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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Does anyone fancy a 'puppy survival' thread?

999 replies

SkeletonSkins · 15/02/2017 16:09

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!

OP posts:
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Dottymum2 · 30/03/2017 07:52

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

LionSock · 30/03/2017 08:01

Back to normal then Grin

BiteyShark · 30/03/2017 08:23

That's good news Dotty. They don't learn do they, mine has a thing at the moment for tissues and toilet roll Grin

BiteyShark · 30/03/2017 08:25

Also I hate to think what mine has been eating when my back is turned given the fairly frequent non-organic material I find in his poo Hmm

Dottymum2 · 30/03/2017 09:37

It is a worry, they have no standards at all lol

Booboostwo · 30/03/2017 09:41

A little update from Monty who is now 15 weeks old. I think we have cracked the toileting but we leave the door open 24/7 and he helps himself to the garden. He is getting better with the cats and yesterday one of the cats managed to come with us on a walk round the farm and he only chased him up a tree once (I don't think the cat was scared, more annoyed at the overwhelming puppy). He is great at puppy class but barks at other dogs when on the lead so we've spent a few mornings at the vet's car park desensitising him - today we made into the waiting room with no barking so yay!

Jenny70 · 30/03/2017 14:48

Hi there, good to hear we're making progress with our pups, one day we may even be able to breathe a sigh of relief that they are reliable and predictable - HAH.

Molly is going well, such a happy thing and friendly. Nearly there on the toilet training, only get few accidents if she heads to back door (normally open) rather than the side door which has the dog door... but overall feeling OK about this.

Still trying to crack her diet - she seems prone to the upset tummy and runny poos. The diet that agrees with her rear end seems to disagree with her taste buds (she'll leave breakfast there all day in protest!), but the more palatable options can have drastic results... or it's the treats (someone mentioned pig ears gave their pup the runs, she loves these, so cut those out for now).

Just want a food she will eat and won't cause digestive disasters! At least they are outside digestive disasters . For now, cutting out treats, feeding the one food, seeing if it settles. If not, change food until she is OK with it.... from both ends, LOL.

Booboostwo · 30/03/2017 17:30

The I think I tempted fate with the last post...Monty is still accident free but DS has decided to toilet train himself, in the garden with the dog!

Funkymoover · 30/03/2017 18:42

Manic zooms dog here tonight. He has just settled having been a bitey horror since I got home at 5.15. Been home with hubs most of the day and been ok but not slept as much as usual. Could it be his teeth hurting him? Son was supposed to be watching him later this afternoon but hasn't done a very good job. Wees and poos on the floor and a wee in the crate (protest at being ignored I think!) shall be having words with son! Son reckons he has slept for a bit hubs reckons he had been awake since 3.30 so not surprised he was manic.
Son hasn't admitted putting him in the crate but i think he has and I'm so cross. Was doing ok with getting him to go in the crate and wait for a treat while I was in and out of the room (door to crate open) don't think this will have done much good.
Day off work tomorrow. Will Have to leave him for an hour to go to daughters school assembly but think I will just leave him in the lounge not in the crate and deal with any mess when I get back. Have two days next week where I have to go to work so still figuring that out. Will see how he does for an hour tomorrow I think but need to rope my mum in to help
Housetraining is getting better. Apart from when we are not watching him properly he's pretty reliably weeing and pooing outside

I have another question. A few of you have mentioned keeping your pups away from areas with other dogs and foxes. Dogs next door are ok and he has said hello to them but not played with them yet but we have a massive long garden that I know the foxes come in. I don't want to stop Eddie going in the garden so what are the risks? Glad the rest of you seem to be setting in. It's giving me hope that this too shall pass

BiteyShark · 30/03/2017 18:49

Mine was a manic biting horror when he was tired and I had to do enforced sleeps to settle him down.

We have lots of wildlife around here including foxes but I decided to risk him going outside before his vaccinations as I weighed up the risk of that versus toilet training etc.

