Life with puppy. It’s riding the old emotional roller coaster, that’s for sure. When we left him for the first time in the crate on Sunday, we weren’t gone for more than 30 minutes, but came back to find he’d pooped in the crate, even though he had pooped outside that morning.
So when we took him out this morning — repeatedly — and he didn’t poop, I expected the worst. Herb checked back on him around 10 a.m., and he hadn’t done anything more than spill his water dish. When Herb took him for a walk, glory be, and pooped and peed. I came back at lunch time, to find a clean crate, and took him out twice, where he performed like a champ.
We were pretty proud of the little guy and lavished him with love tonight. So I was more that a little surprised when he started to pee on the carpet in the den. I scooped him up and took him outside, where I expected him to finish, but he didn’t. So I put him in the training pen (which the kids refer to as doggie jail) to hopefully get the point across.
When I came back in, I started blaming myself. He had walked over to the door a couple of times. I should have known. I sat on the kitchen floor rubbing him into a zen state, and after the kids went up to bathe, I decided he could be trusted in the den again. But he had that look, so I took him out again, just to be sure. He showed no interest in leaving the patio, and headed back for the door. I took off his leash and sat down on the couch, inviting him up. It’s the time of night he generally wants to curl up on the couch with us and nap. But he wouldn’t come to the couch. Instead, he looked right at me, and started to pee AGAIN.
“Pippin!” I scooped him up with a firm “NO!” and it was back to doggie jail. But what with the crappy flashlight and the fact that I had to go in the house and clean up the spot while he was out there, I had no way of knowing whether he’d actually gone. So after I took him out of the pen, we walked around outside for 40 minutes.
“That was a willful pee,” I told Herb. “He was trying to send a message.”
“What kind of message?” Herb asked.
“He’s saying, ‘I can hold it, but I’m doing this on on purpose to punish you for leaving me alone today,’ ” I said.
“You’re kidding me,” Herb said.”
“No, I’m not. He’s smart, and all the books say they can be very manipulative.”
But manipulative or not, I can’t stay mad at Pippin.
He comes to me with that humble posture, and puts one paw on my leg, looking up with those big brown eyes.
I pick him up and kiss his head. “Yes, Mommy still loves you.”
I hope there’s not a visit from The Dog Whisperer in our future…
Comments 6
He did a Mr. Hankey and a couple of tinkles on our walk before bed. Then, left alone with Susan, he whizzed on the rug in our room (where he sleeps in his crate at night).
Hmm. Me thinks he dost protest too much.
Posted 08 Jan 2008 at 12:05 am ¶Pippin needs to be outside as much as you can arrange (this is why we fenced in the backyard, but my at-home hours are probably much greater than yours). You can get a stake with a large lead if you don’t have a fence. Being outside is good, even for a house dog (like mine). Nice weather days - get the dog used to being outside. Reward peeing/pooping outdoors with a small food treat. They’ll get the idea.
Take the doggie outside on a regular schedule. Simcha has a longer schedule than Shayna does (Shayna needs to pee more often, smaller dog, smaller bladder). We take them out in the a.m., at 11, at 3 and at 7 (and then at bed). But mine aren’t puppies and we are home more than you are, so YMMV.
The rescue society told me to leash to dog to me while we were home together. If I walk into the den, she does, too. If I sit in a chair, she sits next to me. That establishes your dominance over the dog, and not vice versa. A 6-8′ leash or even a piece of rope works fine for that. You can catch the pre-pee moment more easily that way.
The dog is testing his new environs. Don’t let the dog go anywhere in the house. Keep him in one or two rooms for a while (too much free confuses / overwhelms dogs). It isn’t cruel; it’s setting rules, boundaries and limitations
Dogs generally HATE pooping in their crates. It’s their den or burrow and they like to keep it clean. Take the dog out at the FIRST SIGN of wanting to go (y’know, I should listen to MYSELF on occasion
and then try to get on a regular schedule.
Get some puppy poop pads and put them near the door. They will use them and then you’re moving them toward the outside. It takes time…and it’s messy…but overall, more good than icky.
Posted 08 Jan 2008 at 8:59 am ¶I actually wondered if he was marking his territory, now that he knows this is his house, his yard, etc.
Posted 08 Jan 2008 at 9:12 am ¶We generally keep him confined to the kitchen and den.
We move his crate to our bedroom at night.
He gets lots of exercise and lots of outdoor time when we’re home.
I need to investigate a dog run in the back. Our yard’s so uneven that it would be impossible to fully fence it in.
Good advice, Sue.
Thanks!
Posted 08 Jan 2008 at 9:32 am ¶I apologize for not getting my congratulations in sooner. Pippin is adorable.
You might say, “Yes, jw. We were surprised to not hear from you. We know what an animal lover you are.” Well, here’s what happened. Mike, the runt cat, decided the little box was a little to far for her to travel to, so she decided to pee in the computer’s surge protector. This is not the first time she’s decided to pee wherever she wanted. Do you know what happens when cat pee meets pluged-in electrical device? I do.
Mike’s still alive, though a little jolt would have been nice to teach her a lesson.
Enjoy the puppy!
By the way, the surge protector did its job. The computer is okay, but it did remind me to back up some files, like important campaign information!
Posted 13 Jan 2008 at 8:39 am ¶JW,
We’re all too familiar with making sure you have a proper backup.
And familiar with peeing animals. Pippin continues to piddle in the kitchen. Abby happened to sit in it Tuesday morning.
Posted 15 Jan 2008 at 11:04 am ¶