Does anyone fancy a 'puppy survival' thread?

[SkeletonSkins]

Just wondering whether anyone else has got a puppy recently and in the same boat as us? Interested to hear how how others are getting on.

We've had our 8 week old puppy for a few days now and things are okay... he's a complete cross of lots of different breeds so enjoying trying to work out what in him!

House training seems to go great and then at night he just sits there in the middle of the grass not wanting to even walk around! Never mind wee!

Our older dog isn't particularly impressed but has been good with him so far. Just looking forward to him sleeping through the night without needing a wee. Completely forgot how having a puppy completely takes over your life for a little while!

How exciting blue, keep us updated.

Am just about to head off with Pablo for his first puppy class - why am I so nervous?! Is like first day of school all over again

I put a collar on him yesterday and he has done nothing but scratch, I don't know whether to persevere (our other boy wears one 24/7) or do like skeleton does and just stick with the harness for now, which he doesn't even notice.

Hi to all the beautiful new pups and their knackered owners!

Furry I'm sure the class will be fine. Just remember it's also about socialisation and your puppy having fun. Also that puppies will all learn at different rates (although obviously Pablo will be a star.)

Good luck tonight Furry, puppy class is great fun. My main tip is you can use the times you're not 'doing' to be training too - every time puppy has attention on you and not everything going on around him is definitely worth a reward!

How did the puppy class go furry? I taught lionpup to sit today he also had his first proper puppy zoomie today. He has gone to sleep for the night now. Does anyone have any tips for keeping him awake longer so that he sleeps in in the morning? I'm know I'm so lucky as he goes to sleep about 8/8.30 and sleeps through until 5/5.30 but I'd love for him to go to bed and wake up an hour later.

OMG. One week in and I'm so tired. Have been sleeping downstairs with Eddie as although our house is not massive it's a long way from my bedroom to the back door as hes waking up 2 times a. Ugh this for a wee most nights he is ending up on the sofa with me as then I can get some sleep it he is sleeping ok in his basket. I might get a heat pad to put in there and encourage him off me.

Funkymoover if you know he is getting up x times a night could you go back to your bedroom and set an alarm to take him out a bit before he is due each time then you might get some more sleep

Funky do you have a teddy you could out in the crate? Some people say a ticking clock helped too. I think you can even buy a teddy that has a heartbeat noise inside.

Ooh good tips. I don't like the fact he whines when I leave. I know he will have to get used to it eventually but to me he is still a baby. I was a soft touch with my kids tool

Tilly's had her first bath. She fell into a huge tractor rut filled with muddy water in a field this morning. She was not impressed She then proceeded to do zoomies/wall of death around the sitting room for 15 minutes before insisting on lying on my knee. Apparently, I mustn't have been damp enough already. And yes, that's the kitchen sink. She's still tiny enough to fit.

Had a rubbish day with the puppy, thought of this thread so had to share.

I went out with my baby before, she pooped so I changed her, wrapped the nappy up and put it in my changing bag to dispose of when home.

Got home and forgot about nappy. Puppy was in the garden for quite a while, called her and she didn't come in. Went outside... she had got nappy out of bag (I'd left bag open on kitchen floor), nappy ripped apart and puppy stinking.

Dogs are vile vile animals I gave her a shower, whilst entertaining a baby etc. Generally had a stressful afternoon.

Took the dog for a walk later as I had yet to clean up outside, texted husband to tell him I haven't clean up outside as the baby was being too demanding.

Husband comes in from work, I go upstairs with some laundry, come downstairs and go "where's the puppy?" "Oh I've let her in the garden"... yep round two of disgusting smelling dog.

It's my kids bedtime now, puppy is in her cage so we (husband, sod am I doing it again) can shower her again. Husband is currently at the shop buying me wine.

I will laugh about this one day.... urgh pass me a

Oh, Lexie, sorry but that is I'm sure, though, that I'd react the same as you. Puppies have no decorum!

Ah sounds stressful Lexie! Letting the dog back into the garden is exactly what my DH would do.

The other day he dropped dog food on the floor so I asked him if he has disinfected the floor. He asked me why he would need to do that as it's only dog food? Err because you just dropped raw meat on the floor. He hadn't realised that raw feeding meant giving the dog raw meat

I need to ask you all something. How are your puppies with strangers? Lionpup is very nervous and actually growled at my neighbour today. I'm scared that this is the start of something. To be fair she picked him up as soon as she walked in but still....

Joining with little Joeypuppy, miniature poodle 13 weeks.

