Every waking minute

[sarahfryberg]

Hello! Sarah and Piper here! She is now 5 months old. Shes is so good. I do still want to rip my hair sometimes 🤣🤷🏻*♀️ But i just love her. Question? I feel like EVERY waking minute she has my attention? I dont get alot of chores done? I dont get projects done? I cant read? Or watch a tv show? I feel like she should be able to chill more? At least relax when im working on a project for a bit? She is exercised morning and night. And every couple hrs we do quick training sessions. She plays with the cat. She plays fetch. Brain games. But when i go to get a project done or do chores she starts actin up? Or doing things shes NOt supposed to. Or just barks at me? Its kind of frustrating because i dont want her thinking im ignoring her or i dont love her. Any thoughts? Would love to be able to bring her to street fairs with me while im running my booth But i need her to be able to chillax a bit?

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hello Sarahfryberg,

Sounds like your dog is approaching doggy adolescence which is when they want to do a whole lots of things and seem to never get tired. You can get a head's up on this phase by reading this article that summarizes what to expect.

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/survive-dogs-adolescent-stage/

 

Sometimes, it may happens that dogs just do not know how and when to chill. They are tired, maybe even getting cranky, but they are too overstimulated to relax. If you have walked her, provided her with plenty of brain games, play and training, then she needs to learn that it's a good time to take a nap.

 

This can be accomplished by providing her with some interactive toy (like a stuffed Kong) in a confined area (crate, x-pen, behind a baby gate) and giving her some quiet time. Many dogs will chew/lick for a bit and then fall asleep. You can play some calming music (there are CD's made just for dogs) draw the curtains or place a blanket over the crate. Avoid if possible doing things that may overstimulate her such as getting up repeatedly from the couch, grabbing her food bowl or the car keys or cleaning the house.

 

**(If you need to do chores, try confining her behind a baby gate with a safe chew toy until you are done. Training her some boundaries rather than being constantly underfoot may also help. Here's an intro on how to train a dog to stay on the mat: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/video-archive/train-dog-go-to-mat/

 

Having the T.V. on or some music playing, although that qualifies as noise, offers the advantage of buffering sounds that may stimulate her (unless the tv show features door bells or dogs barking!) so she has a easier time falling asleep.

 

If you establish scheduled nap times as a routine, chances are that, day after day, she will start getting drowsy around these times and may fall asleep on her own.

 

One thing that I have found helps a lot is taking the dog on a sniffing adventure prior to nap time. It has been found that sniffing is quite a tiresome activity for many dogs. If you have a yard, spend some time out with her and watch her sniff to her heart's content. Or go on a walk and take her to a place where she can be kept on a long line (long leash sold often in horse tack stores) and allow her to sniff. Chances are, once back inside, she should be ready for a nap (although may need your guidance initially).

 

The first few days it may seem like it may take forever to encourage these naps because she just doesn't know how to chill and relax, but if you stick to it, her body and mind may get accustomed to it. Here's the fact: dogs need their sleep. Dogs who do not receive sufficient amount of sleep often pay the consequences with behavior problems and impaired ability to learn.

 

Ideally we want dogs to sleep anywhere between 12-16 hours a day in a 24-hour cycle. So that's 8 hours typically at night and then during the day an extra 4 to 8 hours of napping. Of course, this is a general guideline as there are many variable. For example, younger puppies and older dogs have different sleep requirements and dog breed plays a role too with many of the larger dog breeds such as Saint Bernards and mastiffs sleeping more than average.

 

Along with providing a quiet area that encourages sleep, it's also important keeping an eye out for signs of dog anxiety. Some dogs are prone to being anxious and they just can't seem to relax. Lack of restorative sleep and anxiety lead to a vicious cycle. So if your dog is the type that reacts to every noise, is extra clingy and paces around, then she must learn to relax. Calming aids such Adaptil or Thunderease diffusers can help, calming dog CDs, calming supplements (like those with l-theanine, lavender-ask your vet) may help out if she has a hard time sleeping.

 

For taking her to fairs, the more you do it the better. If those fairs are busy areas, she might benefit getting accustomed to these places by taking her frequently to farmer's markets and other places where lots of people aggregate. The more people she sees, the more she'll learn to act calm around them. Also, helping her learn to lie on a mat at home can come handy since you can take the mat with you to fairs and encourage her to lie on it as needed.

Edited April 15, 2019 by Adrienne Farricelli

[JMFS]

I'm here to offer encouragement! I work from home and it sounds like you do, too. Gertie used to be just like Piper with needing constant attention. Nowadays she chills out on her bed while I get my work done, but in those first six'ish months it was a challenge to get anything done!

 

Establishing a schedule helped immensely. Each morning she now knows that I spend time in the bathroom, then we go outside and she spends some time in her bathroom ;), then she either follows me to prep food and water for everyone, or she goes to say hi to the husband if he's here. Then Monkey gets food and water, then Gertie gets food and water, then Momo gets food (he refuses fresh water and prefers to drink from the pool - weirdo). After all the fur folk are tended to I get my water and settle in to the office. When my water is empty I take the girls outside before getting my refill.

