please help!!! Puppy trouble on his first few days with me...
By maii_instik
@maii_instik (133)
Philippines
August 21, 2007 12:18pm CST
I just got my new puppy.a short haired duchound and he is so cute. I have tons of unanswered questions that I really need to know...
I have a problem with his feeding schedule. I have read on sites that puppies should be fed 4 times a day. I need a schedule, so I feed him every 6 hours. that include 12 midnight. but he usually wakes up 3 to 4 hours after sleeping. whining and howling. also I have trouble with his sleeping pattern. he usually sleeps longer in the morning and sleeps shorter at night. he usually wants to play at 3 am. I need some sleep but I dont want to disturb other people in the house. Thats why I have to get up and attend to him when he cries loud and disturbing howl.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
•
21 Aug 07
Hi,
I have a lot of experience with dogs, including correcting some behavioural problems. May I say that what you are doing is wrong.
You do not say what age the puppy is but lets hope it is at least 8 weeks old, as a puppy should not be separated from it mother before that age.
Whist it is true that puppies should be feed more frequently than an adult dog there are other factors to take into account.
First, the dog that your puppy will become is largely a matter of the way you treat and train it now.
All dogs want to sleep when the pack sleeps and you are his pack and though he will benefit from a routine, do not try to enforce this too rigidly. You need to be training him to sleep through the night and waking him up to feed will hinder this training, in fact you are rewarding him for his whining and howling, so you are training him to do these things.
At 9 weeks, my puppy already comes to a whistle, walks off the lead to heal and will sit on command. She is a collie so a little brighter than other dogs but you should already begin acclimatising your dog to acceptable behaviour.
all the best urban
@urbandekay (18278)
•
22 Aug 07
Just read your article, a interesting introduction to the breed, thanks.
all the best urban
@maii_instik (133)
• Philippines
23 Aug 07
Well, I got him only a month after birth. I knew it was so soon but the breeder wants me to take him.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
23 Aug 07
That's very bad, the breeder has acted irresponsibly and with great cruelty, I don't know what the situation is in your country but here in UK, you could report him for such a matter.
At 4 weeks old your puppy still needs to be suckling and not on solid food alone. You could find some milk substitute and attempt bottle feeding. Sorry to have to say this but there is a chance the puppy will die. At 4 weeks, it has an incomplete immune system and relies on antibodies from the mother's milk. Also it needs to interact with it's mother and litter mates to develop emotionally and socially. It is during this phase of development that dogs learn about compromise and dominance relations, which is what makes them trainable. Without that interaction, your puppy I fear, will prove hard to train.
all the best urban
@tutor1235 (113)
• United States
22 Aug 07
I also agree that even puppies can learn to conform to the household schedule. We've never done more than 2 feedings, even with the youngest ones we've had (8-9 weeks). The nighttime crying will only get worse when you respond by doing what the pup wants! Just like kids, they respond to what is rewarded by repeated what worked for them. Instead, try ignoring, and if it gets too noisy for too long, firm "no" with maybe a clap. You might also try kenneling-many pups are quieter when they are in kennels at night, and eventually your dog will appreciate a small private space.
@crazed_moma (1054)
• United States
21 Aug 07
I would just start feeding him when you feed yourself. :) Breakfast, lunch and dinner.... Maybe feeding #4 could be about an hour or 2 before bedtime?
