Hi I am the owner of a 14 week old dobe, I have had her 5 weeks and she will not be left alone in any part of the house or garden whilst I am in another part of the house she has to be with me. If I just leave her my doors are baring the brunt of her little claws and she howls constantly. When she is in the garden she can see me through the patio doors yet she still scratches and howls until I let her in. I would like to stop her coming upstairs now and have bought a child gate but she just howls and howls when I go and put the baby to bed so I have to let her up or the baby wouldn't go to sleep.

Also she wakes up at 5am EVERY morning and won't go back to sleep until I come downstairs to be with her, 5am is very early especially as I have been up during the night with the baby, any ideas on my two little but frustratingly tired problems.

Jules -x-

Hi Jules

She does have you well trained doesn't she :)

Unless you want to be a slave to your pup you are going to have to be firm and ignore the howling - it stops eventually and if it doesn't and the weather is cool then put her in the car where you can't hear her. Baby's sleep though most things - eventually.

If she is a distructive madam then keep her toenails very (very) short, ideally a Dobes toenails should never touch the floor when it is standing, this will also make scratching furniture less distructive. There was a thread not long ago on cutting toenails.

You could also invest in a crate if you have not done so already, read the instructions that should come with it on crate training and use it to confine her when you want to do something without her. You can also put the baby in the crate when you want to play with the pup so s/he is safe from being bounced on but can still watch.

Dobermanns are known as velcro dogs but it should be on your terms, not theirs (says she trying to type this with one curled up on her lap)

Christine

Hi Christine,

I have visited your website many times! Yes I have got a crate and she goes in it on a night time. I think my problem is I am worried about everybody else, my children the neighbours etc. If I go to bed at say 10.30 she wakes up early morning, so do I just ignore her or go and let her out then put her back in her crate, then ignore her?

p.s she looks like a puppy version of Kizzie (lush)

Thanks Jules

Hi Jules

Why not have a word with your neighbours and say you are going to leave her to bark herself out for a few days and hope they don't mind as it should pay off in the long run.

It is probably advisable to let her out when she wakes up unless you don't mind cleaning up any mess/puddles, otherwise leave her to make her noise but make sure when you do go to her that you do it at a time when she has been quiet - even if only for a few seconds and praise the quietness.

Make a point of quietly praising her when she is settled or quiet. When I have a pup and it is quietly doing something by itself I just say "settle, goooood puuuppppyyy" and carry on with what I am doing and repeat it a little while later if she is still quiet. This ultimately becomes a "go away, be quiet and leave me alone" command but it should just happen rather than being included with the sit, down, stand, come, stay, wait etc training.

If she is lively then do as much with her as possible in the way of training to keep her mind and body occupied as they are working rather than couch potato dogs :)

Good luck

Christine

My pup was like that to begin with, I did learn one thing though, and that is that you must not give into temptation and go to her everytime she cries. Its ever so hard as it is instinctive to want to comfort her, but all you are doing is letting her train you to come as soon as she calls.

I found that it helped to leave her with a favourite toy, a stuffed kong or fav snack, Ruby had a large cuddly dog that she used to snuggle up to as if it was her mum. It also helped to leave the radio on. You could even do a tape recording of your own voice so she feels that she is not totally alone.

If you dont give in to her, so log as she is safe and cant hurt herself, she will eventually learn that all the cries and scraping dont work. Only go to her when she quietens down and praise her to bits, it certainally did the trick for me and my pup :)

Hi
I am looking for advice too, I have Molly a Bichon 14 weeks, I am using a crate at night, Molly 9 times out of 10 goes in no problem about 10.30pm sleeps till 6-6.30am, then wakes & yelps I have tried to ignore so I am not going to her when she demands but she just carries on, the paper at the front of the crate is wet through & she has usually pood as well, am I expecting to much at 14 weeks & will she eventually stop the wetting etc also will she naturally sleep later although the time is not to bad during the week because it means we can have a walk before work. Also toilet training generally is not working, I am beginning to consider moving the furniture outside till she gets the message(joking really) its a good job we love her so much. Any advice greatly received. Regards Pauline.

You are obviously not able to get to her in time to let her out, and solig in her bed will retard her housetraining. I suggest you set the alarm for a little earlier than she normally wakes and get her outside to releive herself, and then give lots of praise.

Also throughout the day take her out every 20 minutes while awake and praise when she performs. Always take her out, rather than rely on her thinking of going out herself, as usually by the time she realises she needs to go, she will go wherever.

