Inevitable request for puppy help!

SAujla

SAujla

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Its been just over 5 weeks with my first puppy, a lot of ups and downs, she's not a massive chewer which suprises me but for all the research I did I have to say it didn't prepare me enough at all, experience is everything. Things have settled but there are two areas I'm struggling with - waking up earlier every day and walking.

Clover goes to sleep between 10-10.30pm, she was waking up around 5.30am which I know is good for a pup but for the last few weeks she's been barking to get up earlier and earlier and today was 4.20am. I take her out and she always does a wee and a poo then I put her back in her crate and she'll nap for between 30-60 minutes. Its dark in her room so its not the light that is making her get up early but I'm thinking she is learning that barking gets her out, I'd be tempted to ignore but she does appear to need the toilet and its very early in the morning to let her bark a lot.

Option 1 is if I get up around 4am take her out for toiletting and then back into her crate and then slowly push back the time so she'll learn to wait for me to let her out.
Option 2 is ignore her barking and see if she settles but the problem with this is that its asking for trouble with one set of neighbours in particular if they can hear her barking so early in the morning, we don't get on so that complicates things a bit.

The second less major issue is the "Stop-and-sniff" policy she has adopted on her walks which applies to everything, I want her to sniff as I know that is vital for dogs but I would like to be able to get her to stop sniffing after a while and focus back on me.

Any help and advice is much appreciated, I have included some pictures of my demon/best friend
IMG_20200513_125058_resized_20200520_051059023.jpgIMG_20200516_125740_resized_20200520_051059560.jpgIMG_20200517_143926_resized_20200520_051120644.jpg
 
Shes still very young. I would try keeping her up a bit later at night. Maybe 11.30? out to toilet last thing. Or possibly a short walk before bed. Hopefully this will help her sleep later in the morning.
Sniffing? I would take a small treat, when you want her to walk on just use your vouce to encourage and reward with a little treat when she does.
 
Oh shes gorgeous. Second the later toilet thing, maybe an earlier last meal as well. If she goes out to toilet then back to bed I think shes barking to let you know and I wouldnt worry. If she were barking going for a sniff and wanting to play its different
 
Option 1 for the sleeping/getting up, - you can't risk disturbing the neighbours so early in the morning.

And I would say that she is very young to be walking on a lead for much time. I know lockdown has caused problems for us all but she should only be lead walking for a maximum 5 mins per month of age. I wouldn't allow her to sniff while on the lead, she should be focussed on you and walking properly. She can sniff when you let her off the lead, or if that's not possible when you take her to somewhere more relaxed and give her a 'play' command.
 
Get up, let her out, interact as little as possible, no excitement just praise for toiletting outside. Everyone back to bed until getting up time. It will pass, you won't be getting up at 2am with an adult dog! She needs to be allowed to toilet when she needs but you control when the day starts!

The sniffing is more complicated to explain in text but basically you need to first teach her to look at you where it's easy for her to do so. Reinforce that behaviour well then build up the level of distraction slowly. You can create a situation where she's looking away from you by throwing a bit of kibble a short distance away from you, let her chase and find it... as she finishes eating and turns back towards you praise her and drop 2 or 3 bits of kibble between your feet. You can start to add a cue as she turns. That cue will become your "turn away from a sniff" cue eventually. If you do this with one of her meals every day you'll soon have a puppy who has had the "turn towards owner" behaviour strongly reinforced and you'll start to feel the benefit out on walks before you've even taken it outside. You can build this up gradually to using the cue to get a turn away from a sniff. Or anything actually. I don't think I'm very good at explaining it but hopefully you get the idea.
 
angrybird1 said:
Shes still very young. I would try keeping her up a bit later at night. Maybe 11.30? out to toilet last thing. Or possibly a short walk before bed. Hopefully this will help her sleep later in the morning.
Sniffing? I would take a small treat, when you want her to walk on just use your vouce to encourage and reward with a little treat when she does.
Click to expand...

I like the short walk before bed idea I didn't think about that, she gets two 15 minute walks a day and I'm keen to avoid the hottest parts of the day as well so this would work double.

I take treats and kibble and can get her attention after a while by saying "Leave"
 
Roxylola said:
Oh shes gorgeous. Second the later toilet thing, maybe an earlier last meal as well. If she goes out to toilet then back to bed I think shes barking to let you know and I wouldnt worry. If she were barking going for a sniff and wanting to play its different
Click to expand...

