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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

New Puppy Mummies No. 4

299 replies

SallyBear · 30/01/2014 10:52

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

Please feel free to join in.

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

OP posts:
TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 08/02/2014 11:59

Yes our living room is covered in bits of shredded card,
Will try split antlers. I would have thought they would splinter but obviously not

NCISaddict · 08/02/2014 12:00

Mine has had his split antler wince he was 8 weeks and although it is getting smaller it hasn't splintered even when the visiting adult dogs had a go at it.

racerider · 08/02/2014 13:31

NCI I also have a problem with the bottom carpeted step but does chili sauce stain ?

Any tips for when puppy attacks shoes while we are wearing them and trouser legs ? Am trying to walk in garden with her for her to wee and she's biting our shoes and sometimes through jeans to legs.

NCISaddict · 08/02/2014 13:48

We put such a tiny drop on a couple of threads so haven't noticed a stain. With regard to the biting shoes I either yelped , really really high pitched as if you're in pain and also really concentrated on the leave command.

Pufflemum · 08/02/2014 13:54

Hi everyone, puffledog is doing well, we have had her three weeks now and I can't remember life without her. I do have a really silly question though. Is it right that she is obsessed with food? We feed her the recommended daily amount of dry food (origen), spaced out over 4 meals in a day. But whenever I go in the kitchen she is looking for food. If anyone eats she goes wild trying to get a helping. Are dogs just all greedy? Or should I be feeding her more? She is gaining weight and the vet says she is perfectly healthy, but I feel so mean.

reikizen · 08/02/2014 15:12

I would welcome advice on how to stop my 4 month old lab chasing our ducks in the garden! She responds very well to food treats but I just can't think what command to give for her to make the connection not to chase them!

NCISaddict · 08/02/2014 15:33

I use the 'leave' command to stop my Border Collie from chasing joggers or bikes, perhaps that would work?

needastrongone · 08/02/2014 16:47

Nice pizza stealing Finn Smile Glad he's ok.

NCI - You will need a very strong response for this one I feel. I can get Harry to leave ducks, but squirrels are 50/50! Perhaps try a 'positive interuptor' if poss? A very high pitched 'what's this?' and you jumping around and being very exciting with a toy or high value treat?' Use the command only for this instance? It's her absolute instinct though to chase them. Or, perhaps better, find the distance that is the closest that she will be to them without chasing, click and treat, then gradually move the distance closer. It does get easier, Harry is very used to ponies and livestock as we have the pony on a working farm. The constant exposure to them means he rarely even looks up now. This has has additional benefits, as we can now walk through a field of cows, and he will chase the rabbits!

puffle - Hector is similar if that helps? I feed three times a day at 11 weeks with the caveat that I do a lot of training with treats/food and they also have a kong. Both dogs are very food orientated but very slim, they seem to eat constantly. The feeding is just a guide, I never weigh ours out, just know the dogs are the right shape (slim) and have bags of energy. In fact, I did weigh it the other day, and was surprised that I fed quite a bit less than recommended. I am sure though that some dogs will need more though so don't worry.

Hector is doing great at 11 weeks, a few short lead walks to get him used to the sensation, feeding tons and tons of treats. He will clicker train all day, as will Harry.

Still no walking for Harry, which is driving me insane, and another week to go, he's doing fine, I am going insane!! Trying to keep his dressing dry even for a toilet break in this weather is really hard. Poo bags are my friend.

Jayne, DH works away a lot too, I know that it's very hard, I am exhausted when he comes back.

basildonbond · 08/02/2014 16:49

Hallelujah! Have just dodged the deluge and taken Fitz out for a walk in his new harness and double-ended lead - and HE DIDN'T (COULDN'T) PULL Grin - I feel like doing a happy little dance

We will carry on working on loose lead walking at home and in training classes and when he's not too excited but at least it means that pulling isn't being constantly reinforced (and my shoulder stays in its socket)...

Puffle - what breed is pufflepup? Some breeds are more food oriented than others - the labs we had as children never stopped thinking about food for one single second - they were perfectly well fed but would have eaten themselves into morbid obesity given half a chance!

NigellasGuest · 08/02/2014 17:43

thank you all for the input re. raw / kibble etc. etc.
I've also found some advice on the cockers online website. There's just no hard and fast rule and it's about finding the right thing that works for you really isn't it!

as i type, he is tackling his first chicken wing.

proud of my pup - he now rings a bell to go out to wee/poo!

mintchocchick · 08/02/2014 21:42

BB - was Fitz on a normal collar and lead before the harness or a halti type? We went from a collar & lead to a harness and D ring double lead up to a gentle leader which is like a halti. Nothing seems to reduce pulling but it's ages since I used the harness so I might go back to that.

