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 :)

Aaaaahhhh stinky pup has just pooed on the rug. Seconds after being out in the garden. Ggrrr

Eww! Happy cleaning

We keep his water bowl in his crate at all times Inc overnight, 8 hours is a long time to go without water.

Dcs have been at MIL for two days and pup was a bit lost with just me for company, was very pleased to see dh last night and was very excited when the dcs came back. I feel just like Mum all over again, I do all the hard work but when everyone else appears they get the waggy tail.

Morning all, have had a much, much better night, thanks for all the help yesterday.

In the end, after a determined and sucsessful crate training day where he was taking himself in there for naps without argument (the turning point was the hot water bottle) we decided that we'd move his crate into our bedroom but leave the door open.

Not so much as a wimper all night, he woke us up at 5.30 am snuffling around the blanket box, we got a solid 6.5 to 7 hours uninterupted sleep. Bliss! On the down side there was a poo and a wee on the hard floor of the hall (all other doors closed except our bedroom).

I'm going to continue with regular trips outside today (constantly re-enforcing that outside is his toilet) and crate time as soon as he looks tired, I checked out Ian Dunbar's stuff and we're trying chew toys stuffed with frozen dry food (is that what he means by kibble?) and some other stuff he suggested reinforced things we'd already ready read or thought so fingers crossed!

tooearlytobeup Sam likes his rope toy for chewing and as mentioned aboved I stuffed a hollow chewy ball that has holes with dry food, moistened it and stuck it in the freezer, this is supposed to make the pup chew the right things and keep him busy if you need to leave him shut up while you're out. We have moved all wires, shoes and chewables out of reach and if we can find the old stair gate we'll cut him off from the bedrooms during the day (we have a bungalow) so that our DC can play in peace in her bedroom when she wants to.

Hope everyone else has a good day.

puppy day either today or tommorow. very excited

Did you get your puppy Dita.

Had a much better day today - yesterday was pretty bad, finished off with the demon puppy chasing the kitten into the swimming pool and me jumping in with my clothes on to rescue him.

Touch wood only one accident in the house today, I've caught him trying twice but shouted no both times and booted him outside where he was praised for performing. He then went to the vets for his vaccinations and can now go for a walk - vet said not to worry about the weeing in the house, he's just too young to control it, but I did put him in his cage for an hour this morning and then an hour this afternoon and he was able to control his bladder for both hours, and again at the vet he waited until he was outside, so hopefully it's sinking in.

Have also found a puppy training class recommended by the vet and Monty will start in three weeks.

So all in all I'm feeling more positive today - the vet also recommended we fed him on Royal Canin and pushed a bag into my arms, 24 euros for a 4 kilo bag - the puppy is going to be eating better than the rest of the family.

I was a bit down yesterday thinking I'd bitten off more than I could chew, but after a positive day today am feeling much better.

I can't wait to take him for a walk along the canal tomorrow.

puppy been here for an hour, cherry is fien a little bit wigged out but fine, already done a wee outsied, and slept on me all the way home, taking these as a good sign.

Hello all.
We have had our ten week old pup since Saturday. Border terrier bitch.

She is doing so well.
Slept through every night from tenish to when DH gets up for work at six fifteen.
Eating well (though have had to adjust her food due to the runs...got great advice here for that).
Last night no mess in the cage and only two wee wee accidents today in the house.
She will sit when told (mostly), will return when called (mostly). A bit of jumping and nipping but nothing horrendous.

We have managed to get a collar on her, but will she walk on the lead? No way Jose. Sits down and won't budge. Any tips ?

alicia don't let him off the lead along the canal!

Also, we had to wait a week after the second set of jabs before we could take him out.

Hi everyone. Hi Happy/Spam/Clam/Alp, everyone else from the original puppy crew and hi to all new ones - feel like we might be passing it down to the next generation!

Sorry I have been a bit quiet on here - went away camping (took puppy and toddler, husband couldn't come due to work but my friend came and my mother too). It was good although the puppy was a real extra thing to think about and he woke us up in the mornings (instead of the baby) - we're not taking him when we go in Sept as it just makes things more stressful!

Everyone you are doing so well - the inside wees, the barking in crate will get better. Ours has def calmed down a lot and spends quite a bit of time outside his playpen now. He still chews things but has got a lot better. And also with jumping. His recall if there's another dog around in the park is pretty crap in spite of my efforts to make myself the most interesting thing ever. But there you go. Going to work on it and we have a refresher training session outside in the park in a few weeks - 2 week course.

Now for my confession: the reason I haven't been on here (and I certainly do not want to put other new puppy owners off) is just that I / we have been doing a bit of soul searching re whether this has been a wise decision for us. My husband has been getting grumpy and stressed at the weekends anyway. Yes, he works v long hours and yes he is tired and stressed but he seems to think he is entitled to spend all weekend watching sport and "relaxing", doesn't get to do it then strops like a 3 year old - this is another issue entirely and isn't fair but that doesn't prevent it happening. This is the situation and that is that. Anyway obv a puppy adds an extra element of stress and creates even more rows when he gets fed up and is miserable and grumpy and sulky as a result. The puppy is part of the family and I love him to bit and he will get easier but it is an extra thing to think about all the time and i just don't want him to increase the pressure on our marriage and make it crack. Especially if/when we have more children. Sooooo, that was why I haven't posted. He is getting better and the next day (sunday) my husband said he loves him and doesn't want to get rid of him at all but I just worry that this will keep happening and maybe it isn't worth the extra stress. I realise this is highly irresponsible and I really don't want to get rid of him. But I don't want my marriage to suffer! I just have a nagging doubt at the back of my mind. This isn't about getting a puppy, it's about our situation. So please no one come on here and flame me - am just thinking aloud (well, online) and it's a niggling doubt. I am all set to keep him of course and can't imagine not!

