Hi it's 12.29am - night two of puppy's first nights.  I think that I may have broken the golden rule of bringing Toby up to the bedroom...  let me explain.  Toby was as quiet as a lamb(well kinda, sorta).  Anyway, hell has broken loose above in the skies of Norfolk, we have an electrical & thunder storm in full swing.  The plan is to take Toby back down once the storm has passed - have I done the right thing?  Toby is only 7.5 weeks old, and he was hysterical(bless him), and I just couldnt bring myself to leave him down in the kitchen with all that racket going on.  So, is this gonna make it harder for him to go back, or do I just jump back on the wagon and leave him there once the storm has passed?

HC

Hi HC,

I never leave pups to their own devices when they've just left their mum and siblings so don't have a problem with them being alone in the beginning ;)  That said, it's obviously your call how you choose to train him but certainly if there was a thunder storm raging I think no matter what someone's plans are for a pup's sleeping arrangements then in such extreme circumstances and in view of it only being his second night I think most would agree you did exactly the best thing by not leaving him alone - so good for you ;) :)   We have to be flexible with arrangements sometimes and prioritise as to what is the kindest thing to do in the short term which occasionally versus the most sensible in the long term. 

I think you'd have done a lot more long term damage by leaving him to cope in such frightening circumstances alone so give yourself a pat on the back and try not to worry!  You're a caring and responsible owner,  Teri :)

I agree with Teri, HC.  My 9 year old is frightened of thunder and lightening.  It's the only time she will come upstairs at night, and we always let her in the bedroom.  She goes back to her normal routine the next night, so it's not a problem.

Hi i think you did the right thing to,you wouldnt leave your children alone to fret and worry would you ,so why is a puppy or dog any different,my children are now grown up but if anything frightened them we were always there for reassurance the same with our pup.
I must add though here in Essex it was quite bad the lightening anyway but our 14 wk old pup layed out in it not at all worried but she likes to lay in the rain so theres no accounting for taste i suppose.

Personally I'd have preferred to have put cushions on the floor and camped down with the pup, rather than have the pup upstairs, but that's just a detail. I'm assuming you didn't make any reassuring noises to him, but just acted as if nothing scary was happening? :)

what a responsable owner :-)

I would have done it the same way as Jeangenie, however either way you were right not to leave the pup alone.

At the end of the day (I'm assuming you don't want your dog upstrairs normally) it was only one night to reasure him.  Like someone has mentionied it's the same with children, when a thunderstorm is up they sleep with the parents although maybe it's better for the parents to sleep with the kids!  It's all dependent on the parent/owner!

I agree with you  ice queen i too dont believe in children sleeping in with their parents or vice-versa but i do think you need to curl up on a sofa or maybe make a bed on your bedroom floor,the same for dogs also,i must say i do like my personal space,and not to make a habit of it only in those kind of circumstances should you allow it,when all is normal go back to normal.

Im in Essex too and my 15wk old Puppy didnt take a blind bit of notice.

We had a quite a bad thunderstorm about 2 weeks ago at about 2am. The sound of the haevy rain woke me and as soon as I heard thunder, I went downstairs to make sure puppy was ok as she (usually) sleeps in the living room with our other dog. Both dogs sound asleep. I went back to bed but stayed awake to make sure I could hear any signs of distress but all I could hear between the rattles of thunder were snores drifting up the stairs...don't think thunderstorms are going to be a major concern but then we do live quite close to an airport so maybe they're just used to loud noises from the sky.

Personally I would have done it the same way as JG but at the end of the day you have to do what works for you. As has already been said you could have done far more damage by just ignoring him and leaving there. My dogs have only had 4 storms in their lives (3 & 4 years). All have been quite spectacular. Last year the fireworks were so bad here and for so long that the younger more sensitive dog is basically shellshocked. He is frightened of jets flying over and thunderstorms now terrify him to the point he will wet himself. I give him valerian liquid and tablets from Dorwest and they seem to help. last night we had a terrific storm and I was woken by the sound of the radiator rattling, he had wedged himself between his basket and the radiator and was shaking even with the valerian he was obviously upset so he slept on the bed last night ;-) He usually sleeps in his basket in the bedroom but never tries to get on the bed. Thankfully he isn't the sort of dog that runs away in fear, he always comes to me if something frightens him, at least he trusts me. The 5 month pup was asleep in his crate and when I put the light on in the living room he just stood up a bit bleary eyed and confused and then lay down and went back to sleep bless him.

Well it is now Toby's 3rd night, and he is howling like a banshee at 01.26.  I know that this is just a phase(fingers crossed), but I am a little concerned for the neighbours, with all the racket!  I am not bothered about the noise myself, as I know that this phase has to be endured.  But I keep thiinking that any minite the neighbours will be banging on the door!  Poor little Toby sounds sooooo unhappy... the little monkey!
BUT I MUST NOT CRUMBLE!

Thanks to all your lovely responses - I really appeciate it!

HC xx

I think its nice your your dog can come to you and seek reassurance when needed i would do exactly the same myself,it is nice to know they trust us.I will also post for Toby on the same message,i am sorry he is suffering so,i dont know what your neighbours are like,but our neighbours are very good when i see them and i try to make a point even if its later next day to catch them and apologise,and they are fine but all our neighbours stop to fuss the dog so i guess we are very lucky,hope you are too,otherwise not a lot you can do,its not as if its consistent barking and howling only when theres a storm and hopefully we wont get too many more.Our last dog use to howl when a fox use to be near the house or deer and certain times of year it was quite frequent the neighbours were very good temepred about it,and he barked at just about every dog that use to walk by also,i shouldnt worry to much.

I can't believe that my little Toby has settled in so well!  We havent had a peep out of him since Wedsnesday night.  Three days is a bit of a record, eh?  Thursday and Friday(tonight) he has been as quiet as a mouse.  I keep wanting to go down and see if he is alright!  The only whining we had with him was Mon, Tues, Weds - FAB!  I had it in mind that I would have had at least 2 weeks of sleepless nights, bless his heart!

He is becoming a rogue though - biting hands and faces.  A vet nurse told me to immitate his mothers 'telling off' yowl, but I feel such a fool YIP YIP!!  So I am persivaring with a sturn NO.  He bolts about the garden like a tazmanian devil, but it is a joy to see him enjoying himself - at least he is fitting in and slowly not minding so much that his brothers and sisters are not around anymore.  There is an old Bassett nextdoor which talks to him through the fence, so maybe he has found a momma figure.  So things all being equal I think me and Tobe have a bright future.

Thanks to all on this site for support.  I read everyday.  Its great that we can comfort peoples problems as a team!

HC

Great news i am sure if you have been reading the boards you will see that the majority of us are suffering with being nipped and bitten it seems its part of puppy life until all the teething has stopped my puppy is 15 weeks today we had a week or two of relative calm from the biting when her puppy teeth came through,but now she is losing them and her adult teeth are coming through and we are getting similar sort of behaviour hopefully only anther couple of weeks she isnt as bad this time though.I will say saying ouch to my pup or giving a yelp only encouraged her to bite more i think the noise excited her so like you i used a stern no and had toys etc,to hand for distraction i now say in quite a low voice that hurts or ow and she seems to stop for a few seconds,i think you jut have to persevere but you are making progress so that is good.