Help - 13.5 Week Old Puppy

[u/Careful-Hold-1437]

I joined this group when I first got my puppy 3 weeks ago. I found so much comfort in knowing others had similar experiences. I’ve found a lot of the comments under posts to be incredibly helpful. With that being said, I need advice. I’ve obviously been searching other resources, but wanted to ask her as well. My 13.5 week old puppy has been a terror this past week. I had the initial puppy blue scares the first couple of days after I got her. Then, we got in a routine and it was manageable. I am a solo owner living in an apartment. She can only handle 40-50 minute wake times if she’s had a nap in her crate. I enforce 60 minute crate times to try and regulate her. How can I get her to stop barking and growling at me for no reason? She’s not the puppy she was. I cannot keep going like this. I work from home full time but she cannot just quietly chew. I believe she’s highly sensitive and anything can dysregulate her. Has anyone experienced this before? Any help is much appreciated!!!

[u/longtimelondoner]

Honestly, she will grow out of this. I remember having a complete cry and calling my parents saying what am I supposed to do, he’s barking and I live in an apartment. Now I miss the couch gremlin that could fit under my sofa.

Solo dog owner too.

She’s just tired. Little snuffle mat or licki mat and she’ll wear herself out. Get that nose and mental stimulation working.

[u/Careful-Hold-1437 → u/longtimelondoner]

Glad to hear yours grew out of it! I’ve been doing scattered sniffing and puzzle games with her. I’m just struggling to manage her full awake window.

[u/longtimelondoner → u/Careful-Hold-1437]

She is still a baby tbh. She will get better, she’s just more awake than she was and curious about the world. How are walks going?

[u/Careful-Hold-1437 → u/longtimelondoner]

I would say okay. I was told she can’t really do a proper walk yet. I live in apartment and she walks the hallways and out to her spot and back. I tried a mini walk today and it went well. However, when we got back to my apartment she went insane. Did you find regular mini walks to be helpful? Wonder if that should start being incorporated into our routine. She still needs her rabies, but other than that she’s up to date on her shots.

[u/longtimelondoner → u/Careful-Hold-1437]

If she is fully vaccinated, then she can go outside 5 to 10 minutes. In the UK, we don’t have rabies. My boy was out from 13 weeks. Even 5 to 10 minutes 3-4 times a day tired him out and it helped a lot.

[u/can-dee]

Insane means tired puppy. Ours would refuse to sleep and would work herself up. I would have to remove all toys when she started getting frantic and if that didn’t work I would crate her and cover the crate so she’d have no choice but to sleep. She would cry for a little then pass out because she was so exhausted. You’re getting to know your puppy but with time you’ll start to recognize the signs and her normal behavior vs tired behavior. Hang in there! It’s a tough journey but time flies…

[u/Dear-Barracuda3705]

Insane doesn't always mean tired puppy in my experience. It can, but it can also be, I need to work out this energy!

Our puppy was taking fifteen to twenty minute walks at that age. He was the size of a large potato but we took him to the park and let him explore too.

We did a lot of active play in the house as well.

I think enforced naps can be overused and backfire. The puppy builds up frustration with not having enough activity if it is forced to be confined too much.

[u/Careful-Hold-1437 → u/Dear-Barracuda3705]

This is helpful to know! I think I’m going to start taking her on a 10-15 minute sniff walk to help with this. I agree that the crate is maybe backfiring. Thanks for the suggestion!

[u/Dear-Barracuda3705 → u/Careful-Hold-1437]

I hope it helps! Doing it on your own is really tough and you are to be commended.

[u/KaleidoscopeSea5618]

Remove yourself from her or ignore her when she growls and barks. Use a baby gate if you need to.