It looks like you might be posting about puppy management or crate training.
For tips and resources on Crate Training Check out [our wiki article on crate training](https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/wiki/cratetraining) - the information there may answer your question. As an additional reminder, crate training is 100% optional and one of many puppy management options.
For alternatives to crating and other puppy management strategies, check out [our wiki article on management](https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/wiki/management)
**PLEASE READ THE OP FULLY**
Be advised that any comments that suggest use of crates are abusive, or express a harsh opinion on crate training will be removed. This is not a place to debate the merits of crate training. Unethical approaches to crate training will also be removed. **If the OP has asked not to receive crating advice or says they are not open to crating, any comments that recommend use of crates should be reported to our moderation team.**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/puppy101) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It's only been a day. Just give the wee fellow time, he'll come out of his shell.
Just only introduce them to one new area every few days. Wait to introduce a new area of the house until he's comfortable in the ones you've got him in. So far, you've had him for a day or two, so your two areas are wherever his crate is and outside where he goes toilet. This helps keep him from getting overwhelmed.
Just sit somewhat near him but not right up in his grill. Let him come to you. Everytime he does, praise and treat. It shouldn't take longer than a few more days before he adjusts and gets a bit more comfortable. If this persists for a few weeks with no improvement, that's when you'd need to be worried.
You just brought a baby home. All you need to worry about this week is surviving and building a bond with the puppy. It’s ok if you need to pick him up and carry him outside- try to bring him to the same quiet spot every time. Be encouraging and patient. The more your dog trusts you and feels safe with you, the better he will do with training.
I suspect your dog will be a whole new puppy in 3-4 days when he adjusts to his new home.
I would pick the puppy up and bring him outside and then pick him up and bring him back in. The association is “outside= potty” and it doesn’t matter how he gets there. Trying to teach him about leashes, floors, doors, and everything else while also trying to get outside is just too much.
When inside, I would almost entirely ignore him. Let him explore, or not. You can toss a treat at him from time to time,but really less is more right now. It sounds crazy, but don’t love on him don’t cajole him, don’t train homes if he comes up to you, great, gives him pets and treats. Give him a week, at least.
You CAN read out loud, have a running commentary, etc. live your life as normal. Let him just experience it
Yea i think that sounds like the best way to approach it.
the playpen should come in today so that will make me feel a lot more comfortable with letting him have some controlled independence as he gets comfortable.
with the bathroom it seems like both of us are just gonna have to suck it up and pick him up to get outside. i just wish he didnt look so traumatized everytime i did it because i feel like its resetting all his trust in me/comfortability
Agree with the read out loud part. Keep talking to him in a calm manner so he always hears your voice even if he’s not seeing you. Slowly, hopefully, it will turn his fear into background noise, then curiosity.
You need to be patient. Picture it from the puppy’s perspective: he was born somewhere with his littermates under god knows what conditions, sent to a shelter, and now some complete stranger ripped him away from that and he’s in another new place. He’s terrified. Everything is completely new to him, it’s like being on a new planet. Just give him time and encouragement and he’ll warm up.
Our puppy was terrified of a lot of stuff when we brought him home at 10 weeks; he didn’t even want to go on walks! Now after a couple months with us he’s much more confident, loves going on walks, etc. just be patient.
I’ve had my puppy for 2 months now and I still have to pick him up and carry him outside at least half the time. They’re literally babies, it’s gonna take a minute 😂
Look up the 2 week shutdown method for rescue dogs. It may look a little different for such a young pup, but it worked wonders on our older rescue. The first two months we couldn’t walk her outside the yard, and she’d shut down 5’ from the house, digging her heels in so we’d have to pick her up or coax her with cheese to move. Then things started to get better because she had been given time to adjust. She ended up on Prozac which also helped, but now she’s a wonderful only slightly nervous dog who is showing our new puppy the ropes.
" But then everyone says you have to set routines and boundaries day 1?"
That is some of the worst (and heartless) advice I have ever read on this subject.
Bond with your puppy. It is traumatized and needs reassurance, not structure. It sounds like your pup may have some history that you're having to deal with.
