First night with pup = zombie me

sweetdude · #1 16-09-11, 05:18 PM

Hey guys,
I'm 18 and got my gsd yesterday and I have to say it's really great owning a gsd. This is my first pup and it's name is samba and he's 7 weeks.
His first night was a nightmare for me though.
I got the pup first thing 8pm and he got sick all over my car, then when I got him home he eat his food and pooped outside. But then it all went really downhill, he sleeps in the kitchen in a big closed playpen with me on the couch, all night he was crying and when ever I let him out he peed all over the carpet, I only had 4 hours sleep and the rest of the time he was crying for me, I have given him toys, some covers and a cuddly elephant, he still did not go to sleep.
How long will his whining carry on it's driving me insane, I'm honestly a walking zombie. Please help.
Thanks

Tedsmum · #2 16-09-11, 05:27 PM

Hi there and welcome to the forum.
I am sorry to tell you but this is all realy normal for a new baby puppy.
You will probably have disturbed nights for the next 4 or 5 days.
It seems like a nightmare right now but beleive me it will not last forever.
He is a real tiny baby and he is lonely and scared on his own. He will take time to get used to it. Keep on the way you are going and he will improve - I promise.
He will want to pee about every 20 minutes when he is awake and active, so make sure he is taken outside and given loads of fuss and rewards when he does pee in the right place. Dont tell him off if he makes a mistake, he needs to learn what is right by you telling him and rewarding him.
If you are kind and patient with him he will be a loyal and wonderful friend to you for many years to come.
The only recommendation I can make is earplugs for now.
We would love to see some photos of him when you can. x

wildmoor · #3 16-09-11, 05:42 PM

is he 8 weeks or younger?

re letting him out and him peeing allover the carpet, open pen pick him up and carry him outside then he will pee there

sweetdude · #4 16-09-11, 05:45 PM

Thanks Tedsmum for the reply, he looks exactly like you're boy when he was a puppy, exactly the same

I will post some images tomorrow and show you.

Today he's played for a good hour and mostly ran around the kitchen, slept almost 4 hours throughout the day, going to give him dinner at 7pm and put him in his crate for 20 mins and let him out in the garden to do his busy.
I really love him but it brings tears to my eyes when he crys, just thinking about it now makes me want to cry, funny coming from a student but when he's sad Im really down, so at night shall I ignore his crys?
EDIT: he is 7 weeks old, now when he pees on the carpet I give him a pock on his hind leg and a firm NO

wildmoor · #5 16-09-11, 05:54 PM

he should have stayed with his sibblings until at least 8 wks

if you catch him peeing dont tap him just pick him up and put outside - at his age he wont have much control

sweetdude · #6 16-09-11, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildmoor

he should have stayed with his sibblings until at least 8 wks

if you catch him peeing dont tap him just pick him up and put outside - at his age he wont have much control

Thanks, I should have let him stay longer but I just wanted him home quick, should have put my feelings aside.

Tedsmum · #7 16-09-11, 06:40 PM

Well 8 weeks is best, but you have him now so you have to recognise that he is a very tiny baby and needs to be treated as such. So do not punish him, even with a poke if he does it in the wrong place. He will start to learn where to do it if you give him enough opportunity and lots of rewards for doing it. If you train him to do anything, he will need a reason to do it, and your praise or a nice tastey treat it a good reason for him.
There is a lot on the web about positive reinforcement training, it is worth a read.
It all take time so hang on in there.
You must start now as you mean to go on.
If you want him to sleep seperately from you, you must ignore his cries and he will eventually get used to it. If you don't mind him in the bedroom with you, then you could put him in a crate in your room.
Whatever you do, remember you cannot change your mind once you have started a routine with him, so consider a huge, dirty, 40kg dog on your bed before you make your mind up.
Please, please if you have problems or don't know what to do - come on here and ask. We have many experience people on here who have probably been through just what you are and there are sometime tips on coping with your pup.

tiger135 · #8 16-09-11, 07:32 PM

hi hun my names steph i have a 12 week old gsd now he is also my fist even tho i have been brought up with them it isnt easy, i got him at 8 weeks for a propper breeder he is a little buggar lol he still cryes now for no reason it seems but that what there like they are very vocal dog and even worse as pups saxon has been goin out side for his wee and poo for a couple of weeks but he still wee and poo in the night but its only one of each he also do it if we dont catch him in time u need to look for the signs, sniffing goin round in circles and even scratchin the floor its best to let him go out after every feed and drink and when he wakes up also after any kind of excitment like play and u comeing back in from bein some were, it will get easier and u will be able to tackle the cryin out at u when hes a bit older hope this helps hun

Stuart · #9 16-09-11, 07:36 PM

A big welcome to the forum.

I am afraid that you will be put out a little more yet I fear, Samba has just been uprooted and had his world turned upside down, so he will not feel any bond at all to you or your house just yet, so he is likely to cry a bit

I would advice against poking his back leg and saying No,.. he doesnt yet know what the word `No means, so you will only confuse him,..and after all peeing on your carpet is nothing wrong to him yet,....give him time to learn

When the time comes to teach him things, it is much better to use a positive approch and not negitive training,.. negitive training is what you did with the poke to the leg, instead of punishing for wrong behaviour,...praise for good behaviour, you will get much better results.

Looking forward to getting to know Samba, it will be good to see the photos

claire_88 · #10 16-09-11, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetdude

Hey guys,
I'm 18 and got my gsd yesterday and I have to say it's really great owning a gsd. This is my first pup and it's name is samba and he's 7 weeks.
His first night was a nightmare for me though.
I got the pup first thing 8pm and he got sick all over my car, then when I got him home he eat his food and pooped outside. But then it all went really downhill, he sleeps in the kitchen in a big closed playpen with me on the couch, all night he was crying and when ever I let him out he peed all over the carpet, I only had 4 hours sleep and the rest of the time he was crying for me, I have given him toys, some covers and a cuddly elephant, he still did not go to sleep.
How long will his whining carry on it's driving me insane, I'm honestly a walking zombie. Please help.
Thanks

i used to put a ticking clock under Skye's bedding, it seemed to settle her. i was told this is a good representation of the mother's heartbeat. Maybe the elephant could play mum for a while with a beating heart to comfort him

Stick with it though, they are a very intelligent breed and learn extremely quickly but for a while he will be totally dependant on you and that comes with the job i'm afraid.....sleepless nights, continual poop scooping and endless cries for a secure cuddles.
But it's most definitely worth it in the end.