Hi
I cant race down the stairs any faster unfortunatly so it looks like a 6am start for me in the mornings. Will she start to sleep later naturally or is this now my waking time for the next 15 or so years? (the bags under the eyes will look great in 10 years!). I am taking her out usually every 30-40mins & as soon as wakes from nap, after meals,drink. The doors are open when we are home especially with the hot weather, maybe thats the problem, she isnt associating going outside?. Thanks for the comment Regards Pauline.

lol@bags! I wouldnt imagine youre resigned to 6.15am starts for the rest of her life - she just needs to develop a bit more bladder control and get used to your routine. Why not try letting her out last thing at night then getting up in the middle of the night and you might get her used to sleeping through until your normal waking time? My pup is 15wks and sleeps through the night to 7.30am now with no accidents and I can leave him for 3.5hrs during the day without him messing! Having said that, Ill probably go home to carnage today! :)

Hi Lol
I did try getting up in the night for over a week, she had already wet & on occassions poo when I got up,then the yelling when I put her back lasted for 3/4hr till I couldnt stand to hear her so now without the middle night wake up she is managing till 6.15, not to bad so like you say she just needs more bladder control, shes so tiny. Your puppy sounds as though hes doing well. We will keep plodding on. Bless her. Thanks Pauline

Pauline,
You might want to try getting a pheromone diffuser - my pup howled the house down for the first two days and nights whenever he was left on his own. My neighbours didnt just complain, they started suggesting I was being cruel to him!! I went to the vet and she recommeded a DAP Diffuser. I had read about them - the pups mother will apparently produce pheromones which calm her pups and reassure them that she is near - the diffuser works by copying this smell.

I really doubted it was going to have any effect and at £22 it wasnt especially cheap if it didnt work. I was stunned though - I had one more day of reduced howling and then a complete stop. He cries now for all of 30 seconds when I leave him but is good as gold after that. Might be something to try on your girl? If you do a search on the net for DAP Diffuser then you should find a supplier no problem. Good luck!
Isla

Hi Thanks for the advice, I will look on the internet tonight, sounds like a good idea, do you use it during the day? I cant imagine what it looks like or anything but if it helps great. I am also finding Molly wont be in a room alone she wants to be with humans all the time & screams at the door if it is closed. having said that she is asleep in the next room at the moment, as soon as she wakens she comes looking for us. I have been taking her to my parents during the day whilst I am at work, but intend to start leaving her for parts of the week & want to do it gradually now she is 14weeks, I started today by leaving her for 2 hrs going home for lunch then taking her to my mums, next week I will do the same but leave her a little longer, I dont intend her to be home alone everyday but I need her to get used to spending some time alone. Will the diffuser help with this situation as well?
Regards Pauline

Definately - the diffuser is basically like a glade plug-in. Put it in a socket, turn it on and it works for 4-6wks I think. You obviously need to make sure that the door for that room stays shut most of the time and the window isnt wide open but no other inconveniences. If it helps for the seperation anxiety at night then it will definitely help during the day too.

When youre getting her used to being left on her own you might want to introduce it to her slowly. When youre in the room with her, get up calmly and leave without looking at her or talking to her - make your arrivals and departures as bland as possible. When you leave, she will no doubt cry but only leave her for seconds to begin with so that she gets the idea that when you leave, you do come back. I took a day off work and spent most of the day going back and forth from the room Logan was in - by the end of the day I could leave him for 20mins on his own without any crying. I had to go back to work the following day so he was on his own for 3hrs and there was no barking, howling or crying. My situation was a bit forced and turned out ok but you should be careful not to undo your hard work by leaving her for too long, too soon or she will get worse again.

Hope this helps!
Isla

Also forgot an important point - when youre coming and going from the room, make sure you never go back in while she's still crying - wait for a 10sec gap. That way she doesnt think that if she crys, you come running.

After she has been for a wee I would give her something nice and time consuming to chew, and put her back to bed or in her playpen and return to bed for a few more zeds. so no major greeting or interacting, just out for a we and back to bed. this will hopefully mean that eventually she won't need to get up quite so early and will fall in with your morning routine as she matures.

My youngest at nearly four won't stay in bed after 7-7.30am, so I let them all out, leave the back door open, close living room to kitchen door and go back to bed at weekends for another hour or two, and the dogs know I won't be interacting with them, and they stay nice and quiet until my Postman comes.

Hi Brainless (sorry dont know your name)
I will try your suggestion next week end, only problem at the moment as soon as you are out of sight or in another room she goes mad, crying, yelping, so I guess I will have to warn the neighbours & hope she will get used to us going back to bed pretty quickly. I have wondered about getting another puppy as company, Molly isnt left alone a great deal, my dad has her when I am at work, its like taking a child to its childminder with all the bags, toys etc. so she only really has 1 day of the week where she stays home & I go home & have lunch & I can usually get someone to call in am & pm for a cuddle. You just wonder dont you if you are doing things right for the puppies sake, we love her to bits. Regards Pauline.

I am Barbara.

I wouldn't consider geting a puppy for at least 18 months as you will end up with two untrained and dirty pups who are more attached to each other than you, and also over dependant on each other.

It is wise to teach the pup to stay on her own for short periods while you are at home. Then when you have to go our she will not get over anxious, as there is a real risk of seperation anxiety if the dog never has to be on it's own, and it thinks it has to always be with you wherever you are in the house.

