New Puppy Mummies No. 4

[SallyBear]

Have we really got to a fourth thread already?! Wow.

Please feel free to join in.

I have Toby, who is a 7 month old foxy coloured Labrador.

[moosemama]

Hi needa, I am thinking I must have been very bad in a former life to have deserved the past few months!

Right, for the down, yes - capturing behaviours is often seen as much stronger than luring. So it would definitely work, but as you've predicted, may take a bit longer to become concrete (although not necessarily, as some dogs get the 'aha' moment much quicker that way).

I remember the days of having to carry Pip and walk Lurcherboy at the same time - especially with 3 dcs in tow. It was ...interesting, especially as Pip was over 16 weeks old before he was allowed down and by that time it was like carrying an elephant he'd grown so much! I reckon my arms grew at least 3" over that time.

I can only take mine separately at weekends really. Pip would scream the place down if I took Lurcherboy without him, leaving him totally alone and although I think Lurcherboy would probably be fine - he was when we went to puppy classes - I worry about starting his SA off again if I do it too often.

[basildonbond]

Trying to get back to some sort of normality now - funeral went as well as these things can do and I think we did things the way my mum would have wanted. Masses of people turned up, which helped my dad I think

Dh was in when the puppy day care man came to pick up Fitz and said that Fitz was delighted to see him - went all wiggly and didn't give dh a backwards glance when they left so I feel much better about having left him - there's three other puppies there plus a (very tolerant) 9 year old lab and Fitz obviously has a whale of a time

I am struggling with mud at the moment - the common is looking like a WWI trench and the mud seems to be stickier than normal - Fitz hasn't done his normal amazing self-cleaning trick today and his tummy and legs are still filthy ..

He's been fine on all his walks since the scary walk but is still quite wary of the bigger road at the end of our street - still anxious when cars went by but could be distracted by treats today so fingers crossed he won't be a scaredy-dog for ever

My challenge for this week is to get him to stay out of the kitchen and stop jumping up at the worktops - any tips? We have a large open-plan kitchen/living room with a breakfast bar and step up to the area with cooker, sink etc the gap between the bar and wall is too wide for a baby gate and we're in and out all the time when getting meals ready so I was hoping to get Fitz to stay behind an invisible barrier - humph ... he can rollover, touch with his nose, target with his feet, twist & spin, shake a paw, jump over my legs, do a figure of 8 and a few more things .. He got all of those almost instantly - but can he grasp the concept of staying out of the kitchen??? Hah! Any tips v gratefully received :)

[moosemama]

Hi basil, glad things went as well as can be expected and Fitz was clearly happy with his daycare arrangements.

I'm only putting my head around the door as after a sleepless night with dd last night, I have now come down with the same virus. Hope the following will help. Sounds like Fitz is doing so well, invisible barrier training should be a cinch.

and

[Racerider]

Basil- not sure if this is of interest Depends on your layout /gap size, but we are quite open plan and bought a retractable pet barrier to keep puppy out of carpeted living area. Our gap is 170 cm wide. It's better than a gate as when not needed it rolls away and is hardly noticeable.

[DragonPaws]

Hi Can I join this thread?
I have a 9 week old puppy who is absolutely gorgeous but we are having one problem. Every time he gets put in his cage he poos and then tramples in it and generally gets covered. We can put him in his cage just after he has been to the loo or just for 10 minutes and he will still go and get covered. Any tips?

[SallyBear]

How big is the crate?? If its large for him to grow into then try and minimise the size.

[TheWomanTheyCallJayne]

I've realised I've been quiet
I've been working on getting him to leave things alone including trouser bottoms. Most of the time he'll let go and then look at me as if to say where my treat then. Sometimes I just praise him instead. He still often reattaches but I've been leaving him sat for longer and sometimes he seems to forget what he was doing so I think we'll get there. Thanks for the tips
He went for his first walk yesterday. He walked for fifteen minutes and then went in a pouch sling I have so that Roo and the children could get a decent walk. He was well behaved and walked nicely on his lead and then sat nicely in the sling nosying at the world around him.
Dh was on puppy duty last night as I went out. I reviewed a text half way through the evening saying
'Your headphones died a doggy death, Griff says he's sorry'
First real puppy casualty, they were only those white apple ones so I'm not too worried.

[needastrongone]

Oh dear Jayne, what breed is Roo btw? Having the same issue with the springer that needs 2 plus hours a day and a puppy that doesn't!

Dragon - how big is the crate, as Sally says. Ideally, there should be only enough room for his bed and possibly some water. The idea being, that dogs don't like to soil their own bedding area, therefore speeding up the toilet training process. Maybe section off the crate if required? Have you made the crate an exciting and positive place to be? Feed in there, toys in there, treat for going in etc etc?

Thanks moose for the down advice. It's hard capturing the behaviour as he doesn't exhibit it very often, but it's not essential either for the time being either.

Basildon - I didn't pass on my good wishes, I hope that you are ok. Can you teach Fitz to settle on a mat? Kikopup has a couple of videos I think, or if it's not her, then there's definitely some on there, clicker training related.

Harry has slashed his paw so badly that the padding oozed out this morning. Another operation and a £300 bill. He was walking in some woods with DH and came out of a bush, bleeding profusely. Vet said a classic glass slash. We pick him up later. That bloody dog has cost me a fortune, this must be the 5 or 6th thing to happen!! The receptionist at the emergency vet just laughed when she asked his breed and heard Springer.

Bloody dogs!!

[NigellasGuest]

needa - poor Harry and how dreadful that people chuck glass objects into bushes! leaving you to pick up the vet bill! I hope Harry wasn't too hurt or upset? sounds like he's been there before....

Could someone advise me about treats for a puppy when you are raw feeding? Presumably all treats have to be raw as well?

[needastrongone]

He has been there before many times. Thorn in eyeball at 4 months, resulting in huge claim and many many trips to specialist. Puppy tumour at 8 months resulting in an operation. Severe vomiting at 10 months. Various thorns, now another operation. Not sure why we got another!!

I feed cooked chicken, cooked liver or cheese for treats, so natural but not raw iyswim? Plus primula cheese spread as a jackpot treat - not at all natural or raw!

Just realised Harry has lost nearly 3/4 of a kilo in weight, judging by the last weigh in and today, no wonder he looks so thin, poor love

[SallyBear]

Toby ate half a punnet of grapes. Threw up, and seems fine but I'm mindful of kidney issues associated with grapes and raisins.

[DragonPaws]

Thanks, there is a lot of room in the crate, mainly as he is so tiny. Will try sectioning a bit off.

[NigellasGuest]

crikey, needa, he's been in the wars! and you too I bet - with the worry and bills!

so I don't need to panic about what I've read re. non-raw food slowing the raw food's journey through digestion and the problems that might cause?

One more question if anyone could help... pup is doing really well but annoyingly gets over-excited when the lead goes on, and bites my hand/arm which is getting painful. then starts rolling onto his back while I'm still trying to get the lead on, carrrying on sinking his teeth into my hand as I try to clip it on. I'm not sure how to train him out of this. He is often fine when the lead goes on - it's only when he's just woken up and is full of beans.

[moosemama]

Sorry to hear about Harry, poor boy.

We've had a similar year as you vet-bill wise. Between three different dogs we've spent just over £5,000 at the vets in the past 10 months - this was after we'd cancelled their insurance too! They are now both fully insured, which is good, as Pip is shaping up to be a very expensive boy veterinary-wise.

Sally, with that many grapes I would be considering a vet visit.

DragonPaws, I second blocking of a section of the crate.

Nigella, it's mainly kibble that slows the gut, as it expands in the digestive system. Training treats aren't eaten in the same quantity either so should be fine. I use cooked chicken, dried liver, liver or sardine cake, cubes of cheese - and primula or pouches or fish4dogs mousse for jackpot rewards.

Re excitability around the lead. Kikopup has some videos around capturing calm and one on making your dog enjoy being caught, both of which might help.

Sorry I've been awol today. I have caught dd's fluey bug and it's truly evil. Been in bed all day, but just had to get up to sit with dd while dh went to fetch the boys from their grandma's house. Going back to bed now.

[sweetkitty]

Needa - I feel you pain we've had 2 glass injuries in January, first one deep cut above dew claw, op to stitch it up £260 (excess of £105) second 2 weeks later took a chunk out her pad £50 for antibiotics can't stitch it.

Idiots and glass

Moosemama - hope your feeling better

Sallybear - hope Toby's ok

[needastrongone]

Thank you for your good wishes, Harry is being very chilled at the minute, bit morose, but ok. After a week of no exercise, I am not so sure

moose, how do you feel today?

Sallybear - hope Toby is ok?

Thanks Kitty, bloody glass. I won't mention the Dpony, who puts anything that we spend on the dogs into small change (broken elbow, big bill). Shame, as that route is a lovely route too.

moose - I really need some advice please!! Hector has started growling and I am not sure how to handle it as Harry has never done this. The first time was last night, he growled to warn me, but I had picked him up when he was sleepy. I had to pick him up, to go home from DSIL's, and collect Harry from the vet. I am aware he was just cross at being disturbed, if we had been at home I would have left him be to settle, so I ignored.

