New Puppy Mommies in here *blerk*

[Awks]

Got our new puppy on Saturday. I was in tears this morning and I'm a pretty experienced dog owner. Its just so hard moaning cow that I am He is a 9 week old cocker and is a beautiful, cuddly boy but is a massive shitting machine. And not in the garden either.

So any new puppy owners want to weep in here then please do.

Stanley reminds me of a child who's more than ready for school - he runs round looking for trouble, then gets hyper and bitey - I'm sure once we can take him out for a walk all the new smells will tire him out

I think that's a great description TMB. Pip is the same and we're looking at at least another 3 weeks, minimum, before he can go out and about properly.

Trying to do lots of training session to wear him out mentally instead.

Me too - I'm amazed at how quickly he learns. We're using clicker training, following the Kikopup videos. This morning I've started teaching him to scratch my back - he might as well make himself useful!

The recommended puppy sills class starts on the same day as my birthday but more importantly while DS4 has inset day. DH will be abroad and my mum is on holiday. Can't take DS with me as I'll spend more time dealing with him than Toby!

Btw, did I say that I think that Stanley is an inspired name choice?! My kids loved the Stanley tv show on Disney when they were little

Sally, I emailed our puppy class leader and explained Pip couldn't attend the first and probably second classes, she said she'd send me the lesson sheets, so I could do the work at home with Pip and he'd be up to speed when he starts. Might that be an option for you?

We're doing several lots of, 'be relaxed and quiet in your crate' training every day, plus regular short sessions on things like walking close to my leg, accepting the lead, come, sit, eye contact, leave, down and currently an attention signal as well. Am also working on 'no bite' which worked really well for Lurcherboy and is useful to have for when their second teeth start coming in.

I think that you're right Moose. I will do that too, and email the course leader.

Anyway, the bloody rain has curtailed all the great weeing outside as he's done two accidents while it was chucking it down earlier grrrrr. Now back to watching his every move.

Our eldest puppy, Flute, seems to still be confused about going to the toilet in the toilet area thing, and think I am going to go mad waiting for the weaning to start properly. birdmomma - that is amazing. And true.

Pip just asked to go out because the back door was shut!

The last two times the dcs have shut the door, he's come back in looking confused and squatted in the living room.

Today we have to have the back door shut because dh and his mate are in and out of the gate while they're working on the VW. Pip went to the back door, realised it was shut, whined and pawed it.

Everlong, it's a very easy read. Hope you find it useful.

That's great news moose !

Aulay has been home for 8 days now and we have cracked toilet training. 2 tiny accidents on a puppy pad at the back door last weekend and an "oh my god I am sooo excited to see you mum, dad hasn't let me out all afternoon!" wee in the hall on Wednesday. I won't take all the credit as our breeder was very good at taking them out and we have kept the patio doors open most of the time here.

He has slept through every night this week since we put a duvet over his crate. Worked a treat! Shame it would be frowned upon to put DD in a cage and cover her up with a duvet to make her sleep...

I will try and be better at keeping up with the thread this week! Hope all puppies and puppy mummies are well!

Not really a puppy mum anymore, as Wispa is now over a year old, but I trout I'd pop my head in and see how things are going.

As for recall tips, we never used any books for training, but attended two sets of puppy classes. Most of the work was done at home as for recall. We're lucky to have lots of woods nearby, and we started Wispa on training line and harness at around 12 weeks, had lots of cut up bits of cocktail sausages for training treats, and started out with name recognition. As soon she looked at us when we said her name she got a treat, which makes her pay attention very quickly. Then we taught come and wait together, with H holding her as i said 'wait' then me calling her with a treat and 'come' when he let her go. Se caught on really quickly, and when out on walks wait and come we're used nearly constantly with a steady stream of treats until about 16 weeks we got rid of the training line and harness altogether and she was off lead. The classes gave some good tips, though, I'd suggest them, especially for socialising!

Can I join the puppy mummy thread, even though Dexter is now 19 weeks old?? :-) I can't believe iv missed this thread! He's a fox red labrador and he is adorable!!

Hi wispa and tilly - my DD is a Tilly! (Matilda) I have a real soft spot for red labs having grown up with one.

Iv popped a picture of him on my profile (hope iv done it right) he's such a lovely doggy! However today iv discovered he doesn't like rain, he keeps sitting at the door as though he needs the toilet but when I open it and he sees the rain he turns around and lies down!! He's going to have to brave it sooner or later as I'm sure he needs the toilet! :-)

Hi. How long is everyone walking their pups? Ollie is three months and for the past couple of days I have taken him with our two year old dog in the morning - 5 minutes on the lead to the field, 10-15 minutes play (often meeting other dogs and people) and 5 minutes home. In the evening older dog goes for a longer walk without the pup. Wondering when to start 2 walks....

Brilliant to hear Pip went to the door, I remember the success I felt the first time Whippety boy did that last year. Keep on with the good stories, I need them

Here's current whippet getting ready for his little sister.

Wispa had quite long walks from about 16 weeks, actually, about an hour long. From about 5-6 months she was getting 2 walks a day an hour each walk, but she is an energetic breed that needs lots of exercise. Although, she would probably be happy with the single walk a day, now she is used to having two.

Dexter just has one 20-30 minute walk today! We were told 5 mins per month of age until they are fully grown. However I'm not sure if that's just for labradors or all dogs?

I read it was recommended 5 mins per month for all dogs, which I was surprised about. It's to do with their bones being soft etc, so although the dog is capable of more it's not recommended. I assumed I would be able to walk our new springer puppy to school soon, but as it's 25 mins each way we will have to wait quite a while.

It's our 1st day with Pepsi today (8 weeks old) and it's gone brilliantly (so far. I will post pics and write about it in a while.

The 5 minutes per month is recommended to try and protect their developing bones and joints and the bigger the breed, the greater the importance of being conservative and limiting exericise until they are fully grown.

Obviously the smaller the breed, the younger they reach skeletal maturity, so for example, you would increase the exercise for a Chi, much sooner than you would for something like a St Bernard.

Most puppies get more than enough actual exercise charging around the house and garden, but they desperately need to get out and about for socialisation as well - hence the needs for formal walks as well.

Hi everyone,

Finally I can officially come in here! I have dipped in and out for the past week or so, and thank god I did because it opened my eyes to having a new puppy:)

So Mabel arrived today. She is a rescue pup, 12 weeks old and unknown heritage as she was brought over from Ireland. They said retriever cross, but I think definitely collie cross as she drops down low outside when she is playing just like a Border. Not too convinced about the retriever part personally! She has done good today, a couple of accidents (one as I wrote that). Slept in her crate several times and is totally bonkers. The hardest part so far is keeping the kids quiet as they think they can teach her to sit and recall all in one day! Looking forward to a long night.

How often do they actually wee in the day? She seems to go every 15 minutes!

Can anyone recommend a good all round training book?