"I am Barbara"

Sorry - that just sounded like "I am Maximus" from Gladiator :D

"I am Barbara, keeper of four elkhounds, mother of etc etc" :D :D

When I walk six elkhounds up the street on lead together (got ex pups staying for hols) I feel like it :D :D :D

:D :D I took my two danes together the other day - they both went in separate directions and I very nearly became 2 chloe's :rolleyes: :D

And now you have arms like an orang-utan, Chloe..... ;) :D

Hi Jules,
Glad to hear we aren't the only ones with this problem.
We've had our 10 week old Weimaraner puppy for six days now and have exactly the same problem.
We bought a crate on the advice of the breeder and most people and after her last fourth feed (until 12 weeks) at 10pm we excercise her in the garden,where she plays has a wee and generally try to wear her out!! We then take her out for more fun and toilet at about 11.30pm before going to bed,but each night we have had the same reaction,she cries consistently the whole night long,possibly with half hour intervals a coupel of times in the night,she must be worn out,I know we are!!!
She then becomes even louder at 5.00am,most mornings we have laid there until 6.00am before getting up , but she is so loud,and you do worry about the neighbours and your kids waking up ,that one of us then gives in and goes down to her,some nights she has wet in the crate some she hasn't which is really good,we take her out for a wee but when I tried to put her back int he crate she just howled even louder,so we have taken to then dozing ont he settee and she quite happily sleeps ont he floor next to us,not what you want for the rest of your life!!! Have tried lights on ,the radio and even a ticking clock last night,still no joy.
She also howls if I leave her in a room alone and will try to get upstairs,in the end I have to lock her in the kitchen/Utility while I am upstairs as otherwise though I shout No! and Down! she is still attempting to get upstairs,it seems the only solution at the moment,though hopefully another thing she will grow out of as its awful to hear her howling but you have to be cruel to be kind and try to ignore it.
At least we aren't the only ones with matchsticks holding our eyes open!!!
Good luck.
Helen.

Another solution, I took my male Weim and his crate into my room and slept with the light on for one night so that he could see that I was still there. I didnt sleep very well but there was no more howling and the light went out the following night without problems. His crate will move out of my bedroom at a later date once hes more settled.

Hi Helen,

Well since I asked my question a couple of weeks ago Tara is now sleeping through until 7.10am which is brilliant for a 4 month old puppy. Alas though she still won't be left alone when I am in the house. She is fine in her cage when I go out or go to be, but if I leave her in the kitchen or the garden she cries and cries and cries. I do ignore her but it is sooooooooo annoying but she is only a baby so she will probably grow out of it (touch wood).

I have also started at puppy socialization which I think is going to be really good for her as it then goes on to bronze, silver then gold. It is run by the kennel club and the puppy socialization is free.

Anyway let me know how things are going with your puppy
Jules

Hi Helen,

I forgot to mention though that when I first got her at 9 weeks she slept in my bedroom for the first two weeks (not in her crate) just down by the side of my bed from 10pm until I got up at 7.30am it was bliss. Not ideal but at least I got some sleep then I put her in her cage in the kitchen and she more or less settled straightaway, but she was in my bedroom those first two weeks. When I say she howled it was more like a bark that went on and on and on. The first night we got her she barked all night and that is no lie, everybody says you are to leave her and she will settle, well she didn't, then the next night it went on until 4am that is when I let her in my bedroom (very naughty) but now she sleeps in her cage, in the kitchen, all night and I go to bed in between 10pm and 10.30pm and like I said she sleeps until 7.10am every morning. (Watch tonight she will wake up at 5am!!!!!!!!)

Jules

Hi Jules,
Good to hear things have got better at night with your Puupy,so has ours!! The night I emailed she only cried for twenty minutes and then slept until 5.00am ,last night the same but slept until 5.30am,brilliant,but still far too early,but bless her,s he is only 10.5 weeks old,hoping she will sleep later as she gets older.
We tried the ticking clock that night,and whether it was that or just being more settled I don't know,since someone else has advised we should have had the crate in our bedroom for the first coupel of nights to help her settle,too late now,but fingers crossed she will continue going through the night.
Thanks for the advice.
Hope I didn't jinx you and she still slept till 7.00am

Hi Helen,

Well she slept until her normal time of 7.10am, thank goodness.

By the way what is your puppy like when you leave her in a room when you are in another room. Mine is terrible, she will stand crying at the door until I have to go back into the room, this could go on and on and on. Also I don't let her come upstairs so when I go up she cries at the bottom of the stairs which is a nuisance if I am trying to get the baby to sleep, any suggestions. If I put her outside she howls and barks very very loudly so that isnt an option, and if I do ignore her like everyone advises me to it just goes on and on and on. She doesn't get tired no matter how long I leave her, which doesn't please the neighbours!!!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jules