New Puppy Owners

[kid]

I know there are a few of us that have recently picked up new pups.
Were your puppies lovely and calm when you first got them or were they mental straight away?

I can't believe how calm Teddy is being so far. He has slept a lot but even when he is awake, he just nibbles gently on your fingers or rolls his ball with his feet.

He has not had any accidents in the house yet which is a miracle.

I am wondering if this is the calm before the storm?

Were talking about once or twice a month here.most days he will be alone for around 2 hrs max.there is a lady on my road who takes then out for a hours walk. She takes 2 or 3 at a time he will love that. Vet said its fine.

There will of course be three days a week where he wont be left at all because Im off! On another subject.how do you guys deal with bedrooms.is your puppy allowed upstairs?

A puppy of that age should not be walked for a hour a day.

Well if the vet says it is fine.

It isn't going to make he ill, it is just very unfair on the puppy.

An hours walk is far too much at that age and will do him long term damage, 5 minutes per month of age is the rule of thumb, though this can be twice a day for very bouncy pups.

Puppies need mental stimulation at this age not physical, hence why they shouldn't be left for long periods, they also need regular feeding.

I would suggest you buy a good puppy book.

Wrt upstairs it's entirely up to you, they shouldn't go up and down the stairs themselves though (again very bad for developing joints) they must be carried.

Wherethewild - quick query do you think it is ok for a twice a day 15 min for 12 week old. Belle just had her first walk. She was quite good. I got through a whole load of treats, saying 'walk' 'good girl'. People must have thought I was mad! However, I couldn't believe all the dog poo I encountered, not on the foot path, but on the grass verges. Do I allow her to sniff everything, or just say 'walk' and treat? I would imagine it will take me 30 mins to go around a very small block! The other thing is when I got home, she was so wound, that I let her loose in the back garden for a while, she ran like a mad thing, but then stopped her after 15 mins, was this right. Are their senses on overload?

It's really hard when you first take them out there is so much for them to see, you are right they are quite overloaded.

Remind me what dog you have again? ( Sorry I know I should know).

Try to discourage sniffing, though modern vacines are good, they do not prevent diseases 100% and sniffing is how they are caught.

However that said don't go overboard or panic, dogs do sniff, just try and get her to concentrate on you, which is what it sounds like you are doing anyway, good job!

She will start walking quicker next to you soon as she gets used to the big wide world.

To build healthy strong bodies the ideal is to stick to the five minutes a month rule and for two thirds of that to be lead walking and one third running, just stick to it as best you can without being so rigid it makes your life difficult.

Besides all that said, pups do their own thing anyway, it is no good me telling Rudy he has had his allocated exercise for the day when he is doing his 'whippet wall of death' around the living room at 8pm .

watsthestory - I know what you mean about jinxing yourself. I am not superstitious but every time I say something on this thread about a minor triumph I have to eat my words!

Last week I reckoned we were getting toilet training sussed! This week I am not so sure. Sometimes it is obvious. I am praising like mad if he goes to the back door and whines. Other times he gives a sideways glance at his lead hanging by the door, then gets up and wees in the corner. Aaarghhh.....

I am glad I am not the only one who has problems with their pup picking up and eating everything it can get its paws on. I despair that I will never be able to let him off the lead... even in the garden It is physically impossible to keep your eyes on them at all times, especially when picking up poo by torchlight before dawn!

Yes - the 5.00am mornings were another thing I thought were behind us, until we had 3 in a row this week. However, on Wednesday night he had his first puppy class and he was so knackered afterwards that he slept until 6.00am again. Phew!

The puppy class went OK, but he was just so excited all the time. He wanted to greet all the dogs and owners. Trying to get him to concentrate was hard. DP handled him this week and it is my turn next week. I think I will take along a selection of extra-special treats next week. I don't think his usual ones cut it in competition with lots of exciting puppies!

