walk away. Avoid over exciting the dog in play...should that be happening.

Exhaustion. A very real of depressing element of puppy rearing (depending on how you cope with such deprivation). I do use and highly recommend a crate for nights and short day time sleeps, and it will save your house from soiling and chewing also. Puppies fit in with me (and I need 8 hrs sleep each night!) and I come down when I'm ready. Slightly dry approach admittedly, but all my dogs get it quickly enough once they know I'm not coming down 'till 7am say.

Look at a my expert articles here for further help, pick over YT vids to see the ones you need. Keep at it it will improve. Just sounds like you could be making life easier for yourself via a crate use and setting a more disciplined time table for the dog to follow

Best. Hands tissue.

Nick

[Susie B]

thanks nick - much appreciated - i haven't tried the lead yet - did put collar on just to try it and she kept scratching at it - but will try again as she has to get used to it - she is good at night - i go up and not a peep and i did stay in bed 'til 7.00 this morning - and when i came down she was just sitting at the door waiting for me to open it ....

i did not do my usual routine of greeting a long lost friend but was very low key and every time she went into scrabbling up and nipping i turned away from her - soon as she sat down i stroked her and queitly told her good girl - i repeated that and she did stop all the scrabbling - having said that - after a really good day today - she has gone bonkers now so have walked out of conservatory and into sitting room for a 'lesson' that i do not like the manic puppy mode.....

i will try all you have said - but not the crate - and will def. look at the your tube and the other links you kindly posted - it's good to know someone out there ! and yes, i will start ensuring she starts to fit into my routine and not vice versa - thanks again - susie

[nick_j007]

That's the spirit.

Here if you need me.

Nick