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 :)

Alp-am sure that after 24hrs of being home the devil will overcome her! But a nice evening anyway, which I will cherish and look back on in fondness tomorrow as I hold her off from biting me :o

Belinda, sorry you're having a hard time of it-I can honestly say that Alp, Kings and I have probably all been where you are now, and if you do look upthread you will see a post from me in great distress about to phone the breeder and give devil pup back as I couldn't cope with her and my young DC (7,5,2). Spam talked me out of that one. Nothing prepares you for how much hard work having a puppy is. What's your's doing to have you on the edge? Am sure devil pup's done it-including trying to love our rabbit to death(after she'd taught herself how to undo the hutch and get poor bunny out!) Can laugh about it now :o see!

Am sure devil pup's really benefitted from being with her mum and a couple of siblings as they have been puppy playing and biting (she's covered in bite marks and scratches) but hope she's learnt bite inhibition, and seems to have realised the difference between humans and dogs. Well, we'll see tomorrow! Bit worried about tonight, as they've all been sleeping together, so she may get lonely. Have left her the posh radio 4 lady on in case :)

Hi Happy, good to see you back.

Is true about them growing. Mine looks all gangly legs and scruffy hair a la teenager. Think he's going to be a big boy - I was thinking knee-height, but think he's almost there already and he's only 4.5 months.

We're all up the creek since we got back from holiday. Keep finding him upstairs now, as he had to in our cottage. Stairgate has had to go back on. BUT, he hasn't wee'd or poo'd inside for a bit. Although I confess I caught him in the act the other day and bellowed at him and threw him outside - against all advice, I know, but it wan't as if he was "caught short" as he can hold it for ages if he wants and has had heaps of praise for going outside. He wee'd just inside the open kitchen door. I think he just hadn't cottoned on that it was a problem indoors as we've always ignored it. Well he sure as hell knows it's a problem now and hasn't done it since!

Morning all. Our pup is 13 weeks old now and doing pretty well generally. She is a lovely girl and loves everyone to bits. The problem we are having is she is scared of dogs. If we meet another dog she howls and cries and tries to jump into our arms. I am surprised as her breeders had 7 other dogs so she was exposed to them from the start. We also spend alot of time with my mums yorkie and again no probs.

Morning all, can I ask for some advice? Our pup was dragging his bottom on the floor yesterday and had a bit of diarrhoea today, do I need to worry about it. He and his brothers had lots of worms apparently, so has been wormed a lot. they thought he was clear when he came to me but I was told to give him one more dose, which I did a week ago. He has been eating little tufts of grass in the garden although more for chasing rather than eating the lawn iyswim. Normal or time for the vet?

I'd probably speak to the vet tomorrow if not improved. My pup still seems to be struggling to adjust to his food, so each time he has diarrhoea I've been giving him rice or scrambles egg as his next meal. Seems to improve the poos for a while. Don't know whether to stick with the JWB or change again (was on bakers at breeders and came to me with diarrhoea).

I'm feeling better again today, I suppose. Just seemed yesterday that I wasn't going to be able to give him what he needs right now and I feel time is very short to get things right. I felt he was spending too much time in his crate or playpen while I focused on toddler and chores. He's fine in them, hasn't barked or whined yet, but feel I can't socialise him properly. DH did listen last night and has been mire proactive today, having him on the lead around the house. Friends are playing with him in the garden now. Sorry, still a bit garbled!

Happymm I am sure your pup will continue to be a joy! I truly think its an age thing....(I believ that for now anyway!)

Belindarose As clam says, we have all been there where you are now; wondering what the hell has happened and why on earth we have spent good money bringing in an animal that has bitten, chewed, scratched, weed on, pood on, howled at, growled and barked at everything and everyone!

I too have a springer spaniel and a nearly two year old. I was very conscious of allowing her to experience family life which meant in the first couple of weeks probably didn't leave her in the utility room as much as I should have - however when I saw the four teeth marks in my DSs arm where she had clamped on to him, I realised that some time in there is much better than an injured son and a completely hysterical me. I have sobbed and screamed too.

Now though it is better, much much better - I am more confident in my ability to cope and can see some response to the training we have done.

At the moment, pup is asleep on the bean bag and DCs are next to her watching TV and I am confident she won't bite them.

As for food - Our pup is on Burns Mini Bites - she loves them and they are gone in less than a minute although I might change as I am feeding the recommended amount for her weight and i can see her ribs so she looks a little toast-racky

It did take a while (over a week) for her poos to harden up from changing her onto Burns but now they are fine (as fine as dog poo can be!)

Keep at it - it does all work out eventually.

Thanks Alp. I keep trying to remind myself how well he's really doing. No toilet accidents in house since the first day, hasn't got his teeth into DD, hasn't actually bitten at all except too hard in play and hasn't destroyed anything. Been much more with us this morning, but also had a good nap. We have friends over so more varied play. It'll be okay. (Felt like this with DD and KNEW I couldn't rehome her!)

