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!

I know he can hold it as when we've taken him out to the weekend, he's held it in for up to 5 hours and never had an accident. He also goes 11 hours at night. He's practical house trained already so it's not so much the toileting I'm worried about. More the fact of him being alone. The longest he's been left alone in the crate while we've been out is about an hour to an hour and a half. He loves his crate though so I know he will probably be fine. I'd definitely get the sitter to come in the middle so the longest he would be left would be 2 hours. Sorry I know I'm probably over reacting here!

Half day doggy day care here is £25!

Aw bless him. He probably sees that area as his area now so doesn't want to mess it up

Wow that half day doggie day is pricey. Sounds like your puppy will be fine especially if he has kongs etc and remember if someone comes and gives him 30 mins of non stop fuss he is going to be shattered and will probably end up just sleeping anyway.

lion are you south east? Doggy day care here seems to be £25 for 10 am till 2 with pick up and drop off.
My dog walker who will start Friday is doing me an hour puppy visits on Fridays for £12. Once he is ready for walks she will do 30 min walk every lunch for £35 the week which I feel is very reasonable.
About to tuck the pup in his crate for his second morning of being crated. Wish him luck

£25 for be for a full 8am up to 6pm day care around here so that is expensive for a half day.

For be = would be
Typing is rubbish this morning.

No I'm in Northumberland! So I think it's quite expensive. I've had a few offers from friends to come in and see him but I'd rather not rely on anyone.

I know he will be fine but I can't help but worry and feel guilty. I won't be able to leave him with a Kong as I think he is the only dog in the world that doesn't like them! If he can't get it out straight away he gets bored. He loves his pig ears though.

Sorry flibb I missed the bit about you leaving your pup in the crate today. I hope it goes well. I'm sure he will get used to it soon. Let us know how it goes today xx

I'm back for my lunch hour of play and cuddles and little pup had no accidents in his crate and seems perfectly happy. He is a good boy

lion I know what you mean about the Kong. Ours is happy with those thankfully but if you give him anything like a treat dispensing ball he gets so frustrated when things don't always come out that he winds him self up into an absolute state and starts wailing and barking. He loves his raw carrots though.

Could I have some advice pls. My 11 week old pup has been sick 3 times this morning (not sure if he's ill or just been eating crap out the garden), he seems fine otherwise a little more sleepy perhaps. I'm not sure if I should give him lunch, I have to go out at 2ish and don't really want to leave him if there's a chance he will throw up again. What would u do? Will he starve without lunch??

If he is throwing up frequently and doesn't seem himself I would take him to the vets because they are so little I would not risk it getting worse. Even when my puppy was still tearing about but had the runs the vets still wanted to see him that day just to make sure it wasn't anything serious. I would phone and ask for advice from your vet.

When mine has had one bout of vomiting (because he eats crap) I tempted him with food but that is because I was home and could check he was ok and didn't have a blockage etc. If I had to leave him then I don't think I would have risked feeding him until I got back as I would be worried about him vomiting when I was not around.

I'm with BiteyShark, I'd always get a vomiting puppy (or elderly dog) checked out at the vet as even if they seem ok in themselves now they can go downhill very quickly indeed.

Have him booked in for later and am not going to go out now. Thanks both :)

Dotty that's good. You can never be too careful at that age.

Yay I'm so pleased he was okay in the crate this morning with no accidents flib!

Have you tried frozen broccoli? My pup thinks it's brilliant. Raw carrots are his favourite too although he hates them up into tiny pieces and leaves them all-over the house.

Good luck at the vets dotty. I hope it's nothing serious.

Bites not hates.

lion ill def give frozen broccoli ago although I can picture the mess now from all the litter bits
dotty hope you little one is ok. We took ours to the out of hours one night a few weeks back after he threw up 5 times in 15 mins. He was fine according to the vet just one of those things but said absolutely right thing to bring them in for vomiting when they are so little.

*little bits

Yes Bitey we actually have less accidents when he's left alone than when we're with him!! He lasts fine for those three ish hours. He stays in our front room with our other dog and seems to just sleep on the sofa. I think a few weeks make such a big difference at this age though - I felt mean going to the shop without him just a few weeks ago!

Hope your pup is okay dotty, always better safe than sorry!

Thanks Skeleton, as mine didn't have to hold it when I was out I was never sure how long he would have actually managed to last at that age in the daytime.

Dotty hope things went ok at the vets. I hate it when my dog is ill, would much prefer to be ill myself than worry about him.

I'm in Northumberland too!

Thanks for ur kind words all, he is fine seems to have just been an upset tummy. He's had two small chicken and rice meals and been his usual self all evening (bonkers) lol. Thank u again. This thread is very useful at the moment!!!!

I've sent you a pm.

I'm so pleased he's okay dotty. Has he been sick since yesterday? Glad he's back to his usual self.

No, no more sick and has wolfed down his usual brekkie!!! He's now chewing the end of a skipping rope