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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

New Puppy Mommies in here *blerk*

1000 replies

Awks · 13/08/2013 16:34

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.

OP posts:
Ohalvo · 10/09/2013 11:47

Hi SallyBear

He was an angel during the night! He whined a bit when he first went into his crate but then slept right through until half six with no accidents! I took him outside and he performed wonderfully! Since this morning hasn't been fabulous - quite a few accidents (even though I've taken him out a lot!). He has been a bit barky (quite scary actually even though he's 9weeks old!!) and when we play he is very snappy and bites my feet and hands a lot! :/

Now asleep so that's nice !! He's gorgeous and love him so much but feeling nervous! Maybe when he can go outside I can tire him out a bit more!

Hoping to be able to train him to stop the bad habits but know its early! Has anytime experienced this??

DharmaLovesDraco · 10/09/2013 12:46

Hi all,

I'm the very proud owner/human of an utterly gorgeous 7 week old golden retriever puppy so thought I'd pop in here and join you all.

He's been great so far, cried a bit the first night which was awful :( since then he's slept through (I've not, worried because I can't hear him!)he is crated because I will be going back to work in 2 weeks and I need to know he's safe. Thankfully he loves it and takes his naps in there.

My only concern is the number of poos he does? What's normal at this age? We take him outside when he wakes, after food, after a play and he goes at least 6 times a day.

Also how long before they recognise their name?

Thanks in advance for your help

SallyBear · 10/09/2013 12:50

Sounds fairly normal on the poo front to me. Little tummies that need emptying and refilling quickly. Smile
They learn their names pretty quickly when you've got a little treat in your hand!

moosemama · 10/09/2013 13:10

Ohalvo, he did well, must have been exhausted after his long day - he's doing better than Pip who woke us at 2.00 am this morning. (Dh says he heard something outside though and thinks there was a fox prowling around.)

The barky, bitey play is normal and just because he's only used to playing with his siblings. He needs to learn how to play with you. You can either stop the game and ignore for a second every time his teeth touch you or make a loud and impressive, over-acting yelp sound then stop play. He needs to know it hurts when he puts his teeth on human skin, as pups bite each other quite hard without hurting and need to learn bite inhibition.

There are bound to be quite a few toiletting accidents in the first few days. Just keep on taking him out regularly and making sure he gets a big reward when he goes in the right place. It's very early days, but he'll get there in his own time.

Dharma, but fundamentally you just need to say it lots and accompany it with a treat and he'll get it in no time. It's important no to use his name to reprimand, for example, if he climbs on the sofa don't say "Name, no!" but instead teach him either a command for getting off the sofa or an interrupting sound so you can redirect him onto more acceptable pursuits. (Kikopup also has a video on teaching a positive interrupter. I've never used one before but it's been invaluable with Pip.)

I agree with Sally re pooing as well. What goes in has to come out, they only have tiny stomachs at this age and are fed several times a day. The only thing I will say is that the better the quality food you feed, the less waste you get, so imo, it's worth paying a bit more for a decent dog-food.

DharmaLovesDraco · 10/09/2013 13:32

Thank you both for the reassurance :) he is on Royal Canin and has been from the beginning so probably won't change it as it seems to agree with him so far but I'll keep an eye on it.

We'll keep practicing with his name, and I'll check out the video with everyone when they're back from school, he'll have to learn it eventually right?!?

I'm also pinching your biting tips, we've been trying to distract him with something else but by then he's already left holes in your hand Grin

mintchocchick · 10/09/2013 16:46

Do you think it helps night-time sleep to play with puppies in the evening? We have had 3 really disturbed nights and are on our knees (too old for this!) - but all evening our puppy sleeps and we let him - we just enjoy staring at him!

I'm not sure if playing/keeping him awake in the evening will help as he'll be so tired or if it will make it worse as he'll be overtired!

Not vaccinated yet but he has been carried for school run both mornings this week and to pets at home today so he's getting lots of outdoor/tiring trips out.