Belinda - how long have you been changing food? I have heard it can take 2 weeks - ie do it super slowly. I tried changing my puppy's food too quickly and he had liquid poo. He also didn't get on with JWB (which may or may not be the case for your puppy - could just be too fast a change) and I seem to have noticed a bit of a correlation between stolen bits of toast from under the high chair, chew sticks (dental ones with cereals in them) and slightly bad poo. So he may have a wheat/cereal intolerance I think. Anyway ours is now very happily on Acana which has no grains in it...

Also - it is hard at first and ours def still tries to chew stuff and sometimes jumps and nips still although he is calmer. And he is already 19 (or nearly I think) weeks - it does take a while...He has got a hell of a lot better already. It's just a stage that they go through and it's not pleasant a lot of the time!

Happy - welcome back! Jealous of the calm puppy... Having said that ours is able to be calmer now sometimes and will settle down outside of playpen not on lead. Usually!

How to I get pup to got thru the night without pooing in his crate? (he's 8wks)

Vera it just comes with time (crap I know) I made the crate big enough so she can get up and poop on a training mat, which is easier to clean up.

Our pup took about 3/4 weeks to reliably not poop in crate overnight.

Evening doggy pals, was lovely to be missed by the old crowd; Alp, Kings, Clam. I feel like we've come through so much together! :) I'm trusting that we are also still at the same stage-think our pups are the same age-lost count but think 20wks on tues?! They will be teenagers soon-another ball game i think!:) Devil pup so big though, looks much more doglike. Already up to my knee-going to be a big lab I think! :o

Well, devil pup has had another good day! :) Still no biting or jumping! Have left her off the indoor lead to see what happened, and also have let her have more run of the downstairs with the DC and all else going on. Haven't needed the lead as she hasn't jumped or bitten at all! Have been shocked beyond belief! She's been cuddly and has been on my lap really quietly without trying to bite me Am so used to her biting me at every opportunity that I couldn't cuddle or stroke her or enjoy her at all. The reverse has happened today! loads of cuddles and happy time without any need to bite me! Have really enjoyed her today. She's even been lying beside me sleeping in our veg patch as I weeded it, whereas she used to be running about digging and eating produce!

Had a lovely walk too. No pulling, came when whistled-apart from one very interesting smell that took a lot of whistling to get her, but did in the end. Scared of horses I found :(

Just to top it all she's now asleep at my feet allowing me to MN and watch dragons den! :)

TBH I never ever imagined she could ever be like this. She seems to have become the dog we always wished for our family. Fingers crossed that this continues xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alp, did your pup then end up covered?

Vera, do you get up with him in the night? You might have to set an alarm (ugh!).

Happy, that all sounds so brilliant. I've got much more hope this evening. Thank you x

Happymm - yes we have been through a lot and are now almost experts

Vera - the pup when crate small was in a state by morning. Gross. I made the choice not to get up to her and I suppose that meant I didnt know if she was howling from being in a new place or howling if she needed the loo. She stopped howling at all at night pretty quick and as I made crate bigger she could just get up and poop. More importantly i didnt have to deal with a poo covered crate dog and bedding each morning. Now she is 19weeks or so she is clean and dry all night.

Had a lovely walk with pup today - she still pulls on lead so did some practice round the garden. But she is great off the lead, stays close, comes back when called especially to whistle when she is like a rocket. She did chase a pigeon and only stopped when it flew too high. We are yet to discover rabbits! She chases leaves though - when out she is always trying to grab one sometimes yanking my arm really hard. Not sure what the advice is on that.

Here's to a good week

Glad to help, Bel. It's very hard at the beginning to see your way through. I've had lots of troubled days, lots of tears and spent a small fortune on a wonderful behaviourist, and still struggled. Our time out, a holiday and her going back to the breeders who are so experienced, seems to have done so much for her. They even took her to a dog show-she won 3rd prize with her mummy and brother for a family group!

Our big problem was just that she is so bright she easily gets bored, so digs, tears up the lawn at the edges, steals toys etc etc. Fingers crossed, no signs of that so far. Early days though, so not counting my chickens, just enjoying the peace! :o

Vera, with our lab, we did the opposite to Alp, and made the crate small, just enough room for her. She's never messed in it. Don't know if that's just her, but we followed Minimu's advice and just left her to it from day 1. Good luck, x

Morning! And a good one too. I got up with pup at 1.30, (had set alarm for 2 but dd2 fell out of bed) let him into the garden, waited till he'd done his business. And put him back to bed.

This morning only a wee accident in the crate. But he does get excited when he sees us, so that could have been done just before I got to him this morning.

Well I can handle wees in the morning.

Those of you who have made crates smaller, how small is your crate?

