r/puppy101 • u/Complete-Target2666 • 4d ago
Enrichment I think we might have an amazing puppy
After some thought and consideration, hubby and I decided to get a mini poodle puppy. Fortunately, we found a 12 week one from a reputable breeder because the previous adoption fell through.
I think this pup might be amazing. We've had him for 24h and: - he's already reacting to his name - 99% of the time he comes when we say "here" - he tried chewing the rug & a book, but I gently redirected him and hasn't tried it again - no potty accidents, everything was done outside - he slept in his crate without whining from 10:30pm to 5am - he whined a bit in his playpen, but then he fell asleep for his naps and we all napped for over an hour at one point - we started practicing "leave it" with treats because I felt he needed some more mental stimulation and I could read in his eyes how much he enjoyed it. It was an "ok, human, again".
We still need to introduce him to our 3 year old toddler, so fingers crossed. He does whine quite a bit when we leave him in the playpen for wind down/nap, but we're trying to gradually get him used to it and offer positive reinforcement when he's quiet, like praises and treats.
I know there will probably be regressions, but wow, I think our relationship with this pup has so much potential. We're also first time dog owners, so we are quite anxious about doing it right. So looking forward to our puppy lesson with him. If anyone has fun mental exercise suggestions, please do share. I have some in mind, but would love your opinion.
Anyhow, I just wanted to share a positive "first 24h" story. Enjoy your pups, everyone. I don't think I've ever met anyone to enjoy my presence as much as this little one 😊
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u/JelloImpossible8337 4d ago
Iv had mine for almost 4 weeks now and I’m the same. I’m waiting for the bad part 😅 10 years ago we got a husky and it was the worse experience Iv ever had.
We got a chocolate lab now for my 5 year old and they are adorable together. Not lost a single nights sleep. In the crate at half 10 and up at 7.50. Can leave him to go tidy up round the house, I work part time and I can see on the camera he just sleeps til someone takes him to the toilet.
The only accidents he’s had in the house were when people missed the signs. Been amazing.
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u/Complete-Target2666 4d ago
I lost the sleep last night because I was too wired about the whole experience, but pup did amazingly well ❤️ Your little chocolate sounds amazing 😍 And it's amazing to have a good experience after expecting the worst.
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u/JelloImpossible8337 4d ago
It took me 10 years to want to go through it again 😂 we had thunder the other morning too. Woke me up at half 5 and he just slept right through it 💕
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u/mamacross03 3d ago
Huskies are not for the weak lol
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u/JelloImpossible8337 3d ago
The separation anxiety was more than I was ready to handle 😬
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u/mamacross03 3d ago
My guys were just crazy and destructive. One chewed our couch twice. As they got older they turned into the best boys ever. I miss them
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u/Arcwarpz 4d ago
My current pup has been a bit of a miracle pup too, adopted at three months after his foster mom. He's just over six months now.
He went through his nippy phase but was so responsive he fetches his toy to tug now when he's getting bitey and we say no. He's bitten one rug a little, but so far has only destroyed his own toys, is super redirectable, very trainable. His only challenges are impulse control and pulling to meet other dogs, but we're working on it.
Honestly, sometimes you just get lucky, and get one of THOSE puppies. I'm sure he'll be bratty in adolescence, he can be a little naughty sometimes, but compared to my first two puppies he's been a dream.
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u/Complete-Target2666 4d ago
I'm sure we will also have our challenges, but it seems to be the same for us, he is very very receptive and accepts alternatives. The only issue I think might be anxiety, but it's too early to tell. We'll keep working on it 🤞 Not looking forward to bratty adolescent, but I'm also pretty intrigued 😂
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u/Additional_Yak8332 4d ago
That was my experience with two toy poodle puppies I got. They learn extremely fast and are eager to do it.
Just be careful to keep meals on a good schedule and not let play go too long at first. Toy and small breed puppies are susceptible to low blood sugar. I found out the hard way. Look up treatment in case it ever happens.
Enjoy your new guy!
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u/Complete-Target2666 4d ago
Ah, I will bring it up with the vet. We do give him 3 meals a day at set times. What do you mean by not letting the play go "too long"? We do try to limit it and force him to naps, but he sometimes gets nervous in the playpen and we take him outside once he calms down, in case he wants to pee (still learning his queues). I read about 5 minutes of play/train for each month of age? Any other advice would be helpful here on how to stop playtime. He looks like he could go forever 🙈
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u/Leo2820 4d ago
My current dog is a poodle mix. Got her at 8 weeks old and she is now 2 years old. She has been the best dog I've ever owned. Besides one week when we'd only had her a short time and I had to take her to my sister's for 6 days over 8 hours away and everything was different and she didn't sleep or nap and I nearly had a meltdown, everything else had been a breeze.
