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.

Dripping even ..

Yes it does get better - honest.

We've been through similar awkward waking times with Pip. In the end we just decided to keep a spare duvet downstairs and dh dozes on there until he has to get up at about the same time you do.

What time is he going down to sleep? Any chance you could keep him up an hour later? Also, are you lifting his water bowl once it starts getting late, it's not something I normally recommend, but as long as he drinks plenty in the day it may help, as he might not be as desperate for a wee.

Re training. Some days are just like that. They are just babies after all. If he's not into a training session, just ditch it and try again another time.

If he's bored of his toys, have you by any chance a cardboard box you could give him. Either put his toys in there and give it a rattle or drop some treats in and let him at it. Pip has had two cardboard boxes for a week (well actually they are just pieces of cardboard now) and they've kept him occupied for ages chomping on the card, ragging the pieces and sliding across the carpet on them.

If he's really bitey, take a short walk up the road for socialisation, it soon brings them down a peg or two when they are reminded how big the world really is and they tend to sleep for a while afterwards while they process the enormity of it all.

Also, try not to be so hard on yourself. You don't have to be totally focussed on him 24/7, he needs time to chase the odd leaf and entertain himself as well. It's actually just as important a learning process for him as the formal training.

Can't help with the cat thing though - we don't have any, because dh is allergic to them. Sorry he/she drew blood though, I can imagine that was the last straw.

Hope you get chance for some R&R tonight and he sleeps a bit later for you in the morning. or and

I can't say I'm looking forward to our first night, although he seems to not mind sleeping in his crate I'm under no illusions that it will last.
Early mornings don't worry me too much, I'm often up at four for work and DH leaves the house at 5.45 several days a week, it's just the broken sleep that scares me. It's a long time since I had a baby.

Can I join in with the bad day gang? DP is away with work so I've been home alone all week. House training which was going so well has gone to pot, been taking her out as normal, she's not been going then coming in and peeing and pooing, she's done loads in the house today :(

The other thing is the biting, she's great at "leave" when it comes to food but is biting everything to death including the DC, DS is only 3 so I have to watch them closely. She's actually launching herself at him four legs off the ground she's biting me loads too. Had some good training sessions today she's mastered paw now, very cute sitting in the kitchen with her paw up just in case.

I feel like I'm having to crate her loads just to keep the DC safe and stop her biting them.

Hi there!
Ohalvo , soft coated wheaten terrier, floyd 9/7/13 11.5 weeks

Haven't caught up with new thread yet but will do at some point. Floyd been totally mad today! Finally asleep but going up to the highlands for a wedding weekend tomorrow and taking him! AH! Seems ok with other dogs but training seems to have gone downhill! After turning a corner he has suddenly reverted back and even peed in his crate his afternoon - first time! Hmmmm! Very snappy again, ignoring commands and very bad on lead - bites chases and humps everything that moves passed us! Took him for a walk to try and calm him down and he ripped a hole in my trousers and a friends - just kept jumping and biting !!!

Heifer - feel the same. What If he doesn't get better? Another bad day!!! Seems we are all feeling a bit frustrated at the moment!

Hope tomorrow is a better day for us all!

Oh dear I really feel for you BB and Sweetkitty. I'm having a good day but I know the next 'challenging' day is round the corner. This is such an emotional roller coaster. It does get better but these first few weeks are so hard.

Sometimes when it's not going well in terms of house training, commands, biting etc I just remind myself that most dogs get there in the end without so much intense effort on the part of owners. My aunties and uncles who had dogs thirty/forty years ago, just sort of 'got on with it' without puppy classes or internet chat forums and they all ended up with lovely family dogs. So I'm totally confident we will all get there and have fabulous dogs, but we're just in the thick of the hardest stage right now.

We need to be kind to ourselves (says she with Lindt choc teddies & wine!) and cut ourselves a bit of slack.

I've got a good tip if anyone's suffering from the same evening problem we have here.

Our problem is our puppy has taken to launching himself at me and DS2 when we're collapsed on the sofa in the evenings. Like you say Sweetkitty it can be all 4 paws off the ground - big lunge, wanting to play, but razer sharp teeth so it's terrifying.

Our vet said we need to teach 'bed' really quickly in a few short, sharp sessions over the next 2-3 days by taking him onto his mat/cushion in the sitting room and treating him while saying 'bed'. Do it over and over again. Then as soon as he gets wild we order him to bed and treat. She thought it would calm things down.

A few of us seem to be using Kikopup's training videos. I watch them in awe as her amazing dogs sit completely focused on her, eagerly awaiting their next command. So, armed with clicker and treats, I call Stanley over...and spend the next five minutes with him biting/rolling on his back waving his legs in the air/trying to prise the treats from my hand...what kind of witchcraft does she use on her dogs???

Ha! Her dogs have already been trained and are about 10 years old really... At least that's what I tell myself to make me feel better about my delinquent uncontrollable puppy

I know it's not nice of me to say this but I'm so relieved to read of your crappy days/razor sharp teeth/DC attacking puppies it makes me realise I'm not alone even when it feels like it!

Basildon my plan is once he's had his jabs I will walk him on the school run then drop him home before work at 9 (I work 2 minutes from home) pop home for half an hour, then work the last 2.5 hrs before picking him back up for the school run again. I'll use the dog walker as and when I think.

I have also just booked puppy training classes so gives me something to focus on!

Looks like we are all in the same boat! Kikopup has amazed me, but similarly to TooManyButtons, Floyd rolls around and bites! Haha. Moose I don't know how on earth you've managed to teach pup so many commands- miracle!

