New puppy - i am going a little crazy stuck in the house.

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

Hi everyone. My GSP, Murphy is 9.5 weeks old and gorgeous. I leave him in his crate for an hour in the morning to walk DD and DS to school/nursery, for half an hour at lunch to pick DS up from nursery and for another hour to pick DD back up from school. As Murphy isnt vaccinated (or able to walk that far even if he was), he cant come with us. I

Apologies for the broken email, technological problems. My frustration at being housebound is affecting my computer skills

I'm guessing he's not that big yet that you can still carry him?

If so get a sturdy bag stick him in it (head hanging out) and take him on a walk.

The main thing is to avoid contact with other unvaccinated dogs.

Some vets offer socialisation sessions for dogs all at the same stage of vaccination.

Could you stick him in the car and go for a short run out to get him used to it?

Do you have any friends who'd be happy to have him loose in their garden whilst you have a cup of tea together?

Too big to carry whilst pushing 18 month old and 3 year old up hill in pushchair!

You are right antagony, i need some playdates for me too!

Don't forget that now is one of the most important phases of his life. He needs to be socialised, which means he should be out and about in your arms seeing people, cars, bikes, busses, people with sticks, in wheelchairs, hearing lorries, car horns and children's playground noise. Everything and anything you can think of. Sirens, car alarms - you name it.

At the moment he is young enough to take all of those sounds and people in his stride and acccept them as normal which is why it's so important he does it now. From about 3/4 months, he will become aware of danger and react with fright and it'll be far, far harder to introduce him to new things and you run the risk of ending up with a nervous dog.

Even if it's half an hour in the town sitting on a park bench with him on your knee to watch the world go by!

Daisydotandgertie, i invite vaccinated dogs here as well as different people, old and young. He has also met the local copper! I take him out on a lead in the front garden so he can meet passer-bys. Will try to do more.

Hi shouty, he sounds gorgeous but I can imagine he is heavy. I wonder if I've overdone it with my 9 week tiny cavalier king charles spaniel - she is so cute that she got a lot of attention at the school gate today and promptly fell asleep in my arms on the way back to the car. Now I'm worried I've overdone it so tomorrow I may not hang around to allow her to meet so many admirers. My vets has puppy parties from 10 weeks old so we'll be doing that next week.

Is Murphy ok being left in his crate? I did leave my pup in her crate this morning for half an hour, timing it for when she seemed sleepy. When I got back she was quiet but had knocked her water bowl over so I felt she must have been a bit agitated. I know she has to learn to be left and that I will come back, but I don't want to put her off her crate. It's not her choice of bed yet (she prefers the cats' basket) but I'm feeding her in there, throwing treats in and acting very enthusiastic about playing in it, all in the hope she will learn to love it.

He seems to like his crate yesbutnobut.

Do you think he might just havebeen clumsy rather than agitated?

Shouty, you're right - she can easily knock the water over (I take it out at night). Have you started any training yet? I have my treats and Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey open at the right page but puppy just goes crazy, jumping at my hand which is holding the treat!

Yesbutnobut, i am focussing on recall as i just cant cope with the idea of being needed at the schoolgate and being stuck in thepark because murphy wont come back.

Good idea shouty! It's just, in the run up to acquiring a puppy, I spent a lot of time on youtube watching videos of amazing puppies who'd mastered so many skills at a very young age - and I was convinced I would be the owner of such a puppy. How wrong was I?!!

There was a 14 week (rehomed) German Shepherd at school today - absolutely gorgeous.

I know what you mean! Had so many unrealistic expectAtions. I am now just trying to hold on in there!

Hi, we got a 8 week jack Russell puppy 5 days ago. Was expecting chaos but so far she only seems to want to sleep. Shows very little enthusiasm for much. Is eating and pooing/weeing. Is this normal?

I am no expert but my guess is that he just a baby adjusting to loads of new things. Our trainer said to leave puppy alone as he was shattered from too much attention.