Can you spoil a young puppy?

[Bichon Barb]

We just got a new Bichon pup. She's 7 weeks old. She throws a hissy fit when I put her in the crate. She cried almost the whole way into work this morning. It breaks my heart, but I know she needs to get used to the crate. You'd think it was one of our human kids. LOL.

Anyway, do you think it's spoiling to pick up and hold a puppy when she's crying? I'm at work, and she's in my lap right now sound asleep.

She'd rather be sleeping on my lap or next to me. When the family is all in the family room, she'll nap on the dog bed in front of the fireplace. I'm such a softie. Our other dog is 3 years old. He also was 7 weeks when we got him, but I don't remember him being such a whiner. BTW, he slept in our bed from day one.

I know someone here is a breeder. (I forgot who it was.) Would love your opinions.

 

[janette]

I'm not a breeder but we've got a spoiled Bichon too

When we first brought him home we put him in his crate during the day and at night. He did fine during the day but would complain unless the crate was on my DD's bed at night. After he became somewhat trust worthy around the house I told my DD he could sleep with her. The next time we tried to put him in his crate at night he cried all night, it was useless. Not only will he not sleep in his crate but he won't sleep alone. If my DD is not home someone else has to let him in their bed. One weekend my DD's and I were gone my DH even let him sleep with him. The alternative is for no one to get some sleep!

He still does fine going to his crate during the day, since that has always been his schedule. Right now since I'm a little late leaving for work he's sleeping somewhere else but I'll put him in his crate and he doesn't complain at all. I am the ONLY one that is allowed to do that though. He has a fit if one of the girls try.

Spoiled?? Not our puppy

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

I am assuming you can spoil your dog, my cat has become a spoiled little princess in this household.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Thanks guys. You're making me feel better already. Yes, as tiny as she is, we've been making a couple "walls" out of pillows on our bed, between myself and DH, and that is where she has been sleeping. I just feel so guilty to let her cry, because she is so young. And I'm not going to bring her to work after next week, so she has to get used to her crate. I think Otto is miffed I've been leaving him at home and bringing Beanie with me. Then again, maybe he's enjoying the peace and quiet.

 

[tripletvan]

Any dog can be spoiled in the first 6 weeks is what I was told when I took my golden to obedience school. They recommend classes as early as 6 - 8 weeks old. I was told this from anopther instructor at a diffrent school as well as the one I went too.

We went to the classes and Sallie is a good girl and we cheat from time to time like watching TV is ok but sleeping through the night on our bed is a no no she has her own.

 

[kdibattista]

I have 2 dogs - both from the shelter. We coddled them when they were puppies (both were severely abused - to gruesome to mention). I was the only person who would hold "my youngest" when he was 5 weeks. They absolutely adore us to this day. They are still spoiled (spaghetti every Thursday, nightly rides in the car by my mom) but they definitely know who is in charge.

P.S. Although we did not do it, I would definitely recommend a training school.

 

[Kermit]

I think that the term "spoil" is relative to what you intend to keep doing. If you're willing to sleep with your dog forever, then there's no reason not to right now. (Unless you don't want puddles in your bed. ) You'll still be able to train the dog to sit, lay, etc., but it may never want to sleep alone. But if you're the type that doesn't always want to have a dog in your lap and in your bed, you may want to be a bit tougher right now.

We spoiled our dog to be a lap dog. The Humane Society said that he would be 30, 35 pounds top. Imagine our surprise when he finally stopped growing at 65 pounds! So now we have a huge, indoor lap dog. It doesn't bother us, but people who visit us sometimes think it's odd. He actually climbs in my lap while I nurse the baby. Since I'm only 5'2", that's quite a sight.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

LOL Kermit! I would LOVE to see a picture of that!!!

Our labs used to lay together on my lap when they were pups. Now they both are pushing 100 lbs, and not even one of them can fit so they stopped trying!

Ours dogs never have and never will sleep in bed with us. They have their crates and go there when they are ready to settle in for the night. If we have someone come watch them I certainly am not going to expect them to sleep with them!

So YES I think you can easily spoil a dog. Usually a short, quick rap on the kennel will stop the whining. Or put change in a can/plastic bottle and give it one shake to startle your pup. Also just say "quiet" in a stern voice and walk away. If you keep at it, your pup will soon learn that if the kennel is shut that means quiet time. Then praise praise praise when they have spent time in there quietly.

Good luck!

 

[phanomouse]

I have three dogs, two Malamutes (128lb & 180 lb) and a cocker spaniel (20lb). I spoil all three of them. Mila, the cocker spaniel, used to sleep with me but I think she stopped because the other two slept on the floor so she had to be like them. Nanook and Zepada are my backpacking buddies, and sometimes my blankets all three of them are very well behaved... they don't jump up on anyone but me, and only when we don't have guests. They know that if I am home during the day they get to lay on the bed and couches b/c usually I am sick if I am home so they cuddle up and keep me warm. I don't think its wrong to spoil your dog if they know there are rules and you inforce them, and as long as your not doing something that you shouldn't be doing in the first place. (example: I left Mila with my 86 yr old grandmother while myself, nanook and zepada all went to nepal trekking. I told my g-ma that mila was allergic to beef and it makes her very sick. I came home 5 weeks later to find out that Mila spent a week of that under observation at my vets office because she had been fed browned ground beef... what the heck, I was very upset but then I saw how bad my g-ma felt I couldn't be mad at her. Any way don't give them things just because they want them is my point... LOL)

 

[kidzmom3]

we put our 11 week old puppies dog bed into the crate last night and he has been much better about sleeping in the crate.