Is this normal?

Paxo said:
Thanks guys, it is good (and relieving) to have normal and helpful responses. I think we'll be going with a behaviourist and will be careful to find a qualified one. We've now removed and hidden the crate from her view, both the inside one and car one and it has had an almost immediate and positive effect - she slept for quite a few hours last night and only got up at 6. Things are looking up....
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Crates do work for a lot of dogs. It becomes a safe place for them and you can leave them, confident that they will come to no harm, but occasionally, for whatever reason, they don’t work - don’t beat yourself up🙂 plan a routine for pup & stick to it, religiously and most importantly, relax. You clearly care for her very much because you have asked the question. Many of us that have had puppies of various breeds will have had feelings of self-doubt when challenged by a pup that defies all our previous experience of puppies & we had to think outside the box.
 
Thanks Blazing. We do care for her - we've waited for 10 years to get a dog - til we'd finished having children and felt that they were old enough. And until we had a house with a little bit of land. And then of course we had to wait for this pup. It really is reassuring to know that other people have felt the same. I know a friend of mine thought for 6 months that she'd made a terrible mistake (her puppy was boisterous and there were various instances with neighbours including knocking over a very ill cancer sufferer and cow chasing).

I won't bore people with every little thing, but.... Tonight, she ate a whole meal for the first time since we got her on the 12th. She even ate the Royal Canin which previously she just licked around. I was so surprised and I offered her a puppy treat from pets at home (she's refused all treats other than bits of cheese and liver) and she ate that too. I've tried to interest her in Kong toys stuffed with liver, cheese, peanut butter, royal canin, but she's never shown any interest whatsoever, but I've just now given her one and she chewed away and tried to get stuff out. Unbelievable! This is what I thought it would be like! It really is like a different dog. I know it's only early days and things aren't necessarily consistent, but, the relief.

Thanks again
 
I am very glad to hear that your puppy is less stressed.

If you need to contain her then perhaps a baby gate at home and a dog guard in the car for now.

Forcing her into the crate and letting her sink or swim would have been cruel and psychologically damaging and I am surprised that somebody suggested it.

It is an outdated technique called flooding which causes both acute and long term stress to the animal.

There are kinder and more appropriate techniques.

A qualified behaviourist who only uses science based, force free techniques will advise on training to improve the pup's confidence and build resilience.

If you wish to use a crate in the future then the behaviourist will advise you how to reintroduce the crate in a way that will not damage the pup's mental health.
 
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OK - thanks Cinnamon - fortunately yesterday was the first time she'd ever eaten any! I was just feeding what the breeder told me to give her. I thought I'd stick with that to start with until she settled as I didn't want to face her with too many new things and then I was going to plan what to do when she'd finished the bag. But that is a really useful website, thank you, I'll have a rethink.
 
Some excellent advice throughout this thread (particularly by Skinnydipper) so I won’t add more. However I would suggest you get a copy of Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy by Steve Mann - the best puppy book I own.
 
Moobli said:
Some excellent advice throughout this thread (particularly by Skinnydipper) so I won’t add more. However I would suggest you get a copy of Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy by Steve Mann - the best puppy book I own.
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Thank you, Moobli. Its good to see you back.
 
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