Hello! I'm new in this forum and have a lot of questions!!

[Paulinal]

Well, FINALLY I've got a new puppy!!
He doesn't have a name yet.
He's a Jack Russel 3 mos. old, and he's a very special, friendly, loving and funny dog.

I hope that here I will find some great tips from you guys.
We - me and my boyfriend - are away for work almost the whole day. Every minute we're home, we spend it with him. He's learned where he has to pee, but not where to evacuate yet.
The most important questions for me are:
1. He doesn't want to eat! He's supposed to eat 1cup but only eats 1/2 or less, during the day. I've tried to feed him from my hand and he ate, but I don't want him to get used to this. What can I do? Is he ill?
2. Sleeping time: a nightmare. He whines until we take him into bed with us. Even if he's almost asleep in his doggie bed, he starts whining and crying until he makes his point. We are worried for the neighbors, but want to establish a routine. How can we modify this behavior. I think that we feel guilty for leaving the puppy so many hours alone, and kinda spoling him.

As you can see, many many questions here. I would really appreciate if anybody can help and share "best practices" with me!

Thanks,

Paulina

[Kymcole25]

Welcome to GP!

Your pup is probably right in the middle of teething, which makes his mouth hurt when he eats hard food. You can try adding a little warm water, which will make it softer.


At night, you can try covering his bed with a towel or small blanket, so he can't see what you are doing. This also makes him feel like he has his own little den, all to himself and he can use it any way he wants. Most of all, don't give in to him, let him whine for awhile....even though he's only 3 months old he is still very smart...he knows that if he whines you will give in so he will continue to do it. Simply let him do it and after a few minutes he will give up and go to sleep.


Hope it helps!

[Cassiepeia]

I agree with Kim, don't ever give in to him. He'll just keep whining and complaining and it'll get much MUCH worse. You'll be doing your neighbours a favour if you ignore him.

When you're at work, do you have anyone you know that can go to your place and take him for a walk or play with him for an hour or so? Perhaps there is a doggy daycare centre you could take him to whilst your away? It's not great that he's home on his own all day at this young age (even adult dogs don't like it). Is it possible to take him to work with either of you? Or maybe you could drop him at a friends place or a relatives for the day?

As far as food is concerned. He should be getting fed several times a day. So at the very least, feed him in the morning before you leave...maybe leave something for him to eat during the day (along with HEAPS of toys and something to chew on since he's teething) and feeding him when you get home.

Is he crated at night? If he is, bring the crate into your room so he can be close to you but as Kim said, don't give in to his whines no matter how much he does it. He's not in pain or distress, he just knows it's more comfortable in bed and is trying force you to let him out. Just like a kid would throw a tantrum if they knew it'd help them get their way...he'll whine because it'll work.

Anyhoo... Welcome to Global Paw! Don't forget to head down to the picture forum here and post lots of pictures of your JRT, we'd love to see them.

Cass.

[mulroony]

Welcome and congrats on the pup. We do the same thing w/ being away from the dog for most of the day, and I would try to gradually try to increase the interval you are gone. Start w/ 4 hours and work your way up. We have two dogs that do the day while we are at work, and they both just catch up on thier beauty sleep while we are gone. Make sure thwey have something to keep the entertained if they are not sleeping, but not something that can cause a hazard.

I would go talk to your neighbors and explain everything. Tell them that if it gets too bad tolet you know and you will take care of it. This will make things much less hostile, and comfort them if they do have to complain. Hope things get better

[Lab lover]

Hello Pauline and welcome!
I myself and pretty new around here and also have a 3 month old puppy. I have read the other responses and I am sure I will repeat a few things, but I will tell you what we have found works well with Buddy.

