What was I thinking???
Hey everyone! I'm here again asking for advice. I volunteered to help a friend out and keep her puppy for her while she was on vacation this week. Actually, I'm using the term "volunteer" loosely. I didn't really volunteer so much as get roped into this task, but hey...I should learn to say no, so it's not my friend's fault really.
The pup is an 8 week old Tea Cup Chihuahua and Shih Tsu mix. They got her only a couple of weeks ago (barely 6 weeks old) and apparently she has not had to be put down the entire time. She whines CONSTANTLY if you put her in her crate. And not a half hearted little whine. A full on, "I'm being stabbed" whine. Almost a scream, really. This I can deal with. I'm doing her a favor by just letting her whine it out at night in the crate. Of course, I'm taking her out at night when she needs to pee. But this isn't about a small bladder at all. I'm toughing it out though, cause its not her fault that her parents dropped her off with no warning and she isn't used to being in her crate at all. But, like I said...I can deal. I can ignore just about anything. Comes from working with toddlers for so long and from having 4 siblings.
So here's the part where I can't deal and am worried....and need help. Grover is 16 weeks old and is about 15-16 lbs now. This pup is only 2.5 pounds. Grover has no idea what to do with it. I'm afraid he might accidentally take out her eye or pull off her leg or something. And ALL they want to do together is play fight with LOTS of teeth. It just seems really unsafe. And poor Grove probably feels like he's in trouble all the time, because everytime they are playing, he's getting fussed at for being too rough. I'm not sure what to do. They want to play together, but everytime we let them, it ends up with Grover pinning her to the floor and nipping her. I'm not really sure he understands that she's another dog, especially since she sort of resembles a small squirrel at this point. What can I do? Grover isn't nipping her hard, by his standards, but she's fragile. And he CANNOT or WILL not calm down when she is anywhere near by.
Another concern is the potty training bit. This dog is totally NOT potty trained (understandable for the age and breed, really) and is peeing everywhere. With no warning. At least when we first got Grover, there would be at least a warning sniff of the carpet or something to signal that he was about to pee. No such luck with this little one. She will be in the middle of full on play and just start to pee. I'm obviously keeping her crated during times when she can't be supervised, but that doesn't prevent all accidents and I'm worried that Grover is going to start peeing in the house too. His potty training has been going SO well and I don't want this to set him back. He's already had one accident in the house since we brought the pooch home on Saturday. He peed RIGHT after she did in a very close spot. Errr. Is this something I should be worried about?
Overall, I'm not looking forward to this week. This pup is sweet and adorable, but I'm not really into the TINY little puppies. And I'm afraid she's going to get hurt! I'd feel terrible. I got myself into this mess and now I'm not really sure what to do. I just didn't anticipate that Grover would be SO rough with her or on GO absolutely every second she's around. It's not a good situation for either pup. Any advice?
The pup is an 8 week old Tea Cup Chihuahua and Shih Tsu mix. They got her only a couple of weeks ago (barely 6 weeks old) and apparently she has not had to be put down the entire time. She whines CONSTANTLY if you put her in her crate. And not a half hearted little whine. A full on, "I'm being stabbed" whine. Almost a scream, really. This I can deal with. I'm doing her a favor by just letting her whine it out at night in the crate. Of course, I'm taking her out at night when she needs to pee. But this isn't about a small bladder at all. I'm toughing it out though, cause its not her fault that her parents dropped her off with no warning and she isn't used to being in her crate at all. But, like I said...I can deal. I can ignore just about anything. Comes from working with toddlers for so long and from having 4 siblings.
So here's the part where I can't deal and am worried....and need help. Grover is 16 weeks old and is about 15-16 lbs now. This pup is only 2.5 pounds. Grover has no idea what to do with it. I'm afraid he might accidentally take out her eye or pull off her leg or something. And ALL they want to do together is play fight with LOTS of teeth. It just seems really unsafe. And poor Grove probably feels like he's in trouble all the time, because everytime they are playing, he's getting fussed at for being too rough. I'm not sure what to do. They want to play together, but everytime we let them, it ends up with Grover pinning her to the floor and nipping her. I'm not really sure he understands that she's another dog, especially since she sort of resembles a small squirrel at this point. What can I do? Grover isn't nipping her hard, by his standards, but she's fragile. And he CANNOT or WILL not calm down when she is anywhere near by.
