Is there a new puppy thread?

[FiveHoursSleep]

If not, could this be one, please?
We have just agreed to offer a home to a 6 week old GSD x collie? pup whose mum was rescued from an Irish dog pound.
We pick him up in a couple of weeks. Time to drag out the crate and chew toys...
He's living in a kennel atm with his mum and siblings so we''l be starting from the top when it comes to toilet training too.
Who else has new puppies and what stage are you up to with them?

Ooops, didn't mean to post twice. Sorry.

I'd have bitten your arm off for her if I didn't already have my monster puppy, hope she finds someone soon.

I'd expected him to notice the litter tray at some point, but to do it on a day where I had to cook chicken for him because he wouldn't eat anything else was a bit of a kick in the teeth, lol. It was only because he wasn't well that I thought anything more than ew as well, it suddenly occurred to me that the cat had had her tablets the night before and that it might be an issue.

Strangest phone conversation ever like, rofl. My vet sees me at least once a fortnight, they're used to me, this was an on call service.

How is your puppy now Tabulah?

All seems quite good here at the moment - she has started losing her puppy teeth and is definitely a bit more bitey again, but the difference is that I can tell her to stop and she'll (usually/sometimes) listen. Even better, she won't touch the DC - they stroke her and cuddle her and hold her toys for her and she is soooo gentle with them. If I try the same thing she goes for my hand every time, and even more so with DH. I wish she showed the same restraint with us but I love that she now understands that they're little.

I do also think that I have the laziest pup in the world. She is snoring at my feet at the moment. I think the whole lack of affection thing that I have mentioned in the past might just be laziness. Half the time she can't even be bothered getting out of bed when I come down in the morning - so not a typical bouncy pup! Definitely not ill though because once she is properly awake she tears around the garden like a loon, and out on walks she's as energetic as anything. I think her brand of affection is just dozing in my vicinity rather than licking, leaping and cuddling. It's quite sweet really!

She has now finished the first six weeks of puppy classes and despite being a complete terror most of the time she got her certificate!!! She sat for ten seconds, lay down for ten seconds, walked to heel and came when called (because I had super special treats in my pockey, but still!). I was proud

I saw someone mentioning the whole letting them off the lead thing - I have to say I have done it a LOT, even though her recall is really quite bad, and it's gone really well. I just make sure we are somewhere safe, far away from any roads, and then I just keep walking. I think because she's still so young she isn't confident enough to just run off - it's a big world - so she stays very close to me the whole time. In the garden her recall is non-existent, but on walks she usually comes back straight away. If she's playing with another dog or showing her muddy love for a fellow walker I have to go and grab her, but other than that she's great. I think - admittedly I have very limited experience!- that it is the sort of thing you just have to take the leap with so they get used to it. I think if you wait until they are older and more confident they are likely to just go yipppeeeee!!! and bolt towards the horizon.

All in all, quite good at the moment. Even DH admits he wants to keep her. Phew!

He's fine today, except now he's discovered there are other foods - he doesn't want his...I don't know now whether it was a wee tummy upset or just a hunger strike, rofl.

I ended up taking a run to the supermarket to buy canned food to mix his dry stuff with, that seems to be acceptable.

I swore I wasn't going to pander to the dog like I have to with the cats.

BerryPie - I'd gladly swap for a lazy puppy, mine doesn't stay still if he's awake, not for a blooming second. He was supposed to be on house rest this weekend, but I've ended up taking him out about half an hour ago because I just couldn't handle the hyperness any more, lol.

All the litter we had are doing well. One pup is temporarily back with us due to unforeseen circumstances, hopefully his family can take him back once they are sorted out. If not, we have a list of suitable people who could have him. Mostly family of people who took one of his siblings.

The runty one we kept has improved, he has full hearing and partial eyesight now...chuffed to bits! Still working on bite inhibiton with him though as he missed out on a lot of the really early stuff his siblings got to learn from each other

So currently there are two of them snuggled up next to me. Nap time for all the dogs, lol!

We had a busy weekend! Had a three hour car journey friday night and then pup went to stay with my mum for two days before driving back. He was great in the car, just one massive vomit in my lap, and he was apparently great for my mum. She has an elderly yorkie and they seemed to get on well, which is great as he has been really quite aggressive towards other dogs while we are out (another reason why I am wary of letting him off the lead).

Its great that he is feeling better Tabula

We are at the coast next week so I will brave letting him off then as will be nowhere near the road....

Very pleased to hear your pup has improved Ullena.

