Hi, this is my first post so apologies in advance if I mess anything up...

My husband and I just bought a young pup (8 weeks old) and he's a Chorkie (Yorkie x Chih), neither of us have had dogs previously and I think perhaps we weren't quite aware of what we were letting ourselves in for.

So, we've had him for 3 days and he is nipping a lot (not biting down or aggressively) and we're not sure how to ensure this doesn't become too agressive (it does occasionally when he's anxious or overexcited).

He is taken outside every 40-60 mins but as it's so cold he stands there shivering, whining and clambers up your leg until you bring him back in, any advice here? I'm sure we're probably doing something glaringly obviously wrong but we're very inexperienced so please be kind. He will go for a no1 outside quite reliably - however, he started off doing his no2's outside but now he waits until we come back in and within half an hour he's pooped in a corner somewhere. I feel like I'm constantly trying to watch him but I'm stressing myself out big-time!

Also, he will not go anywhere alone, he follows my every step to the point where I'm scared I might step on him (half-joking), if I leave him in a room he whines constantly (as tho he's being tortured) until I return. I want to build up his independence, so that he can be left alone at times.

We have a puppy crate, he (reluctantly) sleeps in but we're not sure how we can use it to it's full potential?? e.g. for toilet training. We've moved his crate from our bedroom to the kitchen but he's waking, crying every hour or so...

Maybe we're expecting too much of the little thing too soon? I'm not sure but I/we feel terribly overwhelmed. I love him to bits and want to do the right thing by him but feel as tho we've bitten off more than we can chew (bad pun)

Any advice/supprt would be appreciated

Congratulations on your little pup. You seem to be doing all the right things, but you need to keep at it LONG TIME!

The crate is good for nights, ours got clean and dry with the crate at nights quite early on. Its just a matter of you catching them doing it in the right place (outside) and rewarding it. Over and Over and Over. Just like when you potty train a baby. Dont mention or punish indoor mistakes, just clear all traces with bio wash powder solution.

You could also use the crate for toilet training like this: You take the pup out on the hour as usual, he doesnt do anything, but youre sure he wants to. So you put him in the crate for 5 or 10 minutes, then take him outside again for a wee if he does it, reward if not try another 10 minutes in the crate and take him out until he does it. You usually dont need too many repetitions. I found this worked well for poos. I was sure he wanted a poo as it was post meal times, but he didnt do it, so rather than him do it indoors he went in the crate for 10 mins then out again.

It isnt easy but it will fall into place eventually.

Think about the location of the crate too. We found the living room to be the best place but everyones house is different.

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If you havent already got it, purchase yourself a copy of The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey.

For the nipping, have a read of this link: The Bite Stops Here by Dr Ian Dunbar

It tells you all about bite inhibition.

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I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
I will work to elevate you
just enough to bring you down

Have you got any books on basic training etc? I recommend The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey which has step by step stuff about house training and crate training as well as lots of useful advice.

We got Coco at 8 weeks old in January (3 years ago - cheesh!) and house training was less than pleasant in the cold garden but stick at it and it will come right all of a sudden.

Put him in the crate for sleep time too, and to break the habit of him following you around. Write down everything he does for a few days to see a pattern of waking and sleep time (tedious, but worth it!). If he's not happy just to go in, make the crate a positive space by feeding him in there, and giving him treats in there, making it cosy with soft blankets and toys and covering the top and sides so it's dark but with the front open so he can still see you.

Re nipping, give a sharp squeal when his teeth make contact with any part of you, skin or clothes, as that is how litters teach each other about bite inhibition. If that doesn't make him stop instantly, then rather than take your hand away, push (gently cos he's a little one) towards his mouth which he will find disconcerting! (apparently... never had firsthand experience of doing it that way as the squeal worked with Coco).

Good luck with your pup.

snap! Took too long writing, I guess!

Have a look on this one for house training tips I've messed up and need help to resolve the problem!
Have you thought about a training class which would help you avoid future problems rather than trying to rectify then after they appear.

Read these threads as they were enormously helpful for me when we got our pup:

cages

Housetraining your pup or older dog

Help with a nipping pup

Also do not despair - it does get easier - the first week with Basil was a bit of a rollercoaster but he's 13 weeks old now, and coming along nicely.

He was 95% house trained by 10 weeks through CONSTANT repitition of rewarding him when he did his business in the garden. And crate training really helps but make sure you get the pup used to the crate - Basil only goes in his at night or when we are out, but he is happy to go in now. It took us about a week to get him to go in without crying and whining, again it was through repetition and he got the idea eventually. Also, I know it's hard but try not to respond to the whining as he will get the idea that whining=attention.

Have you got a play pen or an area that you can fence off for when you're busy? This really helped for the first two weeks with Basil as he could see what was going on but was in a place where we knew he was safe e.g. when I was cooking or we were eating but he wasn't sleepy we put him in the pen next to us with some toys or a chew he knew we were still close by.

Hope this helps, good luck, and let us know how you're getting on...



Just be patient and don't be too hard on yourself.

hi there - having a pup is very overwhelming, even for most experienced owners, as they usually forget what it is like to have a puppy in between!!!

you have come to the right place though

apart from all the great info on the posts above, also take a look at this: Raising A Puppy | Dog Star Daily

Use the contents on the left to go through the articles on each stage of owning a puppy. Some really useful stuff in there about nipping, toilet training, crate training etc.

Good luck!

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Can I just add that no matter how overwhelming it all seems now, before you know it you'll look at your adult dog and go 'I can't believe he used to be...'. Development and learning goes so fast in this stage, every day is a step forward

that is so true...maggie is now almost 11 months old and I dont know where the time has gone! (sighs wistfully )

so above all else, remember to have fun, cos pup will be all grown up before you know it

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