Another concern is the potty training bit. This dog is totally NOT potty trained (understandable for the age and breed, really) and is peeing everywhere. With no warning. At least when we first got Grover, there would be at least a warning sniff of the carpet or something to signal that he was about to pee. No such luck with this little one. She will be in the middle of full on play and just start to pee. I'm obviously keeping her crated during times when she can't be supervised, but that doesn't prevent all accidents and I'm worried that Grover is going to start peeing in the house too. His potty training has been going SO well and I don't want this to set him back. He's already had one accident in the house since we brought the pooch home on Saturday. He peed RIGHT after she did in a very close spot. Errr. Is this something I should be worried about?
Overall, I'm not looking forward to this week. This pup is sweet and adorable, but I'm not really into the TINY little puppies. And I'm afraid she's going to get hurt! I'd feel terrible. I got myself into this mess and now I'm not really sure what to do. I just didn't anticipate that Grover would be SO rough with her or on GO absolutely every second she's around. It's not a good situation for either pup. Any advice?
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Comment by Parker on May 20, 2008 at 11:07am
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Thanks again everyone for the moral support! And the good advice. Hopefully we'll all make it to Saturday alive and uninjured! :)
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Comment by Sam on May 19, 2008 at 6:21pm
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Ah yes, supervised time only. Poor pup, did not learn good dog to dog skills leaving her litter at such a young age. I also bet Grover is just playing typical puppy play. With her so fragile even in fun she can become severely injured. Her urinating in the home can make him take a few steps back....dogs often will urinate over where other dogs go to make their scent the strongest. Bless your heart.....surely seems like poor planning on the owners part. They owe you far more than dinner!
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Comment by Charlie on May 19, 2008 at 5:55pm
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They were supposed to keep one puppy and find good homes for the other two Poms, but have gotten attached to all three. I was thinking I could care for them next door, until they mentioned that all three have to go out at 4:00am to potty. I am hoping they take them on their trip...they are pretty attached. Oh well, we'll see...
Glad to hear today has been better for you, Grover, and the visiting pup! Keep up the good work. : - )
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Oh and Charlie...your neighbors must be nuts! Three pomeranians!! That's a hefty load to take care of....well not hefty...but nuts.
Hopefully they'll decide to take the whole lot with them when they leave town. But since they live next door, maybe you could take care of the pups at their house and just make frequent visits over there.
Ah the joys of dog sitting...never again. :) Well at least not anything smaller than Grovers mouth.
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Thanks for the moral support! Today has been better than yesterday. I've kept them seperated most of the day so that has certainly helped. And I've made sure to give Grover lots of snuggles and play time one on one. :)
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Comment by Sam Tsang on May 19, 2008 at 4:39pm
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You're such a trooper for doing this :) Hope it all works out for ya! Your friend owes you a nice dinner :p
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I would keep them completely separate except for your closely supervised walks and short sessions like you're doing by having them focus on a toy instead of each other. If you hadn't said the word "Teacup", I would be less concerned for the little one's safety around Grover. Sounds like your friend bought into the age-old "Teacup" terminology breeder scam. The tiniest respresentatives of toy breeds do tend to be much more fragile and breakable.
I may be in the same boat this weekend. My neighbors recently brought home not one, but three, Pomeranian puppies. The have two larger mature dogs and are going to the coast for the weekend. I asked if they were taking all 5 dogs, then put my foot in my mouth and offered to sit the puppies. They haven't decided yet whether they're taking them along or not. Anyway, when we have gone next door to visit, I have kept Charlie on leash as I'm afraid he might accidentally "break" them.
Sounds like you're doing a good job with the pup so far! Seems she may be better trained when you give her back than she was when you got her. : - )
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Thanks for the advice Sam! I've been taking them both to the park each day and also for a walk in the mornings. Which is awesome, cause it takes nothing to tire the chihuahua out and she sleeps a lot anyway with her age. I didn't realize that in not letting Grover rough her up on the first day, I was actually pitting them against each other. I've tried to structure some play between them by letting her have one end of a chew toy and him the other and getting them to tug a war with it. That has helped. I'll be keeping her in the crate often and taking them both out for walks and VERY supervised play as often as I can.
I feel like crap for getting on to Grover now. He's really a sweetness and not intentionally trying to hurt her. I can't take the pooch to someone else, I'll just ride out the week. :P It'll work out! :)
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Ok, the reason why Grover is behaving this way are:1. they did not meet in mutual location. 2. He sees him as an intruder invading his home turf. 3. when he pin him down, he's actually showing him and teaching him a lesson, saying what is okay in his home and what isn't. But got interrupted and "punished" for being rough, which add even more stress and grudge in him right now, which explains the peeing over.
If i was in your situation, I would A) keep the chihuahua in another room and ride it out for the week or B) take it to someone else, because the peeing and fighting is NOT going to stop in a few days or C) teach the chihuahua as your own and walk and exercise both out side, tire them out, feed them separately and keep the guest in the crate mostly.
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