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?

Toilet training is also regressing here. She seemed to have been totally trained and was asking to go out when she needed to. Now she is just going where you cannot see her. I think that has well known Whippet trait of not liking to go out when it is cold and wet. We are going to go back to basics.

Other than that she is great. Sleeping all through in her crate with no accidents. Not too rowdy. Just a general pleasure to be around. I am still waiting for the madness to start. I have genuinely never had a puppy as good as her.

My dad was taking the mick out of her t'other day My mum told him he should get in touch with his old mate (who they used to see when they had a greyhound x) and see if he still had lurchers and ferrits and he could take Poppy rabbiting - "Your having a fucking laugh aren't you? That's not a Whippet, it's an over grown cat. If I took that rabbiting it would get out of the car and climb up my leg to sit on my knee. She'd probably give the rabbits a kiss and a cuddle" - He's probably right

We have never locked teddy in his crate, until tonight!
We were eating dinner and had shut him out the room using baby gates. He was barking like mad so dh put him in the cage, locked the door and covered it over with the blanket. I expected a right performance but he was silent!
He had a couple of whines but hardly anything at all. We ate our dinner in peace and he has just been let out of the cage. He didn't even come charging in to see what he had missed. He is a good puppy

7:20 again this morning

Pah - 6.25am here!

This is now the second week of dd's October school holiday, so I am not getting my usual dog-sitter help first thing in the morning. It is like looking after an attention-seeking toddler again! As soon as I put my porridge in the microwave Rory asks out... and again when I put the toaster on.... and, of course, I have to change my shoes and take him just in case he really does need.
And then when I sit down to eat he stands in front of me and barks, then tugs at my clothing to come and play. Aarrgh.

Last Monday he got time out in his playpen for biting at my legs while I was making my breakfast. But then he barked ... which is not good when the rest of the family is in bed. The two other days I was at work last week I gave him a kong while I was having my breakfast just to get some peace. That went down well, but I don't want it to become a habit.

Why is that a dog can ask out perfectly well when he is attention-seeking and doesn't always do it when he actually needs?????

7:10
for some reason 7:00 onwards doesn't seem too early for me, even on my week off work.

Teddy keeps licking himself, all over. Not sure if dogs are meant to lick themselves to clean? The trouble us, his food is salmon and potato (wainswright) so he smells fishy! I guess I should get the doggy toothpaste out and try and get rid of the sme. It's not over powering but I can smell it.

wats I am very impresses. How did you do it? How old is ring now? Do you have a dog flap for him to let himself out in the morning? What about day time? I can't see me being brave enough to even try it.

blimey wats, that's brave! where is he at night? Are you not worried about chewing - let alone the poo!

Ours has decided that lying on the covers from on top of his crate are preferable to actually being in the crate, so during the day when the door is open he does a little interior redesigning and pulls things off the top and out from inside until he's arranged a little nest to his satisfaction. Obviously he would much rather sleep on a screwed up ball of old towels than the lovely VetBed I bought him !

I have actually started putting Teddy in his crate when he gets a bit too mental for my liking. In fact, my kids are driving me a bit mad this morning, do you think it would be okay if I lock them in the crate too? (of course I am joking, but its so tempting lol)

When I put Teddy in the crate, I cover it with the blanket that is kept on top of it and he doesn't make any sounds at all. I am impressed as I have never locked him in the crate before. I guess he knows it is a safe place.

The problem is, I don't want to keep putting him in there as the temptation to leave him in there at the moment is too great. HE is being VERY naughty chewing my run, digging the settee, stealing food. Where has my cute little well behaved darling gone?
This monster needs to disappear as quickly as he arrived, I want my teddy back!

Do you think its a male hormone thing? He is 4 1/2 months old.

6ish again this morning, but a full nights sleep again! bliss.

DH did the morning feed so I didnt actually have to get up and had a lie in till 8am.

Crikey.

Hello everyone .

It has got all busy again.

We all need to remember that our pups are now fast approaching (or begining) puberty.

Hold on to your hats, it could be a very bumpy ride .