1) We incorporated a crate into his life the 2nd day we had him (we got him at 8 weeks). We divided off the crate in half (zip tie a big piece of cardboard up across opening), just big enough so he has room to go inside, turn around and lay down. This helps tremendously when it comes to bedtime and also with bladder and bowel control. The reason you portion it off is b/c dogs have an instinct not to deficate and urinate where they sleep so they learn to hold it.
We actually bought 2 crates, one is for bedtime and is located in the bedroom across from our bed so he can see us, and one is in the mudroom/breezeway and he stays in that one when we are at work or out. Both are covered with a blanket and he actually walks in the crate when he is tired or wants to rest now. He knows it is his comfy place. As he grows, move the partition to make his living space larger.
Like you and your boyfriend, my boyfriend and I also work during the day. We have been lucky enough though that on the days I have to work and am not home with Buddy, Aaron is able to come home during his lunch and let him out to go potty and feed him lunch.
One more thing with potty training:
When we first got him, I went out and spent $30 or so on this huge pack of Puppy Pads and another $10 on some spray that is supposed to attract him to where he is supposed to go on the pad, but neither seemed to work for us at all. We just started a routine (which may be hard on the days you are both at work) where we took him out about every 2 hours and waited until he elimated and then praised the heck out of him for going, and also introduced the word "outside" with going to eliminate. We are now pretty lucky in the fact that Buddy usually doesnt eliminate in the house. Also, the best trick to get urine out of the carpet: Sprinkle baking soda on the spot when it is wet and it will draw the unine out. Vacuum once the baking soda is dry.

Food:
We found when we first brough Buddy home, he didnt eat a great day either. We changed to a different brand and he seemed to take to it much better and eats like a horse now.

I feel like I have just written a book!!Hopefully our experiences will help you! Have fun!!

[Mom2Many]

Do you crate in him the same spot when you work and when it is bedtime? Is there anyway you can puppy proof a small room, like the bathroom or a mudroom while you are at work? If you are putting him in there pretty much the majority of his time then he has right to put up a fight at night and voice his dicontent. Puppies need interaction with people, dogs, noise, different environments, to be able to adjust and it is not fair to crate them the majority of thier time. It would be like having a baby and moving it from its crib only three or four hours a day, not right and not fair. I am sorry for sounding so harsh but I hate to think of the behavioral problems you will most likely face in the future with this pup and how lonely and bored your pup must be most of the time. Maybe his appetite is lacking because he doesn't do enough to work up an appetite. If you don't have the time to put into a pup you are so much better adopting an older animal from the shelter. Jack Russels are extremely energetic little dogs and require ample exercise opportunity through-out the day. Please try to find someone to walk your pup while you are gone or to play with it...you will have a much happier, better adjusted dog.

[chazzysmybaby]

Welcome! I'm kinda new here too! I ALSO have a 3 month old pup that I got just a little bit ago. Sometimes he would scratch at the door a little if he wanted to go out and pee, but not when he wants to poop. I learned that if we keep the basement door open, he'll poop down there, but I still want him to learn to eliminate outside.

[rescuechihuahuaowner]

WELCOME TO GP!!!! Ur puppys so cute! I used to have a jack russel, they're so sweet, GREAT for agility, Mandy could jump 4 feet! anyway, I think that Riley would be a good name! Don't know, I'm naming my chihuahua puppy Harley, as in Harley Davidson. Any way, give puppy lots of hugs and kisses from me! Good luck and again, welcome!

[chazzysmybaby]

...Wow...her puppy looks kinda like MY chazzy when he's looking up at me or from the front. Awwww

[Princess Chloe]

When we got Chloe, she whined and cried. we got out of bed and pet her so she new we were there and we didnt leave her alone. I found myself getting up very early on the weekends with her but when she took a nap so did I or I scooped her up and put her in her cage and she slept for about 4 hours.


I did the same thing you did I wanted her to eat a cup and she didnt, eventually they will.

Good luck to you


Debbie

Originally Posted by Paulinal

Well, FINALLY I've got a new puppy!!
He doesn't have a name yet.
He's a Jack Russel 3 mos. old, and he's a very special, friendly, loving and funny dog.

I hope that here I will find some great tips from you guys.
We - me and my boyfriend - are away for work almost the whole day. Every minute we're home, we spend it with him. He's learned where he has to pee, but not where to evacuate yet.
The most important questions for me are:
1. He doesn't want to eat! He's supposed to eat 1cup but only eats 1/2 or less, during the day. I've tried to feed him from my hand and he ate, but I don't want him to get used to this. What can I do? Is he ill?
2. Sleeping time: a nightmare. He whines until we take him into bed with us. Even if he's almost asleep in his doggie bed, he starts whining and crying until he makes his point. We are worried for the neighbors, but want to establish a routine. How can we modify this behavior. I think that we feel guilty for leaving the puppy so many hours alone, and kinda spoling him.

As you can see, many many questions here. I would really appreciate if anybody can help and share "best practices" with me!

Thanks,

Paulina