need help with my new 1 month old shepherd mix puppy?

Question

My boyfriend and I just got him yesterday from the shelter. He's only a month old, and was separated from his 6 brothers and sisters yesterday when we got him (all the puppies got owners the same day, they only spent 1 night in the shelter after the owner surrendered them). I dont know why he didnt wait another month to surrender him, but i have this puppy. he's very playful and adorable. Yesterday was the first night he slept with us. We put him in a laundry basket with a blanket next to our bed, and he woke up every hour. I patted him to sleep, but he still was waking up every hour whimpering and crying. Should he be sleeping through the night? How can i get him to sleep longer... i didnt sleep at all last night. when can i begin crate training him? also, can anybody recommend any good puppy food for him... remember he's only a month old... when should i begin potty training him? this is my first dog ever, but my boyfriend has has plenty. but we're lost with this super young puppy...

Answer 1

It's not unusual for a pup who was just removed from its mom and littermates to be anxious and sleepless for a night or two. He doesn't know you; the place is new, the sounds are new, the smells are new... Give him a few days to decompress. He'll sleep through the night once he's feeling safe.

At four weeks old, he may be HUNGRY during the night, too. (Usually pups stay with their moms and nurse on and off until they're weaned at about 8 weeks old.) So it might be a good idea to give him a small meal before bedtime.

Give him a mixture of puppy chow and liquid puppy formula (available at most vet's offices or larger pet stores). Mush the chow up so its soft and easy for him to chew. (His teeth should be coming in about now, but he doesn't have enough to chew really hard food yet.) He needs all the nutrition he can get. He might get diarrhea from too much solid food, so sort of ease him into it.

You can start potty training him now, but remember that pups don't have any real control of their bowels or bladder until they're 16 weeks (4 months) old. Taking him out after every meal and praising him when he potty's outside will help set the stage for his toilet training... but he may still have accidents indoor until he's older. (Crates do NOT work on pups this young.)

In another 2 weeks he'll need to get his first puppy vaccination. Remember that because he's not drinking mama's milk, he has no immunity to doggie diseases, so keep him away from other dogs until he's vaccinated.

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Answer 2

1 month!? Puppies should not leave their mothers until AT LEAST 8 weeks. Any younger than that is often illegal in many places and could get you FINED. I would pay about $75 for a puppy of 8 weeks who is a mix breed, has had its puppy-shots, and has healthy parents. If the parents have had the health checks required to their breeds (like tests for hip displasia in german shepherds), then maybe $100-$150. Side note: Unless you Akita was actually imported from japan, it is probably an American Akita, which is larger and bulkier than the original japanese breed. In the US, they don't consider the American and Japanese Akitas as separate breeds, but most other countries do recognize them as two completely separate breeds who do not interbreed.

Answer 3

Your puppys sleep behaivior is natural. They are like human babys. My puppy did the same but he stopped after about a week or two. You can get him to sleep longer but playing with him a lot before bedtime so its tired and wants to go to sleep. Im not sure when you can begin crate training him but I think you can do it once they can see hear smell taste walk etc. Also you can ask an employee at your local pet market the right food for your puppy. I think you can begin potty training him right now.

Answer 4

Okay, it sounds like you have received your first child!!! It will be lots of hard work but well worth the effort. Start potty training him NOW!!! He will learn very quickly. Take him outside on a leash and walk him around his boundries and when he does go make sure to praise him.

Sleeping, put a heating pad on low under a blanket and an old time alarm clock one that ticks with the seconds in his little bed, this should calm him down. he is used to sleeping with many friends and staying cuddled up and warm. A stuffed animal might help also. Do not pet him when he should be sleeping, ignore him and he will learn that it is bedtime.

Nutro makes a wonderful puppy food.

Good luck!!!

Answer 5

He was sperated from his mom and littermates much too young. He misses them. A pup this age needs to be fed often. Are you feeding him on a bottle or dog food? I would give him a bottle of puppy formula at bedtime and once during the night. It should help him sleep. Make sure you warm it up. You can get the puppy formula at the vet or a pet store. He can take a regular baby bottle. Also with him being so young, he will need to go potty several times during the night.

Answer 6

I just had to get rid of my shepard mix puppy. He became quite aggressive and bit me on Christmas. He was about 7 or 8 months. We also got him from a shelter. Anyway, this is about your bundle of joy. Start crating him ASAP. Remember that the crate should be not too much bigger than him. Make sure it has kind of a den like feel, with blankets and softness, etc. Puppies will wake up during the night. They still have to go out and potty. We gave our puppy purina healthy morsels, but any puppy food except the real cheap stuff should be ok. It is better than what he was eating before you got him. As he gets a little older, I would transition him to Iams puppy food. Bauer was my first puppy too, and I wish it would have been different. Good luck with your new baby!

Answer 7

He NEVER should have been separated from his mother at one month. Get used to no sleep. Take him to your vet immediately. He really shouldn't even be eating solid food!! (They have puppy formula - go to Pet Smart.) The SPCA can GIVE you formula - it's expensive!!
Forget about potty training for at least a month.
Try an "old fashioned" alarm clock that goes tick tock to put in his bed along with a hot water bottle or heating pad (expect him to chew a few.)
The stupid SPCA should have never let them go so young.
GOOD LUCK!! The best dogs I've ever had have been mutts from shelters.
In a pinch - warm milk, a little rice and boiled chicken.)

Answer 8

if the dog whines and crys all night leave it alonel.l all dogs will do that ionce they are in a new environment. you will just need to ignore him no matter how cute he is! i know its hard. i have raised a few puppies myslef but you will need to ignore him for the first few nights til he adjusts. as for the food you shoudl get paet insurance for him (about 400 dollars a year) you will need to pay... yes dogs are VERY expensive if you didn tknow that . take him to the vet. and get him checked out just incase he has any problems and ask when neutering would be a good time. yes you shoudl try to start potty raing in him now,. with our dogs we left them out on the kitchen floor in a play pen wiht a crate so he/she could slee in. we layed down the cardboard and then piled some newspaper on it. once they went we just through it ou. (this was only for when we werent ohome and through out the night)

but please look at thsi webpage. pet insurance is a very good thing to have! and take him to the vet and ask your questions there!

http://www.petinsurance.com/


take him to the vert adn buy him chew toys! your bf shiudl have already done this buy now... qhat are you feeding him now if hes a day old! he must be starving!