New puppy thread, where new puppy owners can come for help and advice and hopefully clever people like minimu, midori et al will check regularly (please) to help us...

[Happymm]

Exactly what it says on the tin really. Kings idea, that we have a thread where we can all come and ask for help, advice, support or just to vent and that the much more experienced people will come and help us out :)

Yay for new puppy Pisky! What a good first night! I tried to take my puppy out every half an hour in the first few weeks although with an 18 month old it was more like every hour and he did have a few accidents but we had hard floor so easy to clear up...He was trained for the most part fairly quickly. Yes sniffing and circling is a sign. I think rule of thumb is try and take them out after food/sleeping/training session/play session/walk (ie all the time and after any excitement )

Daisy - yes he has calmed down loads and although is still prone to puppy traits he is getting there so can only imagine it gets better... Neutering at our vets I think is at least 6-8 months. He's a bright one too - much like Happy's -

Happy - my word you must have been frightened! Hope rabbit is okay...

He knows "off" now and so I can usually get him to leave toys/treats/things he shouldn't touch although the temptation does become too much for him sometimes! He is also getting much better at stay. Knows how to open his play pen door if not locked and goes through the cat flap if not locked. He is still eating cat poo - managing to squeeze his way through the anti puppy stuf we have put up to keep him out - not working clearly! Am scooping tray regularly so hopefully he doesn't get his hands on too much

On another note - I noticed last night he is missing some teeth from the front - I think 1 from bottom and 2 from the top! And a couple of adult teeth starting to poke their way through at the side. He's growing up...

Great first night Pisky!! We took our pup out every hour which on the Sunday we bought her home was not a great prospect as it was torrential rain!

Pip is the name of my MILs dog! It's a good name that has suited a well behaved (at times ) Border Collie that is still going aged 14!

We met a cocker pup at a dog show at the weekend - soo soo cute!

Yes, Daisy, have a bright girlie. Works out the opposite of what you want her to do and does that instead! How do you manage to get a solid recall? She'll do it if it suits....

Has obviously got a soft mouth though-walked around all day yesterday with a blown up balloon in her mouth without bursting it. Would make a great gun dog!

We've finally succumbed to the runny poo. Don't know if it was rabbit or the fact that she stole her dinner straight after eating her lunch. Or maybe the snail she ate DH had to go out back over his walk last night with a bucket of water to wash pavement off. Got up this am to find crate splattered! plus vomited loads of undigested kibble. Has had a semi formed poo this am. Big bath too. Just cooking her some rice. Feels v sorry for self and sleeping lots bless her. :(

Wow Happy what a soft mouth indeed - can I borrow her to take shooting?

Oh dear re runny poo - apparently snails are not the best for dogs (although how one stops them eating them I do not know!) - maybe keep an eye on the vomiting/if any lethargy etc though just in case. Poor you - it's a total nightmare when they are like this... Hope she is okay.

Thanks daisydotandgertie We just took him up to the woods, where there are no roads and he was fine off lead. But then he was before yesterday's scare. Never strays far and comes back for regular treats/fussing.

BUT, he has become quite wussy in the last couple of days. Out in the lane just now, he was not happy about 3 small ponies behind a fence, even though the family he came from had horses, although I doubt he had much to do with them. But he was shaking, growling and backing away. He did the same with another dog further on, but that was a dobermann guard dog who was barking at him from the gate, so not unreasonable. Dobermann aside, is it usual for them to develop fear at this age? He's 16.5 weeks and I'd thought we'd done masses of socialisation.

Took him to Pets@Home for his puppy induction session in the Grooming Room, and he sat on his bottom outside and refused to go in the shop. He's been before and had a great time being fussed by people, but didn't fancy it today. Although once I'd dragged persuaded him inside he was fine - very good with the hairdryer and shower and he let them clip his nails, pluck his ears and trim his eyebrows. He can see now!

Clam yes it is exactly right for him to start being frightened about now. He's just beginning to become aware of himself and the dangers around him.

I'm sure you've done everything you can to socialise him, so don't take it as a sign you've not done enough.

The way to deal with it is ignore it. Although our natural instinct is to soothe, cuddle, stroke and reassure don't do it with a dog! They will take any sign you give as positive affirmation for what they've just done, ie they'll think their reaction was the right one and carry on doing it.

If you have to speak, keep your tone as a jolly hockey sticks, carry on regardless happy voice and keep on going. Past the door of Pets @Home as you did, past the ponies and the big dog. You're aiming to teach him that they are things to just deal with; to ignore and carry on.

I can't emphasise enough how important it is not to say 'Oh, it's alright Fido, don't worry about it . Don't even make eye contact if you can avoid it.

