Puppy support

[ChestyNut]

Not sure if there’s is a current thread for support for new puppy owners, would anyone be interested?

ChestyPuppy arrived on Saturday and is 10 weeks old.
Finding it tough as forgot how brutal the early days are. Our Chestydog died after 12 years earlier this year, he was my best friend

Highlights of today have been...
Standing in the pouring rain in pjs and a coat shouting “do wee wees”

Dealing with a puppy pad snow storm from her shredding during the night.

Turning into a bitey hyperactive monster during a visit from my friends

Please tell me it gets better?

[Sarahmoore0510]

I too am finding it tough!! I knew it would be hard but it really is a shock to the system (much like when you bring your newborn baby home!)

I too have been standing in the rain like a crazy person shouting ‘wee wees’ ‘poo poos’ - not massively keen on going out in the rain/dark either, so generally pisses on the towel we keep by the back door to dry him off!!

He’s ten weeks on Saturday ❤️

[ChestyNut]

I have to admit to shedding a tear or two today!

What breed is puppy Sarah is it your first dog?

[Sarahmoore0510]

He is a cavapoo! I too have had. Couple of teary days!

We got a puppy 4 years ago, I had lost both my parents within 6 month period and then had a miscarriage not long after my mums funeral - I mistakenly thought a puppy would be a happy thing for us (also had a one year old and 4 year old at the time!) but I couldn’t cope with the stress and he went back a few days later (please don’t judge, I totally underestimated how hard it would be)

This time round I was prepared but it’s still tough!

What breed is your puppy? X

[BiteyShark]

Good luck. I found and got me through much of the puppy stages

[KateGrey]

My mum has been on at me to get a dog saying my kids would love it. I have three kids (two have autism) so hands are quite full but my mum is adamant it would be great for the kids. I’ve been looking at cockerpoos so although not a puppy owner following with interest to see what the realities are like.

[Sarahmoore0510]

I honestly think it’s the kids that make it stressful! If you just had a puppy to look after be way easier, but I know it won’t be like this forever and the long term goal of a family dog is worth it! What age were people’s pups when it started getting easier?

[ChestyNut]

Sarah no judgement here

She’s a blue Staffordshire bull terrier as was our last boy.

She’s currently having a mad half hour again....the pointy sharp bitey teeth

How did everyone deal with biting? She’s like a baby shark!

[ChestyNut]

Kate I cant even imagine a puppy and DCs I’m barely keeping us both fed, dressed and toileted
Am sure people manage fine though?
Are DC able to help out if you got a puppy?

[Sarahmoore0510]

Chestynut, my ten year old does help - takes outside to toilet and watches him when I’m busy, but my 5 year old just winds him up into a land crocodile then leaves the room because he’s crazy and leaves me to deal with getting my toes savaged! I find the only thing that helps is distracting with a toy when they get crazy and start nipping!

[ChestyNut]

Yes I’ve tried shoving a toy in her mouth but unfortunately the breeder gave them two slippers as a toy so now she thinks my feet are chew toys

Have you started any training yet or is it too early?

[ChestyNut]

@Biteyshark how old is yours now? When did they settle down? Any top tips?

[Snowwontbelong]

Mm puppy indeed?
Don't believe you even have one without pics op...

[Sarahmoore0510]

@ChestyNut oh no!! Slippers not a great idea 😂

We got a chew stick from pets corner - it’s really hard but made from beef muscle (gross!) but its fun to chew but also tastes nice, deffo worth a try!!

[BiteyShark]

ChestyNut Mine is now 2 years old but I really found the puppy and teenage stages hard work but obviously can now see that it was worth it in the end. As a puppy he settled down around 5 months of age but then around 6 months hit the teenage phase but by 1 year I really felt he was becoming that faithful adult that everyone wants.

Tips that I wish I could go back and tell myself:-

Remember that phases will pass and that it's often two steps forward and one back.

Training is a marathon and not a sprint (I still do training with mine).

All puppies are different and the survival threads I was on showed that we all did things differently but equally we all got there in the end.

Sometimes when it feels really hard work take a break and just have a few moments when you enjoy just being with them and stop worrying about what you think you should be doing.

[ChestyNut]

Just for you Snow

[ChestyNut]

Im taking her to the pet shop on Friday Sarah so will have a look.

Bitey hurry up 1 year old
Your right the only time I seem to spend with her is feeding, standing in the rain, telling her no or picking up after her. Everyone else gets the snuggly cuddles so will try and make time to enjoy her.

Did you start the training as early as 10 weeks? What sort?

We’re going to take her to puppy class but not sure if that will be too late?
I’m just feeling the pressure! Have a visitor later this week who I always feel judged by and have lots of “helpful” tips that make me feel inadequate

[purplegoat]

Oooh can I join? Purplepup is coming to us a week on Saturday and will be 8 weeks. We already have an adult lurcher and I'm hoping she will help us teach pup the ways of the world (though we will be making sure she gets a break as isn't particularly young and loves lazing about!)

I'm already stressing a little about how we're going to do this.

[Sarahmoore0510]

@ChestyNut we have already started basics, he can already sit 🙌🏻

Deffo worth starting now if you want to ❤️

Here’s my little terror...

[Snowwontbelong]

Beautiful!!

[BiteyShark]

I tried to start training early with mixed results but really things like toilet training and getting used to being on their own or used to different things were all part of training. For specific commands practicing sit, stay and just being calm were the most useful when young.

Yours is probably still too young to be allowed out after vaccinations but I would start to think about recall and start with the basics inside the house. I was a bit scared at first with recall and waited longer than I should have but a trainer I found encouraged me to let him off lead in a safe place because at an early age they stick to you like glue and you can really practice and reward recall. If you haven't taught them recall as a puppy when they hit the teenage phase you then have an independent dog that doesn't understand what 'come back' means.

I used a whistle to practice recall in the house (blew it when he came running and gave him treats) and then in the garden so by the time we did let him off outside he understood to come back. A whistle removes all emotion from your voice which is useful if you panic that they are too far away. I still practice recall when out walking as it's one of those things that is something to reinforce all the time.

[ChestyNut]

purple welcome
What breed is pup? Apprehension is normal, it’s a big responsibility.

Sarah on command? Very jealous! Mine does wee wees outside and runs to me for a treat but that’s as far as we’ve got!

She’s got puppy hiccups

Bitey recall and off lead worries me, mainly due to breed, I don’t think I’d ever let her off due to people’s perceptions.

[Wolfiefan]

@BiteyShark and the puppy survival thread helped me retain a tiny bit of my shredded sanity when we got our pup.
Chesty re recall. Try having a wolfhound. People who don’t know dogs are much more scared of my big loon than your beautiful pup.
Never met an iffy staffy. Lots of smiling ones.

[ouchyoubiteybugger]

Oh can I join ? Bitey dog is 11 weeks and currently doing circles attached to her tail. She has mastered basic commands but refuses to recall unless she feels like it and is nipping everything ! She also hates weeing in the rain/cold did I say she's a husky cross !

[LittleLongDog]

I’d like to join. I’m picking up our puppy tomorrow and am a mixture of excited and nervous.

I’ve read so much over the last month, I just hope I can actually put it into practice!

[DanielCraigsUnderpants]

I'm in. I need solidarity after the night I had with him up hourly with an upset tummy. I'll be off to the vets in a bit to be sure but he's a nightmare for eating stuff off the. floor

I teach pet obedience and compete with my dog. Even when it's not new. It's still bloody hard work and exhausting.

Meet jack. 11 weeks border collie.