Stuck in perpetual correction cycle with 9 week puppy

[schnoozmum]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Hello!

My partner and I have got our first puppy, a mini schnauzer. He's not my first puppy nor my first mini schnauzer, since I've had a few since I was a kid, but this is my first time dealing with a young puppy in adulthood.

He's been home a week now and his behaviour is starting to become a MASSIVE struggle because he wakes up from naps with so much energy and hyperactivity that he's incapable of listening to me and taking corrections.

I'm not enjoying the time I spend with him when he's awake and I'm essentially just spending my time PRAYING he goes back to sleep soon, which isn't good for me nor for him. If he was fully vaxxed I'd just take him on a walk of course! But I'm not sure if I can just wait with his behaviour until he's able to go out.

At the moment when he's awake it goes like this:
- Feed (if time)
- engage in some play
- he starts to get nippy and it's painful and he doesn't respond to yelps or sharp sounds so I have no choice but to completely get up and remove myself from his reach
- he usually then turns his attention to his puppy pads and starts ripping them up and running around with them
- I try to redirect with a toy/play
- cycle repeats
- I've tried to remove the pads from the equation but he then inevitably just wees or poos wherever which is frustrating
- I try and clean up his messes but he's very interested in everything I use to clean so gets up in my business while I'm cleaning and still doesn't respond to corrections
- he's also recently figured out he can fit under the sofa so occasionally goes under there and starts chewing the frame. I don't want to lure him out with a treat so I try a toy but then we go straight back to the start of the cycle again!

It's worth noting I regularly praise behaviour I want to reinforce as much as it is possible, but at the moment it's not very common!

I don't want to use his crate to contain him when he acts like this because I don't want him to see the crate as punishment.

I have tried frozen carrots for his teething as suggestion from a friend but he's really only interested for about 10 minutes and if he starts to get frustrated or annoyed he usually goes straight to ripping up a pad.

Also when I say his biting is painful, he broke the skin on my forearm the other day and gave me a bruise. I also have a few small scratches on my hand like I've been working in a woodshop!

I feel like I just need something to calm him down when he's like this because when he's calmer he's more responsive and less impulsive.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[JoanneF]

I'm afraid he sounds like a fairly typical puppy. Rather than thinking in terms of correcting him, which implies he has done something wrong, try to remember he is just a tiny baby, and use management and prevention.

Are you sure he is getting enough naps? He sounds a bit like a fractious, over-tired toddler so I'd start with that. If he is happy in his crate (and to be honest, it sounds like too soon for him to be crate trained unless he breeder started it before you got him) pop him in there for regular naps. It's not a punishment, more of a 'good lad but time to sleep for a bit'. If he isn't happy in his crate, get a pen. That will also prevent him going under your sofa or getting at anything else he shouldn't.

Let's look at a few of the other things you have said. You said you can't take him out until his vaccinations are complete, but it's still a great idea to take him out in a carrier, or a buggy, or just tucked into your jacket. That starts his process of socialisation (which should be about exposure to new things, not interaction with them) from a safe place. As long as he doesn't go on the ground he will be safe. More on socialisation is here Socialising your puppy

Also, you mentioned puppy pads and having to clean up. If you have a garden, it's likely to be safe unless it is used by rats and unvaccinated dogs, so I suggest getting rid of the pads and getting into a routine of taking him out every 45 minutes. All puppy pads will do is give mixed messages about whether indoor toileting is allowed or not. Again, more here House training

The nipping is him trying to engage you in play, because that's how he would have played with his littermates. Hopefully more rest will make it less intense but our advice on mouthy pup is here Puppy biting

You said you don't want to lure him from under the sofa with a treat, but treats are your friend right now until he has a better understanding of what you actually want from him. This isn't the time to hold back. And you said he gets bored with a carrot after ten minutes - that's quite a decent time for a pup, they have the attention span of a gnat!

A final point - what are you feeding him? Some foods are like blue smarties ...

 

[Hemlock]

Absolutely 100% endorse the above. Puppyhood is hectic. You have a baby. He cannot have the attention span or link cause and effect the way adults can. Hang on in there - it gets better - you will soon long for those puppy days again having forgotten the teeth and the tearing around. Mind you, Schnauzers are full-on all their lives, the way terriers are. Great thing about puppies (one of the many great things) is that they grow out of each development stage a whole lot earlier than baby humans!

