Six puppies and us, anyone watching?

[NCIS]

I'm feeling rather sorry for some of the puppies.

I know one of the dogs on here.
If you saw him today, his behaviour is far removed from what we have just seen.

The families were filmed over a year, do it is highly editted to fit into 2 hours.

There's hope yet then.

I cringed watching this, because I made some of these mistakes. I chose a dog that's too much for our family, and 3 years on I am serving my sentence with grim determination. I cocked up with socialisation, and he's fear aggressive. I also used a corrector spray. So I'm not judging. It took time to educate myself.

Byron's owner was a moron. Her reasons for wanting a dog were ridiculous and she had no clue about puppy behaviour. Ditto Ralph's owners. Sporty son!! In every clip he was lying either on his bed or couch while the poor dog ran around desperate for attention. They had put no research into the breed either. I was furious

This programme has really annoyed me especially the woman who bought a dog to teach her kids about death. .. What's she done issued all her family with a contract thou shall not die before the dog does?

I think it must have been highly edited, I mean they obviously decided with Ralph's family that the message to get across was 'this dog is being left to his own devices too long' and on Byron's family 'this is a flappy woman who is exacerbating the problem'. I'm sure in all families, with all puppies, if they took enough hours of footage they could get enough for a 10 min slot to support whatever message they wished to illustrate.

To be fair, the commentary seems to be reasonable, pointing out what is going wrong, seemed fairly up to date in terms of the socialisation period etc, didn't mention dominance or pack theory once, and it did say that not all experts believe in the air canister punishment. I think its actually quite educational. I have always adopted adult rescues, but I think watching this programme would help me avoid some pitfalls, if I were to get a puppy.

I think its actually quite educational.

I agree, it was very realistic on what the responsibilities of a new puppy include.

I'm glad I wasnt the only one shouting at the TV. The way that horrid woman kept on about death and Byron not being long for this world etc was awful, and her concern at the end lay with her insurance not the potential person he'd bitten.

Anyone else stunned when Lola's owner jumped that fence to get her back? At the start she had a carer brushing her hair and at the end she was jumping fences.

Yeah I noticed that. Does she have good and bad days?

New pup owner here. Stunned how little research those people had put into getting a dog - especially the Weimaraner - it's a gorgeous breed and I imagine there would be thousands around if they didn't need so much exercise and stimulation.

I can't honestly the farmer's son wasn't hamming it up for the cameras. I would expect him to have been involved in farming from a young age and to have seen his dad training his pups. I think he may have been asked to mess up a bit.

I wonder how many puppies they had to follow to find that hopeless lot!

I did learn something though - that when a puppy sits like that on a walk that it is a fear response (thought it was a 'I'm tired' or 'gimme food' response!

I think some of them underestimated the amount of supervision a small puppy needs, I was told it is best not to let them roam the whole house at will but confine them to a smaller secure area where they can be supervised closely. We kept ours in the sitting room or kitchen with someone all the time and my personal bugbear, given regular naps. Don't know if that's pure luck but I've had three puppies who have been calm and had few issues with nipping or chewing.

I'm afraid I found Ralph's family's parents very annoying. The dad was absent and mum just seems to parent on wishful thinking. "I thought that Ewan this, Ewan that".

Annoying that the narration kept referring to Lily as "the lap dog".

Watched it all with head in hands. What a bunch of morons.

Ralph's family do not look at all active or sporty and Lily is fat so I don't think they do much walking

I found some of it really upsetting, poor little Byron I remember Eric's nippy stage and whilst it was a pain on all fronts I never thought for a minute that he was going to be an aggressive monster. He would have bitten exactly the same with the wagging fingers and shrieking though.
I was quite surprised at how free range and ignored the tiny puppies were tbh. I watched Eric like a hawk and spent no end of time going in and out to toilet him, he'd have been up to mischief and messed all over the house otherwise.
There didn't seem to have been a lot of thought gone into having a pup did there? We'd talked and debated for years about when and what dog would be right for us.

I did love Stewie though, and they seemed pretty sensible. I'm guessing after tonights show we will get a good update as the dogs are now one. How do I know? Because the marvellous Stewie does indeed have an instagram and here is is

Stewie's Instagram

I dont know where they got these people from but I guess that it has been highly edited. The family with Ralph I could really slap, I love all dogs and have a large breed myself but what were they thinking of.

There are just too many people who get a dog they like the look of without looking into the breed traits. Stupid idiots!

If only breeders stated what the trainer did - these dogs need THREE house walking a day, there was no way this family are ready to committ to that.

Our breeder wanted to come to our house as he said he only gave rotties to very responsible households, I had no issue with this but apparently 50% of people who contact him did!

Good idea about not allowing the dog to roam around the whole house. Our dog has never gone upstairs.

The mother talking about life cycles - where did they get her from? The dog was barely two months old and she is talking about them dying! Small dogs can live to 13-14. Her kids will have long gone by then. Its not as though the dog had weeks to live!

Good tip about carrying the dog when they were clearly frightened. Didnt know that one and will remember for the future and of course tucking your fingers in and turning your back on a nipping dog.

I walk my 2 GSD's along with my 1 & 2 yr old, bumping into Stewie off lead would be my worst nightmare.

I don't know whether I'm going to watch part two or not.

@ Stewie's Instagram. What a sweetie, but one spoilt little pooch.

Yes Hillingdon I wouldn't have thought to pick up frightened pup and carry him through places he's scared to walk. Handy tip.

My old girl in her younger days was launched into literally by a small terrier who bit her face and neck. Owner said that she didnt like black dogs - well that's OK then!

People thinks its funny when small dogs bite and those two chaps with Stewie annoyed the hell out of me, dogs arent babies - they are dogs! In some cases they are nicer than babies but they are still dogs!

Did anyone else find it odd that they didn't show much footage of puppies enjoying playing, you know throwing toys and bringing them back and of them curling up with you on the sofa? It was rather devoid of the things that make having a puppy enjoyable. My little ball of fluff is hard work sometimes but he is lovely and great fun too!

I winced a few times but haven't had a dog since I lived at home with my parents so shouldn't cast stones. The owners themselves probably look back and shudder. Some issues look like common sense. (Keep instructions clear and precise, watch for signs the pup needs to go out for a loo break).

Of the six I worry for Ralph and Byron most.

I must be naive but I used to think breeders might go and see how the pups are doing especially if the people are first time owners.

Poor Stewie looks in the mirror and sees a mastiff looking back .
I couldn't get over how disinterested the children (Ralph and Byron) were.
Poor Lily, why on earth did the owner not separate Ralph from her?