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.

Moose I'm besotted already, he's a bundle of fluff and so calm and really loves being fussed over. The breeder's face was a picture when dd told her his name she said she'd never met another Eric before There was one boy left, I'm hoping he's gone before we go to collect Eric as dh was sorely tempted to get the pair.

Toby is ill again. He's eaten something meh and has d&v. Been to the vets got him an anti nausea shot and antibiotics. He's been in and out all day to go to the loo. Taken up the rugs downstairs as I don't want any accidents again. My poor puppy.

Poor Toby.

I read somewhere that there is the equivalent to winter vomiting virus for dogs going around at the moment. Apparently vets are seeing an unprecedented number of dogs with d&v. So he may not have eaten something.

I think, Lonecat, one of the MN Doghouse vets said something about it as well.

He's really not a well boy. Tired and sleeping lots. Drinking, and eating a small amount of food. DH decided to shove the pills into his food, so he's now suspicious of what's in his bowl. So I demonstrated my 'shove it in a lump of peanut butter and watch it disappear' trick and he conceded that my way was better.

Poor lad. I hate it when they feel so poorly and you can't tell them it'll be ok.

Hope he's has a swift recovery.

He's wandering about now. Back door is wide open. Glad it's not a cold day!! Need to air the bugs out of the house, but you know I think that you're right about the doggy rotavirus. There has been so many cases at schools that it's no surprise if its spread to dogs too. They catch cold like viruses as well.
You can tell when they feel unwell. Toby curls himself into a little ball. When he's well and asleep he's just stretched out. My poor boy.

Interesting post moose re Pip. In a way, at least you can avoid that park, and good that it isn't, say the vets etc.

ANOTHER week for Harry at least as the wound was so deep the pad is struggling to heal. I feel dreadful for him and am going stir crazy myself.

I am trying to do as much as I can with Hector, took him to Pets at Home today. He adore people and has no fear of anybody, he quakes at other dogs though. He was brave enough to sniff a couple after a while!

Will have to try and make sure we meet as many dogs as week can before 16 weeks, but he's different again when Harry is around, meeting dogs and off lead too. His short walks without Harry have been all about trying to get into my arms

Just signed up for the first part of the Thinkdog.org correspondence course, which looks interesting.

Poor Toby, hope he recovers soon.

Needa, I started that course when it first came out, but had to drop out. It was when we had our fear aggressive Boxer x GSD. I got myself in a right state, ended up having a chat with Sarah Whitehead and decided I simply didn't have enough time or energy to devote to both the course and his rehabilitation. At the time the poor lad was on Prozac and we were doing several socialisation trips a day, taking 3 of us to work him and ensure both he and everyone else was safe. It was pretty full on. Have to say Sarah Whitehead couldn't have been nicer, she was really helpful.

I later did the Federation of Dog Trainers and Canine Behaviourists, Canine Studies Level II course and loved every minute. You had to attend college with your dog once a week and there were several weekend sessions as well. The course was part academic, part handling and you had to do a year long study of three different dogs as well.

Can't find the FDTCB website anymore though - so not sure the course is still running. It was accredited by City & Guilds iirc, but I'd have to check my certificates.

moose - I am not sure where I will go with it, but would hope that I continue to do the further courses available, but one step at a time. I need to engage my brain with study again. I love my job, and it has fitted wonderfully well round my family over the years being so flexible and so few hours. I hope to increase the hours a bit too when the puppy gets older. However, it doesn't tax my brain and never really has. Perfect for a mum of young kids, having had a ridiculously stressful job pre children but I have a half decent brain that needs awakening and a love of dogs, plus my kids are teens now and it's time for me again

Hope to pick your brains a bit over the next few months?

Did you ever have a dog without issues?

I don't have any brains left to pick!

Yes, I have had quite a few that didn't have ishoos over the years, but often it's the ones you work the hardest with that stick with your the longest, iyswim.

It's really only been the Boxer x GSD and Pip that have had problems - well if you don't count Lurcherboy's, thankfully brief, flirtation with separation anxiety when we lost Oldgirl last year.