No word of Moose? Not like her to be absent so long, I hope she's not really poorly with that virus.

mintchocchick · 08/02/2014 21:45

Meant to say Nigella - the bell sounds great! How on earth did you train that behaviour?!! We let minty out in the garden then get on with our own jobs, TV, whatever but always close the back door and he leaps up at door to be let back in - would much prefer a bell as our back door is black, scratched and used to be smart white paint!

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 08/02/2014 21:51

I would love to know about the bell ringing. Dh is impressed too. How old is he Nigella?

NigellasGuest · 09/02/2014 08:38

Jayne he's 4 and a half months. mint these particular ones are designed for indoors to be let outdoors as they are on (tough) ribbon and also I don't know if the bells would rust. But I'm sure you could find some that are outdoor proof - presumably any bell would do, really!
The bells came with "instructions" - I started to read with interest, but all they said was to say "outside, ring your bells!" to the dog and encourage him to bash the bells with his paws, or ring them yourself, and then take him straight outside to toilet. dont reward for ringing the bells as he has to associate them with toileting.
DH was very very Hmm but he's pretty impressed now! mint surely it would be easy for Minty - just put the bells where he jumps up, so he hits them by default? not quite the same but might save your door?!

www.dougalsden.co.uk/dogs/poochie-bells/poochie-bells.html

SallyBear · 09/02/2014 09:47

We've not seen Moose on SN Chat for a week. Sending her healing thoughts as I don't think she's been feeling well at all.

Toby (7month old Lab) thinks he's a panda. I keep finding him casually munching on my bamboo bush. Silly puppy.

OP posts:
basildonbond · 09/02/2014 09:55

Mint - he was on a normal collar and lead and walking beautifully to heel until about 10 days ago - dh took him out for a few walks and he's not as patient as me (and thinks all this positive reward training malarkey is a bit nonsensical ...) so wasn't prepared to wait or go in the opposite direction if he started pulling, so basically Fitz had a few walks where pulling really hard got him to the park faster (in his mind ...). I wanted to nip it in the bud as soon as possible as I know how difficult it is to eradicate once the habit's been reinforced

Nigella - those bells look great, and clever pup - Fitz has learned to do one low 'woof' when he wants to go out. It's amazing how quickly they develop - it was really only a few weeks ago that we were having to watch him all the time for signs that he needed to go but it feels like he's been reliably house-trained now for months!

Moose - if you're online, I hope you're feeling better

basildonbond · 09/02/2014 09:56

Is bamboo safe for puppies to eat sally? At least it's better than poo Grin

needastrongone · 09/02/2014 10:27

moose Are you ok? Hope you are, you are so lovely, I am bit worried about you. x

NigellasGuest · 09/02/2014 11:10

same here, moose get well soon.

needastrongone · 09/02/2014 11:14

nigella - I like the bell trick, I am clicker training Harry to put his paw on a box, which I will transfer to specific toys and 'name them'. occupies some time while house bound!!

NigellasGuest · 09/02/2014 11:26

a bit house bound here too, although of course Herts is not in any trouble compared with other counties.....

yesterday I took pup out into woods, bracken etc. Had a great walk off lead with him keeping an eye on where I was, despite me walking in different directions and being unpredictable. Recall was good, I put him on and off lead a few times so as not to associate lead going on with end of walk.

Then we got into the big field, the wind was really picking up, and he decided to make an idiot of me - ran miles off and just sat there looking at me from afar. Then charged at me a couple of times, veering away at the last minute the little shit

any ideas anyone how to nip this in the bud? I want to take him out again soon but can't have him making such an idiot of me - he's obviously pushing the boundaries. I can't be sure he won't do that again... HELP!

TheBookThief · 09/02/2014 11:57

uuurrrggghhhh, please tell me I am not the only 1 loathing the whole house training thing in this weather Sad (I live in south west just to qualify that!)

Last week it was pretty much impossible to take her outside at all on several days and although its been much better for the past few days, its very often absolutely wild and so we don't go out.

Its a bit depressing because I know that any toileting on a pad in the house just reinforces the behaviour but I do feel a bit stuck and wondered what other people were doing?

I did try a few times when it was a bit less wild but she still loathed it and I didn't want to completely put her off leaving the house Sad

She's 9 weeks so we should be going out A LOT!!

I am trying to console myself with the fact that although its not ideal, given the reality of the situation and the fact that many many dogs (inc our last one) are partially or fully trained onto paper and still manage to be completely house trained its not the end of the world Hmm

TheBookThief · 09/02/2014 11:59

very impressed with the bell thing Nigella I will file that away for when we've got more than 10 seconds to get outside Grin

NigellasGuest · 09/02/2014 12:19

URGENThe just got a bit of toast with NUTELLA on - DD left on floor - how worried should i be???

NigellasGuest · 09/02/2014 12:24

oh please ignore me, i always post first and think after. I have researched, and nutella doesn't contain much choc. and he only got a smidge on some toast Blush