Very Clingy Puppy!

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CarisRosita
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:44 am
Location: West Sussex

Very Clingy Puppy!

Post by CarisRosita »

Hello! This is my first post so please be gentle! :wink:

My name's Caris and I live in West Sussex, England. We brought home our pug x shih tzu puppy, Ricci, sunday before last. She's 10 weeks old and we absolutely adore her! She's really lovely natured and displays classic pug characteristics but despite my extensive research into the breed, I can't seem to get her out of the bad habits she has!

She's my first dog so I may be a bit too soft with her, but she is like my shadow and has to know where I am all the time! For the first week, I stayed home with her to get her settled, but now she's coming to work with me and has a lovely, warm room all to herself with water, a bed and toys, but when I have customers in and have to close the door, she cries. I give her plenty of attention as business is pretty quiet at the moment and once she's fully vaccinated, I can take her out for walks but I really don't know what to do for the time being! She's also chewing everything she can get her teeth around and doesn't seem to have picked up any house training. I love her so much and really want the best for her and to raise her to be a happy healthy dog so any tips would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you in advance

CarisRosita xxx
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Mattie
Posts: 5872
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:21 am

Post by Mattie »

Gill White, who is a friend and taught me so much about dogs especially with Joe who had been beaten for coming back, has classes in Shoreham. She is good and is a positive trainer/Behaviourist.

http://www.ttlntl.co.uk/3/BehAdv/training%20classes.htm
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MaiasMom
Posts: 429
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:02 pm
Location: Everett, Washington

Post by MaiasMom »

I would say that this is normal for a puppy, remember they grew up in a litter, they are pack animals and you it's pack. Even now with my posse at 4 yrs, 3 yrs and 2 yrs old they follow me around to see what I am doing and could it mean some fun for them.

Give it some time and do look into some training, this is just a baby, human babies do much the same thing.
The best days are spent with my dogs.
mselisabs
Posts: 65
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:06 pm
Location: Charlotte, NC

Post by mselisabs »

This sounds all very normal. It's very common for pups to have some separation anxiety and clingy-ness - they have to learn to be confident not just in themselves but in the fact that you will always come back if you've left her. Even though she's got no reason NOT to trust you her little puppy brain might not be able to connect the dots yet.

As far as potty training goes, there are a *lot* of materials out there. Just remember, you have to be very consistent - if she needs full potty training I'd suggest taking her out no less then every hour on the hour until she starts to get it - as I'm sure we all know here "set her up for success!" If you leave water out then walk her often - but if you leave water out and don't walk her for a few hours you will most certainly have an accident. Heavy praise when she potties outside!
maximoo
Posts: 1111
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:07 am
Location: South Florida

Post by maximoo »

Can you put her in a little crate somewhere safe when customers come in? --that way she can still see you and not be in the way. Or, rather than closing the door put up a gate.--same concept she can still see you. In the meantime, learn all you can about separation anxiety & start working on it now. You don't want a dog with severe SA as it is a serious problem-you may find pee & poo everyday, things chewed up, when she is grown. Plus you'll never be able to leave her, go on vacation, etc. I strongly advise to not pick her up constantly or for every little thing. This will increase her SA b/c she won't know how to function w/o you. Let her be a dog first & foremost. Good Luck you have a lot of reading to do!
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Mattie
Posts: 5872
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:21 am

Post by Mattie »

I was short of time yesterday, but can answer longer now.

At 10 weeks old she is still a baby and like all babies they are very vunerable and insecure, they need to have constant contact with mum. Human babies don't like being shut away from mum either, but with the right handling both babies and pups can learn to cope.

It is lovely you can take her to work with you but when she is shut into a room on her own it is very scary. Is it possible for her to be put into a crate instead? This will also help with her socialisation with humans.

Giving her plenty of attention doesn't always work, it has to be the right attention, you need to be teaching her what you want of her, how to behave, good manners etc as well as obedience. For pups clicker training is wonderful, it also builds up their confidence.

You don't have to wait until after her vaccinations to take her out as long as you don't put her on the ground, many experienced dog owners carry the pups in bags so they can socialise them during this time as it is a valuable age for a pup for learning. Due to owners not socialising pups at this time many never learn how to cope when outside and become very fearful so the more she sees the better.

She is chewing because she is investigating, babies put everything into their mouths and chew, pups are the same. Keep out of the way what you don't want her to chew and give her what she can. You can even get puppy teething rings now :lol:

Dogs don't pick up house training, they have to be taught what to do, babies don't just pick it up either, we have to train our toddlers. Same with language, we have to teach our babies how to understand English so we have to teach our pups what words mean.

To house train her you need to take her out so you can praise her when she goes, lots and lots and lots of praise.

Take her out when she wakes up, during the day after her naps as well.

Take her out before and after she wakes.

Take her out after you have been playing with her or had a training session.

At 10 weeks old she needs taking out every half an hour in between, like babies she hasn't developed enough to hold it. The average age for toddlers to become clean and dry is nearly 2, before this they are not developed enough, thankfully dogs develop quicker than this :D

If you can get to Shoreham and Gill's classes you will get a lot of help and advice, Gill really is good and I owe her a lot, it was Gill who put me on the right track for getting Joe to recall, he had been beaten for coming back and was terrified, she took the trouble to work out what would work with him and what wouldn't.
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CarisRosita
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:44 am
Location: West Sussex

Post by CarisRosita »

Thank you all so much for your replies. (love this forum already!)

I definitely think ricci would benefit from some puppy training classes. A lot of people have dogs where I live so I'd like her to be well mannered and courteous around them and their owners!

I've already seen such an improvement in her the last couple of days. Rather than shutting her away from my customers, I've checked that they're ok with dogs and brought her out to meet them and she's responded really well. She doesn't cry when i'm with my clients away from her now as she knows she's not missing out!

I'm a first time puppy mum (first time mum to anything/anyone infact) so I think I just get a bit paranoid that she's 'normal!' I've read so many books and websites but nothing prepares you for the real thing so thank you all again for your help and support!

CarisRosita xxx
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