 

Now, 5 months ago this was Quite a different story! We were still deciding if she gets to sleep on our bed or not, who gets fed first, how she's going to take her meals (it started in a bowl, then the Kong Wobbler and now she eats on her bed with her Orbee Tuff and a regular Kong), she didn't know rules and she had No manners, whatsoever. I'll always remember the day I went to look for her and she was standing on our table. WTH?! Duuude, you can't do that! Lol. She turned our household upside down for those first six'ish months. Still does some days. :rolleyes:

 

Another thing I do is play "soft" music (Cowboy Junkies, K's Choice, Natalie Merchant, Depeche Mode, pretty much anything I'll sing along to that's got a slow'ish beat) and I have a diffuser I put lavender essential oil in. On allergy-inducing or headache days I'll throw in Rosemary or Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus is not safe for cats so be aware of that caveat). When weather permits I'll open the window so she can get all the sniffs, when it doesn't she still gets to look out the window as her bed is right below it. We also rearranged our office so my desk is near Gertie's bed and Abbi is next to the husband's desk.

 

When little miss is having an ADHD day I'll give her a shin bone filled with marrow and she'll usually soothe herself into a calmer mood with chewing and licking. I toss them after a few days, which is when they start to show signs of chipping. Of course Kongs are king, but her Orbee Tuff is another good toy - I can get bigger snacks in there so they last a bit longer. I was able to put one of her shin bones in it. She got so frustrated with that she started barking at it, so that game ended quickly. :cool: It's not often I can trip her up so I took that win, haha.

 

Training her to go to her bed was another key factor. Every time she stepped away from it I'd toss a few Zuke's minis onto it to entice her back. Eventually her stays lengthened to where she's now a lazy pup, content to veg out while I work. Okay, perhaps not Content, but she's a more willing participant than she used to be.

 

The "find it" game is a favorite. I don't get as much work done because she's quick with finishing the game, but it at least offers me a break and her some stimulation.

 

Flirt pole to reinforce "leave" and train "drop" is a good way to tire her both physically and mentally. Especially if we do it outside in the heat. I'm not ashamed to enlist Nature's help! Heat speeds up the tiring process.

 

As a last ditch effort, when she's über resistant to all my tricks, I'll bring Mo out to the front yard and let them run each other out.

 

Here's a (hopefully upright) pic of Lazy Bones this afternoon for inspiration (all her toys labeled - stuffed are supervised play only because she likes to chew the squeaker ends off). You'll get there!

 

[sarahfryberg]

Thank you so much! I will take this info and roll with it!! She is such a good girl really. But im tired! 🤣 she is only 5 months old.. ive had to learn alot of patience. I LOVE being with her! And playing and walking. But again i DO need to get MY stuff done.. thank u again! I appreciate everything! Will keep u posted! ☺️

[JMFS]

Do you have any friends with dogs? Y'all could trade doggy daycare days, or even visit each other for an hour so the dogs can play each other out. Your saying you're tired reminded me of 20 years ago when my daughter was colicky. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. she would wail and scream and Nothing would console her. My neighbor would take the little noise maker over to her house so I could get 30 or so minutes of peace to recollect myself, which made me think of trading off dog duty. :D Raising a puppy is similar to having a new baby. With fur. And teeth. And claws. And destructive tendencies. 🤣 Hmmm, babies might be easier. Until they're tweens . . ..

[sarahfryberg]

Ok! Lowdown on piper! She has been amazing! Doing so much better! Now im worried shes being too calm! 🤣🤷🏻*♀️ Shes plyin with toys eating still doin her walks and training but.... the last few days throughout the day just naps and chills out! Snuggles with me lays next to me sits there and stares at me while i do my projects! Plays with the cat and then chills again. I cannot believe it! It took one time for me just saying heres a toy! And i got her a bed mat!! Thanks again!

[JMFS]

That's fanflippintastic! Gertie won't settle if I'm in the kitchen unless I put down a blanket for her. Spoiled rotten, I tell you! It works out, though, because I don't like having dogs in the kitchen, and when I put her blanket down she stays out of the way, but can still kind of be a part of the action.

 

Can't wait to hear how Piper does at the booth. I'm betting she'll be a big hit. :)

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Good to hear, keep up the great work! Thanks for the update.

[sarahfryberg]

Jennifer. Ya the booth thing? We will see on that! 🤣 she just barks at dogs constantly if she is on leash. Im gunna try a few training sitting days beforehand.... but..... maybe next summer when shes older!? 🤣🤣

[JMFS]

Haha, maybe you could try her for small segments and have a friend take her if she starts acting up. Momo doesn't get to go places with me because of his energy level - he Exhausts me. Abbi would bark her head off or shake to death. Gertie has thus far been a perfectly behaved pooch, with the exception of the Veterinarian's office. She has to greet Every Single dog and person and cat by wiggling her body all over the place like she hasn't seen them in Forever . . . even though she's seen them never. I take her to as many places as I can and she helps me get out into the world more. I wouldn't call it social anxiety, it's more of an aversion to people. I'm a loner, what can I say? :D

 

Incidentally, I saw your grass post. Momo is a grass addict. You'd think he was a horse with the way he grazes. What's worse is he got Abbi and Gertie doing it, too! Addicts, the lot of them! I joke that we must have the most delicious grass in the county because they don't really do it elsewhere. $10 says Mo is out there mowing the lawn right now. The Vet told me if they're not throwing it up or getting diarrhea afterwards not to worry. They may like the taste, they may like the dew on the blades, or they may simply like the texture. I was told it's Probably not a missing nutrient and that studies have been done to debunk that, but then there are those who say it could be a missing nutrient. My opinion is that Mo started it because he has no tail and he's a speed demon so he grabs tufts of grass or weeds to help pivot himself when he needs to make a tight turn. I can't tell you how many times that boy has spun out of control and gone tumbling no-tail over nose, haha. I think he then acquired the taste and started doing it out of boredom and it's become as much a habit as my twisting hair custom. I even bought a bag of mixed lettuce to see if I could offer something better (healthier / cleaner) than grass, but nope. It's something about our yard. It's simply tasty. :rolleyes: