New Puppy Mummies, Part 3

[DharmaLovesDraco]

New thread, because quite frankly I can't do without you all :)

Evening all, I've just been doing a 40 minute during the day mostly all off lead and a 15 min on lead at night probably about 4 times a week. Nala just loves to run and boy she is quick. Sometimes her best friend is there a Doberman pup the same age, she's the only dog I can't recall her back from but they have such fun together. There's also a few other dogs who will play and she also knows the older dogs to stay away from now too.

Any advice re harnesses I think I would like to try one, have never walked a dog on one though. Nalas obviously tall but skinny (like a greyhound) do I wait until she's fully grown?

Also any advice re cat/dog relations. Every night the cat surfaces from his bed upstairs and comrsdownstairs and Nala chases him wanting to play and barks (she's got such a loud bark it wakes the DC), then you've got a comedy going on running around the dining table, dog cat and me!

Ahh. The joys of being rural! I spend hours and hours tramping through the fields on my own with the dog. We do have the distinct advantage that the dog HAS to be good with farm animals given the pony is on a farm and we spend our summer weekends doing pony stuff, so he's surrounded by the bloody things. So, he rarely reacts. Yesterday, he encountered a big group of ducks waddling along, but 'leave it' was enough, he's very conditioned to it all . A big city would scare him to death.

I have never been scared though, it's never crossed my mind to be scared I must admit.

To give hope ref being vigilant I used to be the same, but I have got to the place in training at nearly 14 months where I know Harry is focused on us and will respond, and now I relax and enjoy, knowing he won't jump up at every cyclist and jogger who happens to go by!!!

Wonders why I am about to do it all again

it's the random nature of incidents on walks which stumps me ... yesterday Fitz suddenly decided to chase a woman on a bike, having never even looked particularly interested before I think it was because she came up very suddenly when he was busy sniffing something and on a path where there aren't supposed to be any bikes so he got startled when she went past him very suddenly - we came across a couple of bikes today and he just did his usual 'yeah, it's a bike, and??' routine

Plus of course you never know which other dogs/owners you're going to come across .. it does mean you can never really relax ...

General rule for me is, if the other owner reaches did their lead, then I do, if the other owner continues to stroll nonchalantly along, then I do too.

I know this doesn't always work, promise, but use this as a general rule of thumb.

My only sticking point with the dog is that he WILL jump up at other dog walkers who have treats in their pockets, and he gets there before I do, and none of them mind as they all own dogs and are in scruffy clothes, which is lovely but doesn't help.....

Ps. I spoiled enjoying our puppy I now realise, by being such a stress head about doing it right, there was other life stuff going on but I tried too hard iyswim?

Determined to enjoy the new one more.

It's like first and second children

I've just realised reading the last few posts that I have only ever done my bits of training inside our house.

Minty will 'stay' really well even if his kong or kibble-stuffed fruit shoot bottle are placed in front if him - but only tried in the house. Hadn't occurred to me before but of course I need to practise training stay or leave it outside. Minty may be my PFP but caring/training him doesn't have the instinctive feel I used to get with either of my babies!

Needa, I think I feel vulnerable because our fields are used as a cut through to get to a motorway bridge, so lots of people walk through the middle of them, not just dog walkers. I'm generally a big wuss though, so it's probably just me being pathetic.

I have the same rule of thumb re on-off lead. I just wish other dog walkers did. Actually, the only place people don't seem to get it is in our local park and that's exacerbated by the fact that Lurcherboy appears to think he owns the place and Pip associates it with out-of control off-lead dogs. We never have a problem when we walk elsewhere at weekends.

Interesting morning here. Dh was going to see dd's nativity and was home for an hour beforehand, so we took the dogs together. Met a bull-lurcher whose owner clearly doesn't get 'the on-off-lead rule'. Both mine were on lead, as we'd just arrived in the park and not only did she approach, she blooming flung a tennis ball right into the middle of us, cue Lurcherboy going loopy trying to get to it and starting to bark as he really wanted to play and Pip getting worried as a result and starting to bark. Owner then did a big semi circle to avoid us, while not recalling her dog, which kept running around us, stopping a few feet away and staring at my two. I would have let them off, but I couldn't judge this particular dog's body language and I knew Lurcherboy would be a pita over the tennis ball. Owner then marched off into the distance, yelling 'your ball's behind the tree you daft dog' without looking back.

Fortunately the rest of the walk was great. The park emptied and we had half an hour for our guys to chase each other round and round. Only downside was that Pip managed to do a full somersault and side-slide through the muddiest part of the field and was a real mess afterwards. I had to bring him home, spot wash and rub him down, as we had puppy class in an hour!

and ... my neighbours have been out since before this morning's school run - so, when they were still out when we got back from dog training, I popped an exhausted Pip in his crate, gave both dogs kongs and Mum and I went to the local garden centre for coffee! We were out for 53 minutes and Pip yelled for about the last 8. I think he may have stopped before I got back, but as I snuck in and didn't go in to switch the recorder off straight away it's hard to tell.

Need to try going for an hour and see if he does settle after the initial realisation I've gone once he finishes his kong. Fingers crossed my neighbours are going to make a habit of being out for whole days at a time - or are going to go away for the holidays, which would be even better.

It's not much, but it's a start.

Have taken to leaving him in his crate after walks and sneaking upstairs, then reading my book on the landing to see if he's quiet. Did 15 minutes today - going for 20 tomorrow!

Dog training went really well. Did outdoor recalls but with a longline for reassurance and he couldn't wait to get back to me. Showed me up actually, as I'd just been telling the trainer how he seems to have developed typical adolescent intermittent deafness on recall over the past couple of weeks.

He also had a proper play with a couple of the puppies and met a gorgeous teeny spaniel/golden retriever puppy - so all in all, not a bad day, but we're both exhausted now.

Oh - and have discovered dd's nativity is only half an hour, so might be able to leave him in the house, rather than putting him the car after all.

Must have been great to get out for a coffee after such a long confinement! Well done for grabbing the chance. Maybe you'll be able to build it up from here.

We all have our issues with our pups don't we? Mine is the leaping (2nd cardi of my mums has a whole in as of today) and I suppose whatever the issue with the support of each other on here for ideas and chat, we will gradually get through them to have gorgeous well behaved dogs.

As a first time puppy owner one thing has taken me by surprise - which is the number of people who I'm getting to know in the local area - not 'know' in terms of name or address or any of the usual social aspects of a person like job, kids, Etc but 'know' as in recognise their dog, how puppy adoring they are, how friendly etc. I feel as though I am part of a whole new community that I had no idea existed! Wonderful discovery.

Hole, not whole!

Yes it was lovely - would have been nicer if I hadn't been clock watching and thinking about what might be happening at home though.

There are very few puppies that don't have an issue that needs sorting at some point and as you've found, finding the wider community of dog lovers and walkers is what really gets you through it all.

I met a couple in our local park yesterday and they seemed really shocked that they hadn't seen us in the park before. (It was a time I usually avoid that particular park, because it tends to be full of poorly trained, out of control, adolescent dogs with dreadful communication skills.) I found myself explaining all about Pip and then that I vary our walks, so don't do the same park, same time every day thing. They thought that was very odd. The day before I met a lovely guy whose rescue greyhound had escaped and been hit by a car. He was walking his new ex-racer and my two were so excited to see another pointy dog, especially when they realised she actually wanted to play with them!

I wish some of the dog club people lived closer to me, as they are a lovely bunch and Pip is so happy to see the other puppies every week now. Unfortunately we all seem to live in opposite directions and walk in totally different areas.

I have a health thing to ask people. Minty has had really loose poos for a few days now, sometimes nothing to pick up, just makes the action of going but nothing, sometimes very runny. He is also famished and started leaping for food, rushing to the dishwasher to lick plates but all in a frantic way. Just upped his food a bit today thinking that might help, but he was crying just now when I was just getting myself cheese on toast for supper. I know it must be the smell of cheese melting enhancing it for him but he really seems hungry and a bit distressed. Also been poos at night last two nights in the kitchen on the newspaper which is totally unusual.

Given him an antler bite biscuit which he's happy with for now but wondering if runny poos mean they don't stay full as long. How long would you leave this situation before vets?

Any news of Meg? Hope ok barbarian?

Other thing is we were a week late with advocate so maybe worm issue? Given it tonight but last one was 5 weeks ago.

