Puppy Parent Support Thread!

[MostAmused]

We've had our 10 week old GSDxSpringer for 2 weeks now. He lulled us into a false sense of security while he was finding his feet and we thought we had the gentlest, quietest and friendliest puppy ever.

Now he's a little more confident the problems are starting to show, mouthing, whining in his crate, jumping on the bed and sofa and sadly he also seems to get a bit anxious when we leave the room.

We're trying to work through all these but it would be great to hear about others in the same situation? I've seen a few new puppy threads here recently and I think it's be great if we could all help eachother through puppyhood and beyond!

Can I join? I have a 14 week old lab, had him since he was 6 weeks. First dog I've owned since my childhood dog passed away in the 90's! He's pretty fab except for the mouthing sometimes gets ott and he thinks the lead is edible. Admittedly that's my fault as he rarely needs it unless we take him into town, which we avoided until second shots.

Hang on tomandizzymum- you're not seriously saying your 14 week old lab puppy is being walked for an hour a day in addition to romping around your grounds from early morning to late at night? I hope your insurance covers joint problems ...

Sorry Basil but where are you getting that Tomandizzymum walks her pup for more than an hour? I don't see that in her comment? I think you've come on pretty harsh there with no actually evidence that this is being done?
Besides the 5 minutes rule is a rule of thumb that is flexible in certain circumstances such as when off lead or walking on soft ground as opposed to tarmac. It's really to remind puppy owners that puppies need less excercise and that it should be built up gradually. When the puppy can stop once s/he's tired there is no problem.

Hi tomandizzymum we had that problem with lead chewing also but once he got used to the big wide world he barely notices it now!

Another thread where she lambasted anyone having a lab or similar dog in the city - and said she had to take her lab for an hour's run after it'd been playing all day - not appropriate for a lab puppy at that age

I said he needs a run in the evening!! Not an hour, down the drive and back. Its my personal opinion of having WORKING breeds in cities!! Thanks for lead advice.

He needs a run because he gets over excited. He has freedom. He plays when he wants, sleeps in his bed when he wants. He's free, we all lived in London, we didn't enjoy it and I know what life he would have had there, personally I wouldn't choose it for me or my dog. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.

Yeah i took Ozzy out on an extra walk today as he was driving me mental by asking out in the garden every 5 minutes to play (even though we never play with him there he just wants to dig and run about). So I took him on a wee 15 min walk to chill him out a bit which helped a lot and he came back and fell asleep for 2 hours :). I don't want to over-stimulate him by taking him on a walk every time he gets hyper but still sometimes they just need a good run about!

Ooh a puppy mummy thread! Haven't rtft but we have an 18 week old German shorthaired pointer called Strudel. He is wonderful but still sometimes wakes in the early hours needing a wee, so I'm feeling a bit knackered! Off to rtft...

Lead went well, being out in the town centre was really interesting to him, but luckily we were just strolling and able to let him choose where to go. I think we're a long way from walking in a given direction though. He also now fits his car harness, so that was a new experience, we stopped putting him in the car because he outgrew the puppy box, so I was a bit worried he'd freak out, but he loved it.

Hi, holmessweetholmes How's strudel getting on? Just googled German Shorthaird Pointers and they look lovely! Got a look of a Springer about them!

Bet your lab was tired after walking about town Tom all those interesting sights and sounds! How is he in the car?
It took Oz a while to stop whining and settle down in the back. Then for a while he would happily get in and out the car and stay quite for journeys. Now suddenly he doesn't want to get in the car again but once he's in stays quiet and settled. Bit weird but we're working on it.

Can I join in too? We have a 9 week old Chihuahua puppy. First jabs to come on Wednesday, then 2 weeks for the next jabs and then 10 days after that!

It feels like forever. boohoo:( though to be honest I don't think she will be as keen as we are, we've had her for a week so far and she doesn't go passed the end of the sofa in the sitting room, she has set herself a 3 meter square play area and anything that falls beyond that is no-mans land.

When will it get better? When will my husband be less grumpy about anything dog related? He was the one who suggested a dog in the first place but now seems jealous. The children asked to send her back when I said they needed to come on a walk with me, and I nearly burst into tears in the vets when the nurse asked how it was going. Everyone says it'll get easier but I fear I may break before then.

Mostamuzed, he settled well, falls asleep almost instantly. We are yet to get him to jump in and out (granted we have a people carrier) so not easy.

We also have a new problem, he WILL NOT cross the road. He needs to be carried. He's not little anymore

We need a quiet road to practice, unfortunately there's a lot of motorbikes and I think they are what he's afraid of.

Oh no kissesgingers How old is your pup? Are you enjoy it yourself or are you all feeling stressed? It does get better, around 16 weeks the mouthing get less and you'll start to enjoy your pup more. But it's a constant learning curve, lots of new challenges. For example, Ozzy is getting better and better on the lead but has started barking at the slightest sound so that's the latest challenge!

BeggingYourPardon I bet it will fly by! take lots of pics, they're so tiny at that age but they grow up fast and she'll look more doggy and less puppy in a few weeks! I bet she'll enjoy being carried to lots of sites and sounds until she's street legal! :)

tomandizzymum I guess it's better he's apprehensive of the road rather than dashing across it! Ozzy has drifted into the road once or twice but thankfully we live on a very quiet road.

Anyone's pups discovered bubbles? We just had an energetic ten minutes of Ozzy popping bubbles, he loved it and is now fast asleep! :D

He's doing well thanks, MostAmused! Yes, they have quite springer-ish colouring but are very different from a springer in shape, coat and mostly size. He is going to be a biiig boy! He can jump up and put his feet high on my chest already...

He's a lot calmer than he was, toilet training is sorted apart from little sprinkly wees of excitement sometimes. Puppy classes are going really well - he is a quick learner and does sit, lie down, stay and a twirl very reliably.

The main issues remaining are jumping up at people he meets on walks or who come to the house. And bloody waking me up! He never sleeps beyond 6 and quite often still wakes for a wee at 4! I'm knackered.

On the upside though, he doesn't seem at all destructive. Even though he's teething (found a tooth the other day! ) he's happy to just chew his toys -hasn't destroyed any if our stuff (yet!).

Hope you are all getting on ok!

I was enjoying it until I got a sickness bug, then the vet suggested less walks as we were in danger of doing too much. Luckily for puppy my illness means dh has stepped up and participated more. I've also been doing more brain work with puppy. It's constantly thinking about when she next needs out, feeding, etcetera

most amused where did you get your antler from? I've heard the cheapest ones can splinter

mostamused Benny loves bubbles. We got him "dog bubbles" they are flavoured. A total hit

sigh I though pup was hard work and expected that but my mums gone away and now have her dog for a week too and day 1 Im ready to grump and cry no peace at all. as plans fell through with where was meant to be face is because i was asked and said no as only had him a week so need work with him

any tips stop him barking at her before my neighbours get cross .and how on earth I will cope tonight as pup still up at least twice to go wee and course if both wake one or other will want to play

Him being my pup and they both seem to want to play when other sleeps or mums gets arsey and bowls him over when he trys come to me .Luckily his tail is wagging 19 to dozen so is ok but he seems just so little and ye sI admit am over protective

should add poor baby had 7 accidents so far which is more than he had in the whole week had him

Ok, feeling a bit better about the whole puppy thing now, not that it's got any easier but she's worming her way into my heart!

Humancatapult That sounds like a tough time you're having just now!
Is there some way you could separate the dogs so they can get some peace from each other and hopefully some peace for you? Perhaps a kong each in separate rooms?
The sleepless nights are really difficult but they won't last long in a few weeks it'll be a distant memory! :)

Kissesgingers glad you're feeling better about it and your DH has stepped up! I have a Y-shaped Stagbar for Oz. It hasn't splintered exactly but when he chewed down to where a hole was drilled through (it has some rope attached) a small chunk came off it so I don't know if that's classed as a splinter. It looked fairly safe. If he had eaten it I doubt it would have harmed him.

Bubbles made for dogs! What a great idea I'll be looking into that!

Apologies I haven't read the full thread ( have beginnings of migraine) but have you tried Adaptil?

Have a look at the reviews on Amazon .

Why o why o why do these dog threads have to be critical?

Most people really do their best and just want a bit of advice - they wouldn't be on the thread if they didn't care about their pet.

I think a bit less judgey and a bit more respect and compassion wouldn't go amiss!

Bubbles is a fab idea will try that one!