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 :)

DS OK, just very frightened of the puppy now. TBH I've not been letting her near him unless I've been there strictly supervising the dog. But DS wanted to go outside to play as the other DC were, and I was making their dinner :(
I so desperately don't want to get this bit wrong and to end up with a jumpy biting big dog. :(

Have been giving her quite quiet days and not treating as she was going nuts for them.

She's tried it on several times tonight but have been v firm. Though she growled a couple of times, so don't know if too firm or just grumbling as I wouldn't let her bite me. It's easier in the garden as I just yelp loudly, stand up and walk inside with whatever toy we were playing with. It's just a nightmare when she's leaping up at me when I'm sat on the sofa with her snapping and biting whilst quite frankly I just want to relax and watch The Apprentice!

Our dog peed on the rug tonight while we were sitting there and bit two of my childrens friends who were round for a play (one of them drawing blood).

Happymm - what happened to you with pup outside DCs outside playing us cooking dinner happened to me today too.

Been to swimming lessons, returned with 2 hungry and tired DCs, I had tried to be organised and put dinner on timer to cook in oven so was only laying table and DD took pup in hgarden for wee after being in crate and then all hell breaks loose - DD was showing DS some bug on a ball that pup decide she wanted to play with an barges in.

Just when you think you have a situation controlled it goes tits up

Happymm You haven't got it wrong at all! And you won't have a jumpy biting dog we all have biting jumping puppies - the dogs will be angels!

Omg. I am on the brink of adopting a 5 mth old yorkie and u are scaring me to death with thus thread!! Should I back out

Sorry to scare you 2T! Am sure you've thought things through very hard.

It is bloody hard work, but at least your pup is older, and smaller, so maybe not really in this mad, snappy jumpy phase.

Sorry to hear your in the same boat Alp and Nospring :(

Shall we add a few points of what we like about our puppies or what they have picked up well - so we don't seem all doom and gloom

I'm feeling the love today as it's my 10th Wedding Anniversary

Our pup:

Has not messed in her crate over night for 3 nights (the relief of not looking at that first thing in the morn is wonderful)

Has picked up 'sit' very quickly

Can be very sweet with our DCs flopping on their feet (even when they are standing up!)

Does that help?!

My bloody dog has diarrhoea (all on my poo thread) I think due to me trying to be nice and giving pilchards last night. Disgusting. We have had no power since 11pm and they have now said they had to wait til this morning to dig up the road. ?!?! No hot water, no oven etc. Fridge now warm and freezer too. Sleepless night with alarm beeping etc. Am not pleased. Thank god have a nice weekend away to look forward to. Which I have to pack for me, daughter and dog too.

So anyone else's pup started having funny poo since going out for walks (and I assume eating things they shouldn't be)?

Sorry am not joining in the "nice things about puppy" - am too grumpy! Have raised my voice at him already as so tired/ fed up!

Happy wedding anniversary Alp! :) Though stop showing off with your pup being nice to the DC's :o

Oh bugger Kings :( Crap on all fronts then.

Well, on a positive note, puppy asleep in her crate and has only bitten me about 20x so far this am! Think we have the house training pretty licked too.

The behaviourist is coming tomorrow-says from my description that she sounds like a rambunctious puppy, but not insolvable issues. Coming for around 4hours tomorrow! Likes to just sit and watch them how they are for a while. Will feed back on how that goes, but just knowing he's coming makes me feel better...

Believe me the nice times and few and far between!
I struggle with feeling like I'm doing the right thing. For example. Pup has been in crate for 2 hoursish as I pop out so when I come back I take her out in the garden for a play - we are out there for 40mins or so and pup is sniffing about, I try some training and fetch but her attention span is zilch so don't bother, DS is playing happily then pup comes over and starts mouthing/biting as I try to stop it she gets quicker and quicker meaning that as I scoop DS up saying NO and OFF she jumps and bites my leg.

So what I think is a good thing (getting used to being in garden with us etc) turns into a drama.

With you there. Puppy just bit my youngest. He really comes in for it. He'd just gathered some confidence to go outside with her, I turned my back for 2seconds as DS 1 asked for a piece of paper to do his spellings on, hear a scream behind my back and puppy launching herself at littlest's face :(

So glad the man's coming tomorrow! He's in the middle of doing an MSc in dog behaviour, used to be in the police with dogs, so think he'll have a better idea than me, as what we're doing doesn't seem to work. If I yelp, it makes her more excited. And the neck thing is not working-just makes her more crazy when she gets up so going to give that a miss...

The neck thing also makes mine lauch at me again so am a bit stuck.

Heard from one trainer that pushing on the fleshy bit under Tongue until pup yelps is a quick way but seems a bit too harsh iyswim. Also want to do something or day something that can work for all family not just adults.

The behaviourist who's coming tomorrow said the neck thing was BAD! Says has lots of other things that will work without either exerting force or dominance, making puppy calmer.

Will let you know and give you all my very expensive top tips! :o

Feel like I should make a donation considering the cost!

Our puppy classes start next week so will feel more positive that something 'real' is happening!

Actually, don't worry, the cost is covered by our insurance policy with the kennel club so is no problem :)

blimey - this puppy hood lark sounds quite horrendous! I do hope you are gettin some pleasure from your pooches. So glad I am rehoming and not buying a puppy - even though I have been very tempted in the past. How old and what breeds are your dogs?

2T2T - there are some good times and I am enjoying having our pup and can see that she willmake a great family dog. Every day gets a little better but when you're in the thick of it, it seems a bit overwhelming

We are only in our second week so are still trying to work out a routine that works for us that doesn't involve me doing everything

so is your dog 10 weeks old alp? What breed? It sounds quite boisterous

Hello everyone. We are picking up our pup in a few weeks time. Nervous and excited especially after reading this thread. What must have bits of kit would you recommend as am keen to start shopping? Also what brand of food are supposed to be best?

Thanks all.

We have a Springer Spaniel - so comes with the territory!

Must haves:
Crate we bought from a seller on eBay.
Poop bags
Poop house anti bacterial deodoriser spray
Chew toys - nyla bones, kongs

Good luck!

Thanks alp. Ours is a cocker ( working ) spaniel. Definately going to get a crate. Any idea what size to go for?

Will add your suggestions to my lost.

blimey - cockers and springers are nuts! No wonder you are tearing your hair out . good luck!

Heavymetal - we have a cockapoo from working lines and we have a 30inch crate for him which apparently will fit him when he is fully grown. We have a crate divider for now so it is basically half size at the moment. You'll also need a lead, collar, food bowl, bedding (fleece blanket for crate or bed etc)

Actually our puppy is 11.5 weeks and we have had him
For 4 weeks now. And I miss him this weekend as we are away! We are def used to him now and he is really part of our family. He can by hyper but is a lot better since he has been allowed out this past week (apart from diarrhoea from eating things in the park ) and nipping also getting better. He has learnt quite a few commands now and responds well to me, which is nice and makes it easier to control him...

Hope everyone else well and happy that behaviourist is helpful!

2T2T we have a border collie and it is just as bad! It got on well with our hens at first but then started pawing at them and yesterday we found her with her teeth round ones neck. Dont think she was trying to kill it but her 'playing' looked like it. We have just clipped hens wings so that we can keep them separate. Not sure about the good things at the moment! Are hoping they come when she becomes house trained and a bit older - at least we are now able to take her for walks (12 weeks) so can wear her out a bit more!

Just checking in again - how have everyone's weekends been?

Happy - how did it go with behaviourist?!