Mine is highly delighted to be out and about but is somewhat manic. He is both excited and nervous of many things he encounters so I'm letting him just experience thinks at the moment rather than attempting to get him walking nicely. Will this be a mistake or is it something that can wait a month like a hope? He walks nicely sometimes and others stops, starts and generally swings around like a deranged hound!

Also, all the fuss he had and still gets is great as he is so friendly but I'm getting the reverse effect, he literally howls in a broken hearted manner if someone he takes a fancy to doesn't want to fuss him. He clearly things he is the most adorable thing on four legs and should receive the universal adoration that is his right! Oh dear.

And again other dogs (this is turning into a list!). He loves them. If he gets the slightest hint of another dogs he shuts up shop and won't move till he knows where they are and which way he needs to hurl himself. If the owner shows willing and is ok with letting them meet then he is somewhat over enthusiastic. I know puppies are giddy and will push their luck but he managed to hurl himself onto the head of a poor shocked dog the other day in one fell swoop. The trouble is they are all aware that he is a baby and are tolerating him bombarding them. Is there anything I can do to help stop this other than dragging him away or are doggy manners something only other dogs can teach him? Obviously I try and tell him gentle, no etc but is (as you would expect) on completely deaf ears.

Crikey I need a bigger screen than my blackberry offers, my typos are reaching a new high!

To learn doggy manners , you need to take him to meet a few crabby female dogs who will put him in his place. If you just let him get on with his puppy antics, he'll get snarled at a few times and will eventually learn.
Don't wporry about the lead too much for now, the most important thing is to get him off the lead. When they are babies, they need you and will follow you as they walk. If you don't let him off until he's older , it's a completely different ball game!

I did figure that being put in his place would be the best thing fivehours. But everytime I've commented to another owner that I hope he gets put in his place soon they look at my horrified and say 'oh no, he/she would never snap at him'. Then you look at puppy who is pogoing in a stunned dogs face and think but he needs telling doggy style! He's way too enthusiastic (and annoying) at the minute. I'm just looking at him through the other dogs eyes and I think they'll just want to eat him if he carries on!

Fanof, mine is the same with other dogs (and people!) but she has been put in her place a few times and she is now a bit more cautious - but as soon as she has the go-ahead, so to speak, she literally throws herself at them. She is big, and very bitey, so I am always amazed more dogs don't tell her off. She is really good at taking her cues from them though, the slightest growl will stop her in her tracks and have her flat on the ground with her ears back in her best I-am-just-pathetic-little-pup impression. So they do learn.

At the moment I am more nervous about meeting people - not everyone appreciates a muddy beast jumping all over them. I really need to start working on that, somehow...

Took the pup to first dog training class last night. Learnt watch, sit and down, which we'd been teaching him anyhow but it's always interesting with other dogs around.
He was so knackered when he came home last night , that he took himself into his crate and put himself to bed!

We are going forwards and back! I plucked up courage to let him off the lead at the park and it was fine (no one else there!). Lead skills training seems to have backfired though as he now keeps sitting down and refusing to move in a good impression of what I do to him when he tries to pull!

I'm only just starting trying to get him walking nicely on the lead now... I didn't see much point in doing it straight away as he was too busy going - wtf is that? at everything, lol, but I'd better do it it before he gets big enough that it's an issue. Not that we're in any danger of him being able to pull me soon, but still.

We start classes next week, on Halloween [hgrin] I'm very tempted to go in costume - that way if he's badly behaved no-one will be able to recognise me, lol.

Can I join in?

We have a 14 week old Springer Spaniel who we brought home 5 weeks ago. It is our first dog, so we are working it out as we go along!

The good-
He settled straight into his crate and has always been dry at night.
He is very affectionate, loves cuddles!
He has learned to sit and will wait patiently for a cue before eating his food.
He seems quite chilled with other dogs.

The bad-
He still regularly wees in the house and occasionally poos.
He chews the walls!
He pulls so hard on the lead his eyes bulge!
He has very nippy spells and has shredded most of my DD's nighties!

We are putting him out of the room when he nips which seems to have an effect, I think he is getting a bit better. I give him a firm "no" but I sometimes have to haul him off DD's and drag him from the room which feels a bit harsh.

We are thinking about training classes and now I'm wondering if we are leaving it a bit late! Everyone seems to be getting it sorted much earlier.

Thinking of getting a harness for walks to stop him passing out! Not sure what to do about the rest! Any advice welcome.

Training class asap. No such thing as too late but the earlier the better!
A good one will help you sort out pretty much all of his issues. Ask around the other dog walkers at the park and see where they went/go.

