I'm sorry you're going through those types of medical issues. That sucks. But, besides the pneumonia, your puppy sounds like a very, very normal Aussie puppy. Nipping, barking, whining, and being a general terror are things that all puppies do, and because Aussies are herding dogs, the nipping and barking are amplified because that's what they were bred to do...herd livestock by, well, barking and nipping.
The nipping will take a long, long time to completely go away. Think months. Well past 6 months. The nips will get softer, of course, but puppies just really like to put their mouths on things. The method I like is when puppy puts his mouth on you, redirect to an appropriate chew. You should always have one near you. If puppy keeps trying to bite you, get up and walk away. Step over a baby gate, close a door, whatever, just remove yourself and your attention for 5-10 minutes, then try to play again. Rinse and repeat. Again, it takes an enormous amount of time and consistency.
Does your puppy have a crate or pen? Popping them in there when they're being terrors is a great way to take a mental break.
As for the whining and crying while separated, that's normal, too. Its difficult in an apartment I know because you have to worry about neighbors...and I'm sorry, but I don't have any solutions for that one, since some amount of crying is just going to happen. You can make the crate a really awesome place by feeding the pup all his meals in there, playing crate games, giving him extra special peanut butter filled Kongs only in there, things like that. And then earplugs for you. Maybe cookies or brownies for neighbors and explain you're training a puppy.
Do you have any friends with a fenced yard you could "borrow" while you're waiting on vaccinations? You probably can't take him outside at your apartment building, but you can take him to a place that you know no unvaccinated dogs have been. You can carry him to new places, making sure he stays off the ground. You do want to make sure the pneumonia clears his system, because that could potentially spread to other dogs, but afterwards you don't have to keep him completely separate from outside air.
Also, try playing mind games inside. Teach him obedience, new tricks. You can play mini-fetch with a puppy that small. Hide treats under cups and make him find them. You will never be able to wear him out physically, so mental exhaustion is the next step.
So, basically, what you're experiencing is pretty normal besides the pneumonia. And it does pass. It's hard, but it will pass.
The nipping will take a long, long time to completely go away. Think months. Well past 6 months. The nips will get softer, of course, but puppies just really like to put their mouths on things. The method I like is when puppy puts his mouth on you, redirect to an appropriate chew. You should always have one near you. If puppy keeps trying to bite you, get up and walk away. Step over a baby gate, close a door, whatever, just remove yourself and your attention for 5-10 minutes, then try to play again. Rinse and repeat. Again, it takes an enormous amount of time and consistency.
Does your puppy have a crate or pen? Popping them in there when they're being terrors is a great way to take a mental break.
As for the whining and crying while separated, that's normal, too. Its difficult in an apartment I know because you have to worry about neighbors...and I'm sorry, but I don't have any solutions for that one, since some amount of crying is just going to happen. You can make the crate a really awesome place by feeding the pup all his meals in there, playing crate games, giving him extra special peanut butter filled Kongs only in there, things like that. And then earplugs for you. Maybe cookies or brownies for neighbors and explain you're training a puppy.
Do you have any friends with a fenced yard you could "borrow" while you're waiting on vaccinations? You probably can't take him outside at your apartment building, but you can take him to a place that you know no unvaccinated dogs have been. You can carry him to new places, making sure he stays off the ground. You do want to make sure the pneumonia clears his system, because that could potentially spread to other dogs, but afterwards you don't have to keep him completely separate from outside air.
Also, try playing mind games inside. Teach him obedience, new tricks. You can play mini-fetch with a puppy that small. Hide treats under cups and make him find them. You will never be able to wear him out physically, so mental exhaustion is the next step.
So, basically, what you're experiencing is pretty normal besides the pneumonia. And it does pass. It's hard, but it will pass.