Still going through housetraining, he goes outside but has accidents if we forget to take him. It has been a learning curve, am trying to bring him up better than we did with older dog (now 9) eg. We always used to just leave food down - he didn't have a big appetite, and never overate. Now we have to feed them separately as of course puppy has different food.

They are both getting used to each other. Joeydog gets fed up with Joeypuppy at times, other times they play okay together. Dog taught puppy to play-growl! 😀 When I'm out, they are both in the kitchen separated by a stair gate. Puppy whines, which upsets dog; but if I took dog away completely then I think puppy would whine even more.

Puppy does keep eating plants in garden, I don't like shouting at him all the time to stop. It is most exhausting having a dog and a puppy, making sure they're not hurting each other, training puppy, reassuring older dog,

Not sure my marriage will survive this (only half kidding)

LionSock mine will lick any stranger to death but he has recently started to growl and bark if he hears strange noises in the house or if someone knocks on the door. Do you think it was the actual neighbour he growled at or just something strange in 'his house'. Maybe invite your neighbour (or someone else) over again and ask them not to pick your puppy up so you can gauge better how he is with strangers in a more controlled manner.

LexieLulu that definitely calls for

Hi all! We collected our 8 week old Cockerpoo this week. He's a lovely bundle of fluff and is doing ok. Was virtually paper trained when we picked him up so we're now trying to get him to start going outside instead!
We lost our 13 year old westie 6 weeks ago so it's a big change going back to a puppy! I have 4 children too so it's hectic but they all love him especially my oldest.

Alyx your puppy is divine

Lexie you will Definately laugh one day. A baby and a puppy. You're brave

Puppy visits have been done. One breeder gave me better vibes than the other. There was one puppy that gravitated to me but he's not actually the puppy I wan!. I'm going back to visit tomorrow so will see what happens then.

Lionsock your neighbour was, I am sure, well meaning but shouldn't have picked the puppy up just like that. The aim is for the dog to become accustomed to many different people touching him but it takes time. Your neighbour should have allowed the puppy to approach in his own time, introduced himself, etc. If the puppy does develo a worry about anyone ask the person to throw treats in the puppy's direction and allow the puppy to approach in his own time.

Welcome to new puppies! The pooey nappy story did make me laugh but I'm also full of sympathy - that moment when you realise you haven't seen the puppy in a long time....

Lion Toby has been nervous of strangers to be honest and in his first week home growled at my friend which I was mortified about! To address this I've been taking him places with people as often as I can but slowly building up the business e.g. Walking him down the high street on a sunny evening at about 5pm, walks in the park in the early evening etc. Get as many people to say hi and give him treats as you can, invite all your friends round (one at a time!) but don't over face him with crowds etc. Today we went to the vets (puppy check up) and Toby was approaching people with a wagging tail, very friendly and confident so it does seem to be working. Local Starbucks were fab - I took him one evening and they had a big tub of dog treats which I think really helped him. So many new things are scary for them, russly coats, glasses, hats, beards, all are new experiences!

bluetongue definitely try and stay logical when choosing a puppy although it's so hard. Another puppy actually attached himself to our OH but I knew that Toby's personality better suited us and so glad we made that decision.

Oh in other news, we are already going to a puppy class on a Monday night which is more like a relaxed atmosphere, pups at different stages. I really enjoy it and a friend runs it. However have just signed Toby up for a 'puppy party' locally next Friday which sounds great, as they have different things for pups to build confidence in, practice attention around other puppies. However the people running this have a puppy course, 8weeks starting in April and I'm tempted to sign up for that but would two puppy classes a week be ridiculous? I don't want to stop going to the first one but feel this one will have more structure plus I'd like to do agility in the future so thinking more practice might be a good thing, but then don't want to overwhelm him.

A decision has been made and I've put a deposit down on bluepuppy. It's a male whippet. Fawn brindle with white markings. His nickname from me for now is Blaze (because of the White blaze on his face) but shortlist names are Cooper, Leo, Rupert and Alfie.

SkeletonSkins I signed up to two different puppy training classes at the same time and I am glad I did as I didn't gel with one lot of instructors and stopped going to them and carried on with the other.

I don't think going to two classes is too much for a puppy. The only thing that may be an issue is if they have different training techniques but I think most of them, for puppies especially, seem to say the same spiel from what I gathered by going to two. Ironically I found one to one sessions later were more valuable than the whole group course as they can adapt to both you and the pup rather than treating all dogs and owners the same.

The good news is you can expect puppy to sleep like a log afterwards

I was excited while visiting Blaze at the breeder and while paying the deposit but my OMG what have I done feelings have started