We can't seem to settle our puppy...

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Pgo19 Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

We need a bit of help and some advice because we're starting to feel really overwhelmed...

A few days ago, we brought home a 9-week-old White Swiss Shepherd puppy. When he first arrived he was quite calm, but since then he's become more and more restless: he hardly sleeps or wakes up at the slightest sound, gets overexcited very quickly, nips at anything that moves, goes for our calves and feet, grabs everything he shouldn't, and in those moments, he seems completely out of control.

We've tried shorter walks, limiting stimulation, giving him toys/Kongs, trying to create calm periods... but when he has nothing to do, he seems to get even more worked up. And if we give him a time-out in a quiet spot for a few minutes, he starts barking his head off without stopping. He doesn't seem to understand the word 'no' yet either.

Last night, after what should have been a quiet walk, he had a massive case of the zoomies for about 30 minutes: charging around everywhere, breaking things, constant nipping, and even biting quite hard. And this morning, despite a good night's sleep, he's at it again.

We know he's only 9 weeks old, has just left his mum and littermates, and has everything to learn, but after only a few days we're already exhausted and starting to wonder if this level of excitement is normal.

Have any of you experienced this with a White Swiss Shepherd or a very reactive puppy? Did it settle down with time? And most importantly, what actually helped you teach him to settle and sleep more?

Thanks in advance, we really need some reassurance and to find a method that works.

Translated from French
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4 answers
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    Picco85 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hello

    White Swiss Shepherd — looking at the photos and the alarmist tone of your message — this feels like another case of adopting a dog because it's "too pretty" without knowing if the animal is suited to the lifestyle you're providing. You just need to understand their needs and train them to be obedient. It takes a huge amount of patience 🙏

    1. You should look into the specific needs of this breed if you haven't already.

    2. At 9 months old, they are still quite young, very young in fact... they need to explore and learn. It's normal for them to be hyper and a bit all over the place. Personally, I think the 'sit' command should be mastered by now. Whenever I need to get a point across, I make the dog sit.

    3. Restricting their space. To train a puppy properly, I limit their living area (where they sleep and eat), especially when they're left alone. For my first dog, the kitchen was a great way to teach him his boundaries.

    4. To put your mind at ease: contact a professional behaviourist or trainer in your area (similar to the expert in the link below). They will be able to assess the situation in its proper context and give you the right advice.

    https://education-chien-chiot.fr/author/marion/

    Best of luck.

    Translated from French
    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there,

    At 9 weeks old, many puppies still really struggle to manage their excitement and emotions, especially after the change in environment and being separated from their mum and littermates. Mouthing, "the zoomies", and having trouble settling down are all things you might see at this age.

    However, sleep is essential: a young puppy can need 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day. Rather than trying to tire them out even more, try to encourage long periods of rest in a quiet environment, without necessarily isolating them completely if they panic when left alone.

    If you're feeling really overwhelmed, don't hesitate to seek help from a dog trainer who uses positive reinforcement methods, so you can have some support right from the start. And if their restlessness seems really excessive or is accompanied by other unusual signs, have a word with your vet as well.

    Best wishes,

    Victoire

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    Docline
    Docline Icon representing the flag French
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    At 9 weeks old, he hasn’t had the time to be properly socialised by his mother! He’s only just been weaned, and that's it. He has everything to learn, and a human isn’t really best placed to teach him those lessons. You absolutely must get him into daily contact with friendly dogs who are capable of putting him in his place when he doesn’t respect social cues. You need to adapt to his energy levels and take him for walks many times a day in various safe locations where you can let him off the lead. When he nips at your calves, it’s a sign that you aren’t interacting enough with your puppy. Don’t give in to him; turn your back on him. BUT, a few minutes later, get down on the floor with a chew toy and invite him to wrestle. (Shared play is an essential tool for the healthy brain development of all young animals – humans included, lol). When he gets too worked up, just walk away without a word and leave him to it: it’s the best way to teach him to manage his excitement levels. There are boundaries he shouldn’t cross, otherwise he’ll just end up all on his own and miserable.
    Translated from French
    Kikaah
    Kikaah Icon representing the flag French
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    Your puppy seems in great shape to me ^^ but you’re right, it’s not always easy living with a little whirlwind. I don’t have any ready-made tricks to offer; every puppy has its own temperament. I’d say a solid routine will help you and, yes, help him find his rhythm too. Try to focus on calm activities like searching for dry food in a puzzle toy or scattering it instead of just serving it all in a bowl. For that matter, teach him to wait by his bowl (just for a few seconds at first) before letting him eat. Give him plenty of things to chew on... Let him meet some calm dogs (you could find some through Facebook walking groups, for example) that can teach him how to settle down... As for walks, I’m not sure if cutting them back is a good idea. The hardest part is giving him enough to burn off his energy, but not so much that he gets overtired and then cranky. For that, I’d suggest sticking to calm walks where you spend more time standing still than covering miles, with plenty of breaks to just watch the world go by... Otherwise, why not get in touch with a dog trainer (which area are you in?) to help you get off to a good start with your pup.
    Translated from French

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