The Boxer x GSD was rescued from a puppy farm. His father was an extremely nervous and aggressive, massive, GSD and the consensus was that his problems were genetic as a result - exacerbated by him developing panosteitis as a youngster and missing out of months of socialisation because he was too heavy to carry - and then our vet deciding to neuter him at 6 months. He was a very big boy and we tried for years to rehabilitate him, but in the end, although he'd improved massively, we went for management and containment over keeping-on putting him through so much fear and stress. So, we had a huge outdoor kennel and run for when we had visitors he didn't know (he was fear aggressive to people and dogs) and knew when and where to walk him to avoid any confrontations. We had him trained to the point he would completely ignore other dogs and people and could go offlead to chase frisbees and would still ignore them, but were always exceptionally careful about where and when we took him.

Oldgirl herself was a monumental pain in the rear as a youngster, but nothing unusual for a Border Collie x Belgian Shepherd. She was just very young, very highly strung, brimming with energy and too clever for my her own good! She was an amazing dog once she'd matured and I still miss her sooo much.

My Wheaten girl was rock solid, super brainy, easy to train and had her bronze silver and gold by the time she was 1 year old. We never had any problems with her, could take her anywhere and do anything with her.

First dog was a massive long-coated GSD bitch, that MIL found under a hedge and close to death while I was staying with them. She was awesome - almost a human in a dog's body really she was so intelligent and an amazingly calm and centred girl. She was so well behaved that dh and I managed to live in student accommodation, on campus at uni, with her without anyone realising!

Second dog was a Lurcher, although we didn't know it at the time. She was a Whippet x Sheltie. Thick as bricks, really dizzy and super fast off lead, but very pretty and sooo sweet natured - loved nothing more than to jam her head under your chin and have a cuddle. Sadly she escaped from my Mum's garden when she was dog-sitting for us, was missing for 24 hours and was hit by a car and killed outright - ironically right outside the vets. She had somehow managed to cross the M42 motorway to get to where she was found.

It was having the Boxer x GSD with all his problems that got me interested in dog behaviour. If I'd never had such a difficult dog, I wouldn't know half what I do now about behaviour and training. Nearly every trainer/behaviourist I've ever met says the same about having a particular dog with issues that started them on the path.

Hi All and thanks for the welcome

Lola is doing amazingly well and we all just adore her! she seems very calm and although she is lively and plays adn nips and mouths up she will also lie down, snooze and chew some of her toys. Doesnlt lie the King much though (which is a shame! )

I'm looking into Pet insurance for her and have quotes very disparate in amount - what doe 'whole life insurance mean ?' will it be the same price for ever ?

how long does it take to house train a puppy ? Not that I am impatient, (i think shes doing really well already) but would like to have an idea of timescale to tell the children.

do any of you use puppy day care ? I'm wondering if we might need to at some point ? whats it like ? how do you choose s good one- how do you ensure the puppy doesn't get overwhelmingly stressed by it ?

so many questions ! (sorry)

Sorcha x

Hi Sorcha

You need a policy that gives lifetime cover - that means they won't exclude any conditions if they are chronic or reoccur after the renewal date. I would think whole life insurance would come under that category - but do double check.

Mine are with PetPlan, as I found their terms and conditions to be the best and they cover dental and cruciate repair surgery, both of which are more likely with sighthounds and other insurers often exclude or restrict them. There cover is £7,500 a year, I think, could be £7,000 and it's a lifetime policy so they will continue to cover any illness for the dog's whole life. Mine are both considered large crossbreeds and come it at between £21 - £23 each a month. I trust PetPlan as I used to use them with my old dogs and they always paid up without question.

Housetraining - how long is a piece of string. Each dog is different, some train really quickly and are clean in the house by as early as 10/12 weeks - others will still be having accidents at several months old.

I will be interested to read any answers re puppy daycare as I'm considering trying it with Pip once he reaches the point of being able to cope with being around other dogs. I think it will help his socialisation and help to ensure he doesn't get over-attached from me being around all the time.

