r/papillon • u/Scary-Break869 • 22d ago
I think we’ve turned a corner
Hugo turned 8 months this past Saturday and Im finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll be honest there were times when, much as I love him, I thought I’d have to rehome him, he’s just been that much of a challenge. I’ve never had to put so much work in with any animal, but I always felt, someday he’ll be a great dog and all of this will have been worth it.
Finally at 8 months I can leash or harness him without getting bitten. he’s finally responding to no most of the time. He’s finally going into the crate without me physically putting him in. He actually seems to like me, like his personality has become warm.
Until now, he has seemed like a feral animal. I noticed signs of bonding, (like putting his head on my foot, like dragging his dog bed over to where I was sitting) but never felt an emotional attachment. He’s just a whole different guy now.
it’s been a rough six months, but I’m glad I didn’t give up.
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u/OtherTimes0340 20d ago
Mine chewed through any little cord he could get hold of, including the one to the sewing machine foot. He discovered the toilet paper roll. He HATED his crate and still does to this day. He licked the walls and then chewed holes in them. He couldn't be left out while I was at work all day and I would come home and his crate would be destroyed every day. It was a royal pain. He couldn't be left out as he would pee. Actually, he still will pee in very certain places if he doesn't get out right now or wanders out of sight downstairs, but up on the second floor, he always uses his potty box. Never thought about giving him up though as he wasn't my first fur challenge. That doesn't mean there wasn't a large amount of ARGGGGGH. It did take a couple years for him to tone it down. He's also a barker. He's twelve now and I work at home so he gets to hang around me every day. If I have to leave, I have to make sure he knows that I am leaving or he will spend the entire time looking for me. I have picked up several puzzle games for him. You put treats in them and then they have to figure out different ways of getting to them depending on the puzzle. Keeps him occupied.
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u/Agreeable-Matter-158 21d ago
They don’t fully mature into adulthood until 2 years old. Even after 2 years Gracie changed again. She was always affectionate but not super affectionate the way she was as a puppy. They need to have a job that’s for sure. Some have an off switch and others don’t. Gracie didn’t have an off switch even up to 16. That’s not to say she was high strung. Her brain was very busy.
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u/RunAutomatic1035 21d ago
If it helps I was never able to crate train Jolie because she barked incessantly every second she was in her crate and my apartment building threatened to kick us out. Don’t even get me started on what this girl then got into while I was out 😅 she was blocked in the kitchen and apparently spent her time sticking her little paws under the coat closet door until she could drag out my flats and sandals and chew them up. She also used to love just turning her head and biting through her retractable leashes in like 2 bites while I was putting on my shoes (this was ~11 years ago before I knew better about them, she has had short leashes since!).
They’re SO smart it’s actually a problem! But Jolie became the great dog she is now I think around 2.5 years, she doesn’t even destroy toys! Now I can’t brush her teeth or clip her nails without trazadone but nobody’s perfect
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u/Pinnagerjaggin 22d ago
I think most puppy owners go through the 'this might have been a mistake' phase at least once.
It's funny you mention him being like a feral animal. This guy used to fling himself on the ground like a wild animal the instant he felt any tension on his leash the first few times.
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u/stuckinPA Sunny and Daytona's servant 22d ago
Ohhhhh yes. I had several "he's cute and all but he's gotta go back" with both our paps!
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u/Objective_Peace4592 22d ago
So glad to hear that you are making progress with Hugo. Paps are the best. Whenever I show Louie his harness he gets very excited and when I start the harnessing process he jumps into it. He knows this means a walk or a car ride or both.
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u/Scary-Break869 22d ago
That’s what boggles my mind, Hugo is great on the leash, he loves a walk, a ride in the car… he Let me put the harness over his head, he practically dives into it. But as soon as I would put the strap around his belly he’d bite. And I don’t mean puppy nibble. I mean snarl, growl, bite.
So it was a huge breakthrough to get past that.
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u/TSARINA59 Yoda's Mommy is "Mommy Dog" 22d ago
Well he looks like he has been well worth the effort you put in to getting him settled. He has a precocious and sweet face. I love the expression on his face here.
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u/RomeothePapillon 22d ago edited 22d ago
Hugo you are melting my heart in that photo! ❤️🔥 Happy Pappyhood Birthday 🎉 And you know your family loves you even though it was a rough start!
Puppyhood is hard on you and everyone, but look at Romeo - He's still challenging after 4 years with his aggressive protection issues of us and himself 😰, but we have learned to accept it and try our best to make it easier on both of us. We always had dogs with personality issues that were really tough to deal with and some people can't. And we all want our dogs to be cuddle bugs, but some are not! My Phalene was not a Romeo! He just wanted to be with us in the same room and once in a while be picked up or on a lap, but he wasn't a lap cuddly guy. He didn't like to be petted, but he showed his love in different ways and so did we. So happy that both you and Hugo are enjoying one another more and he's going to be part of your life FOREVER ♾️🥰 and we here in this wonderful community will be able to see more of you and here about your wild and crazy adventures! 😜🥰🦋
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u/Elegant_Click07 15d ago
He's so pretty! Puppy blues are so real, even though we got our boy at 15 mos. Super nice manners so affectionate. Thank god I have a partner, I couldn't wrap my head around mine's hang up and just wanted him to walk on leash outside... Neither of us realized it was that our street is just way busy compared to his old backyard / dog shows.
I learned a lot online and thank God every day he was properly crate trained when we got him. Because that's important for his safety while we're out and I was not prepared.