Puppy Parent Support Thread!

[MostAmused]

We've had our 10 week old GSDxSpringer for 2 weeks now. He lulled us into a false sense of security while he was finding his feet and we thought we had the gentlest, quietest and friendliest puppy ever.

Now he's a little more confident the problems are starting to show, mouthing, whining in his crate, jumping on the bed and sofa and sadly he also seems to get a bit anxious when we leave the room.

We're trying to work through all these but it would be great to hear about others in the same situation? I've seen a few new puppy threads here recently and I think it's be great if we could all help eachother through puppyhood and beyond!

[NetHuns]

I'll happily join this thread
Dpup is 10 weeks old and a land-shark...

[pantsjustpants]

I'm in!

We're a bit ahead, dpup is 5mths. She's settled well and we're making progress with training. She was 12 weeks old when we got her and was house trained already. She's mega intelligent! She's a Springer spaniel/ Patterdale terrier cross, from working parents.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Land-shark! Love it.

Our pup (jack russell/staffy cross) is 12 weeks and has a mad half hour 2 or 3 times a day - all the "Preventing puppy nipping" techniques have not only failed but she finds them hilarious. Support would be great!

[Happyhetty]

Our Sprocker boy is 16 weeks old today and generally very good. We've had him since 12 weeks, he was toilet and crate trained with the breeders. I began puppy classes straight away, the basic sit, stand, lie down were easily mastered but I cannot get the leave or heel command at all, hrs far too interested in what's on the ground and as he's from working stock his nose is always on the ground! It's really frustrating me and I think I'm going up have invest in a harness before he pulls my arms out! Otherwise he's a very happy, good little pup and, fingers crossed, is only interested in chewing his toys!

[Rhymerocket]

I'm on. Just brought my Border Terrier - Archie, home this afternoon. So far so good. Dreading tonight.

[MostAmused]

Great! I think we have to all show some pics! (Though my computer isn't co-operating!)

With the nipping we're trying the yelp and ignore but sometimes my partner lets it go further than it should so it's a slow process!
He had a play date at a friend's house today though and expending the energy seems to have made him less mouthy!

I've walked him around the garden on his lead and he was pretty good at following with me but I think that might change when he discovers that no matter how much he wants to investigate that pile of fox poo, I'm not going to take him to it

Good luck with your first night Ryhme, our boy was ok. Think he whined for no more than 5 mins. He's been in our room in a crate but he still doesn't settle in it after two weeks. And he's learnt to jump on the bed!

[JoffreyBaratheon]

MostAmused our's can jump on the bed now which is odd as it is higher than the sofa - and she still can't jump onto that...

Our crocodile went to town for the first time, today and what with christmas lights, music blasting out, buskers everywhere - total sensory overload. I thought she'd be exhausted when she got home (we carried her most of the time as she refused to walk!) But no she had her biggest insanity session ever when she came home!

[Rhymerocket]

Night one for new puppy is over. Writhing to bed in his crate and play pen with gate open and toys and dentistix he cried for aboutq 10-15 mins then slept. He cried on and off a few times but settled on the whole. He stayed in his "bed" all night. Please God let this be the norm.

[Taz1212]

We have a 5 month old pup. 90% of the time he's fantastic but he drives us mad when he's restless by jumping up on the TV stand and table in the living room. Around 7:30 every evening is very difficult because he's desperate to go to sleep but doesn't seem to know how to settle himself. Oddly it's just in the living room (where we all are)- if I were to go into then kitchen and sit with him he'd settle there immediately.

He's absolutely lovely otherwise and very easy to train- other than the blasted jumping on the tables! It's 8:32 and he's still sound asleep next to me on the sofa (I got up at 8 thinking he'd want up, but no- he went for a pee and then straight into the sofa with me).

[Taz1212]

Onto, not into! We're not inside the sofa!

[MostAmused]

Haha I'm sure if dogs could work out how to get inside the sofa they would!

Sounds like a good start Rhyme let's hope it continues!

Well I've been at work all day but my partner reports that Oz has been very good today, minimal mouthing and no accidents! :)

[LaBelleDameSansPatience]

Six-month-old puppy; is she too old? She has been working on 'inside the sofa' and has made quite a good hole in the cushion ...
Mouthing stopped amazingly soon, with lots of 'yelping' .. it seemed like forever at the time; later we realised it was only a couple of weeks.

[TheHoundsBitch]

Mines 17 weeks, she's been a little star this weekend! Loads of new people and new dogs and she did really well :) She's knackered now bless her heart!

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Continuing with the socialisation - today went for a walk in a place where she'd meet adult dogs - on and off-lead. She had about six different dogs come right upto her, and very gently greet her. The first was a beautiful setter - very sweet. It set her up to be more confident with the rest.

She ended up walking (and running up a steep hill) far more than she is probably meant to - half an hour or so. She has gone out every evening since Weds, for just 15 mins' walking, in various places and always been a bit hesitant and hard to get moving. But by the end today she relaxed right into it. Seeing other dogs on leads helped.