Mintchocchip - I'm the same with the jumping and meeting new people

So today I was helping out at school and DP was working from home so he took Nala for her walk (only the second time ever ) he actually said he enjoyed it that she was good on her lead and he enjoyed meeting up with the other dogs and watching her play with the other pup.

Mint, I think an upset stomach is bound to make him hungrier as his digestive transit time will be much faster than usual, leaving his stomach empty more quickly.

I don't think it's all that likely that it would be a worm problem if you're only a week late with the Advocate, as there wouldn't have been enough time for any larvae to develop enough to cause symptoms, iyswim.

What do you think caused the runny poos? If it's been more than a couple of days I think I'd be inclined to get him checked out at the vets. They'll probably just give you some probiotic paste and tell you to shift him onto an exclusion diet of chicken or steamed chicken and rice for a few days, but at least you'll be sure there's nothing more serious going on.

Sweetkitty, glad your dp enjoyed his walk with Nala. Sometimes I think they put off going as they build it up into this really big thing in their heads, where they worry they won't cope and remain in control - which kind of highlights why they should be more involved with their day to day life and training, but they never seem to get that.

Dh and I walked our two without the dcs for the first time today, which made a nice change. He was amazed at how much more sociable Pip is now. He did some lead walks with him while I was poorly, but it was dark and mostly road work so he didn't get to see him interacting with any other dogs.

Pip haa finally managed to reach the point where he can outrun Lurcherboy. I suppose it's logical given that they're the same size, but Pip is a much lighter build and all legs. Lurcherboy's face was a picture when he realised he was being overtaken and then he couldn't catch up!

Boy that puppy is fast - hence me having my heart in my mouth if he's off lead and gets spooked, as he can clear one side of our park to the other in seconds. I was watching a little cocker spaniel racing across the field today and realised it took him several minutes to get as far as Pip could in seconds - huge wake up call and the kick up the rear I needed to get serious about really concentrating on his recall first and foremost.

Yes if he's that quick Moose I can see why you need amazing recall. You're whistle training though aren't you? I imagine that will give you a much better level of confidence and at least you can be sure he will hear you even if you have a cold and hoarse throat.

Thanks about tummy issue - ever since we've had him he's done this funny thing - first poo on a walk fine normal. From then on after getting excited say when running around with another dog, he will then do the poo action with only runny or even drops coming out. I assume that is stress/excitement. So that is why I've done nothing so far, as his guts are obviously reactive. But I think it this stays as is I will whip him off to vets.

Sweetkitty - did you know from breed characteristics that Nala would be jumpy/sociable?

We did as OES are known to be boisterous and great people lovers. But I had no idea how much work would be involved in that! No idea that I'd be so frequently monitoring, pulling dog away from people etc. !

Meg is okay, thank you Mint, but we realised last night she was bitten inside her mouth- one puncture mark inside cheek, another on jaw, so no wonder she cried. However no infection so no antibiotics needed, and she is still bouncing up to dogs she knows. Haven't tried out any strangers yet and it is hard to know what to do to prevent it happening again.

Has Minty picked anything up out walking? Meg is an awful horse poo addict! She is also suddenly ravenous.
I know it isn't ideal food but a tin of Chappie glues Meg back together within hours when she has a runny tum. It was good to have in when it was hurting her to eat kibble too.

Moose, I don't know how you are so patient. I had cabin fever after two weeks in with Meg!
I wish we could get the pups altogether!

That's good Barbarian that Meg has no infection. Horrid though for her to have such a sore mouth.

I might try the Chappie idea then, thanks.

I am whistle training and he was always bang on, until last week, when he started doing the adolescent "I'll come, but in my own time" thing.

I've stopped using it out and about for now and gone back to the beginning with the training to extra reinforce it. I really don't want to desensitise him to it, as I think it's going to be really important with such a fast dog, especially with his habit of running away from things he's scared of.

Lurcherboy does the runny excitement poo thing. Even worse, he sometimes gets so excited when we're heading up to the fields that he can't wait until we get there and then I have an impossible to clear up poo on the pavement outside someones house. I've learned to take millions of poo bags and several packets of tissues, plus anti-bacterial handgel with me now - just in case.

Lovely walk this morning, had the park to ourselves for most of it so my two were able to spend a lot of time doing what Lurchers love to do best - run!

When they were suitably exhausted we did the same route again but on-lead and spent it lead training. I was so proud of the pair of them, they were both so well behaved and really tried hard.

