New Puppy Mummies Part 2

[SallyBear]

Just thought I'd start the new thread!

Toby (foxy coloured yellow Labrador) is now 13 weeks old. Long, lean and lanky. Still wonderfully tempered and is sleeping through and no longer messing in the house.

Ohalvo, maybe it's the flat that's been the problem all along. He may just be an outdoor kind of dog. I don't think badly of you at all. I imagine that you've put yourself through enough stress trying to make a decision about what's right. My next door neighbour had a lab puppy and they had him rehomed at 18 weeks as he destroyed their house. He still talks about him now, wishing that it could have worked out for them.

Ohalvo - it must be really tough in a flat. I probably boot our puppy out the back door 8-10 times a day and leave him in the garden. He goes out whenever I Hoover or mop floor, when we have a meal, kids in from school, when he's hyper - it is the equivalent of a crate for us. I can't imagine managing mad puppy behaviour without the back door/garden.

The potential new owners sound great but you're right to give yourself a few days to mull it over. Really tough decision but I felt for you when you said you weren't getting positives back. I think I would feel worse about our puppy if he didn't snuggle into me when he's sleepy and do a low growling sort of purr- he's like a cat and it makes me feel really bonded to him as he doesn't seem to do it with anyone else.

I don't think badly of you ohalvo you got a dog and it's not working out do you want to give the dog a better life. I did the same with one of my cats she was a timid little thing and when the DC came along she had a hard time, I always said she would have been suited to an older person with a quiet house. My dad was looking for a cat so we made the decision to give her to him, she lived out her days in peace.

Nala does have her utterly mad moments and yes I do boot her out in the garden with her pigs ear several times a day, some days she prefers to be outside, yesterday she had a walk then stayed out in the garden for an hour after chewing on her pigs ear, a lot of the time the back door is open too. I couldn't do it without the garden for the toilet as well, she's funny she will only go in the garden so comes back from a walk and does a huge pee. Only one accident yesterday and it was right by the back door, I think she's getting the outside thing now.

She is very affectionate though and lies with me all night now we just have to work on her biting

My sister is giving up her DD's guinea pigs as my DSis is allergic. DD is upset, but my poor DSis is living with permanent hayfever!

Yay! 'Whassis?' Is finally working :) Fitz was busy chewing the trampoline padding - I called out 'whassis?' and his ears pricked up, he turned round and came pelting into the kitchen at full-tilt then sat down expectantly for his treat

We finally managed to tick off man in crash helmet getting onto and starting up noisy motorbike today - and he was completely unfazed, as normal - he is such a chilled puppy (phew)

Toby does this standing/sitting still thing when he hears/sees something new/unusual. Chilled out pup here too BB!

Well done BB on the biker - not managed that one yet here. We did see a horse walking down the road the other day. I was briefly worried as Zebo stopped, sat down and refused to go near. So I followed The Perfect Puppy books advice that in that situation you don't reassure at all else you'll teach them there was something to be fearful of. I ignored him and stood talking to the horse rider. After a few minutes Zebo was fine starting chewing leaves so I treated him, he came closer and ended up by the horses feet without any problem. The rider was lovely and keen to help.

Would it be really irresponsible to take Fitz for a walk a couple of days early? He's got his last jabs on Tuesday and the vet said its another week befor he's fully immunised - just wondering how critical those last couple of days are or if we could take him somewhere next week

BB- we asked our vet this actually as I explained I couldn't carry our puppy on much socialisation as he was getting too heavy and bulky. She said although the 7 days after 2nd set is ideal she could understand us needing to put him down and walk after a few days. So I think we went out day 4 and 5 to walk him properly.

Ollie is 12 wks now and the last 2 days have almost driven me to tears!

The biting has gone up a gear, nothing seems to work - distraction, toys, yelping, cold shoulder, nothing. I hate anything that suggests you need to dominate them, it just feels wrong but I have had to resort to scruff of the neck just to get him off :( I think I'm going to try walking out of the room and closing the door on him, the cold shoulder is far too subtle I think.