Mintchocchick, you're so right! My mothers always had dogs growing up and they had no classes, no injections and lived outside withy the horses! Surely our pups in their cosy crates with chicken filled kongs and puppy classes will be affectionate, obedient and housetrained one day! Haha.while out on a walk yesterday, a passerby asked of I planned to show my wheaten...I was quite flummoxed and burst out laughing...no chance!!! (Unless an irregular 'sit' counts!)

*pip

Clicker training is going great here, she mastered "paw" in 2 short sessions, now tries to give me a paw all the time. She knows leave and down but only when it comes to food not children!

I think she's only 10 weeks and she can do this surely she'll be a lot better with a few more weeks of this training.

We had dogs growing up and if they bit they got a smack on the face I'm glad things have moved on.

I am hoping once she's allowed out she calms down a bit.

Finn slept all night (10pm until 5.00am when I woke him up) in his crate without any puddles. I, on the other hand, was awake from 3.00am forcing myself not to go downstairs to check he was still breathing. I did leave the radio on, radio 4 so he's going to be a well educated puppy.

I'm sure this happy state will not go on for ever so I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

oooh, can i join in please?? (even though my dog is now 24 weeks, ive only had him 10 of those though)
Henry...mum was a cross rottie, father unknown, he looks very much like a pure black Lab, he has no markings whatsoever.

Kongs, FAB! stopped him from chewing the banister when we were out, well worth the money! I have him on the pets at home kibble "advanced nutrition" for large puppies, he seems great on it, so will probably keep him on that, vet reackons he will grow to labrador size as his paws are huge. he has learned to sit, wait for food, lie down, give paw, not jump up on knee until told he can, good recall, is generally a pleasure to be arround.

still yet to work on...
He is a timid young man, who doesnt like walking past wheelie bins, banners, yesterday the bus shelter?? wtf? open gates to peoples houses,
What he has chewed and distroyedsince we got him..
a 2inch hole in the wall at the top of the stairs
my slippers
umpteen dd toys that she keeps leaving everywhere
socks
the phone cable

not too much at least, is still on toys and socks though

I think I make too much of a meal of it sometimes and have vowed to chill a bit more. Though that is hard with a cocker spaniel hanging off the leg of my pyjamas.

Glad your first night with Floyd went ok and hope it continues. Your plan sounds very sensible.

henry sounds a lovely boy and wtaf is it with slippers?

Sorry to lower the tone but does anyone have any experience of dermodectic mange? Diplodog was a bit itchy when we got her home and we noticed a few small (and mild) patches with less hair around her eyes an on her legs. We took her to the very who gave her Advocate and a course of antibiotics but if not better (which it isn't) she needs to go back next week for skin scrapings. Dermodectic mange hasn't been mentioned, but it looks highly possible to me, particularly as she was very underweight when she was rescued. She now eats very well and seems fine in herself.

Hello all. Have been reading all your posts and in a similar position with a new cocker spaniel pup who is just twelve weeks old today. Had her first walk in the real world this morning. Loved it. Our biggest problem is all the puppy biting too, worst times first thing in the morning and evening times too. I am going to try to buy some bitter apple spray, just wondering if it will mark clothing/fabric? Need to use it on slippers , trousers and PJ's like most of you!

Country - I'd be really interested in how you get on with the bitter apple. We tried the bitter cherry and I can't say it made much difference. But maybe we hadn't used enough. It doesn't leave any mark, my slipper boots are fluffy pale pink and they showed no mark, but there is so much surface area to cover with slippers, dressing gowns, shorts etc that it's hard to use properly.

I hope everyone is having slightly calmer time with these bitey pups!

Has anyone left their puppy & children during the evening with a babysitter? DH and I are supposed to be going out on Saturday but I'm wondering about cancelling - I am worried that it's too big a responsibility to leave a 15 yr old with. The kids would be up and about and if someone got nipped badly I'd feel awful. DS2 who is 8 is a hyper child, and leaps around a lot while our babysitter is lovely, calm, experienced with dogs as she has 2 at home but I doubt she ever really tells DS2 off or distracts him.

I have left 12 year old and 15 year old together and separately with countrypup. They were fine. Needed reminding to pop her into garden after naps and playing to prevent puddles on floor. We are out next weekend and are planning to leave them with her and keep in contact during evening and we are able to go back anytime if necessary. Eight is a little but younger, I would say it depends on how they get on and if the 8yo listens to big sibling? Otherwise having sitter will keep your mind at ease?

Toby has just been attacked by another dog. Arse!!! He's not injured thankfully, but he was very scared.

Oh dear sallybear how did that happen? Hope he's ok. Must be a bit worrying going out to begin with, he must seem very small. Were you able to get him back?

Thanks country - think I've decided to cancel! I'm a wimp and it's not worth the risk. DH will be disappointed though

Poor Toby Sally. It's scary out there isn't it. I felt myself tense as large dogs have bounded up to us today. I keep saying in a friendly voice, oh is your dog reliable. One man said no not really and let it sniff my little darling. And, gulp , he said he might try and mount her. No he won't I thought ! Hope Toby isn't hurt. I have been very impatient to get out there , now I am ...... Eek!

What a shame you have to cancel Mint, but hey Strictly is on!

Yes he's ok. We were out walking, let him off the lead to say hello to the other dogs after asking the owners was it ok. Big nasty dog just jumped on his back nipping him. Poor boy was screaming. Ran away, I got him back and picked him up for a reassuring cuddle (while DH was telling me sounding very embarrassed to put him down!), then bless Toby as he trotted right back to say hello again. I've got that dog's card marked....

The owner said that he was normally brilliant with puppies. You work really hard at socialising them and then some dog decides to be all dominant and aggressive. Grrrrr.

Sorry to hear about poor Toby. Impressed you're letting off lead though. Do your pups have recall? Diplodog well behind the curve.