I adore him, love my puppy cuddles but it's exhausting - I went to bed at midday to try and sleep for an hour but he cried all the time I was gone so that was a waste of time!

everlong · 10/09/2013 17:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DharmaLovesDraco · 10/09/2013 17:44

Gah - emergency trip to the vets, he had diarreah and was then violently sick 3 times :( I googled which convinced me that he was going to die Hmm he's fine according to the vet (temp, tummy, etc) he's not allowed to eat until tomorrow and I have paste and a sachet to both bung him up and rehydrate. My boy is now sleeping.

No idea what's caused it, he does try and eat a lot of crap from the garden but we remove it immediately and he's never alone out there. That's not to say he hasn't managed in ingest anything he shouldn't. We think we might keep him on a lead to go to the toilet now and really restrict his movements for a while. We'd also had our first trip out to do the school run but pretty certain it wouldn't have had this effect.

This puppy owning thing is very stressful :(

mintchocchick · 10/09/2013 17:53

How awful Dharma that must have been really worrying.

Hope he picks up after the paste etc.

DharmaLovesDraco · 10/09/2013 20:32

It was horrid. I got quite upset Blush may have to change vets Blush. He's right as rain in himself, which is great. I do have another question though, his breeder has said that he'll be very hungry in the morning ( I can hear his tummy rumbling already from here) and to give him some cooked rice. Now really stupid question alert can I cook it tonight and leave it out to cool down or does it need to be refrigerated then warmed up when I need it?

moosemama · 10/09/2013 21:19

Don't warm up rice. It's best cooked fresh and left to cool or if you must, cook it tonight and refrigerate but don't heat it up.

Re-heated rice is the biggest cause of food-poisoning in the UK.

moosemama · 10/09/2013 21:21

Oops, posted too soon.

Meant to say poor little pup. Hope he's better soon and don't be Blush about getting upset, you're bound to feel that way, they're so little and vulnerable at this age and we're programmed to want to care for and protect them. The vet won't think any less of you for it and I certainly don't - it just shows how much you care. Smile

sweetkitty · 10/09/2013 21:29

Well tomorrow is the day, I'll finally get to join this thread properly Grin we are bringing our 8 week old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy home. I think we are ready for her. Can't believe we are finally getting a dog GrinGrinGrinGrin

Away to read the thread now and catch up

DharmaLovesDraco · 10/09/2013 21:30

Thanks Moosemama, I'll cook it fresh in the morning, I imagine he'll be up early and ravenous - he loves his food :)

I'm pretty certain the vet thought I was an idiot but was far too professional to say anything. You've hit the nail on the head though, he's a baby and its my responsibility to look after and care for him, I felt so useless!!

Will see how he is tomorrow

Ohalvo · 10/09/2013 21:42

Can't wait to hear all about it sweet kitty !

Ignoring little floyd not and hoping he will go to sleep! He seems to prefer sleeping outside his crate at the moment and then I'm lifting him in! He chews the bars of the pen a bit - is this because its cold for teething? Or just bored I wonder! (Even though he has tons of toys and we pay him lots of attention!)

Took him out to pee but he didn't go - then peed as soon as he got upstairs! Thank god for hard floors!

Hoping he sleeps through the night again as I'm wiped out!!!

DharmaLovesDraco hope you and the pup are feeling better! X

sweetkitty · 10/09/2013 21:50

Oh I'm sure I'll be crying with sleep deprivation in a few days Grin

Heifer · 11/09/2013 09:55

Well Pepsi is now 10.5 weeks old. We've had some tears re her nipping but she is getting better.

Toilet training is going really well, and she is sleeping from 11-6.30 in her crate in the kitchen.

We went to puppy training classes last night and to be honest I was dreading it.. BUT she was great, no nipping at all, and she did everything that was asked of her.

I'm feeling much better about things now, as I know she can behave and we are getting better at controling the nipping. phew I was seriously worried at times that we wouldn't be able to manage...

