puppy staff advice needed

Hi

I have a 6wk old staff called Buster. He is a male red and gorgeous. Now i know we shouldnt have him until 8wks but we were given him at 5 becaus thats what the owners wanted and he was very well looked after and healthy.

Anyway I need adivce on sleeping and toilet training. We live on a first floor flat (its ok my boyfriend doesnt work so he is there with him everyday) and we are awaiting to move to a property with a garden.

As he is so young the first night we had him we didnt leave him on his own much because when he did he cried and them screamed and we were worried about the neighbours (nosy moaning ones)
but now we cannot get him to stay in his area on his own in the night as if he does he cries hysterically which i would try and shut out if we werent worried about the neighbours.

he is now very good with his bed and hiw own area and will go to it on his own but we cannot go to bed without leaving our bedroom door open becauyse of his screaming and which he comes into our room when he wakes up and tries to get into bed with us so we put him back in his own bed and he does go to sleep but when he wakes up the same happens he come into our room.

toilet training is also a bit slo, i have bought him a litter tray and he does go in it if we catch him in time and when he wakes up but will yet to go on his own?

also feeding, i am feeding him 3 times a day, is this ok. he also has a very bloated stomache, is this ok too?

help as i love him very much but am so worried i am doing things wrong.

Hi Buster welcome to Dogweb

congrats on your new addition
personally i think that 5 weeks is far too young to go to a new home, but you have him now so thats another story.....
Toliet training can take days, weeks or even months depepnding on the dog, staffs (that i know anyway, including my own ) are not the fastest in this department although most have cracked it by 16-19 weeks of age, all you can do right now is reinforce (gently) where you want him to go, and take him there often, after every meal, every nap, every playtime etc, some say every 15 minutes, but you will start to learn with time, when he is going to go.

The bloated stomach.... when was he last wormed? has he ever been wormed? and what are you feeding him and how much?

Night times...... leave him.
thats it thats the only advice to give about night time, he will stop crying after a few nights, perhaps if you chat to the neighbours and explain that he is a new puppy and needs to settle in and if you apologise upfront, they should understand.
The only time you should go to him at night is if you are crate training him and you go down half way through the night just to let him out for the toilet, but you must put him straight back to bed, no playing, just back to bed, then go back to bed yourself.
You also have to remember that pups will often wake up at around 6-7am for breakfast & toilet and play, so early mornings are something to get used to

There are loads of Staffie owners on here, so any more questions, ask away

Pesonally I would still be feeding 4 times a day...hes still very young....3 is not enough.
You will need to take extra care at getting him out and socialised when old enough since by coming away at 5 weeks he has missed out on all the dog socialisation skills he would have learnt from his mum and siblings.
He should be being wormed every 2 weeks still with a puppy wormer...mighht account for his tummy as Emma says.
Try putting an item(unwashed) of your clothing in his bed with him so that he can smell you and also try a hot water bottle for warmth

aww bet hes a total babe, albeit avery young one!!if i was you id buy "the perfect puppy" book by gwen bailey, that will answer all your questions,but dont expect too much of him after all he should still be with his mum for at least another 2 weeks yet!!have you any pics of him?

Hi Buster welcome, come and introduce yourself in 'Introductions' sections too
As the others say probably needs worming, also more smaller meals are better than fewer big ones this will will help with the big tummy. I have sent you a PM with info to try to help you cos there is a lot to explain, click on 'messages' top of the page..then 'inbox'

The big question on adopting a pup is how to housebreak him. Opinions and methods vary. The first thing an owner must realize is that an 8-week-old pup cannot hold urine for nearly as long as an adult. At this age, the pup still has the need to defecate right after a meal. As far as urination goes, the general rule is that the pup will be able to hold urination for the number of hours equal to his age in months plus one, up to the age of 6-months. Thus, a 2-month-old pup will only be capable of “hanging on” for 3 hours. At nighttime, metabolism slows and water intake is low, so you can add a couple of extra hours, but some very young pups still may not be able to make it through the night without a bathroom stop. Respond to their nighttime cries and provide them with the opportunities they need to “get it right” from the get-go.

Paper training isnt really necessary and it may even be counterproductive, sending a message that it’s okay to go indoors. It is far better to pick a convenient spot in the backyard that is to be the pup’s bathroom. The area should be kept stool-free by picking up solid waste. Even young pups don’t like treading in their own excrement or navigating a “mine field” to find a clean spot. The pup should be taken out to this spot on a leash several times a day and at night, if necessary. Times to take the pup outside are: First thing in the morning, after breakfast, mid-morning, lunchtime, mid-afternoon, early evening, and late evening.

In addition to these times, it is important to take the pup out after every meal and after he has been sleeping, chewing, or playing. Going outside should be a positive experience for the pup, not a drag, either literally or metaphorically. It is helpful to keep the pup moving, though, to prevent him from getting distracted and to cue him to perform the desired behavior using selected cue words. The usual phrase used is “hurry up.” After performing appropriately, the pup should be warmly praised and rewarded. He will get the message that he has done something right and will quickly figure out what it is.

hi all thank u so much for your help and advice and u will be pleased to know buster is doing well, has been wormed which solved the tummy issue, now sleeps on his own fine - we kept our bedroom door open but blocked it with a suitcase so he couldnt come in and now he sleeps all night. i am also feeding him 4 times a day and he is growing so fast, his first injections are next week. he is lush! thanks will b back soon to fill u in, v busy at the mo. x

glad to hear all is going well
Look forward to lots of pics!!

Great news.

that is great news

(perhaps a piccie when you are not so busy )