Originally Posted by
Frankie Dirtbag
I just got a 6-week old pitbull pup yesterday and need some advice on how to take care of it. this is my first pet ever btw:
1) not eating. i bought a bag of blue buffalo pup food but she wont touch it. i also tried mixing it with cream of wheat but still wont touch it.
2) she cries every time i put her in the crate (36", but im using the training divider). i didnt sleep at all last night because of the noise. is there anything i can do stop her from crying? i dont want to let her lose in the apt. as i have a studio and i dont want to wake up to shit and piss all over.
all she does is sniff around and pee/poop on the floor when she is outside the crate. she doesnt even play with the chew toys but instead bites on my bike and tug on my sheets.
thanks guys.
1) switch foods. i recommend science diet. a little pricey but i cant believe how much healthier my dogs are than any other dogs we have had (1st dogs we have fed science diet)
2) ignore her, dont even yell because that is a form of attention. when she doesnt get any reactions, she will realize that its not worth crying and give it up
as soon as you see her sniffing like she is going to pee/poop, take her outside, even if it is mid turd. sucks for you too but she will catch on. don't put her face in the accident, it teaches dogs to "hide" it by either finding a corner somewhere or eating it...
if you catch her chewing on something she shouldnt be, pop her on the nose (seriously) dont hit her per se but right on her nose, between her eyes and her nostrils, give her a good tap. she will catch on. if you dont like that, you can spray her with a water mister. she wont like that either... after that give her a toy.
praise her when she does right, be stern with her when she does wrong. she will learn before you know it. also, the stern approach is important to establish yourself as her master from the start...