Most of us have been through puppy days, some of us over and over. If you need a friend when things threaten to overwhelm you, there are plenty here.

 

[schnoozmum]

Hiya,

Thank you for all the advice it's really helpful! Honestly just knowing he sounds like a typical puppy is quite reassuring in itself.

He might not be getting enough naps but partially because when he does sleep he sleeps for a long time so is it best to be waking him up regularly?

At the moment, toilet training is very difficult since we take him out to the garden and he's not at all interested in toileting instead he just picks up moss and rocks constantly even when we try to keep them out of his reach. For example this morning we took him straight outside after breakfast and we were out there for 45 minutes with no luck. It was just frustrating for everyone involved and it's quite cold at the moment.

He has Harringtons since it was a recommended type but also my mums two geriatric schnauzers are on the same type and love it

 

[JoanneF]

we took him straight outside after breakfast and we were out there for 45 minutes with no luck

Please look at the Toilet Training link I put into post #2. If you go out, and he hasn't toileted after five minutes, bring him back in but don't take your eyes off him. Stay near the door. If he tries to toilet, scoop him up and get him out. If he doesn't try, take him back out again after five minutes, and rinse and repeat.

Harrington's isn't a bad food, no particular red flags there.

And I wouldn't wake him if he's asleep

 

[schnoozmum]

Absolutely 100% endorse the above. Puppyhood is hectic. You have a baby. He cannot have the attention span or link cause and effect the way adults can. Hang on in there - it gets better - you will soon long for those puppy days again having forgotten the teeth and the tearing around. Mind you, Schnauzers are full-on all their lives, the way terriers are. Great thing about puppies (one of the many great things) is that they grow out of each development stage a whole lot earlier than baby humans!

Most of us have been through puppy days, some of us over and over. If you need a friend when things threaten to overwhelm you, there are plenty here.

I adore schnauzers and their personality, my parents still have two that are 12 and almost 14, it's just been a long time since I've dealt with a very young one! I know he'll gain a lovely temperament as he gets older

It's reassuring to know he sounds like he's a typical puppy honestly. I love him right now but I'm very much looking forward to him being older and being able to go on walks!

 

[schnoozmum]

Please look at the Toilet Training link I put into post #2. If you go out, and he hasn't toileted after five minutes, bring him back in but don't take your eyes off him. Stay near the door. If he tries to toilet, scoop him out and get him out. If he doesn't try, take him back out again after five minutes, and rinse and repeat.

Harrington's isn't a bad food, no particular red flags there.

And I wouldn't wake him if he's asleep

Noted, thank you!

Here's the terror-ier (Frank) in question by way of thank you for all the help

 

[Flobo]

Welcome to you both! Frank is gorgeous, he does have a look of intent about him there! Can't add anything to all the above great advice, it's many, many moons since I had a pup... Take a deep breath and hang on in there!

 

[JoanneF]

Chocolate helps - obviously for you, not him. And gin.

 

[schnoozmum]

Welcome to you both! Frank is gorgeous, he does have a look of intent about him there! Can't add anything to all the above great advice, it's many, many moons since I had a pup... Take a deep breath and hang on in there!

Haha he's very handsome so he gets away with everything!!

 

[JudyN]

Aw, he's a cutie! Again, I can only reiterate that he sounds completely normal. Hang on in there, and think of him like you would a (very mobile) baby - you wouldn't tell them off for doing something 'naughty', but find a way to stop them doing it. Bear in mind that correcting him could add to his stress/arousal/frustration levels and make him more hyper.You could stick boxes under the sofa, maybe? Or just reframe luring him out with treats as an excellent early way of working on recall.

He might like shredding big cardboard boxes - with the staples removed, of course, and checking that he doesn't actually try to eat them...

Oh, and if anyone says 'My puppy was never like that, they were as good as gold' - they're all completely different it doesn't mean that yours is a little monster or you're doing anything wrong.

 

[Hemlock]

The bitiest, most hectic pup I ever had was so good once she grew up that her nickname was Mrs. Perfect. So hang on in there - it really does get better!