Sorry - what a massive rant - sorry to all the new people - can't imagine it's much fun for you to read - don't let me put you off

Erm - that was me btw!

Don't worry clam I very nearly lost my last dog to a watery grave in the canal as she got in but we couldn't get her out, pup will not be off the lead near the canal.

Re the vaccinations, I'm in France I think they have a very different perspective on the whole thing. The vet thought I was nuts when asking how long we had to wait before taking him for a walk. His answer was not today because he will be tired but tomorrow will be fine.

I hope things work out for you Namey, I'm sure whatever decision you reach will be the best one for your family.

Congrats on the new puppy dita hope you get a restful night.

Well while I was up here on the computer earlier typing about how much better my boy had been today what he was actually doing was weeing and pooing all over my dining room floor, that will teach me to brag about our good day.

Alicia - that's slightly amusing... !

pup is zonked out now after much tuggy with cherry, 5 wees and 1 poo all outside. going to attempt to put to bed shortly so this is where the fun starts. tell you how it went in the morning.

did you want a 5am update? took him a little while to settle, then he slept till 12.30, then I sat by the crate until he stopped crying and he slept till 4, took him outside and he did another wee, took him half an hour to settle and he only slept for 30 mins, had done a poo in crate so I have ended up getting up now as I want dh to get some sleep and dont want to wake neigbours up. cant be grumpy with that waggy tail, going to have a cuppa and then try and settle him down again.

God, Dita, you must be knackered.

Our pup slept through from day one. Or maybe we just didn't hear her crying . Nooooo....one of us would have heard her surely?

Dita - our first night was pretty similar to yours - don't worry . Obv it's less than ideal but ours settled down after a few days...! Hope you're not too shattered.

wasnt too bad got him settlred agin at 5.30 and he slept till kids got up at 7, dh left me in bed for a bit so think I will survive.
word there is no way you would have missed the crying it was so loud, I live in a terrace so really didnt want him to wake the neighbours since they are not too happy about me getting another dog.
been playing this morning, had his breakfast and then fell asleep on dd2's lap so I have popped him back in crate. think he just needs to get used to crate.
got injections booked for next tues so quite a while before we can go out yet, have borrowed a sling off my friend to take him out with us but he is such a riggle bum that I am not sure that will work.

"Neighbours...not too happy about you getting another dog?"
What the hell's it got to do with them?

saw neighbour this morning and she was in love with eric, she said she heard him this morning and I APOLOGISED, SHE SAID DONT WORRY HE IS ONLY A BABY. oops so am pleased with that.
just popped him in crate for a nap and he is proper crying again. also took him out with the kids and cherry for part of her walk (carrying him obviously) then brought him back and was only out about another half an hour, when we got back he was howling. what is the best way to settle him in his crate, cherry was alwys fine.

Hi ditavonteesed

This is my first puppy (but not my first dog, I thought I knew it all, Ha! I. So. Did. Not.) so don't take this as gospel and excuse me if I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs as you have more experience, but, so far these things keep Sam happy(ish) in his crate during the day:

1. His bed is made out of a throw from the sofa, one we'd been sitting on a few days so probably super smelly to him.
2. A warm hot water bottle wrapped up, but I tend to use this when I'm here as I worry it's a choking hazzard if he chews.
3. Chew Toys, especialy ones that can be stuffed with kibble.
4. Always being fed in the crate.
5. Treats when he goes in without complaint.
6. Fun in the garden (hopefully with a wee and poo thrown in) when he's taken out.
7. I've done my best to only take him out if he's quiet. Late this morning it was a case of waiting for him to wind down form one wine and get him out before ramped up for another, I had to be quick. Bless him he was whining for a reason, he did a wee as soon as he got into the garden.

So far he has been fine in his crate during short absences, steadily quieter and less whiny as I come back in.

We have miserably failed to keep Sam in his crate at night, after two nights of dreadful sleep and what felt like endless howling we gave up and let Sam make a bed at the foot of our bed, bringing his crate into the bedroom with his water bowl and blanket in the hope he will eventually see it as a nightime bed as well. We chose to do it and since he doesn't make a noise if he needs to go outside of his crate we've put up with 1 poo and 1 wee accident per night for the last two nights. Personally as long as I keep him content with the crate for daytime naps and home alone time I'm willing to live with it for now.

Good luck!

just had to go to the shops to get a moue trap (whole other story), neighbour is in so I asked if he had been howling like that the whole time we were out, probably 30mins, and he had. I keep popping him back in the crate everytime he falls asleep anywhere else and shutting the door and ignoring till he falls asleep then opening the door so is open when he wakes up (ala gwen baily) is he a bit too young for a primula kong?

I have no idea about primula I'm afraid. Someone mentioned Ian Dunbar on this thread and I checked his website out, he talks about stuffing that kind of toy with kibble, moistening it and freezing so it doesn't come out so quick and makes the puppy work for their treat. We've tried it but our stuffable ball has too smaller holes so the kibble stuck until late that even when it had dried out and then came out all in a rush, but it might be worth a go with a proper Kong. I've read mention of stuffing them with peanut butter but please check this is okay before you try it .

BTW, it was only two days ago I wrote a pathetic and desperate post because the crate was not working at all, just goes to show what a difference a couple of days makes, especially with two decent nights sleep!