Not sure if coincidence or whacked out as she stayed awake a couple of hours after we got home, but did the least nipping and puppy biting she has done all week. And then calmly sat and gnawed on her chew (she normally barely looks at it) before finally dropping off.

Yesterday was her worst day for mouthing - today her best. Let's hope she continues improving.

Phone call today - she starts her puppy training classes in a week and a bit, at the Dogs Trust.

[Rhymerocket]

Second night and Archie has cried more last night. But we per obeyed and left him in the kitchen. He settled eventually and was great rest of the night. Pee'd only on paper but poo on tiles at the door bless him.

[MostAmused]

How long did you guys wait before letting your pup off lead out and about?
Ozzy's recall is around 85-90% depending who it is, how they call him (cheery/boring IMO) and what else is going on at the time. I think if I randomly gave him chicken when he came back to me it would probably improve his recall but I'm pretty nervous about taking him out to the beach etc atm. It's still 2 weeks before he can go so I'll be working on lead walking and recall until then!

I can't wait till he starts puppy classes. I know he'll love it x)

[marmaladegranny]

Most Amused - when my boy was little (he's turned a year now) I was a bit worried about letting him off the lead. I found it really helpful to go with a neighbour who let their much older dog off lead as he learnt recall from them. Mind you, since we've moved way from these dogs his recall is not nearly so reliable…..

To all who have problems with puppies getting onto sofas - a firm 'No' and take them off EVERY time they get up there does work. Mine even knows he is not allowed on my furniture but it's ok when we visit daughter - thanks to more permissive son in law!!!

[TheHoundsBitch]

We started going off lead quite quickly, after a couple of weeks I suppose? She's great if there are no distractions If there's another dog anywhere around she is useless. I don't really know how I can make myself more appealing than the prospect of playing with another dog though We can't do the jumping around and being exciting thing because although that brings her back, it sends her into a frenzy and she bites. Need to put her back on the long line until we get the overexcited biting under control probably.
I think my girl will love training too, she's very eager to please when she's 'in the zone'!

[MostAmused]

Ah that's a good idea. Will give that a go!

Pre-emptive strike of Ah-Ah whenever he looks like he's going to jump up works most of the time but if you take your eyes off him he's straight up!

He's brought a rock in from the garden and has lost it inside his blanket so he's whining and coming over to me with a miffed look on his face!

[Taz1212]

We let Noodle off lead on his very first walk. We have a bit close to our estate which is very overgrown around the path so we knew he couldn't go very far away from us.

I still put him back on lead as soon as I spot another dog because he thinks everyone is his best friend and will race up to play (though is finally starting to get a bit better). If the other dog is off lead I let them play for a bit. He's really good at coming back one he's said hi or had a run about, but the initial greeting needs work- he has no doggy manners and thinks the way to greet all dogs is to bash them about the face!

Where I grew up there has no leash law and no one ever had their dogs on lead so this is all new to me!

[MostAmused]

Hetty I don't know if you've seen this but it seems to be working with Ozzy, he likes praise but chicken wins out so I give him that every now and again when we change direction and I stop every now and again and get him to sit. Like I said he's only been around the back garden for ten minute bursts so it might change once we're out and about!

The whole Teachers Pet series is really interesting actually!

[MostAmused]

Taz Ozzy's manners need some work too! when he met my friends 2 year old Springer he sniffed a bit and then started lunging at her to get her to play. I had to keep him on the lead until she was comfortable and then she did the play bow so I let him off and it went great. Can't wait to get them to meet again!

I'm totally confused about the leash laws. As far as I can tell, unless it says so on the entrance to a park or something a dog can be off lead as long as they are under control and are not on/next to a road. But I've heard that some councils have laws which say them must always be on leash which I think is just unfair!

[Rainicorn]

I'm in. I have a 15 week old JRT and he is a little sweety. He's a sock monster though and me and the dc have lost a good few socks in the past few weeks if he happens to find them.

Dh and I are at logger heads wrt walking him. I prefer him on his lead as he is a very sociable puppy and goes off with anyone. Dh thinks he should run free. This all stems down to him giving our Doberman the same treatment and she is a nightmare to walk now. But, he is my dog so so far he stays on the lead.

[Taz1212]

MostAmused It's lovely when they have a friend to play with! Noodle ran into his best friend in the park yesterday. She's also 5 months old and they simply adore each other. They race around in massive circles until they are exhausted, then lie facing each other, each willing the other to start again.

I'd hoped that would wear him out, but he was a nightmare yesterday evening- could not settle at all. He was pacing about, jumping on the table until 8:00 when he finally conked out.

[Dancingyogi]

My 5 month old puppy is very dog orientated, had I known this I should have socialised him on lead with control and worked on getting recall fully under control before letting him off lead with a calm dog.
I now have to undo the damage, if I can, which is taking a huge amount of time and patience, Dpup is just dog mad, loves them to pieces and is very hard to recall once he gets a taste for a mad dash around.
There seems to be a few puppies who enjoy the company of dogs above all else, so if you think your dog might be one of them it's maybe best to think about how you are going to train some control back in.