I've also got problems in the garden, we have 4 massive oak trees surrounding our garden and due to the abundance of acorns we can't let him out unsupervised, we have a puppy pen that blocks off part of the garden (but is only small) and he goes to the toilet in this bit. Obviously we take him into the garden most days but it's a bloody nightmare. He doesn't listen to us at all, treats don't work, the interruption doesn't work, if we try and play he's not interested, all he wants to do is dig and eat f*ing acorns!!!! If we try and do lead work he goes mental or if we try and pick him up to get him away from anything (as ignores treats) he goes feral. Basically have we made the garden into such a massive forbidden place (even though it's not) that it's just far too exciting for him? What can I do to improve listening and behaviour?

That's exactly our problem, mint - he's just too big and heavy to carry for more than a few minutes and he's desperate to get down and sniff!

Dharma - that sounds tough - remind us, what breed is Ollie?

Golden Retriever. I also share the same problem regarding carrying at 11 weeks he was 12kg and he's a week behind on his jabs so technically I have another week to carry. I might use the wheel barrow

Toby's a lab. I took him out a day before I could. Felt stupidly guilty about it. He's about 13kilos I think now at 16 weeks. The bitey phase has passed to a certain degree.

Hi all, just joining in this thread as I've just found it, seems better than me continuing to write lots of new threads (see all my growling threads)!
We have a now nearly 17 week old golden retriever. We got him at 13 weeks, had him for a week, then had to go away unexpectedly for a week & he went back to the breeder and now we've had him back again for a week and a half. Poor boy, don't think he knows whether he's coming or going.
I'm enjoying reading about all your lovely pups & I'm already feeling less alone:)

Welcome!!
How much time are you spending with your GR Picnic? Are you a SAHM or do you work? There's a fine line I think between keeping them company and over reliance on you for everything. Toby goes in his crate for the school runs and when I have to go somewhere. I try to time outings so that I've fed him and then put a stuffed kong into the crate so the the will last in there for about 2.5-3 hours if necessary. Generally I'm out a max of two hours most days. I do worry about him, but Toby seems to be ok apart from being my shadow all day long!!

Welcome picnic - so sorry, don't know why I didn't think of inviting you over when we chatted on your growling thread.

I'm not much use for advice today I'm afraid. Just so blooming exhausted, my brain is refusing to think - maybe I'll wake up later and be able to offer some useful advice then?

Pip seems to have really settled down this week. He was 19 weeks old yesterday. He loves his split fallow deer antlers and that seems to have really helped with his teething.

Bit about this weather. Haven't been able to get a decent enough break in the weather to take the dogs out. Neither of them like going out in rain at the best of times and we've had something akin to buckets of water constantly being thrown at you.

We did get in the car with everyone yesterday when it looked like it was slowing down. We planned on walking the dogs then visiting my parents, but Pip was really pathetic, tiptoeing his way through the puddles and looking ridiculously miserable at getting wet. Went back in and got his raincoat (which is now too small ) but by the time we got off the drive the rain had redoubled it's efforts and the wind had really got up. We ended up just popping to my Mum's for coffee instead and leaving the dogs in the car. It was either that or go back inside, but that would have led to ds1 having a meltdown at having got ready to go out and not going anywhere.

Just weighed Meg, 15 weeks today, border collies, smallest in litter of eleven. She weighs about 11lb which googling tells me is very small indeed.
She is on JWB plus home cooking, because complete diet of JWB at levels on packet seems to go through her like wall paper paste so have been cooking chicken and rice, mince and veg (which she loves).
She sleeps all night, is bouncy and energetic, but do you think we are underfeeding? She is putting on weight steadily, was 2kg at 10 weeks.
Thanks.

That's ok Moosemama, you've been so helpful already:)

SallyBear, Im at SAHM as my children are home educated. We do have lots of outside commitments, but for the time being I'm leaving him for 2 hours per day. What kind of dog is Toby?