So are we all having nice autumny walks with our puppies now? The good news is that if they are less than 16 weeks during bonfire night they will be less likely to develop sound phobias. So far our little GSDx shows no sign of being worried by fireworks at all.

Ours is over the moon at getting out and about now. We have made it to the park this weekend but he still hasn't been off lead yet. Unfortunately I was ill friday, dh and ds were out all day yesterday and I was dealing with a house full of kids (birthday party for ds) today so puppy and dh went to my mums for lunch. I want to be there when he goes off lead as he listens to me better but I want dh there in case he needs chasing! We will do it on friday.

He has got better meeting other dogs. We live 2 minutes walk from a lovely country park and were called over to meet the group of regular dogs walkers the other morning. There was a large group of mainly labs and X labs. Puppy loved it but was much more circumspect in a large group. They were all patient with him and he was excitable but much less manic. He has been (slightly) better since though still hurls in there given half the chance!

This will (hopefully) be the first bonfire night fortnight in years where I won't have to deal with hysterical and continuously barking dogs. Old Dog is now totally deaf and can't hear them and New Pup will only be 9/10 weeks and won't have any idea. I miss Curly Girl dreadfully but she was always a wreck this time of year and set the others off

New Pup came home yesterday. She is utterly adorable and seems very bright. I taught her to sit for treats and she spent the rest ofvthe afternoon sitting at me hopefully.

Hi joining if I may. We collected our 8 week old golden lab puppy a week ago. Monty is full of life (and poop!) but can be gentle and fun. Still nipping at toes and anything that moves like trouser legs so I am now wearing leggings. Loves to play games but it is just like having a baby at home again, constant worry about where he is, what he is doing, how much is he eating, is he tired enough to go to sleep. A dog crate has been a blessing, no sounds from 10pm to 7am. Do not like the hour going back though! Off to vet today for first jab. Love to all new puppy owners.

New Pup, who now has a name, she's going to be called Rain, is so utterly adorable. She had her first lot of injections yesterday evening and we were practically mobbed in Pets at Home. She seemed to enjoy the attention. She's been really well socialised by the breeder and takes it as perfectly normal that complete strangers want to cuddle her.

She's going to be raw fed, the same as my old dog. She's not keen on minced chicken but rather liked the chunks and got very excited with the wings although she wants me to cuddle her and hold the wing while she chomps and her aim with those needle sharp teeth is not the best. Great bite inhibition training though and she's very polite and apologises if she makes a mistake.

She's still sitting AT me so I'm working on putting it on cue. She is figuring out that only sits that I ask for get rewarded and is not best pleased about it. . I'd forgotten how much fun baby clicker training is.

My old dog is not at all happy. She's 12 and getting to be a very crotchety old lady who does not appreciate having a silly puppy around. She mainly runs away when pup tries to say hello or she growls and barks at her. Hopefully she'll settle eventually.

Loads of wee accidents today, must be because I cleaned all the floors . He's been outside loads, but seems to come back inside and wee a few seconds later.

Does anyone else's puppy have these crazy 2 minutes like our puppy? He just goes bonkers, scratching frantically, head swinging all over the place nipping at anything that moves. It's not raw aggression, more like out-of-control playfulness, if that makes sense. But it scares my two DDs. Any ideas what leads to it and is putting him out of the room/ in his crate the best way to deal with it?

Golden Orange. Our 3 year old Lurcher girl wasn't at all happy when we bought The Puppy home but she plays with him quite a lot now. She does snarl at him if he looks like he's going to get on her sofa though.
We got the Lurcher as a pup when we had an 8 year old collie cross. He was even less impressed but he did eventually enjoy her company.

ViggleWiggle - our dog trainer recommends putting them out of the room for a minute or so, if they start biting, then completely ignoring them when you let them back in.
Our puppy has largely stopped this thank goodness but the kids are still acting like he is part piranha. It's very annoying.

Crazy 2 minutes? That's my puppy's default setting...

He is getting better, ever so slowly all the time - I think though, that when he's not biting he's having to actively not bite if you see what I mean and anything exciting is enough to stop him concentrating on not biting, lol.

I think his teeth are bothering him today though (he's nearly 15 weeks) he's not seemed able to eat hard stuff, so I'm expecting even more biting and chewing soon

Either that or he's being fussy over food and managed to get one over on me, which is a possibility.

Can I join in? We collect our working cocker spaniel pup in two weeks and I alternate between excited and nervous. Reading this thread makes me worry about our ankles! I'm starting a list of the things we need to buy before we collect him, DD is compiling lists of names.