Every puppy owner’s journey is different however – and so don’t expect all of these to happen – and if your puppy provides you with some other unique challenges, that is just all part of the ‘joy’ of dog ownership and developing a relationship with your new best friend.
Without fail, almost every new puppy owner hits a point when they despairingly wonder, ‘what on earth have I done?’ and may even think ‘this is all a huge mistake’. Often, it’s when you’re not getting much sleep, the 3am toilet visits are getting tiring, and you seem to be permanently on call for your furry dictator!
Do these puppy problems sound familiar? If it’s where you are right now, don’t worry. Virtually everyone feels like that at some point.
Here at Purina, we understand puppy owners’ problems and the stresses that can come with them. Keep reading to see how to deal with common puppy-owner problems, along with stories from our team about the biggest challenges they faced during puppyhood. We’re all in this together!
1. Toilet training problems
Issue: Your puppy is toileting in the house, even when let out frequently.
Solution: Make sure they know where to go to toilet, and always go with them. It is important that you reward them immediately for going in the right place every single time. Take them out every hour – even if they don’t obviously look like they need to go so you get lots of opportunities to reward them. Puppies will need to go to the toilet every time they wake up, after food or drink and after play times or exercise – so make sure you take them out then. Also work on recognising the signs in your own puppy that it’s toilet time. Sniffing, turning in circles, whining or looking for corners or hidden places can all be indicators that they need to go.
"My biggest challenge was toilet training – particularly as I’d chosen a Miniature Dachshund! I don’t think I anticipated just how difficult, frustrating or time consuming it would be, and how much patience it would take to get it right! It made me feel completely helpless and I know I sometimes lost my temper as I just felt overwhelmed like we’d take one step forwards and two steps back.
A lot of time and a lot of patience, however, and we finally got there in the end…and I have to say, once we really cracked it, I was more elated about my puppy going for wees outside than I thought would ever be possible!"
- Ellie, Purina Vet and owner of Evie, now a 1-year-old Miniature Dachshund.
2. Chewing everything!
Issue: Your puppy constantly chews furniture and items left on the floor.
Solution: Putting things in their mouth and having a taste, chew or a gnaw are how puppies explore the world and find out about things. Chewing is important for puppies as it helps develop their mouth and jaws. It is also how most puppies play. Making sure they have their own things to chew on that are more rewarding than gnawing the furniture, cushions or abandoned shoes can prevent the problem. Also, by recognising the signs that your puppy is active and wants to play means you can direct them onto something more appropriate and have a play session together.
"Lily had a habit of finding the odd table leg or flip flop to chew when left on her own for short periods!
This meant that we were apprehensive about what she may chew next and dealing with the stress of tidying up the mess she’d made, rather than enjoying the play and cuddles!"
- Becky, Purina Brand Manager and owner of Lily, a 13-month-old Yorkiepoo.
3. Getting into mischief
Issue: You feel like your puppy is doing something naughty any time your back is turned.
Solution: Puppies get bored easily – and are in a developmental phase where they are naturally investigating and exploring their new world – and interacting with things in it. Keep an eye on them as much as possible – and give them plenty of play and enrichment opportunities to keep them engaged, so they don’t go off and create their own entertainment! At times when you can’t watch them 100%, use a play pen in the room you are in to keep them contained and out of mischief.
“Any time I turned my back, he’d be doing something he shouldn’t. This was causing conflict in the family, and I couldn’t even leave him to go to the shops to get away from it all. I hadn’t realised that having a puppy was so difficult, and twenty times a day I nearly picked up the phone to his breeder to ask her to take him back because I couldn’t cope. I’m so glad I didn’t though as he’s now my best friend and I couldn’t ever imagine life without him."
- Lindsey, owner of Monty, now a 14-month-old Golden Retriever.
4. Unsettled night-time behaviour
Issue: Your puppy is up and down all night, cries to go outside, and seems anxious.
Solution: Puppies are just like babies; they don’t have bladder capacity to go through the night without a toilet break and so can’t sleep through the night. And when puppies go to their new home first, they never have slept through the night as they’ve been able to wake up have a game with their brothers and sisters and then go back to sleep. This means they have to learn a sleep routine, which takes time.
In the early weeks, create a regular nighttime routine – and to start with go to bed late and get up early. Have a gentle play session about half an hour before you go to sleep, let them calm down and then take them out for a last toilet opportunity. Then set your alarm for halfway through the night and get up and take them out, reward them when they go to the toilet, and go straight back to bed with no interaction or play.
If you both know to expect this and when it is going to happen, you can relax the rest of the time. As your puppy gets older and their toilet training is more reliable, you can start to lose the middle of the night toilet visit and you should both be getting a good night’s sleep. Predictability will help you both.
“The lack of sleep is killer, and sometimes you take steps back and it would feel like everything we’d worked on had been undone. Essentially – a lot of heightened emotions! Luckily time and perseverance really are the answer. Once she started sleeping through the night everything calmed down. Now I can’t imagine my life without her."
- Martina, Purina Experience Lead and owner of Luna, now a 1-year-old Miniature Dachshund.
Tips on how to handle your initial puppy problems
Here are some six new puppy tips to remember when dealing with seemingly relentless puppy-owner problems:
- This will pass. Your puppy will settle, they will get the hang of toilet training, they will sleep through the night, you will get the hang of dog ownership, and your world will go back to (a new!) normal.
- It’s OK to feel scared – everyone does. New owners worry about whether their puppy is healthy and happy, whether they are doing things right, and ultimately if they are going to be any good at being a dog owner. You are out of your comfort zone and everything is new, so these feelings are totally natural.
- Ask for help. If you’re worried about your puppy’s health, talk to a vet. Or if you are worried about their behaviour, training or settling in, find a qualified behaviourist you can run your worries by. All good puppy breeders will be willing to give you some back up too. Sometimes it helps just to talk to friends who have dogs. They will tell you their own stories, reassure you, give you a fresh perspective – and remind you of the joys of dog owning.
- Take time out. Ask a family member or friend to sit with your puppy – or try a dog sitter for a few hours to run away and have some ‘me’ time. You’ll come back refreshed and full of love for your puppy again.
- Never forget your new dog is just a baby. They are not being naughty or difficult – they are just trying to fit into this new life and will take time to learn how to do this. They need your patience and your love. They don’t come toilet trained and pre-programmed to do as you ask them. You have to spend time teaching them and building your relationship.
- What you are doing now however is investing in your new dog. All this work, time and energy is building the foundations of your life together so you can build your relationship and have the dog you have always dreamed of.
Want to find out about the next stages of puppy ownership? Learn what to expect from puppy adolescence.
Puppy problem FAQs
Purina Editorial Team
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