Puppy Problems????

When Your Puppy Cries, Yips & Howls All Night

A puppy cries through the night because he is frightened.  He has been taken away from the comfort and security of his mother and his littermates.  One of the best solutions for this problem is to keep the little dog in your room at night in a dog crate with the gate closed. Leave a dim light on all night, or make him comfortable with an old towel or blanket. Fill a hot-water bottle with warm water, wrap it in a soft towel, and place it in the dog crate next to the puppy.  This will simulate the warm sleeping bodies of his mother and littermates.  Do not holler at the dog if it continues to cry. Be patient and understanding, and comfort your dog with a soothing tone of voice and an occasional pat on the head. Move the crate close to your bed so he can hear you breathe as you sleep.  Night crying does not last very long, and if it does not end after the first week, have the dog examined by a veterinarian for a medical problem.

Solving Your Puppy's Nipping Problem

All puppies have a teething problem, as do all infants.  Because teething is painful, puppies bite or nip to ease the pressure of the incoming teeth. They will bite hands, fingers, toys, and furniture. Sometimes they are encouraged to bite if the owner makes a habit of placing his hand in the animals mouth when playing. This is like teaching the dog to bite.  There are several ways to ease the teething discomfort.  One method is to soak a wash cloth in cold water and place it in the freezer. When it is frozen, give it to the dog to chew. The coldness will numb his gums and relieve the pain. Consequently, he will not bite as much. (This is just like the common practice of refrigerating babies teething rings.)  Another approach to the problem is to give the puppy a rawhide or synthetic chew toy. It is not suggested that the dog be given an old discarded shoe or sock.  You will be sorry later when the dog will not be able to distinguish between an old shoe and a new one. The rawhide toys may be used in conjunction with the frozen washcloth.  It is important to solve the nipping problem early in the dogs life because it can lead to a serious biting problem later. The puppy should always be discouraged from nipping at your fingers or anything else. It is better to substitute a rawhide toy for your fingers than to inflict a harsh punishment or scolding. All the yelling, hitting, or finger pointing in the world is not going to stop the dogs teeth from growing and giving him pain. And if you scare the dog when he is a young puppy, he may grow shy or aggressive and then you will have a biting problem that is much more difficult to solve.

From I Just Got a Puppy. What Do I Do? written by Mordecai Siegal and Matthew Margolis and published by Simon and Schuster.

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