It's a baby. Carry it in and out. spend time on the floor wherever it is. Let go of all expectations and timelines. Enjoy it.
I slept on the floor next to her open crate for the first 3 weeks we had our 8 week old. Most nights the first week she came out and slept with me. Cleaned the bedroom carpet every weekend. Didnt care. I wanted to bond. Then stared closing the crate when she fell asleep. Now at 5 months she falls asleep in our bed, I carry her to her crate and she sleeps thru the night.
I believe all the training we have done has been so successful because of the initial bonding we did. She feels like part of the pack and wants to please us so is very responsive to praise.
Good Luck!
You know your dog if you feel like your traumatising dragging him outside don’t set up his crate water and puppy pads near where he’s plodded himself and work around that to start with when he gets more confident slowly move them back a couple foot at a time
I’d feed him all his meals by hand to start with to help bond with him but other than that and sitting near him just leave him be he will eventually either get board of not moving or gain confidence
Also just check it’s not his collor scaring him if he’s never had one before and you’ve just put one on with out thinking that could be what’s scaring him
Remember every puppy’s different and every puppy needs training differently you can see what’s working and what’s not so do what works for both of you
Poor little guy needs a few days or weeks to decompress from being locked up at the shelter. He will come around in time once he realizes he's safe and in a permanent loving home. He is just a baby and you have nothing but time to begin training him. Don't try to rush him.
true. at the vet right now with him and i feel even worse but once its over with he’ll be able to finally just settle in at home
i feel so bad. i literally cant transport him anywhere without carrying him and he HATES it he literally jumped out of my arms and ran away from me in the vet lobby :/
If you haven’t yet, get down on the floor with him. Just talk to him, pet him, or not, watch tv, read a book, whatever. Just be there next to him. Give him a few treats if he takes them, fine, if not, leave them there. He’s just scared. He will come around. The floor trick works wonders. You’re at his level, letting him know he’s safe. Good luck, it will all work out.
It looks like you might be posting about puppy management or crate training. For tips and resources on Crate Training Check out [our wiki article on crate training](https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/wiki/cratetraining) - the information there may answer your question. As an additional reminder, crate training is 100% optional and one of many puppy management options. For alternatives to crating and other puppy management strategies, check out [our wiki article on management](https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/wiki/management) **PLEASE READ THE OP FULLY** Be advised that any comments that suggest use of crates are abusive, or express a harsh opinion on crate training will be removed. This is not a place to debate the merits of crate training. Unethical approaches to crate training will also be removed. **If the OP has asked not to receive crating advice or says they are not open to crating, any comments that recommend use of crates should be reported to our moderation team.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/puppy101) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It's only been a day. Just give the wee fellow time, he'll come out of his shell. Just only introduce them to one new area every few days. Wait to introduce a new area of the house until he's comfortable in the ones you've got him in. So far, you've had him for a day or two, so your two areas are wherever his crate is and outside where he goes toilet. This helps keep him from getting overwhelmed. Just sit somewhat near him but not right up in his grill. Let him come to you. Everytime he does, praise and treat. It shouldn't take longer than a few more days before he adjusts and gets a bit more comfortable. If this persists for a few weeks with no improvement, that's when you'd need to be worried.
You just brought a baby home. All you need to worry about this week is surviving and building a bond with the puppy. It’s ok if you need to pick him up and carry him outside- try to bring him to the same quiet spot every time. Be encouraging and patient. The more your dog trusts you and feels safe with you, the better he will do with training. I suspect your dog will be a whole new puppy in 3-4 days when he adjusts to his new home.
I would pick the puppy up and bring him outside and then pick him up and bring him back in. The association is “outside= potty” and it doesn’t matter how he gets there. Trying to teach him about leashes, floors, doors, and everything else while also trying to get outside is just too much. When inside, I would almost entirely ignore him. Let him explore, or not. You can toss a treat at him from time to time,but really less is more right now. It sounds crazy, but don’t love on him don’t cajole him, don’t train homes if he comes up to you, great, gives him pets and treats. Give him a week, at least. You CAN read out loud, have a running commentary, etc. live your life as normal. Let him just experience it
Yea i think that sounds like the best way to approach it. the playpen should come in today so that will make me feel a lot more comfortable with letting him have some controlled independence as he gets comfortable. with the bathroom it seems like both of us are just gonna have to suck it up and pick him up to get outside. i just wish he didnt look so traumatized everytime i did it because i feel like its resetting all his trust in me/comfortability
Agree with the read out loud part. Keep talking to him in a calm manner so he always hears your voice even if he’s not seeing you. Slowly, hopefully, it will turn his fear into background noise, then curiosity.
You need to be patient. Picture it from the puppy’s perspective: he was born somewhere with his littermates under god knows what conditions, sent to a shelter, and now some complete stranger ripped him away from that and he’s in another new place. He’s terrified. Everything is completely new to him, it’s like being on a new planet. Just give him time and encouragement and he’ll warm up. Our puppy was terrified of a lot of stuff when we brought him home at 10 weeks; he didn’t even want to go on walks! Now after a couple months with us he’s much more confident, loves going on walks, etc. just be patient.
I’ve had my puppy for 2 months now and I still have to pick him up and carry him outside at least half the time. They’re literally babies, it’s gonna take a minute 😂
Look up the 2 week shutdown method for rescue dogs. It may look a little different for such a young pup, but it worked wonders on our older rescue. The first two months we couldn’t walk her outside the yard, and she’d shut down 5’ from the house, digging her heels in so we’d have to pick her up or coax her with cheese to move. Then things started to get better because she had been given time to adjust. She ended up on Prozac which also helped, but now she’s a wonderful only slightly nervous dog who is showing our new puppy the ropes.
" But then everyone says you have to set routines and boundaries day 1?" That is some of the worst (and heartless) advice I have ever read on this subject. Bond with your puppy. It is traumatized and needs reassurance, not structure. It sounds like your pup may have some history that you're having to deal with. It's a baby. Carry it in and out. spend time on the floor wherever it is. Let go of all expectations and timelines. Enjoy it. I slept on the floor next to her open crate for the first 3 weeks we had our 8 week old. Most nights the first week she came out and slept with me. Cleaned the bedroom carpet every weekend. Didnt care. I wanted to bond. Then stared closing the crate when she fell asleep. Now at 5 months she falls asleep in our bed, I carry her to her crate and she sleeps thru the night. I believe all the training we have done has been so successful because of the initial bonding we did. She feels like part of the pack and wants to please us so is very responsive to praise. Good Luck!
You know your dog if you feel like your traumatising dragging him outside don’t set up his crate water and puppy pads near where he’s plodded himself and work around that to start with when he gets more confident slowly move them back a couple foot at a time I’d feed him all his meals by hand to start with to help bond with him but other than that and sitting near him just leave him be he will eventually either get board of not moving or gain confidence Also just check it’s not his collor scaring him if he’s never had one before and you’ve just put one on with out thinking that could be what’s scaring him Remember every puppy’s different and every puppy needs training differently you can see what’s working and what’s not so do what works for both of you
Poor little guy needs a few days or weeks to decompress from being locked up at the shelter. He will come around in time once he realizes he's safe and in a permanent loving home. He is just a baby and you have nothing but time to begin training him. Don't try to rush him.
true. at the vet right now with him and i feel even worse but once its over with he’ll be able to finally just settle in at home i feel so bad. i literally cant transport him anywhere without carrying him and he HATES it he literally jumped out of my arms and ran away from me in the vet lobby :/
I don't know too many dogs or cats who like going to the vet. He'll be fine.
Sounds like he's scared, the crate feels safe to him. He will get over it and you'll have a whole new set of problems to deal with.
If you haven’t yet, get down on the floor with him. Just talk to him, pet him, or not, watch tv, read a book, whatever. Just be there next to him. Give him a few treats if he takes them, fine, if not, leave them there. He’s just scared. He will come around. The floor trick works wonders. You’re at his level, letting him know he’s safe. Good luck, it will all work out.