Helping puppy adjust?

[janette]

We have a new puppy (pictures are here ) we brought him home Monday and the only thing he is having problems with is being left alone.

I hate to hear him cry and would love some hints.

I've left him in the girls bathroom because it is the safest place. We got him a crate yesterday and he loves it and slept in it last night and is already crashed there tonight. I put the crate in there but didn't put him in it and also left a few toys for him to play with and chew on. He wasn't crying when I got home but started pretty quick. I think he probably heard me.

I left a radio on for him today but it didn't seem to help.

Would it be better to leave him in his crate?

I could get some gates and leave him in the kitchen. Would that be better? He wouldn't have a closed door that way but would be alone.

I've also considered letting my older dog (14yo) spend the day in the kitchen with him. Do you think this would help? Not sure my older dog would appreciate it, she usually objects to being left in the house but if I get her a nice bed to lay on she might tolerate it. She wouldn't play with him but maybe her presence would make him feel better.

Anyone have something that worked for your puppies?

 

[Tuffcookie]

janette, You need to crate that puppy for his own safety!!! Puppies can get into a lot of trouble and are very destructive left unsupervised, not to mention disrupting their housebreaking routine. Do not feel guilty. It is for his own good!

TC

 

[iluvorlando]

Janette, both of our dogs were crate trained. Much better for the dog! I have heard that it actually helps with potty training too!

Good luck!

 

[bsnyder]

Janette, he's absolutely adorable! We are already talking about getting a second Bichon (yes, we've fallen head over heels for this breed!) and seeing Tyler makes me want to get one tomorrow!!

I agree with TC. It is not cruel to crate a puppy, they are den animals by nature and like the small confines.

Gibson's crate is in our room with us. He cried the first night we had him (the crate was downstairs in the den) but once I moved him into our room he would sleep in the crate all night long without a peep.

He stays in the crate during the day, but we always take turns coming home to spend an hour in the middle of the day with him, and take a long walk with him.

As for when you are at home, he probably will want your companionship. I spent a lot of evenings, the first few weeks we had him, with him on my lap on the couch. I started grooming him during these times, with the brush and comb, and he loves to be groomed now. It's the perfect way to get him used to being combed, because Bichons require a lot of it!

Let me know how it goes and enjoy your cutie pie!

 

[janette]

Bet - I've keep thinking maybe we should have brought his sister home too.

He has no problem with his crate for night-time. He is sleeping in my DD's room, she has the crate on the trundle so he's right there beside her.

I'd read some different things about day-time and wasn't sure. Some said just to have a confined area until they are house trained. He did fine overnight though, he likes to snuggle in blankets and even growled at younger DD when she tried to get him out of the crate. (She's been told that he is not be taken out of the crate).

I'll try just putting him in there tomorrow. Maybe just leave him on the bed where he sleeps.

He stays right with us when we are home, prefers to be in someones lap. The only other thing he's complained about is his leash. He isn't thrilled sometimes when he doesn't get to go the way he wants.

 

[hercamore]

Hi,

I am sorry your puppy picture isn't coming up for me to view. I would love to see him!

I might suggest giving him a little blankie or an old towel that you have rubbed on your skin so he can have your mama smell when youj're not there. Keep it in his crate for him, unless you think he's gonna tear it to pieces!

Good luck,

Herc.

 

[janette]

He has 3 blankets in his crate. We noticed he liked burrowing in blankets and thought he would like them and he does. Doesn't chew on them at all just snuggles.

I'll have check the pictues. They were coming up, I wonder if imagestation has put a limit on views?

 

[bsnyder]

janette, how old is Tyler? And how long are you gone during the day?

If he's only a few months old, I would suggest not leaving him crated for more than 3 hours at a stretch, during the day time. When Gibson was that little, we arranged our schedules so that we came home twice during the day, to let him out. Now that he is older (he'll be a year old next month) we feel comfortable with him crated for 5 or 6 hours at a time.

He never, ever had an accident in the crate!

 

[janette]

He's 10wks and that does help him with control. He was in his crate from about 10pm until 7am last night and no accidents.

I'm gone from 9am till about 2:45. Not a really long day but a little too long for right now. Today was the first time he was alone that long. I came home early yesterday. I could come home sometimes but not all the time so don't want him to expect me.

 

[bsnyder]

If he can go all night, then he will probably be fine for that length of time during the day.

At first I was worried about Gibson getting used to us being home all day on the weekends, and then having to readjust to the weekday schedule on Mondays, but he hasn't had any problems with that.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I don't think blankets or stuffed animals are a good idea for leaving in the crate. I think it coulld be life threatening if they swallowed pieces of either. I think a small rubber Kong or some other type of toy would be more safe.

TC

 

[janette]

Thanks everyone. He did much better in his crate. He snuggles in his blankets so he seems more comfortable with them. I don't have anything really fluffy or stuffed in there. I woke him up Friday when I got home, he was just sleeping and hadn't heard me yet.

Now we're working on house training. He is doing pretty well and has even gone to the door sometimes already. No accidents in his crate at all and we've started using it more for his naps. He sleeps quite abit during the day still.

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

Just wanted to wish you luck with your puppy. We had a Bichon (Bingo) when our DD was first born. We gave him to my MOM when they lost their 14 year old Poodle a few years back. They are such loving and loyal dogs, but very stubborn when it comes to house breaking. Bingo will still have "accidents" to "punish" my parents if they go out for too long. As a matter of fact, last time they went out for a long time was back in July. They went to a NASCAR Winston cup race in Loudon, NH and left Bingo with us. He ended up sleeping with us UNDER the covers...even though it was like 100 degrees outside. Our dog RUBY isn't even allowed ON the bed never mind under the covers. Bichons just melt your heart though. He didn't give us a choice.
Again...goodluck and many years of happiness with your new pup.

 

[janette]

We've seen a little of his stubborn streak. He isn't thrilled about a leash and will plant himself when he doesn't want to follow. It's kind of useless for him right now because he's too small to win any arguments

 

[cherylp3]

Many of my friends leave their TV on.

Just the sound seems to quiet the dogs.

Cheryl

 

[Ranatra]

Janette,
Your new puppy is Beautiful!!
We brought home a 12 week toy poodle pup Labor Day weekend. We crated her right away. I really think it's the only way to go for housebreaking. The bottom of the crate is one big folded up puffy blanket to sleep on, and I put a stuffed doggie in there the first night. She snuggles up with it. There is also a raw hide stick in there to chew on. She is in there for a couple hours at a time, except for nighttime of course. I put her to bed at 9:00 and get her up at 6:00 to go out. She only wet in her cage the first 2 nights (I promptly washed the blanket) and hasn't since then. When she was 16 weeks, she started going to the back door (the door I always use with her) and scratching to go out. I was elated! I only have her out of the crate when I can watch her and give her my undivided attention. We've had very few accidents.
My mom and my sister are here during the day, so she gets out regularly.
Good Luck with your new Puppy! What a cutie!

Zoe at 12 weeks