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The doghouse

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Original poster

Is there a new puppy thread?

330 replies

FiveHoursSleep · 16/09/2012 18:42

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?

OP posts:
LadyTurmoil · 29/10/2012 23:14

What are your favourite names so far bensonbunny?

BensonBunny · 30/10/2012 07:31

Bailey, Rory, Arthur and Nero are all on the list at the moment. I'm finding it hard to decide what will suit him when he isn't here but I don't think DD can wait for 2 weeks to choose a name!

WTFwasthat · 30/10/2012 13:15

i have just taken on a 12 week old lab x from Many Tears. He is so calm andmellow but hates going in his crate at night - I'm hoping this will improve as when I put him in in the day to clean the floor or have a bath or something he doesn't seem to mind then. He seems very passive and quiet and gentlefor a lab pup so am thinking he may be crossed with a whippet or something. He is quite lean and has long legs not your typical chunky lab. Maybeworking lab lines???? Anyway, whatever he is crossed with he is gorgeous. Housetraingin is a work in progress but am managing to keep on top of it so far. He has a runny tummy today (well looser than they were) am guessing this is as a result of the cheese rewards for weeing/pooing outside. Should I lay off the cheese and stick to his dry feed as a reward?

applegate · 31/10/2012 07:46

Hi we have been taking our 12 week old springer for walks over the last ten days or so since his jabs were complete but I just wondered how far you all took your puppies? I asked the vet about the rule I had heard about 5 minutes walking for every month of their age but he wasn't very concerned and said that it was more relevant not to excessively walk larger/heavier breeds. To be honest we have a large garden and if we have a short walk pup then comes home and spends another half hour madly runnning about the garden! So the last couple of days we have been for about half an hour walking at dc speed (the smallest is 3 so not quick!) parts on the lead and parts off. I don't want to overdo it and just wondered what everyone else was up to walkwise?

tabulahrasa · 31/10/2012 08:14

The walking thing is to do with hip dysplasia - which large breeds are more prone to ( I don't know if it's an issue with springers or not) and I have a large breed.

I had a bit of a panic to start with because it was taking me forever to get anywhere, but I gauged it on how far I'd normally get at normal walking speed rather than how long it actually took - now he's getting 15-20 minutes (at normal walking speed because we're not stopping every 20 seconds anymore, lol) through the day and a 10 minute slow meander before bedtime - which really is more than he should, but that's the amount that keeps him from being a complete tearaway, lol.

The 5 minutes per month is a handy way of remembering not to walk too far and that you need to build up the muscles gradually, it's not an exact thing.

vigglewiggle · 31/10/2012 08:19

We have a 15 week old springer and we take him most days for about 15-30 mins max. He also does a lot of running and playing in the garden. The walks seem to be more about getting him used to other dogs, traffic noise etc.

I let him off the lead yesterday, but I cheated and did it in an enclosed area as I wasn't brave enough!

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 31/10/2012 09:41

Mine goes out for 40-10 minutes as we have an older dog. He's not running around the whole time though. He spends a lot of time sitting on my feet while we waiting for The Lurcher to come back.
We do very little on lead atm but I do send the kids around the block with him now and again!

OP posts:
nellyscorker · 31/10/2012 10:47

Hi, can I join? We have taken the plunge and will be collecting our new addition beginning of December. She is a Cairn and DH and I are stupidly excited - trying to keep it as a surprise from DD.

It has been a while since we last had a puppy - 13 years. What training/guide books are recommended? I have already found a local puppy training class for when she is older.

We have a long drive to collect the puppy, how best to transport her? Should I get a crate? Or will lap be ok? We have a bed from our old Cairn dog but it looks huge, I am thinking of a crate initially then moving her to the bigger bed or is that just a waste of money?

Really like the tip of giving a blanket to breeder so mum's scent can go on it for when we bring her home.

TIA

tabulahrasa · 31/10/2012 11:22

I brought mine home in my cat carrier.

I'm not sure I could even get his head in there now, lol.

My plan for the crate was that I'd get rid of it when he was bigger, but unless he has a miraculous overnight personality change - that might not be for a couple of years... He's not exactly a nice chilled wee thing, he's lovely, but he's a holy terror tbh, lol.

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 31/10/2012 15:03

A good book is Gwen Bailey's 'Perfect Puppy'.
I used a crate to transport ours, you really don't want them wandering around the car pooping and peeing everywhere!

OP posts:
applegate · 31/10/2012 15:09

oh i feel a bit more reassured about walking now as he does tend to do far more than the 'recommended' times on his own in the garden before we even think about going out but we are only meandering when we are out really.
We also bought him home in a cat crate which he would definitely not fit in now! Take plenty of towels/blankets we had an hour and half journey to get home and poor puppy was so sick, we had to make several stops to change towels.
enjoy him he sounds gorgeous!

LeaveIt · 31/10/2012 15:49

Can I join please? I persuaded wore him down my husband to get a puppy. We picked him up on Sunday night. On Monday night I was crying my eyes out over the realisation of what I'd done! (Although Dh helpfully [hhmm] pointed out that I was probably more fraught due to TOTM).

