Please help.

[Donna-Marie7]

I’ve been doing some self reflection and I don’t think I am doing enough for Luna.
I’m doing all the things I’ve said but I’m not sure if I’m doing enough of it. It’s trying to get the right balance between the one hour awake and 2 hour asleep thing, without overwhelming her.
She’s doing great in her crate now I’ve never been one for them but in Lunas case it’s really helping getting into a healthier sleep routine.

Odd as it sounds I’m going to try mapping out a plan for activities during her awake hours, switching things around and up as we go along.

The whole dominance issue, I can’t believe i didn’t spot the signs! I didn’t really expect it in a puppy! I’m no expert but there are so many things i should have prevented and recognised.
Like when she was sleeping in bed with me she would snuggle up and put her head over my shoulders, it seemed sweet at the time and made me think of when pups and dam snuggle together.
I should have recognised what she was doing! Head over the shoulder is a dominant action.

I’m learning and it’s pretty obvious I’m struggling I don’t think raising a puppy will ever come natural to me. But I’m determined to keep going mistakes and all..

 

[Lennie. U.K.116]

Its a tough lesson, but at least you are recognising it, most people don't that's why rescue are full to the brim, because they can't cope. You mention the Dam in your post, and you are correct on that, but there is another side to that. In my opinion 8wks is to young for a pup to leave, and the reason I say that, is, those extra wks up to 13-14, and that's when top breeders release their pups. The Dam will give the pup the best start in life, far better than any human could, the pup will be 98% house trained, also if you have ever seen a pup step out of line, the Dam will chastise it, and it is Brutal, that pup will not make the same mistake again. But I have to say that you sound a great deal more positive, now. You will get there.