I'm seriously pleased about the improvement in Lurcherboy's recall as well. It fell apart when we lost Oldgirl - as did a lot of things really - and has been hit and miss ever since, but now he's rocketing back really reliably. Not sure if he'd recall from another dog, as I haven't tried it, not wanting to undermine his good progress, but he did come back when thinking about running over the field towards two Labradoodles on the far-side. Not a huge challenge really, as they were a long way off and the chorizo was infinitely closer and therefore more rewarding, but I'm still really pleased with him.

Watch him be a complete pig on our next walk and ignore everything I ask him to do. I always jinx myself by talking about how well they've done, only to find they are complete nightmares next time I take them out.

Pip on the other hand has developed an obsession with the seagulls that have decided to populate our park. They are such blooming teases - landing a few feet away then taking off for a short hop and repeating ad infinitum. He keeps fixating on them and I'm worried he's just going to go and I won't be able to get him back. So, I put him on the longline for the part of the walk when they were about and spent it doing lots of 'leave' training. I've seen dogs run straight across roads when they're chasing flying birds. They just focus on the bird and become oblivious to everything around them. Scares the pants off me that that could be him if I don't get this right, especially with his all his sighthound instincts.

It's crows for Harry, he's never caught one yet but that doesn't stop him trying! Sounds like your two are doing really well Moosemama.

I've added another photo of the dog eating the pony's food today, while the pony ate his garlic lick, that's after eating chunks of his poo too, then afterwards jumping in with the pigs for a play

Booster injection yesterday, cue much shaking and quaking at the vets (he's been there a lot in his first year, clearly associates with pain), but we went his favourite park afterwards and he did lots of scenting in the woods then found a Cocker spaniel to play with, then a Vizlsa puppy, dogs have such short memories and live in the moment so he forgot pretty quickly.

I did let him roam pretty far away yesterday, so, as others have said up thread, was really pleased when he recalled immediately from along distance.

Harry seems to be able to understand when another dog is young and will invariably make play signals, he pretty much ignores a lot of other dogs, he will tolerate them sniffing, but then carry on with me, almost disinterested really.

Poo - looser as the day goes on too

Keeping my feet warm now using a dog!

barbarian - we use the 'leave it command' for poo eating, I used to be very strict, but since having the pony and the dog being at the farm so much, it's not that practical as I am not always watching him, therefore not reinforcing, so it gets saved for rotting pigeons and the like

Seriously, the leave it command is very useful.

Aw poor Harry shaking at the vets. Glad he had a fun walk afterwards to take his mind off it.

My first dog was an enormous long-coated GSD bitch. She was in a very bad way when we found her and had lots of vet visits as a result. She reached a point where she would go into the vet's building, albeit shaking like a leaf, but then flatly refuse to leave the waiting room. I have vivid memories of her either going totally floppy as a means of passive resistance (it's impossible to pick up an enormous dog when they are acting like they don't have a bone in their body) or dh and I having to have one in front and one behind pushing/pulling her across the room in a bolt upright sitting position with her claws out in an attempt to hold on to the floor. Absolutely nothing would persuade her to go in voluntarily - not even her favourite food.

My Oldgirl was the same with other dogs. Mostly completely disinterested, but happy enough to say a quick hello and move on if the other dog was desperate and always really kind and gentle with pups. She was a tryly beautiful soul. Didn't have so much as an ounce of bad in her in any way. Annoying and squeaky - yes, completely bonkers - oh yes ... but she never had one second in her whole lifetime where she was anything other than sweet natured and gentle.

Have to agree about the 'leave it' cue. It's the one that is consistently used the most in our house. I start teaching mine it as soon as they come home and really work on getting in as much reinforcement as possible when they're still small. I use it for getting them to leave everything from cow pats to other dogs - not to mention my dinner!

The one thing I've failed to teach Pip yet, that I taught all my other dogs at a young age is the instant down/emergency stop. I'm really cross with myself for it, because I think recall, leave it and instant down are the three most important things you can teach a dog, as they can be used in all sorts of emergencies and potential save the dog's life. Lurcherboy might have gone through a phase of dubious recalls, but if I should 'flat' at the top of my voice he drops like a stone, so I can still stop him if he's heading into trouble (if I don't panic and forget to use it ).