Go for the sing song 'silly, silly billy - come on and jolly along the lovely ponies' and keep on going. Try and keep attention on you with treats and foolishness.

Honestly, you'll feel like an absolute tit - and probably a quite unkind but it'll equip your boy to be a happy, confident adult in the end.

I understand Daisy ... But telling someone to calm down is easier said than done. I'm assuming you grew up with dogs. Your experiences are invaluable, however telling a new puppy mom to just calm down isn't what I signed on for here. Puppies are awful, especially to new puppy moms. This pup is great ... He'll be a great dog ... I can see it 75% of the time. The other25% of the time, he's a terror on 4 paws who puts on a pound a day ... Vet says he'll be 90+ when all is said and done. he's worse than a 2 year old during that 25% time and I get it, he's a puppy ... But being calm when he's biting my DD's nose, knocking my 6 year old over on his bum and jumping all over my furniture ... Yea, being calm is not an option. Assertive and in charge is my mantra when he's like that.

I'm not ignoring your advice. I just want to turn the clock forward a year. I'll get through this, but my primary use for this message board is to vent.

Ugh ... Brought him in from his post meal wee/poo and nipped my 6 year old in the knee and broke the skin he was jus walking by, no blood ... Now he's terrified. got in between them, and pup got down and started barking ... Sigh

I know, this too shall pass.

My puppy equation:

75% of the time ... Great, fun ... Does what he's supposed to. gentle, no nips, no jumps, straight from angeltown. Puppy kisses, fetches and drops on command.

25% of the time ... spawn of Satan.

20% of the 25% is puppydom, which will subside with maturity and training

5% pure training issues ...

Couldn't put it any better!!!

Daisy, how do you learn the leave it command? And how do you get recall solidly. At the moment she comes as and when she feels like it, so if she's busy or too interested in something or someone else, she ignores me...If she's not got anything else on, then she'll come! Am using a whistle for recall/come to me. Use this as signal can come out of crate to come to me as well as outside. Use whistle, with 3blasts as signal can eat her dinner. Spectacularly for a lab, she does wait! :o

And soft mouth indeed Kings!kids were happy though as balloon not burst :o

Vent away, Stresses, vent away! Always do!:o

Yeah, that's the tricky one. Ours will come when he's called like an angel. If there's nothing else going on. Or a scary dog trotting towards him.

Happy - are you mad! You are able to get your pup to wait before she eats! I can't believe you call her devil pup ours leaps or springs as she's a springer for her dinner. I do get her to wait but that's if I block her way!

We use a whistle too - in fact me and DH have one each - he's orange I'm purple So far she's been OK on recall. She did stray a little far today on our walk buy did come back - it was in an area we tend to go so I think she was getting confident. If a person or dog etc was there too I'm not sure she would have cone back so easily.

I don't tend to use the whistle about the house.

Did some lead work in garden whilst DCs watched SpongeBob! And managed to get her walking around the garden without pulling at all!!! Practiced on walk to woods also and she was much better. When I turned 180 when she pulled at one point she lied down so I think she got message!

Has been a bit bity/chewy today - gas lost two bottom front teeth - perhaps it's this?

Ours will wait before eating too. But only recently. Initially, I had to hold his collar and keep removing the bowl if he moved before I told him he could. Now he'll sit and wait.

Interesting, isn't it, how we forget how far they've come. Yet most of them are still babies really.

Oh it's just us lacking behind then....must try harder

Weve been taught leave by place a treat in hand and show pup, then close hand and say leave. When they stop chewing hand and the second they take their nose off you release hand and give treat. Our pup gets this and looks at me with a sort of 'well I can't get it if your hands round it' sort of look. Not too sure how to progress this on though perhaps it comes with time.

Alp, am quite quite mad! :o the devil drives me to it! Had to get her to wait for dinner, as she was launching herself at whoever was holding her bowl and knocking them flying to get to eat. Now just bounds into crate salivating with a bit of a desperate look on her face! Also am working on the wait for treats, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. and I want a purple whistle! (have a boring silver rugby one-though is bloody loud!)

Devil pup also losing teeth, has some gaps and some coming through bless her, is growing up. Not sad at all, as although she has looked cute during the baby puppy phase, she has not been cute!

She is a little calmer then she was. As long as I am too. Have to control. Myself to not get as het up as she does, as that does not work!

Devil's tummy better after a day on rice. Obviously bored with it, as she managed to break into the vegetable patch, and pick herself some peas, and dig up a couple of carrots

Happymm glad to hear pup is feeling better, poor thing!

Lead work much better last night, still pulling like a train but lead very short so she was still by my side, but there was tension a lot of the time. I was walking with friends so couldn't stop and walk the other way but at least she stayed by my side, was a lot better on way out to walk but is a nightmare on way home which is slightly odd as when we get home she looks forlorn that walk has ended.

