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.
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The doghouse
New Puppy Mommies in here *blerk*
1000 replies
Awks · 13/08/2013 16:34
OP posts:
moosemama ·
20/09/2013 19:00
Mintchock, sorry to hear your boy is out of sorts. I think it's pretty common at this age as they eat absolutely everything and if they're anything like Pip, the more disgusting it is the more they like it. 
High-five. I taught him to target (touch his nose to) my hand, so I can lure him into any position without food. Then I taught him 'paw' so he got used to offering his paw and finally shaped that to 'high-five' by positioning my hand vertically, too high up for him to place his paw in it, so he ended up just meeting palms instead. Then we did lots of mini sessions alternating, touch, paw and high-five so that he got it all clear in his head.
I taught him a new trick this afternoon, because he was really bored and driving Lurcherboy nuts.
I free shaped him to put both front paws up on a low stool. No point to it really, just to keep his mind active and stave off boredom, but now when I say stool he pops both feet up straight up there. Not sure why, but it looks really cute and has got an "Ahhh" from everyone we've shown it to today.
I do find having a few tricks in their repertoire helps, not only to distract them at times when they're feeling nervous (eg I always get him to touch for a treat when we're out socialising as it stops him thinking about whatever's worrying him and gets him calm and focussed) but also helps other people to see him in a positive light. He's going to be a big, leggy boy and often people are scared or nervous around big dogs - until they see them under-control and doing something cute/daft, so it helps alter peoples' perceptions and preconceptions about big Lurchers.
Basildon, sounds like his first playdate was a big hit. 
He looks so cute sitting in that box! 
Happy Birthday Ohalvo!
I would say he's far too young for larger meals for a while yet. Pip is still on 6 a day (although that's due to his digestive problems) most pups would still be on 4 at 10/12 weeks reduce to 3 between 12 and 16 weeks, then down to 2 a day at 6 months.
I apportion out a pot full of treats from Pip's daily food ration for training sessions, although he also get's extras too, as I think in his case he'd struggle to get fat!
everlong ·
22/09/2013 08:31
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
moosemama ·
22/09/2013 12:17
Ohalvo, I went through the same thing. Had a bit of a breakdown in the middle of the night when we tried to move Pip into the kitchen and he screamed the place down, after so much broken sleep and the intensity of the first week it was all too much and I completely lost it. Dh had to get out of bed, come downstairs and order me upstairs to bed, while he took over with Pip ... and I've had dogs for over 24 years, only one of which wasn't a pup when we got her. 
I agree with everlong, that there can be a kind of PND thing with a new pup, as it's like having a newborn, with the overwhelming sense of responsibility, trying to do everything right and lack of sleep - except you also have sharp bitey teeth and scratchy claws to contend with, they have no nappy to contain their bodily functions and they are mobile so getting into everything from day one. Add into all that the fact that you also have to learn how to speak their language and communicate with them, while they are doing the same with you and it's no wonder it's overwhelming.
The only thing lacking is the hormonal element, but actually, it's now been scientifically proven that looking at neonatal mammals, such as puppies, does provoke a smaller version of the same hormonal feelings we get when looking at human babies, so there's even an element of that involved.
Fwiw, I think it only feels that bad if you care. Owners who just buy a pup on a whim and don't care about it's needs or making sure it grows up to be a reliably and enjoyable member of the family and doesn't negatively impact on anyone either at home or out and about don't have the same stress, so they don't get the emotional overload. Imho, feeling overwhelmed is often (but not only) the sign of a good owner who's going to end up with a lovely dog at the end of it all.
Of course some people are fantastic puppy/dog owners and breeze through puppyhood without ever feeling like this as well, but they are probably also the kind of people who are always in control and breezed through having a newborn and imo are probably in the minority. 
It does get better. Having felt very similar to you, despite many years of experience, I have was sitting here this morning with Pip curled up asleep on my lap and realised just how much I love the little Rascal.
Everlong's advice is spot on. Just like having a baby, get someone else to watch the puppy - or leave him in his crate for an hour and just get out of the house without him for a while. Go and have a coffee and read the paper in a local cafe, pop to the shop, buy yourself a magazine and a bar of chocolate and curl up with a black and while movie, have a long bubble bath - whatever re-charges your batteries. All the same advice you get when you have a newborn actually. Being in sole charge of a baby 24/7 is physically and emotionally exhausting.
You are not alone - and it will get better. 
moosemama ·
22/09/2013 12:33
Well, I am still typing from my sick-bed, as I ended up at the OOH GP very early yesterday morning and it turns out I have a kidney infection. It's my own fault, I was trying to ignore the symptoms, as I'm too busy to be ill, so took cystitis powders and tried to carry on - doh! Should've known better as the same thing happened this time last year and I only escaped hospital by a hairsbreath, after having a huge battle with my GP.
Anyway, 24 hours later and 4 doses into my antibiotics I am a little better and looking forward to taking Pip out for his first walk on Wednesday.
He's been really good while I've been poorly, although dh has twice left the kibble bag out and Pip has been found with his backside sticking out and delighted chomping noises coming from within.
The only time he played up was when my Mum sent me to bed for an hour on Friday afternoon and he screamed for me or fought with Lurcherboy the whole time. In the end I was only upstairs for three quarters of an hour and I came down to settle him in the middle of that.
I don't understand it, because he's not bothered at all when I leave the room during the day now and he had Mum, ds2 and dd with him. He's also absolutely fine when dh has been home and I've been ill in bed. I'm wondering if he picked up on her nerves about looking after him. Upshot is that she doesn't really like him and keeps saying what a difficult dog he is - which he isn't at all, he's just a puppy. Apparently she called my SDad in tears saying she couldn't cope and he already hates dogs, so has now said Pip can't go to their house at all, ever, even when he's not home. 
everlong ·
22/09/2013 16:11
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
moosemama ·
22/09/2013 16:33
Good to hear you're feeling a bit more positive today Ohalvo.
Pip has just spilled a whole cup (latte mug sized - so effectively two mug-fulls) of hot black-currant squash all over the sofa and my spare duvet. I went to the toilet and he was in the kitchen with the back door open, but in my addled state I forgot to close the dog-gate as I went through it. Doh!
I just heard a bang and loud yelp that sounded like it came from outside, ran outside the back - nothing - ran in the living room and there was one very shaky purple legged puppy looking very sorry for himself. Fortunately it had cooled a little, so he hasn't burned himself, but I bathed his legs in plenty of cold water just in case. The laptop, which I'd stupidly left on the sofa, also survived with just a couple of splashes. The sofa is dark red and got off lightly as a result, but the duvet and cover are now a rather fetching shade of purple. Chaos Monkey Puppy is now sleeping off his trauma and I am duvet-less.
sweetkitty ·
22/09/2013 18:16
Ohalvo - if it helps you are not alone I am feeling the same, have had a rubbish week, spent most of it on the sofa, sinuses hurting and all the usual cough/cold/shivers going on. My house feels like its a mess and poor Nala has had zero training.
DP is loosing it with her over the biting and doesn't agree with my clicker training (although he's never had a dog I think he thinks you smack them on the nose and rub their noses in their pee ).
Anyway have been avidly studying kikopup and we started clicker training, I've been doing positive interrupter, the kiss kiss noise, she was eating a tree in the garden today and I did it and she came bounding over and sat by my feet.
So we've done sit and the positive interrupter been looking at the no biting video now but I don't know how that works if she gnawing one of the DC. Will need to look at it again I think.
On a positive note we had a day out today and Nala came too she was a bit scared but she got to go on a steam train and had loads of people cooing over her. Good socialisation.
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