We adopted/purchased a Bernedoodle this past Saturday. We had been talking about getting a dog since our daughter went to college in August. Our household after she left for school is my wife, 15 yo son, myself and an indoor/outdoor cat. We previously had 2 cats and our cat was friendly with our other cat and with my parents cat when we watched it. We had been researching dogs for a while but not taking any action.
Last Friday, we started getting more set and we saw a breeder near us had a litter and also had 3 almost 5 month old puppies (born May 5th). That litter was large at 14. So 3 of them had not been adopted. Saturday, We went out to visit them and all 3 were playful. One at one point acted scared of my son. My son and I really like the tallest one, it was playful and energetic. We had decided beforehand if we didn’t bond with one, we’d look at younger puppies. The older ones were significantly cheaper, but that wasn’t a factor. Getting an almost 5 month puppy was probably mistake 1. She is a standard Bernedoodle. So a pretty big girl at 35 to 40lbs. At the breeder she shared a stall with her siblings and had a doggie door she would use to go out and pee.
Saturday:
She was nervous during the ride. Rested her head on my wife’s lap with her blanket. She drooled a ton. The ride was about 90 minutes. We get her home, put on her collar and attach the leash. We help her out of the car. She is walking towards our house and there is another dog being walked around our house. She bolts and slips her collar. She is playful but then runs around our fence and through some woods and crosses a busy street. She is still playing. She ends up getting stuck in a wooded area where there is a retaining wall by a fence. So we get her, I carry her back to our house. She cuddles with me as I carry her back. We get her inside and she goes to the room we were hoping to where we have our TV and a couple of Sofas. The sofas are old and the floor needs refinishing. So we didn’t get a crate. Probably mistake #2.
We put out some food and water. Try to offer her some treats but she is not interested. We let her rest. I run out to get a harness. I get one that attaches in the front, another mistake. A couple hours later we decided to try to take her for a walk. She doesn’t want to move but I was worried about an accident. So carry her outside, she sits for a while then takes off and the harness pulls her around. She drops to the ground with her legs out. No longer willing to move. She doesn’t like the sound of the leash. I’m going out grocery shopping, so I grab at the pet store a training leash and a kong harness that was the softest one they had. Entire day she moves little. Although she got up to cuddle on the sofa with me. I try taking her out a couple of times. She will not walk outside, but as soon as we bring her in she walks over to the spot in front of the one sofa she has claimed as her own. I have to carry her outside. The cat has looked at her a couple of times. She has looked back. No issues between them. She didn’t go to the bathroom at all nor eat or drink. She has no interest in treats. That night I sleep on the other sofa. In the middle of the night she drinks her bowl of water and eats a little. No accidents.
Sunday:
She barely moves. I carry her outside every couple of hours. She sits. Looks around feels the wind. We have a game for my son. So she is alone for 90 minutes. No issues. That evening she walk a little when I take her outside she walks some and 50% sure she peed. I sleep on the other sofa. She eats more at night and drinks a ton. She nuzzles my face when I’m sleeping. No accident at night.
Monday:
I decided to wfh. My wife always wfh. She moves very little during the day. When I carry her outside. One time she walked maybe 20 feet. Other times she just sits watching. At dinner, I thought she wanted to go out, so I take her out but she just sits, when she comes in I open the door to our deck. She follows me out then sits behind a sofa and just watches for 30 minutes. That night at 8pm, I thought we had a break through. After sitting for about 7 minutes, she gets up starts walking around outside. Goes to the bathroom outside. Walks some more. We were outside for 30 minutes when she runs into our cat. They stare at each other and she growls at the cat, runs away hiding behind me from her. My son comes out and she cuddles with him. We get her walking again back to the front door. She sees the cat and freezes. After a while I carry her back inside. That night, I sleep upstairs. She eats and drinks. She has an accident that night. Also pooped inside.
Tuesday:
I wake up, I’m actually sort of happy she had the accident as maybe she is eating drinking more. She stands up when I get the harness and leash. I think it’s a good sign, but as soon as I get it on she walks into the corner and hides her head in a foot messager. I take her outside. She sits for 5 minutes then walks around for a little. I go to work. My wife always works from home. She takes her out 2.5 times. She walks out the door for my wife, but only one time walks maybe 100 feet. Other time she just sits. The half time, my wife tries getting her to go out through the deck and she just sits on the deck. When I get home, I take her out. I have to carry her to the door but she starts to walk out but freezes as she sees the cat. She just sits in the yard. The cat rubs against me and also takes an opportunity to rub against the leash as well. We have a play. At 11pm I take her out. She is afraid of the cat. Just stares at her cat sort of taunts her by walking around her. Puppy doesn’t react. Doesn’t per outside all day. I try to reward her for coming to me with some cottage cheese. She liked the smell but didn’t eat it. I sleep upstairs. She eats a ton, drinks, and enjoys the cottage cheese. Has another accident pee and poop.
Wednesday:
She just sits when I take her outside this morning. No pee.
In general, she just sits all day by her sofa. Doesn’t play with any toys. The only sound she has ever made was the one growl. She often shakes when I carry her outside. She is always worried when I get out the harness and leash. She doesn’t want to play. Makes my wife sad to see her this way. I thought Monday, prior to her growling at the cat that we were moving upwards.
My next steps:
- Get her a crate tonight
- take away her food and water before bed.
- put out her water when I open the crate.
- should I just use food as a reward? Give some food after her morning outing?
- we have an appointment with our vet Friday.
What else?
