Maybe I got my dog for the wrong reasons. I was suffering from depression, feeling incredibly lonely, and just wanted something to keep me company and give me purpose. I never meant to get a puppy. I always hoped to adopt an older dog that had some training, as this is my first dog and I don’t know much about training.
But all the dogs available for adoption were either large breeds, which my parents wouldn’t allow, or small breeds I knew wouldn’t suit me. In the end, I got a little mixed breed puppy.
She’s everything I could have wanted—velcro personality, smart, loves water, and shows promise for agility training, which I’ve always wanted to do. But she’s stubborn, and toilet training has been a nightmare. She’ll hold it until I bring her inside, then immediately go on the floor. She chews everything—wooden furniture, headphones, pens, you name it—even though I give her plenty of chew toys and treats.
I’ve tried various enrichment ideas, but she refuses to work for food unless she’s in the mood. During training, she’ll sometimes just turn her back on me and sit down. I can’t help but compare her to the dog that “could have been” in my head—the rescue dog I missed out on.
I blame myself for not being prepared for how hard training would be. My sister had promised to take me to puppy classes and dog meets but didn’t follow through. Now I feel like my puppy deserves a better owner. Do you have any advice on what to do? Should I try crate training? Any recommendations for training videos or boredom busters? I just want to be the best owner I can be.
Depression sucks. I bet you’re doing fine, but the illness might be tricking you into thinking you’re failing. It’s okay to ask for help.
Crate training can be helpful to prevent chewing when you can’t supervise. Just remember, it’s not a punishment. It’s to keep her safe and prevent bad habits from forming. Puppy pads can be confusing for some dogs—try putting them outside and gradually phase them out.
For trainers, I recommend Robert Cabral, Nate Schoomer, and Fenzi Dog Sports. Avoid anything that talks about dominance and being the alpha. Training should be a partnership.
As for boredom busters, Kongs are great. Try freezing peanut butter or kibble in them—it’ll keep her busy for a while!
@Yan
Thanks so much! I’ll definitely look into crate training. She’s sneaky and finds places to have accidents even when I think she’s sitting by me! My family doesn’t help—they don’t respect the training, so it feels like I’m constantly starting over. It’s frustrating. I’ll also try some of the trainers you mentioned.
You should get a book on puppy training or look up some videos. It takes patience and consistency. Some dogs respond better to praise than treats, so figure out what motivates her. You’ll also want to change your habits to prevent her from getting into things, like putting your headphones away when you’re not using them.
@Finnley
She’s clever and learned sit and lie down quickly, but toilet training and enrichment are another story. I’ll keep working on it. I’ve started putting things away, but she’s quick and sneaky!
Jessie said: @Finnley
She’s clever and learned sit and lie down quickly, but toilet training and enrichment are another story. I’ll keep working on it. I’ve started putting things away, but she’s quick and sneaky!
She sounds cheeky but smart! Just be patient and consistent. She’s still young and learning, and things will improve over time.
Try using specific words for potty training, like ‘quick’ for a wee and ‘hurry up’ for a poo. It helps with consistency. We still use puppy pads just in case and it’s saved our floors a few times.
Blair said:
Try using specific words for potty training, like ‘quick’ for a wee and ‘hurry up’ for a poo. It helps with consistency. We still use puppy pads just in case and it’s saved our floors a few times.
That’s a great idea! I’ve been saying ‘go potty,’ but specific phrases might work better. I’ll give it a try. Thank you!
You don’t have a dog—you have a puppy. Puppies are a whole different beast. It feels like they’ll never calm down, but they will. Give it a year or two, and she’ll settle down into a lovely dog.