Today, at the vet to have his last injection. He let the vet examine him all over, weigh him, ears, eyes, belly etc. Again, he wanted to settle to go to sleep then, he was warm and cuddling me. This time, he growled twice, then snapped at the vet. The vet ruled out any medical issues and suggested crating him if he did this at home or at least ignoring him/not give attention. I understand that he is communicating his displeasure, but twice in 24 hours and I really don't want this to escalate? He's super, but highly intelligent and will be more challenging than Harry.

Do I 'manage' this, or use positive reinforcement in some way? He has to be handled on occasion/emergency. Also, two new environments and maybe overstimulated?

Help!!

[NigellasGuest]

moose thanks for the info re. kibble in the gut - I won't worry too much about training treats then.
I will watch with interest on your reply to needa as my pup also growls if moved when sleeping. I know the saying "let sleeping dogs lie" but sometimes it has to be done.

[barbarianoftheuniverse]

Moose, I hope you are all well again soon, inc Pip's leg.
Sallybear, Meg needs to be older for agility because of impact on growing joints. Am looking into pre-agility but it might be no more than she gets in the forest here.

Antlers- a very large chunk (thumbsize) is suddenly missing from Meg's. I am sure she has swallowed it. She seems okay but should we be panicking?

[SallyBear]

Toby seems in fine fettle today. I think that because he'd chomped the grapes and then about a hour later dd dropped a frankfurter which he snaffled it, that was what made him sick. Thank goodness! If he'd not eaten the hotdog and then been sick, I'm sure that we would be dealing with a sick puppy by now.

[mintchocchick]

Needa - I'm sure Moose will be here later with some sound advice on the growling but maybe our experience will help in the meantime. We have to move minty when he's sleeping sometimes as his bed is in the kitchen in front of the drawers which houses the casserole dishes & mixing bowls! Really awkward but small kitchen and all that. I always grab few treats which are kept in kitchen cupboard nearby and lure him with those - he is so food orientated, he will always rouse his weary bones for treats! Because this has gone on for him every day several times, he is used to being disturbed frequently!

Would it be an idea to practice this with treats even if you don't need to disturb him, just so he gets used to it needing to be done sometimes and it being a pleasurable time!

Hope your poorly people are all better moose? I thought we were here - all ready for school run/dog walk this morning when DS2 flaked out in tears, too tired to move. Oh dear, more reliance on grandparents today as I had work meetings booked! I think ours was a virus so recovery can go up and down.

[SallyBear]

Moose is in bed poorly. She's caught her DD's virus.

Re. Growling. We had a large roti cross who used to growl if he was tired. Very intimidating. I would definitely nip this in the bud now. I'd get him used to being handled while lying in his bed, just stroking and talking to him. I think that giving him a treat is rewarding bad behaviour for growling, so I'd work on getting him used to being disturbed / but gently. As for picking Hector up when he's asleep, I think that you'd probably caught him by surprise. So I'd work on a way to alert him that you're going to disturb him.

Hope that helps.

[barbarianoftheuniverse]

Meg growled over food bowl a couple of months ago- we (I) fed her for a few days in very small amounts so she learnt to associate having her bowl picked up with good things. This worked 100%. Perhaps you could wake from sleeping with a treat before he gets growly, so he learns to associate being woken with good things.

[NigellasGuest]

started raw feeding with Natures Menu puppy nuggets today. I don't know if it's my imagination but pup seems calmer and slightly less bitey! Can raw feeding do this?

[mintchocchick]

I've heard that raw feeding can have that effect - I'd be really interested to hear if it lasts Nigella as I'm thinking of going down this route myself. What are the puppy nuggets like? Chunks of meat? I was thinking of going for one of the raw ready made up minces to start with.

[thinkingaboutfostering]

Hi just dropping in for some lead/ harness advice. Luna is now 12 weeks old and is getting much more comfortable on the lead. I bought a car/ training harness for her when she was 8 weeks old which is great in the car. She will soon be outgrowing it however and I'm looking into my options. She had been pretty good on the lead so far and is only pulley a couple of times when she gets excited. Have seen the perfect fit harnesses with the front ring and like the look of them but not sure if this might be going a bit OTT for her. I think I am right in thinking people on here have them so was hoping for a bit of advice on how effective they are/ what your reasoning behind having them was/is.