I've loved reading all your posts, it's so reassuring all the different issues you all have. Hope all the poorly pups are now better.

Cluffyflump · 11/09/2013 10:29

Hello all Smile

I picked up my 9wk old, white GSD last night Grinx100
He is a fluffy bundle of cuteness!
My cat is not so in love with him....
I will try to put a pic on my profile.

moosemama · 11/09/2013 11:04

Heifer, glad to hear things are settling down and you are enjoying Pepsi.

Cluffyflump, I just showed the picture of your pup to my dcs (off sick today Hmm) and they both melted! Grin GSD's are my all time favourite breed (my first ever dog was an enormous long coated GSD bitch) and the white pups in particular look like real life teddy bears or polar bear cubs. Smile

LostInWales · 11/09/2013 11:17

Cluffy, awwwwwwww Grin. How lush is he.

Had a great couple of days with whippety puppy, she is great about going to the loo, even in the car this morning she went and weed on the puppy pad in the boot when I was dropping off at school. I can't remember who was asking but she did do about 6 poos a day but they are much bigger and less frequent already and she's only just coming up to 10 weeks. She is doing great big wees outside too now. Clever girl Grin. Took her to the vet for her check up yesterday and to put my mind at rest because when I went to take a bit of bark chipping out of her mouth yesterday it was actually a mouse she was happily chewing on . Urgh, that is not something I want to repeat! Took her to the beach today so whippety boy could have a good run so I put on one of my old jersey fabric baby slings and wrapped her up in that, I must have looked like a total crazer. Still she saw the lifeboat and tractor and fishermen and lots of other dogs (from a distance) so it was great socialisation.

My big whippet was a demon nipper when he was little, it was awful but now he wouldn't dream of doing such a thing, even though when the puppy is chewing his ears I'm sure the idea crosses his mind Wink.

moosemama · 11/09/2013 14:17

I've spent half the morning trying to get Pip used to his raincoat. He shivered and ran back in the house when he'd asked to go out, but it was that horrible, cold, misty rain earlier.

Mind you, I ordered it on 16th August and went a size up, so an extra inch in length and girth than he was at the time and it's too short already. Shock

He really needs a housecoat now, as he's started waking at 2.00/3.00 am not needing to go out but whining. Apparently this sort of restlessness is typical of pointy dogs that have low body fat when the nights start getting colder.

I've been perusing ebay trying to find a budget option for now, as with the rate he's growing he'll bankrupt us if we have to keep replacing them as he grows. Someone did suggest attempting a homespun version, but I'm not sure I'm up to creating anything that will look half decent and I figure he's probably going to need something warm out and about on dry days as well, so it makes sense to get something nice.

Ds2 wants to get him this! (He's a massive Beano fan! Wink)

I can't believe he's 18" tall and almost 18" in chest depth now. Seems everyone else might be right about him growing into a big lad.

moosemama · 11/09/2013 14:20

LIW, don't know how I missed your post. Bleugh! at the mouse episode, aren't dogs lovely! Grin Glad the vet was happy with her and you enjoyed your trip to the beach.

Dh suggested I put Pip in my old Moby sling, but I haven't been brave enough to try it. It probably wouldn't matter, as most of the people I know round here already think I'm weird for having a big crossbreed instead of a nice small, pedigree, scoop-uppable dog. Hmm Grin

sweetkitty · 11/09/2013 21:29

I am officially a dog owner Grin

She's been very clingy, all she wants to do is sleep on one of us although she loves the garden and has done all her pees and poos out there bar one and that was because we never got her out in time. The DC are madly in love with her.

I'm sleeping on the sofa tonight, should I bring her crate through here and just put her in it?

sweetkitty · 11/09/2013 21:29

Moosemama - I love that dog jumper

moosemama · 11/09/2013 21:34

Congratulations on your new arrival sweetkitty. Grin

She sounds exhausted, so may sleep well in her crate, in which case I'd leave it wherever you want it to be long-term and just be close by. You can always move it if she won't settle.

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