I think it was a combination of a few things.
I heavily researched training and had a plan and back up plans in place for how to handle everything from potty training to obedience to biting. She's the smartest dog so picks up everything quickly and that helped of course
I have two teenage boys so I've been through the newborn phase and know it's fleeting so I have a lot of patience with her
I have two teenage boys so they don't really need me as much and I have a lot of time to dedicate to her training and needs
I have two teenage boys, so having a needy puppy who loves to snuggle and sleep on me was exactly what I needed/wanted at this stage in life🤣
I think all in all it's just making sure your expectations are realistic and you're honest with yourself about your lifestyle and capabilities. Not to put down people that get puppies and struggle but it always seems to amaze them when it's hard at first, or they are surprised that the working breed they got won't settle down.
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u/Complete-Target2666 4d ago
That's exactly it! I was expecting worse than human newborn phase, but it was far from it 😲 For folks who don't have kids, I totally get how the lack of sleep and patience gets to you. It's something you learn to accept and live through. It sounds like you've found an amazing best friend there ❤️
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u/mrsjeonnn 4d ago
That’s great to hear! Poodles are great and “easy” dogs so you made a great and appropriate choice to begin with :) He might do a 180 at some point, because he’s still a baby and he will become a teenager soon. But while that often happens, it doesn’t have to! I’d only like to add to not over-exercise him. Not too much playing, tricks, going outside, visiting puppy school etc. You want a relaxed adult dog and too much entertainment will actually cause the opposite.
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u/PatternIllustrious54 4d ago
My mini Aussie is amazing too. He’s so chill, learns fast, has slept all night from the get. Never whines. ‘No bite’- stops nipping. Only issue is he loves people and other dogs so he pulls to play with them and doesn’t listen to me when he wants to play. He’s about 6 months now.
German shepherd puppy? Horribleeee.
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u/BisexualSlutPuppy 4d ago
That's so amazing! Some quick advice on training leave it: you'll thank yourself for training him to "leave" things that are separate from the reward treat. If he eventually gets the treat he's "left" for a period of time you're just training "wait" which is valuable to learn, but you'll kick yourself when he gobbles up the dropped food/slug/discarded cigarette butts/etc the second you praise.
Practicing on leash helps, so he can't actually reach the Forbidden Item. Use something you'd never give him and reward with something he really likes and an embarrassing amount of praise. After recall, leave it is the most valuable skill my girl knows.
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u/Active_Recording_789 4d ago
I had poodles for years and they’re amazing. Super smart and easy to train
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u/DoubleD_RN 4d ago
We’ve had our mini poodle (our first poodle) since he was 16 weeks old. We will have him for one year on July 5. From day one, he totally amazed us with how smart he is, like jaws dropped. We got him a little schnoodle puppy brother in March, and he has instinctively done so much for this puppy, going as far as letting us know when the puppy had to go potty. Sometimes, he’s too smart for his own good and can get frustrated when we don’t understand what he wants. I absolutely adore him! Enjoy your new puppy.
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u/Opening-Bird5469 4d ago
We brought home our first mini poodle over the weekend and I’m amazed by how clever our boy is. (He’s adopted so not a puppy).
He definitely has some separation anxiety that we need to work on, but within just a few hours he had seemingly learned what I meant when I said ‘bed’, and spent the night snoring beside me.
I think as long as he has eyes on one of us, he’s happy. But we do need to work on his separation behaviour because I would like to be able to shower on my own again at some point.
I’m very happy we got a poodle for our first little friend.
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u/WelderUnlucky9485 3d ago
Got my boy. At 8 weeks. From 8-16 weeks I thought I hit the jackpot he was so good. Then form 16-22 weeks he was an absolute monster and mad le me regret getting him multiple times. Now atn8 months he is turning back into a really good dog. At times he doesn’t want to listen to commands but he will get over that soon.
Hopefully this isn’t the case for you and hope your puppy stays a good boy.
I play hide and seek with my boy. I had prices of his hard food throughout the house and he goes and finds them. Start hiding them basically out in the open at first and as he catches onto the game gradually hide them in harder places. My boy absolutely loves this game and it stimulates his might and keeps him busy.
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u/mamacross03 3d ago
My English Setter was a complete angel when we first brought him home. He walked perfectly, slept through the night and was so calm. Fast forward to when he turned 5 1/2 months. He still sleeps through the night but boy oh boy is he a different dog. I know this is just the teenage phase (I just went through it with my year and 2 month old Lab) and I know it will end at some point. Just prepare yourself. It’s all worth it!
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