A lot of people comment on how nice she looks I'm never sure what to say, I can't say thank you its nothing to do with me! Her last meal is about 7pm. She does seem to understand that its back to bed after early toilet but I think it confuses her a bit because she doesn't see me from around 5pm the day before, I think she gets exctied to see me and that makes it harder for her to settle back down. I get back from work around 10.30pm she's usually asleep by then
 
If she was mine I would definitely have a later bedtime and mine have always gone for a walk just before. I don’t give treats ever but I certainly wouldn’t give a treat for stopping for a sniff. I think you’ll end up with other problems later, I wouldn’t worry about the sniffing, she’s learning about the world. Does she have off lead time to do her own thing ?
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Option 1 for the sleeping/getting up, - you can't risk disturbing the neighbours so early in the morning.

And I would say that she is very young to be walking on a lead for much time. I know lockdown has caused problems for us all but she should only be lead walking for a maximum 5 mins per month of age. I wouldn't allow her to sniff while on the lead, she should be focussed on you and walking properly. She can sniff when you let her off the lead, or if that's not possible when you take her to somewhere more relaxed and give her a 'play' command.
Click to expand...
Yeah I agree I don't really want her barking that early in the morning its not really fair to anyone includind the pup. I think I will take her somewhere more relaxed I feel it would be very difficult to get her to not sniff right now even when I'm loaded to the gills with treats
 
bonny said:
If she was mine I would definitely have a later bedtime and mine have always gone for a walk just before. I don’t give treats ever but I certainly wouldn’t give a treat for stopping for a sniff. I think you’ll end up with other problems later, I wouldn’t worry about the sniffing, she’s learning about the world. Does she have off lead time to do her own thing ?
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I do like this idea it never occured to me to walk her just before sleeping, I try and give her a treat only when she's stopped sniffing but maybe I'm accidentally rewarding her for sniffing? She has free time in the garden to roam about I've not had her off lead in public
 
Option 1 is what I did and it worked well. I utterly spoilt mine by having him in bed with us for that hour between early toilet and going back to bed, only short term, 2 weeks.
 
Sukhpreet Aujla said:
A lot of people comment on how nice she looks I'm never sure what to say, I can't say thank you its nothing to do with me! Her last meal is about 7pm. She does seem to understand that its back to bed after early toilet but I think it confuses her a bit because she doesn't see me from around 5pm the day before, I think she gets exctied to see me and that makes it harder for her to settle back down. I get back from work around 10.30pm she's usually asleep by then
Click to expand...
Get her up when you get in for a bit, have a bit of interaction then and out for a toilet/walk.
Have a look on youtube at kikopup, also the look at that game, and look for puppy agility foundation. I think its sunshine ranch or similar theyve a whippet pup in their videos
 
PapaverFollis said:
Get up, let her out, interact as little as possible, no excitement just praise for toiletting outside. Everyone back to bed until getting up time. It will pass, you won't be getting up at 2am with an adult dog! She needs to be allowed to toilet when she needs but you control when the day starts!

The sniffing is more complicated to explain in text but basically you need to first teach her to look at you where it's easy for her to do so. Reinforce that behaviour well then build up the level of distraction slowly. You can create a situation where she's looking away from you by throwing a bit of kibble a short distance away from you, let her chase and find it... as she finishes eating and turns back towards you praise her and drop 2 or 3 bits of kibble between your feet. You can start to add a cue as she turns. That cue will become your "turn away from a sniff" cue eventually. If you do this with one of her meals every day you'll soon have a puppy who has had the "turn towards owner" behaviour strongly reinforced and you'll start to feel the benefit out on walks before you've even taken it outside. You can build this up gradually to using the cue to get a turn away from a sniff. Or anything actually. I don't think I'm very good at explaining it but hopefully you get the idea.
Click to expand...

She has good recall in the house and garden, I can call her from anywhere and she'll come running even if she cannot see me but its just not translating to the outside world. I really like the kibble idea that sounds very appealing, I will try that with her midday meal for sure
 
In that case when you get in at 10. 30 wake her up. short walk and toliet. Are you using a command for toilet? its fairly easy to do. just everytime she wees in garden say your word. choose a short word such as for example busy or quick or whatever. and praise. she will soon learn to go on command.
 
Roxylola said:
Get her up when you get in for a bit, have a bit of interaction then and out for a toilet/walk.
Have a look on youtube at kikopup, also the look at that game, and look for puppy agility foundation. I think its sunshine ranch or similar theyve a whippet pup in their videos
Click to expand...

I will do this, I think its just confusing for her to see me in the morning after 12 or so hours away and not want to interact
 
Pointless1 said:
In that case when you get in at 10. 30 wake her up. short walk and toliet. Are you using a command for toilet? its fairly easy to do. just everytime she wees in garden say your word. choose a short word such as for example busy or quick or whatever. and praise. she will soon learn to go on command.
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I've not used a command because she hasn't had an accident inside since the third day I got her, is it too late to add one now? She hasn't done a wee or poo outside yet
 
I’d be thanking your lucky stars that you have such a smart pup who’s letting you know she needs to go out - evidenced by the poop/pee when she’s let out. If she were just barking for attention that would require a different approach but I’d just keep getting up when she lets you know she needs out (she’s still a real baby and it won’t be forever), let her out with minimal fuss, back in crate with something to chew or a little food reward then back to bed until it’s your usual getting up time.
If you don’t want her sniffing when on lead, give her something else to do. Keep her engaged with you, praise for nice heeling, watching/focusing on you, reward the behaviour you want. Allow her sniffing time when off lead or use a command that over time she’ll learn means she is allowed to sniff.
 
Sukhpreet Aujla said:
A lot of people comment on how nice she looks I'm never sure what to say, I can't say thank you its nothing to do with me! Her last meal is about 7pm. She does seem to understand that its back to bed after early toilet but I think it confuses her a bit because she doesn't see me from around 5pm the day before, I think she gets exctied to see me and that makes it harder for her to settle back down. I get back from work around 10.30pm she's usually asleep by then
Click to expand...


wake her up for a short playtime/walk when you get home
 
Moobli said:
I’d be thanking your lucky stars that you have such a smart pup who’s letting you know she needs to go out - evidenced by the poop/pee when she’s let out. If she were just barking for attention that would require a different approach but I’d just keep getting up when she lets you know she needs out (she’s still a real baby and it won’t be forever), let her out with minimal fuss, back in crate with something to chew or a little food reward then back to bed until it’s your usual getting up time.
If you don’t want her sniffing when on lead, give her something else to do. Keep her engaged with you, praise for nice heeling, watching/focusing on you, reward the behaviour you want. Allow her sniffing time when off lead or use a command that over time she’ll learn means she is allowed to sniff.
Click to expand...

I have got very lucky I know, other than down she's not failed to pick anything up that I'm teaching her. I just wondering why she's waking up a little bit earlier every day?

I do struggle keeping her engaged when she walks with me nicely then I give her a treat and its like it's her queue to go sniff so maybe I should wait longer. When she is sniffing and stops and comes back to me I reward again and I'm thinking now am I accidentally rewarding the wrong thing?
 
Sukhpreet Aujla said:
I have got very lucky I know, other than down she's not failed to pick anything up that I'm teaching her. I just wondering why she's waking up a little bit earlier every day?

I do struggle keeping her engaged when she walks with me nicely then I give her a treat and its like it's her queue to go sniff so maybe I should wait longer. When she is sniffing and stops and comes back to me I reward again and I'm thinking now am I accidentally rewarding the wrong thing?
Click to expand...
I really wouldn’t give treats as you walk along, I can’t see anything to gain by it and you’ll end up with a dog constantly looking for a treat.
 
Sukhpreet Aujla said:
I have got very lucky I know, other than down she's not failed to pick anything up that I'm teaching her. I just wondering why she's waking up a little bit earlier every day?

I do struggle keeping her engaged when she walks with me nicely then I give her a treat and its like it's her queue to go sniff so maybe I should wait longer. When she is sniffing and stops and comes back to me I reward again and I'm thinking now am I accidentally rewarding the wrong thing?
Click to expand...

Sniffing in itself is self-rewarding for dogs and if you aren't doing anything else with her on the walks she is finding her own stimulation. I don't treat my dogs for walking along with me but when they are pups I do engage with them ie play little games with a tug, a few seconds of heelwork (you could use tiny food rewards for that if you like), a few sit, stand cues thrown in etc. Anything to keep their attention on you. You won't have to do this forever, just while she is a pup. Are you allowing sniffing at other times? Think of it a little like pee-mail for dogs :) They learn all sorts of interesting info from the smells other dogs have left, so you have to compete with that, but not ALL the time - sniffing is a very important part of your dog's day, so let her sniff at appropriate times.
 
