AIBU?
To think that taking the seventh pup in a litter of 7 was going to be easy
Fortysix · 17/11/2019 20:22
96hrs in and our amazing 10 week old cocker spaniel puppy is feisty, fearless and worryingly, full on. I’m suspecting she was the last girl standing because she was so over-the-top. Has anyone had a wild, chew-tastic puppy that calmed down or is this the beginning of a very spirited relationship. So far she’s chewing cables, carpets, oak furniture and my 12 year old senior spaniel who is in the huff. I’m prepared to go the extra mile with training and exercise but please tell me it will work out fine ...
Pandora73 · 17/11/2019 20:33
Invest in a puppy crate for time out. For your sake, her sake, and your older dogs sake.
Pup will actually come to enjoy the quiet time too. But she will also learn if she misbehaves she will be put in the crate to chill.
Lots of metal stimulation also tires out young dogs = a nice long nap after 😬
Dragongirl10 · 17/11/2019 20:36
12 year old spaniel......you have long forgotten the puppy stage!!!
Our Cocker has finally calmed down.... he is 2 and a half.
I recommend, mini walks every hour, followed by chew and crate time.
and baby gates everywhere.
Think of it this way your house will be incredibly tidy 3 feet up from the floor..(or you will have no shoes/coats/bags) !
Fortysix · 17/11/2019 20:46
Got two crates in two separate rooms for sleep and containment. Older lad has his own beds. But it’s the three feet up thing that is so scary. Absolutely everything is in her mouth. She very nearly mastered the touch top bin. She barks at her bowl when she’s hungry.
If they are chewing now are they always a chewer or is this just an early days thing?
MsRomanoff · 17/11/2019 20:59
She is a cocker. Thats what they are like.
This is her tonight at 3.5. Much calmer. Spent a lot of time training her and she gets long walks. She has a mad half a hour a couple of times a day. But it's all good.
I adore spaniels. Alot of effort, but so worth it.
whatalifethisis · 17/11/2019 21:05
I second the pen idea. We have a play pen sized pen where our 9 month old schnauzer goes to sleep at night and also when we need a break from his antics (or to give our other two dogs and cat some peace) .
It's very rare now that he has to go in there to give us a break but I have to say his young puppy days were not easy....I may or may not have been found sobbing on the bathroom floor when he was about 5 months old.
Without the pen I think we might have just gone insane....
AlmostChristmas2019 · 17/11/2019 21:22
Get her some teething toys and freeze some stuffed kongs.
Some puppies chew, give them something they are allowed to chew and train them to stay away from the stuff they are not allowed to chew. she might not seem to be teething but they basically teeth continously until their full set of adult teeth is in.
Raising puppies is just a lot of work. I love our dogs but really don't miss their puppy days (they'll always be puppies, of course!)
Good luck!
WaggleWiggle · 17/11/2019 22:16
She’s adorable. I guess if you consider that at this very young age, a working cocker will already training with scent work etc etc, it might be that she’s super bright and ready for way more stimulation than many less-trainable puppies. The fact that she’s cracking the bin already shows she’s going to be a dab hand at things like puzzle toys. Have you tried snuffle mats and all those sorts of things?
LaurieFairyCake · 17/11/2019 22:24
Our dog was the last of the litter and apparently the noisiest/barkiest/absolute maddest (she's a terrier).
When we saw her the first time she was leaping around like Zebedee with the loudest bark you could imagine out of a 4 kilo dog.
Within 12 weeks (apart from the zoomies) she was the most peaceful, non barky dog.
She never barks now unless you're a horse on the tv. She's quiet, sweet, cuddly, fiesty if a dog goes for her only. Perfect around young children.
I'm so grateful that no one wanted her as she was the 'loudest' 💓
Fortysix · 18/11/2019 11:09
Taking all on board. Have moved cables up higher - think will have another week until she reaches new heights. Have stuffed a Kong and it’s in freezer now. Gave her an ice cube to play with and that was reasonably successful. Doing the walk outside every hour thing - but it’s -2 still here. I’m hoping she’s like Namechange’s livewire or Laurie’s maddest terrier. That’s what I was hoping to hear. But trying to get on with my paid for work is a challenge. I’ve managed about hour since 9am
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