We have 2, one that we have has his bed in, but will do him when he is adult, so quite big. And a smaller one that we have been using to take him to the vet, but he will have grown out of it in a couple of months, but at the moment he is fine in it.
Should we use this smaller on instead for a few weeks? Or keep going with letting him out?

Ps he doesn't cry/howl at night.

Vera, we have a crate big enough for devil pup when she is big, but have a divider. We've made it small enough so she literally just has turning space-though now she's getting older we're making it bigger all the time! Flip me, labs grow quickly! :o

That's great, Vera. Wees are much easier to deal with. Good night for you then.
We've had a good morning as DD still asleep (unheard of!!) so pup and I have had an hour on our own. I've made a birthday cake AND managed lots of play so he's fairly chilled now. Toddler birthday party today, so that's a socialisation challenge!

How have you all got your puppies used to grooming? I'll follow Gwen Bailey's advice, although it's a real struggle at the moment and I can only managed two strokes with the brush. Tips anyone? Just lots and lots of gentle practice I suppose?

We have had two nights of no howling/crying so all going very well so far. The only issue we are having is him nibbling in the mornings when he's let out. He is biting our noses.

Great news from everyone!

Belinda - You are superwoman, cake,play all before 9am in the morning!

Pippi - Our pup would nip us when she first saw us in morning - I used to carry the kids across the kitchen floor to chairs where they would sit on their feet! I also put them in tracksuit bottoms which were a bit thicker for the razor teeth to get through! She just got so over excited that she started biting, as if she didn't know where to stop.

Vera - Yes wees are soo much easier to deal with!

Pippi - ours bit my nipple the other night!

With regard to training, do you have to get one thing cracked before you move onto the next thing or can you be training say 'sit' in the morning and work on 'stay' a bit later in the day?

Just having a bad weekend and need to vent. When am I going to enjoy this dog? I don't. here I said it ... He's cute ... Yea, he can do some things when I ask him to ... But right now, all I feel is that this dog is preventing me from doing anything I enjoy. School is starting up on Tuesday and I love to volunteer in the clasroom and go on field trips . I quit my career so I could participate in my children's upbringing and education, not take care of a puppy!!!! I can't keep my house clean and I'm not a clean freak either! my kid's bedrooms are disaster areas because now that we have this dog, their doors are shut at all times and I can't keep an eye on the dog and be able to pick up their rooms ... We live on one level. I told DH that I could easily keep pup in the crate for 6-8 hours and still not have the house in shape.

I feel like I'm a slave to this puppy. I've never been on medication for any typemof panic attacks or anxiety in my life, until we got a dog. I can't do anything ... Anything without the dog being in the back of my mind ... I worry about this dog more than I worry about my kid's. I worry about him tearing things apart, I worry about him wee-pooing in the house. I worry about him eating the carpets. I can't even let him out in the garden because all he wants to do is eat grass and sand and when I try to redirect him, I get air nipped. I'm tired of the jumping, I'm tired of him jumping on my kid's ... No matter how much I correct him. I'm tired of waking up every morning with my stomach in knots. I hate that I have to take a pill so I can sleep for a few hours. I'm tired of the stress this puppy has brought into our home. My 2 youngest told me that this summer was ruined because of the dog. yea, I know!!!!!!!!

there just isn't any relaxing now. I truly hope it gets better. we've had him for almost 8 weeks. I don't see how people can say they love this part of having a dog, I hate it.

Stressed, is there any way you could all get some time out? Could the puppy go back to the breeder for a couple of weeks, or to a dog trainer?

I was really not enjoying our devil pup either. We had a really good behaviourist in, but it was so much effort all the time. I couldn't even cuddle her without her biting me.

We've just been on hols for 2wks. Devil pup went back to the breeders, so she was with her mum, a brother and 2other dogs, plus they day sit another of her siblings, so she had full on dog days as it were. Think a combination of them being really experienced and calm with her, lovely rowdy bitey puppy play, and our initial legwork paid off. As she was biting and being bitten by her siblings, I think she learned bite inhibition, and also now 2wks older so she's calmer coming back into our home.

She's not perfect by any means, and we've had a bit of devilling today, but mainly jumping and stealing toys to chew, but importantly no biting of humans. This is just such a bonus to me as it means she can be with us all more without me constantly panicking that she'll bite the DC. She's happier too, which I think helps. Dogs are sociable animals and need contact, so by being with us more, she's calmer too. Think when she was separated to much, it was too exciting when she did come into contact with everyone IYSWIM? Now, I think we've become a little boring as we're there all the time, so she's not so hyper with us, and is just lying down next to the DC as they play, rather than trying to maul them.

I really think you need some time out away from the pup. It did wonders for us. I don't think you need worry about school volunteering-just pop the pup into her crate for a couple of hours...

Hope you can work things out. I know it's difficult, but when you're this upset, dogs pick up on it, and get confused and more upsetting. If you have time out, then maybe things will work out for you as it seems to finally be doing for us,x