To add to the other replies, excessive sniffing can also be a stress/avoidance behaviour, as in 'oh look at that shiny thing over there, I'm going to ignore everything else'.
So make sure you are not overfacing her with either exercise or demands on her attention.

I don't use treats, I use a dog's normal kibble for training and initially for any new dog I reward any engagement whatsoever with a mark (yep) and food. So paying attention to me = life.
Look at me = yep = food.
Travel in my general direction = yep = food.
Marry that to a mark and command of your choosing.
Come = yep = food.
But you need to teach her an actual mark system rather than expect her to know/work entirely off body language.
And when they are younger, lots of praise too.
You get faster recalls when you mark and reward in an animated fashion when they have acknowledged you from a short distance, turned and are on their way back at their quickest and then dump the food on them as soon as they are back with you.
I find most people expect too much and are too formal with very young pups and end up browing them off.
Make yourself as silly, exciting and engaging as possible and don't care who is looking, otherwise the pissy patch of grass will seem much more interesting
 
Sukhpreet Aujla said:
I've not used a command because she hasn't had an accident inside since the third day I got her, is it too late to add one now? She hasn't done a wee or poo outside yet
Click to expand...
where does she do it then if not inside or outside? !
no its not too late. just start pairing the word with the action and it will eventually click. obviously when she does it in the right place!
Do you mean she doesnt go in the garden? if so I would get her to go there as one day if you cant get her out for whatever reason it might be a problem.
 
Pointless1 said:
where does she do it then if not inside or outside? !
no its not too late. just start pairing the word with the action and it will eventually click. obviously when she does it in the right place!
Do you mean she doesnt go in the garden? if so I would get her to go there as one day if you cant get her out for whatever reason it might be a problem.
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Sorry I meant a wee or a poo outside in public! She has the same spot in the back garden she always goes too
 
CorvusCorax said:
To add to the other replies, excessive sniffing can also be a stress/avoidance behaviour, as in 'oh look at that shiny thing over there, I'm going to ignore everything else'.
So make sure you are not overfacing her with either exercise or demands on her attention.

I don't use treats, I use a dog's normal kibble for training and initially for any new dog I reward any engagement whatsoever with a mark (yep) and food. So paying attention to me = life.
Look at me = yep = food.
Travel in my general direction = yep = food.
Marry that to a mark and command of your choosing.
Come = yep = food.
But you need to teach her an actual mark system rather than expect her to know/work entirely off body language.
And when they are younger, lots of praise too.
You get faster recalls when you mark and reward in an animated fashion when they have acknowledged you from a short distance, turned and are on their way back at their quickest and then dump the food on them as soon as they are back with you.
I find most people expect too much and are too formal with very young pups and end up browing them off.
Make yourself as silly, exciting and engaging as possible and don't care who is looking, otherwise the pissy patch of grass will seem much more interesting
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say she is excessively sniffing it's more a 50/50 whether she stops of her own accord or because I ask her too. We walk the same routes I used to carry her so it should be sonewhat familiar. I do love the sound of her nose sniffing I must admit.

I usually do her morning walk with her kibble but throw in some treats for better behaviour. I'm sticking to the 5 minutes per month of age up to twice a day but I'm not sure whether this includes free time in the garden?
 
I would let her have as much free time in the garden as she wants especially with this nice weather. She can sniff around to her hearts content and then if you want to stop her when she’s out walking hopefully she will just focus on walking instead. How old is she now ?
 
I am another one that would do a late walk and keep her up later in the evening, it is a puppy thing my adult dog goes to bed about midnight and I go have to kick her out of her bed at 8.30am so it's pretty short lived lol!

She is absolutely gorgeous and sounds like she is such a good girl being so young.
 
Nothing to do with the toileting issue but wanted to note, if you're going to use a crate for extended periods, e.g. overnight, please get a much bigger one than she's in now. She's going to be a reasonably big dog and she needs to be able to flex and extend those baby muscles, ligaments and tendons to make them strong for her future.

I hate crates but I understand some like to use them but they need to be the correct size to prevent future problems.
 
bonny said:
I would let her have as much free time in the garden as she wants especially with this nice weather. She can sniff around to her hearts content and then if you want to stop her when she’s out walking hopefully she will just focus on walking instead. How old is she now ?
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She is 13 weeks now, I'll give her more free time in the garden but she wears herself out quick so should take some water with me I think.
 
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