Mally now coming up to 19 weeks.

what can we expect on our journey through adolescence

She has been quite good up to now , with exception of night time and early morning whinning .

Teddy is now 19 1/2 weeks old and his behaviour is up and down. We were just assessing the damage in our house tonight and luckily we are able to laugh about it. We shouldn't but it is funny that Teddy has picked up where Moby left off. Moby started eating the top step, Teddy has continued on the same step. Its all very minor damage, easily fixed and nothing a splash of tea tree oil can't deter him from.

We had our last puppy class tonight. I am a bit sad as I really enjoyed going, but I am also sad that Moby never got to complete his classes.
Teddy got a certificate and a couple of homemade treats from the trainer. The trainer has been a huge help and is happy to assist me further should I need any help. I have already asked for help on lead walking as Teddy is going to really damage my already poorly back.

I frequently get muscle spasms and his pulling is making it winge more and more. The worst my back has ever been was when I was signed off work for 7 weeks! It sounds appealing, but the pain was unbearable so I really don't want that again.

Morning all. Was having a shocker yesterday lunchtime (playing with a toy and pup grabbed onto my thumb with it, then wouldn't let go when I screamed. So I ended the game... and he promptly peed on the floor. Argh.) so went out for a blustery walk by the sea - and a lovely man with a grown up dog complimented me on the way I was training him !

Made me smile all afternoon. So if any of us see someone with a young pup trying their damndest, we must remember to encourage them!

That's lovely to hear 30, a compliment does go a long way.

At puppy class last night, teddy was used to demonstrate the 'leave it' command. I have already done some work with him on it with mixed results. Anyway, he performed perfectly fir everyone at the class last night. I felt very proud as it's obviously my hard work paying off

this morning has not been so good. He work just after 6 so I let him out. He woke again just after 7 so I let him out and gave him breakfast. He then spent the next hour being a noisy pest. Lots of barking, chewing, running, ignoring. Dd was looking after him but has now put him in my room with me.
He must have worn himself out because he is snoring away in my bed. I really should get up, but I've only had 5 hours sleep and I don't have to go anywhere today and my bed is so comfy and warm lol

Will be back later wrt adolesence, just wanted to point out that Tea Tree is toxic to dogs and you shouldn't be using it as a deterent kid.

It is dangerous to dogs if ingested (and can be if absorbed through the skin too), please find something else to use.

thanks for that wats, I had no idea it was toxic to dogs. I won't be using that ever again then.

I was advised to use garlic or lemon as a deterrent but they really stink and I am concerned about the lemon attracting insects.
What do you think I should use instead?
He hasn't chewed the corner since, but there is evidence of him nibbling on the top step.
I was shown how to do the environment correction (making a loud bang when he did something I didn't want him to do). Its a bit hard to set him up to chew the step though as he does it at randon times, usually when I'm in bed I think.

I squirt mine with one part white vinger , one part lemon juice, topped up with water , preceded by a loud 'NO'.

Purplefrog you know need to let your puppy know that it is you that controls things in his house. Not in a dominant way at all just he is a dog and you are the human!

So if he has been out for a wee first thing then he know has to learn to wait until you tell him when he needs his next wee. Obviously you have to be sensible here and not expect him to go for hours but when you are ready you take him out and ask him to wee major praise when he does. None of my dogs ever ask to go out - they wee when I tell them to!

If you are eating start to teach him that he will not get any attention at all- so take him to his bed and treat him. If he comes out of his bed when you are eating ignore him - if he goes to his bed or near it put a treat in his bed. Again you will have to be proactive here and not let him chew shoes and your clothing etc when you are eating as it is hard to ignore that. Tuck yourslef close up to the table and do not have dangly belts shoelaces etc.

Eventually you need to get to the stage that when you sit at the table to eat he will trot quite happily off to his bed. Treat him in his bed at random intervals to keep this habit up.

Kid re the chewing if he chews when left alone give him something really special to chew on when he is left or alternatively is one area is a prime chewing area do not let him in that area. If you do use anti chew spray all that happens is that generally the dog will jsut find another area to chew on rather than stop chewing unfortunately.