I've had a few interesting dog walks the past few days, yesterday I parked by the playing fields (as I had DS with me who is 3 so didn't walk down) briefly spoke to a woman with an older GSD the headed over to a friends house who has 2 dogs, we headed down the woods where we met another friend with a 7 month old Dobie who Nala adores. Anyway we had a longish walk and on the way a helicopter was buzzing about including hovering above us for about 10 mins, DS loving this but were thinking they might be chasing someone. This happened twice. So got out the woods and the GSD woman came running over, she had phoned the police as she was worried about me going down the woods with a toddler and a dog for so long (hour and a half toddler pace). The helicopter had been looking for me

Today we went out for a walk met a 6 month old Staffy who was chasing Nala, the dogs ran round past some trees and we heard almighty screaming. Rushed round to fond a woman with two Lhasas under her arms and desperately shouting a third, she was hysterical screaming at us to put our dogs on a lead (none of hers were) the Lhasa not being held was fine really calm sniffing the pups, I was shouting to her they are both puppies they w. Ont hurt them. We put the pups on their leads and she calmed down a bit and actually apologised. How odd though if you have 3 dogs off lead in a public park the chances are they are going to meet other dogs.

Nala is great with other dogs, she will run up and greet them usually in a submissive position and ask to play, if the dog plays great but if it sniffs and ignores her she runs away, her recall is also pretty good.

As I've said before it's her jumping on people I have to watch and will put her back on lead if there's non dog walkers about or children.

Sallybear - hope Toby's better really soon poor boy

Moosemama - how you feeling now? Those courses sound really interesting might have a look

Blimey sweet, you live an exciting life! Can't believe someone called the police when you were an hour and a half walking your dog - how odd.

I'm still not feeling great. I've have underlying health issues that relapse and remit and I'm pretty sure that blooming flu has pushed me into relapse, which isn't great. I've been very down about it this week, but am trying to give myself a kick up the backside and take some control.

Dh and I have decided we're going to book Pip in at the vets to discuss this odd intermittent lameness/stiffness in his back legs. I think there may be the possibility of it being panosteitis and if it is, it will be like history repeating itself, as that's what my Boxer x GSD boy had.

Measured Pip this evening - properly with a spirit level to be sure - and he's bang on 26" to the shoulder. He was only 22" in November and I think Pano is often seen in large breeds that have rapid growth. The good news is that it's temporary and self-limiting and if it is that it will mean only light exercise, which will fit in with my not-so-great health, as I won't be up to long hikes for a while. Actually, this will sound terrible, but I'm kind of hoping it's that, as the alternatives, like hip issues for example, are too awful to think about.

While we're there we need to discuss neutering again and see whether the vet wants us to delay again. He should have been done by 6 months according to his adoption contract and the rescue are proactive in chasing them up and I'm told will take action to reclaim the dog if you don't comply. They were great when I spoke to them at 6 months and agreed that with his fearfulness and potential for osteo problems, being a large breed, they were happy to put it off. They did say to come back to them again, if the vet still wanted to delay, but for some reason I am really worried about contacting them this time. I'm pretty sure the vet won't want to do it yet, especially with him having the lameness/stiffness issue as well and I would rather put it off until a minimum of 12 months old - longer if poss to get him as confident as possible around other dogs before we mess with his hormones. It will have to be done, as it's the rescue's policy, it's just a question of when is best for him and whether or not the rescue will agree.

Moose - oh poor you you have been having a tough time of it recently hope your health improves soon.

I've been reading a lot about neutering/spaying recently and am going to wait until Nala is 2 and fully grown before getting her spayed.

Could you not commit to the rescue that you will definitely be getting him done but are waiting on the advice of your vet?

Thanks Moose - the Boxer cross must have been pretty draining for you. Interesting to read about all your dogs, did you have a favourite in your heart of hearts?

Feeling ill and being housebound is extremely draining. I have found this paw business with Harry pretty trying, and I have had had nothing like the confinement that you have had. Don't beat yourself up, it would get anybody down, you are not being self pitying.

I am sure the rescue will be understanding of Pip's circumstances and not subject you to a blanket policy if you chat with them. I hope to leave Hector longer than Harry, who was only done at 6 months given that he needed to have the histeocytoma (sp!!!) removed anyway, and I didn't want him to have another general. Shouldn't have worried on that score, he's had about 12 since then

Hello lovely puppy mums! What a lot you've all been going through recently.