Blimey it seems whatever I say is wrong
I was just trying to say that basically there will be a couple of times a month he has to be alone for a few hours so I am going to be paying somebody to come and spend time with him/take him for a walk when that is. NOT at the moment, next week on the day I will be out for 6 hours, my mum is coming to get himn and taking him to her house until I finish work. (Im am assuming thats okay )
Also my neighbour who doesnt work and has a lovely dog will also be keeping his eye on him generally.
I am not totally stupid thinking he can go for a hours walk at 10 weeks old! I am on about in the future........obviously, as he isnt even allowed out yet!
This is suposed to be about support and advice and sharing our fun of a new puppy isn't it??
can we try and be a bit more supportive instead of making me feel like the worst pet owner in the world! I researched which breed to get and waited for alomst a year, pent £200 on him, then another £40 in injections and have insured him and taken 2 weeks off work to be with him surely I not THAT bad or irresponsible

deep breath

He is very happy, we all love him to bits and cant wait to be able to take him to puppy classes and the amount of attention he is getting I don't think he is going to be alone for very long EVER lol
My first casualty is my phone charger any advice on stopping them chewing leads etc I am worried he might electricute himself

Hi Watsthestory
He already has one of those rope things, and a rabbit (which he loves) and a puppy nylabone? (which he isnt at all bothered about) Someone mentioned a vanilla ring???
I didnt see or realise he has chewed the phone charger lead until I went to plug it in!
It said on the Kong wrapping theyre not to be left unsupervised with it so it put me off?
As for being stressed, I am loving it! This morning we sat cuddled up watching the Wright Stuff he is a delight. he is asleep on my lap now
I just felt abit battered with the negative responses. I have just ordered a puppy care book from Amazon, The one with the highest rating so ??

yes we got a crate straight away and he loves it, takes himself in there sometimes and as for housetraining, I have two cats one I have had for 15 years and another for 2 and they were a LOT harder work to train than Billy is. he has had a couple of accidents indoors but when I am in I leave the patio doors open alittle all the time and he just goes outside bless him he is so good. He loves my dd who jumps around with him as soon as she gets up and as soon as she comes home from school, he has already learned to fetch and bring it back which is most impressive for a little 10 week old fellow

Belle my cockapoo is literally under my feet today, everywhere I am she is. Kitchen being the worst, it's open plan so I can't use stair gates. I am constantly saying 'leave it' and think I am getting somewhere, then it starts again. I know she is only 12 weeks old, but I am finding it hard today. I don't want to wish away the puppy days, but a nice quiet dog sounds good!

littlemisslost no-one is trying to make you feel bad, but like wats said the 'support' on here does sometimes tend to be trying to point people in the right direction when they seem to be going wrong.

Tbf you did say 'there is a lady on my road who takes them out for a hours walk. She takes 2 or 3 at a time he will love that'.

Knowing nothing about you, you have to agrre that reads as in straightaway, rather than when you clarified by saying 'I am not totally stupid thinking he can go for a hours walk at 10 weeks old! I am on about in the future........obviously, as he isnt even allowed out yet!'

Wrt to the chewing, the easiest thing is prevention, just move everything out of reach especially if it could be dangerous, maybe phones could be charged on a closed off upstairs room for now?

So far this has been a very friendly, supportive thread and obviously everyone is more than welcome, however some of us on here are far more concerned for the welfare of the dog than the convienience of the owner and sometimes our responses may read a little harshly.

When you have the time, maybe you could make yourself a nice cup of tea, settle the puppy on your knee and skim read through the whole thread, a little daunting I admit, but it had been going for a while now and you will probably find quite a lot of useful information.

lol yes they seem to love following your feet around, I guess we have to think that as long as we are consistent and they go to puppy classes and are well looked after its just a few months of hard work and the benefits of having a lovely family doggy are huge. It took us almost a year to find him and a five hour drive to get him and he worth every bit of it to see my dd face every time she sees him

WTWTW message recieved and understood

I think realistically there will be times when we cant do anything about it? I try to tire Billy out before I go anywhere we ust roll around the lounge floor with his toys and he runs and fetches his rabbit over and over again, Its definately worth finding out about a walker/sitter in your area for those times. Also petsitterswap is a great site and worth joining

Re chewing we are playing the 'piece of food inside an empty eggbox' game about twice a day.
Some 'religious' literature was put through my front door today, so I made a ootball out of it and he's shredded that.
I've sacrificed a manky old cushion to his teeth today to save the ones on the sofa.
A bargain bin plant pot is currently his favourite thing in the whole world.
But the rather expensive puppy chewing Kong.... nah, not interested.

Just posting so I can be the 500th poster on the thread .

wats he should be fine, make sure you don't overtire him, because like kids it makes them fretful and he will find it hard to settle.

Don't leave until he has done a wee and make sure you leave him lots of lovely things to eat/play with, though I wouldn't leave him water, just offer him a drink before you leave, otherwise he is bound to spill it/ drink so much he need to wee.

I'm sure you can't or you would be, but is there no way he can go too? Sounds like a good socialization opportunity.