Legend has unfortunately had an upset tummy so I cannot leave stuffed kongs as Im in the process of trying to work out which things upset him. I try to time me leaving him with when he would nap, but it doesn't always work out. I don't have him in a crate either so he has free rein of the kitchen when I'm out & access to his bed of course.

Hello and welcome picnic

Nala is 12 weeks now and is 8kgs 18lbs I think. She is very skinny still you can see her ribs but think that's the breed as she's on enough food for a dog over 10kgs and she gets extra meat.

Today was a first we took her on a ferry to an island, she fell asleep on my lap and apart from pulling on the lead she was great. She didn't like getting her paws wet but had great fun on the beach and slept on the way home in the car.

We've had no accidents in the house for 2 days (don't want to curse it) and she's sniffing the back door when she wants to go.

I actually took Nala out 5 days after her 1st injection as I pulsar stand it anymore, the difference is amazing, she sleeps a lot more probably from all the new experiences.

The biting and jumping on the DCs is still horrendous though, have tried all the usual stuff, even the poor DCs get up and walk out the room now am hoping she's like Toby and calms it down soon.

Oh and from the off I've had to leave Nala, I'm a SAHM but have the usual school/nursery runs/clubs etc she gets crated with a kong and I walk her before I go out but she's sometimes alone for 2 hours max.

Moose - thank you SO much for linking to the perfect fit harness people! I bought a collar, lead and fleece harness for our puppy who was pulling so badly it was giving me shoulder ache. He's 13 weeks, 9kilo and has a strong herding instinct so always had to be in front, pulling, nearly choking himself and making a desperate noise about it! DS2 who is 13 (and my main back-up dog walker!) refused to walk him and my DH was getting really cross, pulling him back hard.

I was thinking of a halti but you suggested the harness. It is brilliant! He still charges ahead but then realises he's not getting far and comes in closer though now I'm tripping over him which is taking some getting used to! So early days as I need some practice on my own without kids trying to help, but I feel we've had a break through.

Thanks Moose!

If got a question to ask people - I've asked this before so more seeking an update!

I was wondering if anyone had left their puppy & kids with a babysitter? I was thinking of doing this 2 weeks ago then got cold feet and so cancelled. But I have cabin fever and need to get out and have a conversation with DH without puppy/child interruptions! So I'm now going to try this again, just wondered if anyone else had and how it went/ what they left as back up.

I'm most worried about DS2 who is 8 and a pickle with babysitters anyway. He is likely to start showing of by rolling around on the floor, then getting nipped, then shrieking and it al getting out of hand and manic. Our puppy is nippy, jumpy and barks A LOT when DS2 is leaping about. Am I mad to think of leaving them?

Nala has just had an evening snack courtesy of the cats litter tray, fresh though honestly dogs !!!!!

Toby is sixteen weeks today. Just weighed him so that we can give him his Drontal and Advocate. 13.5kilos! Yikes! No wonder he is so tall. He does look big for his age. I look at his little puppy pictures and honestly that puppy has gone

You're welcome mintchoc. I think Pip feels more secure in his, as he's definitely more relaxed in it than he was in his temporary one. I've done it up quite snug just in case he tried to back out of it (sighthounds are reknowned for doing this) and think it must work in the same way as some of the TTouch wraps, so he finds the soft/fleecy pressure comforting.

Re babysitting. I have only left my dcs with my Mum and the dogs so far and only for a relatively short period of time. It didn't go well, as Pip whinged the whole time I was out and Mum was really stressed by it - and I only went to the school. Since then she's stayed with one or other dc while I've done the school run and one of them has been off school poorly. I've learned to walk him, then put him in his crate with lots of kongs etc, so he doesn't see me leave. Then she just lets him in the garden if he starts to whinge to come out of his crate.

We have ds1's parents' evening an hour away later this week and I'm dreading leaving Mum with all three dcs and the dogs.

Sweetkitty, Oldgirl could never resist the lure of cat poo. It's just sooooo lovely and stinky. If she didn't eat it, she rolled in it!