Glad you're bit better Moose and don't try and rush back to walking as you don't want to set yourself back any.

I'm manic at work recently but chose a breed that would cope well on one good walk a day and lots of sleeping! OES are real couch potato dogs but don't do well without company so as I work from home mainly I can get the walk done early then work with minty around and we are both happy.

Do people insist their dogs sit by keen before crossing road? I'm trying but minty is way too excited by the toddlers, scooters and teenagers on our pavement bit of the walk to listen to me and I feel a real ninny standing there repeatedly saying SIT when everyone else is crossing the road!

Hi mint - Fitz does sit before crossing the road but I'm not sure how we did it! We did quite a bit of heel work at home where every time I stopped I got him to sit by my side, clicked and treated - for some reason although he can't concentrate on walking to heel on the way to the park,the sitting when I stop has become completely ingrained - he doesn't even expect a treat now (although I give him one every now and then just to keep him guessing!)

Thanks everyone.

Needa, my heart was lost to my first GSD girl and my Boxer x GSD was also such a special boy, it honestly broke my heart when we lost him to cancer when he was 7 - 10 days after ds1 was born. He was the sweetest, most comical and loving boy I've ever known - a dog in a million and I think because he had the fear aggression, you felt exceptionally honoured if he knew and loved you. He stole my heart from the moment I first saw him and I would have walked to the end of the earth across hot coals if I could have fixed him so that the rest of the world could have seen how truly wonderful he was. I still miss him and he's been gone almost 12 years now.

I have had a bit of a meltdown/implosion about my situation this morning. Poor old long-suffering dh caught the brunt of it. He came up to get dressed for work and Pip immediately started yelling, despite ds1 and dd being just the other side of the dog gate. Being home with sick dcs and then ill myself has set him right back and I am really at the end of my tether with it. It wouldn't be so bad if I could see light at the end of the tunnel, but if I am going into relapse - and I know I am - I can't see me being able to go in and out and do the work necessary to desensitise him on top of caring for the dcs, doing school runs and taking both dogs for walks. Dh said this morning that if we were anyone else Pip would have gone back to rescue by now and he's right. He's not going - never in a million years, but when you feel this low it's hard not to think about how different your life would be if he wasn't around. I hate myself for even letting the thought creep into my head, but in truth am really struggling.

Sorry for self-pitying whinge.

Thank you moose. I'm sorry to hear about your (and Pips) health issues. I am sure the rescue centre will be only too glad that Pip has a very loving home with a responsible owner who is taking Vet's advice about the best thing for this particular dog ...

The quote from petplan for Lola is £31 a month - she is a pedigree BC is that why its more than a cross breed ? is that what it will be for the whole of her life or do the premiums escalate ?

John Lewis and NFU Mutual were good too. We went to NFU as we could make as many claims in a year up to £4k each time. It's a whole of life plan. I expect the premiums will go up. Bit like car insurance.

Mint - at our dog club they don't insist on sit for sides of roads, as long as you can get a reliable 'wait'. You only have to do the sit if you're going for KC awards.

Basil's way of practising at home until it becomes an automatic behaviour is a good approach, but if he's that hyperstimulated when you take him out you may need to do lots of repetition just up and down the drive or the pavement outside your house before he starts to get it reliably. (I had to do this with Oldgirl - hours and hours of walking up and and down our drive working on heelwork and sitting at heel - it was really boring and annoying, but it worked.)

Sorcha - the premiums don't tend to shoot up massively with PetPlan until the dog reaches 8 years of age - then it gets a bit silly, but lots of insurance companies are the same in that respect. At least PetPlan don't seem to push up premiums just because you've had a claim or two in the previous year.

We've gone for John Lewis with our Border Collie, can't remember what we paid,(don't pay monthly) but it was cheaper than petplan for whole life cover. Haven't had to claim yet thank goodness.
We were with direct line for our previous dog, I would have gone with them again but for a rather silly reason. When my old Springer died we contacted them to terminate the insurance then got an email asking us to fill in a questionnaire about why we had decided to leave them. I know it wasn't meant to be insensitive but I couldn't quite get past the thought. I did email them to tell them but never got a reply. I know it was an over reaction on my part but I couldn't help it at the time.