My cheeky monkey has worked out that she can jump onto dining room chairs and then onto table! yesterday knocked a cold cup of tea all over my laptop - this is the newly fixed laptop which was broken due to a cup of apple juice being spilt on it. Thankfully it seems to have survived. She also got a lamb kofta and some goats cheese! Have to remember to keep all chairs right under the table from now on! Although to be fair she did get told a very big no when I found her snaffling my lovely goats cheese, today her saw her on the chair again and I said NO Down and she got down immediately. I would rather she knew not to get up there in the first place than worry about all chairs being pushed right in!

Aah Spam, the devil pup does this! She is the gift that just keeps giving! Have found her on the kitchen table 3x now-the DC don't quite seem to get the "please put your chair under the table tightly else devil pup will get up" Devil has eaten the contents of the fruit bowl and finished off their cereals before! :o

On countdown for hols,leave early Friday am so Devil pup goes back to breeders tomorrow for the 2wks we're away. In some ways I cannot wait, but I will miss her. She is very loving and the glimpses I see in her of the dog she will become are lovely. :)

Happy - once again I have similar issues with recall. the trick is to make yourself super exciting - high value treats and I quite often start running away and he follows me. I use a whistle too. It as very good at first (having primed it by feeding treats) and works in the house but in park if he is v interested in another dog usually he will ignore some of the time. I can't imagine what is more interesting to him than playing with another puppy/dog though so how can I make myself the more interesting one?! I have toys etc too.

Glad her tummy is better!

Re "off" (which we use for leave). I started off like alp has said holding treat in fingers etc. Then I put on on the floor, said off and let go. If he went to get it I covered it / picked it up. Repeat. He soon got the message to stay until I told him to and now will sit staring at the treat until I say "go on". That is also now translating to leaving toys and things he shouldn't chew. "off" is getting pretty good results at the moment actually - have managed to save quite a few things from being chewed! He is also getting better at stay (which I can use interchangeably with off for getting him to wait for his food).

Spam - ha - mine is starting to learn about jumping up to the table etc.

BTW I bought those toys Daisy suggested - tug a jug and the treat ball. He seems to like them although gets frustrated after a while if he can't get all of the treats - he'll have to work harder!

Stressed - hope you're okay ...

I wrote a reply and it lost it!!!

Happy-I couldn't believe your post as lots of reports show how devilish devil pup is and then I hear how you can call her and get her to wait for food by whistle!! Feel slightly superior with my purple whistle though

We have yet to have a jump onto dining room table but I think that's because we sit mainly at breakfast bar than table so the leap there is much higher!

Kings - I am going to order those toys too. I have been putting food/treats in empty milk cartons and she has enjoyed chasing/chewing them too.

DD (8) is coming to puppy training with me tomorrow and she is very excited about it! Hopefully it will go well as she hopes - I think she has visions of her being the Dog Whisperer!

First night off my happy tabs ... Slept like a baby and am feeling good so far. pup scratched at the door this morning for the first time to go poo! hasn't jumped on kids today either ... Cautious optimism ...

Sounding promising then Stressedpuppymom!

Just thought I' do a quick update.

Our puppy seems a bit too angelic so far - sleeps on her mat, take her out when she wakes, most wees and all poos outside so far. Plays for a bit with me and/or the kids and then back inside for more sleep!

No biting so far and only jumps up if kids get her too excited (but she is small enough and they are big enough they just lift her down).

She whines a bit if we go out the room and weirdly will only eat if we stand by her food bowl and encourage her or hand feed her (which she loves).

Had to leave her at home this morning for three hours as I has an appointment - I left her investigating a puzzle type ball with food stuffed in and she was resting in her crate when I returned although don't think she had slept much as seemed tired and hadn't eaten much. I had left paper out (like nighttime) but she hadn't needed it.

Trying to work on sit now so that I can close the door at night and when leaving the house without her trying to squeeze through! She will come to her name when called as long as nothing else too exciting going on...

Oh God, I cannot believe I am posting that, after Saturday night's escapade with the chocolate cake, he's done it again, only much worse this time. He got some cellophane-wrapped homemade chocolate fudge off a table and ate the lot! 6 cubes.

He then went completely hyper and I had to rush him to the vet. She made him vomit and fed him liquid charcoal and so, 200 quid later, we're home and he's on the mend.

Feel sick myself. With guilt, really.

Oh Clam, don't worry or feel bad, just bloody greedy dogs.

Devil pup got on the table again and finished off our spaghetti and meatballs tonight. She'll have a ring of fire in the morning!

Can't watch them all the time. He'll be OK am sure. Just not so sure about your pocket. :(

Oh clam, my hear goes out to you! these stinking dogs!!!!!!