Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

This post is half vent, half plea for advice from those of you who have raised puppies.
I posted previously that we had gotten two husky puppies a little over a week ago. I'm LOSING MY MIND!@@!!!!
They're so cute and adorable but sooo much work. It's Saturday morning and I've been up since 6 feeding them and exercising them and just now they've finally fallen asleep. I feel like I can't do anything else, like my normal errands because I"m so exhausted from them!!!
We keep them in a crate when not outside (which is most of the time) but put them back in when we go inside. They don't really go in their crates but when running around the house, somebody always pees or poops and it's so hard to watch both of them. But I know we have to start letting them out a little more each day to really housebreak them. And so they can be with us and not in a crate when we're home. DH is working a lot on the weekends so I'm home with them by myself, he has been taking care of them during the week.
I guess I just want some advice, how do I not pull out my hair??? Please, I need reassurance that this will get better.....

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

Welcome to dog ownership....rest assured it does get easier. The first 6 months are the hardest. First off keep them on a regular schedule. They are still little, keep them in a restricted area (kitchen only, etc.) that way you won't find surprises everywhere. Also, should you see them about to "go" clap your hands to startle them and then pick them up and carry them outside (if possible). I know it is hard (and I only had 1 at a time), I can imagine how hard 2 is. The crate should definitely be used at night (if it is huge, block off an area, include a toy, a blanket (also an alarm clock wrapped in a towel will simulate a mom puppy's mom's heart beating). I am attaching a link to the Purina puppy page, there are a lot of great tips on training. Hang in there...believe me the reward pays off....only a few more months... http://www.purina.com/dogs/puppies.asp

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

When I used to have a dog when I was younger,we put him in our spare bathroom with a bunch of newspapers on the floor. We had a gate up so he couldn't get out. He never had accidents. He learned to go on the paper in the beginning and then quickly learned to go outside.
Good luck.

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

Thanks guys....six months!!! Arrgghh!!! We're having a trainer come to our house Monday night to help us out a little, make sure we're doing things right. I think the baby gate might be the next step. We are spending so much $ on these puppies!
Here's some pics.

Message edited 9/13/2003 9:27:15 AM.

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

They are adorable! Good luck. Hope things get better soon.

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

When we got our puppy, I wanted to shoot myself. It was such hard work and I could never do anything but be on dog duty. However, it gets better. Getting a trainer is the best idea. It cost us a lot, but it was worth it. Take their water away at night. Also, exercise them as much as you can. Since there are two, they really should be doing this on their own. I would say that things are really back to normal in a year.

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

Wow, they are beautiful. Here was a pic of my dog as a puppy.

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Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

You really have to be patient in the beginning and try to be around them as much as possible...The crate and outside is not a good solution because once you let them in, they did not learn not to poop everywhere.

What we did with our new puppy (10 mo old and not trained at all). if we saw him starting to pee, say no and have the leash handy to take him outside. Then he starts to associate urge with,,take me out.

If there is an accident show him it and say no, then take him outside (even if he does not have to go.)

so far he only made 2 more messes, when everyone leaves the house. when we return we show him and say no, then take him out.

Makes him learn what he did was bad.

I also keep my door and out TV room door closed so he can't mess them up.

GOOD LUCK!

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

I know we have to let them out of the crate more and it would be so much easier with one puppy than two because they chase each other around and they both pee/poop at the same time! So it's hard to get them outside in time.
We just moved into our new house about 2 months ago and now we have the pups to deal with. I'm really feeling super stressed about everything.
I need all the luck I can get!

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

It will get better- babies are always a lot of work! it won't always be this hard!

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

yes...it gets easier...

we got our dog at 3 months...and he was a huge handful until about 6-8 months (housetraining)...by 10-12 months (stopped chewing) he was a perfect angel...


our dog is smallish so we used wee-wee pads...and they are worth the money...they have a scent in them that makes dogs want to go to the bathroom on them...


also if they pee or poop somewhere in the house...clean it up...and take the ragsthat you cleaned it up with and put it by a tree in the backyard...when you take them out...take them to that tree...and they should get used to going there...


good luck

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

good luck - they are cute though!! we can't wait to get ours after we are married and things settle down for us!

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

I wonder if this would help?

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

Wow, that dog translator thing is crazy! Could it really work??
I was just in tears, Maya, the black and white female was just crying her head off, and I know she doesn't need to go, I just took them out.
They both have tons of stuff to chew on, why can't they just relax? I also walked them and let them play in the yard for awhile. Usually they settle down at night but tonite they're going nuts!!

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

did you try a playpen area? Get one of those playpens for kids...the ones that give them room but keep them in one area...we had her crate in there with the door open....in the open pen area we papered half of it (don't put paper in the crate...they'll get used to going in there which contradicts instinct-animals never go where they sleep) and as she went on the paper..she got praised and treats...we slowly made the area smaller....also clean up right away so it doesn't soak thru.....This area gives them room to play and move while confining them so you can relax...keeping them in the crate whenever they are inside is not good. They don't mind because you're in the same room....we only closed the crate when we left the house or for her to sleep at night.

Re: Puppy help!! I'm losing my mind!

When your home you must take them out every single hour, even if they do not have to go
you have to say the same thing all the time like.....
do you have to make???
or want to go on a bye bye???
something consistent, this teaches them to go outside when they go you must praise them and be like good boy and give them a treat

I learned this in xenas puppy kindergarden class and both her and angel are housebroken, I leave them out a lone for up to six hours when I am not home now


good luck! also, keep asking them
whatever phrase you decide on and they will learn it
every hr or so
say do you have to make? In time, they will be running to the door if they have to go when you say it