I had been up and down like a yoyo after the little scamp. If he could find anything to play with (other than his own toys) he found it. And I lost count of the puddles I had to mop up and the four whoops. I nearly heaved up my stomach the first whoop I had to pick up indoors. The dc weren't keen on him and our cat was less than impressed. However, it is with much relief that Tuesday was a much brighter day and today even more so and we're all getting accustomed to each other. We're laughing at his antics, the cat is tolerating him and the dc are not so scared.

He's going for his first set of jabs today. Can't wait till I can take him out. Any hints and tips on bringing up a puppy will be gratefully received.

applegate · 31/10/2012 15:49

We also use the Gwen Bailey which we have found great, also just started training classes last week which were interesting and really helpful although we haven't achieved much yet but its early days :)

tabulahrasa · 31/10/2012 16:12

applegate - anything he does himself doesn't count, it's only for exercise you make them do.

Mines running about the garden now, well round the garden, into the kitchen and back out again, lol

fanoftheinvisibleman · 02/11/2012 17:01

I braved it today and took his lead off at the park this morning. Not for long as there were other dogs and people around so I just made the best of 5 minutes quiet with no distractions we chanced upon. He was very good and came back whenever called.

Lynand · 02/11/2012 20:27

Hi there Joining in with Pepper and Basil - 9 week old Dachshund crosses. Bought from Pets4homes, supposed to have Dachs mother and Poodle father but they are looking more like Chihauhaus every day! They chew everything but their chew toys and wee everywhere bu their puppy pad! Not much barking/biting yet. Love the sound of the 'puppy parties'. Wonder where i can find one?

fanoftheinvisibleman · 02/11/2012 20:50

Lynand, our puppy party was organised by our vets practise. Try enquiring at your vets.

I'm hoping we've cracked house training now. He's 14 weeks tomorrow and hasn't had an accident for a week now and they've been few and far between for about 3 weeks now.

Biting was getting so much better but I've just shut him in the kitchen before I lost my rag with him as he's having one of those horrid snarly snappy 5 minutes.

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 02/11/2012 21:22

Gosh Lyand, you are brave taking on two at once. I've often wondered how it works with two pups. Are you going to have two different people taking charge of one pup each, or just one person doing all the separate bits with them?

OP posts:
Lynand · 03/11/2012 13:08

Well 16 yrs ago we had a pair of Dachsies and the last one died earlier this year. Missed him so we decided to do it again! With two dogs they often play with each other and as they are left three days a week they have company. They came to their names quickly as each is convinced the other is getting something good and they swop bowles in the middle of eating. Toilet traing and chewing a nightmare though as one is distracting me while the other is up to something. Tried two sorts of anti-chew spray and also vineger on the phone cord and they are still chewing it! DH and DD also watch them but lose concentration! Upside is losing weight due to never sitting down!

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 03/11/2012 13:30

Did you have no problems with your older dogs then? A friend of mine got two cockerpoos together and they developed what their vet called littermate syndrome. She was advised to make sure they were fed separately, walked and trained separately which she didn't have time for, so she rehomed one.
It's good to hear it's not always a problem.

OP posts:
fanoftheinvisibleman · 03/11/2012 19:41

Had my first PFP moment today Blush. Rushed to vets with a very upset puppy who was twitching, crying and throwing himself about. They let me crash the end of surgery with him. Vet had a good look at him before diagnosing itchy paws (Blush again)!

She thinks he may have stood in something which sparked off a reaction on our lunchtime walk.

Lynand · 03/11/2012 19:57

Not heard of this. I know a couple of people with sisters (spaniels, collies) and no apparent problems. We did have the larger (Jasper) very jealous of the other (Tigger) and he would beat him up on a regular basis. We had to be careful to pay attention to Jasper first or the other would suffer. Is that the problem? He died 5 years before Tigger so Tigger was top dog for last 5 yrs and a wonderful dog. Watching The new two closely for any sign of bullying.

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 03/11/2012 20:58

There is quite a lot of information online if you google for it; stuff such as this
It sounds like you'd be better off knowing about it!

OP posts:
Lynand · 04/11/2012 10:10

Wow! Certainly interesting. This wasn't a problem with the last two but i will be careful to watch for this. No mention of 'Littermate syndrome' from breeders or Vets!
Main problem is 'Chew Stop' not doing what it says on the tin!

ijustwant8hours · 05/11/2012 10:46

Hello, how are the pups?

We are back from a week at the very cold seaside, the kids are loads happier with the dog and DH is a bit better (still refuses to do anything to help with the dog though which is annoying).

The biting is loads better (touch wood), still happens but not nearly so much. Housetraining was doing better but then we got home and he weed in the house about five times so we are back to square one on that I think.

He has been on the beach and on a train and a bus and loads of exciting things. He has started barking more now though so I am trying to ignore that in the hooe it wont get too bad, no idea if that is the right thing to do though.

Training classes should start this week hopefully...

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