Funkymoover · 30/03/2017 19:01

Cheers Bitey. I have figured the manic bitey times line up with when he has been awake longer than perhaps is good for him!
I'm with you on the fox risk vs housetraining benefits.

Owlish · 30/03/2017 19:01

DP has taken Tilly for a walk by himself, for the first time. I'm feeling a bit PFB about it Blush That's normal, right? Grin

BiteyShark · 30/03/2017 19:21

Owlish yes you are allowed to be all pfb about it Grin

LionSock · 30/03/2017 20:07

Owlish id be exactly the same. When I go to work in the evening, I go through a list of things DH has to remember and do for the puppy Grin

How old is your son funky? I'm sure it won't have too much of an effect on your puppy. Not ideal and I understand why you'd be annoyed but tomorrow is a new day. Has your puppy still been dealing with the crate okay?

I live quite rurally and my house backs on to a field and wooded area so I probably get foxes in my garden too.

Well lion pup met another schnauzer today. We went to a house he had never been to before, met an adult and child he hadn't met before and another adult he had only met once. Walked into the house and he started shaking and hiding but within two minutes he was running about nipping (I always know what he's comfortable with people when he will happily have a nibble of their fingers) and wagging his tail. Unfortunately the other dog was a bit scared of him but my pup was wanting to play and not scared at all. I've noticed that he's always wary of new people but literally within a minute or two he's absolutely fine. It's hard to get people to listen to me though when I tell them to ignore him when they come in Angry

Funkymoover · 30/03/2017 21:51

Son is nearly 12. He's been told multiple times to watch the dog not his screen.

Sounds good that your pup is getting on ok with other dogs

LionSock · 31/03/2017 13:53

Funky how was the puppy while you went to your DDS assembly? Hopefully not too many accidents to clean up when you got back.

We are still having 1 accident a day it's so weird. He definitely knows he's supposed to go outside as when I put him outside, he has a wee near enough straight away. Just one accident every day is quite frustrating. In a way it would be less annoying if he was having a few every day. Hopefully you'll know I mean by that.

Jenny70 · 31/03/2017 16:15

Just setup a fake puppy poo for April fools tomorrow - just in case you want to trick anyone, golden opportunity with young hound in the house (used wet cardboard). Hopefully Molly won't back that up with a real one, LOL.

Funkymoover · 31/03/2017 16:28

Lion he was really good. Left him for 1/2 hr while I dropped kids at school. Was a bit whiny when I left but I think he was pretty sleep so hoping he had a sleep while I was gone. Was home maybe 20 mins then had to head back out for the assembly. Made sure he had a run in the garden (managed to find a dead frog 🐸 on the lawn!) and had a wee then gave him a nice cuddle asnd settled him in his basket. As soon as I left the room he was wide awake mind! He whined a bit as I left. I was gone for about 1.5 hours. Came home and he was quiet till he realised I was back int he house and barked at me as I brough my bags in (had some shopping bags) there was one wee and one poo. Think he had just done the wee as it was right by the door. We have had lots of cuddles this afternoon!
I also think he is turning a corner as he has gone and stood by the door a few times this afternoon and has gone straight out for a wee when I open the back door for him
Yay for small victories although I'm sure I will be regretting these words later!

Funkymoover · 31/03/2017 18:41

OK manic bitey mode has kicked in again. He's horrible when he's like this. How do I snap him out of it 😭

BiteyShark · 31/03/2017 19:20

Funkymoover I sympathise mine still gets a bit 'funny' but fortunately knows not to actually bite me now. The only thing that worked for me when he was really bitey was carefully man handling him (avoiding his teeth) into another room or the crate and giving him a timeout.

All the ignoring or distracting tips that you are meant to do did absolutely nothing and just seemed to make it worse and I have marks in my jeans from trying that.

Dottymum2 · 31/03/2017 20:19

Also do a timeout which sometimes works sometimes doesn't!!! It's horrible thou isn't it :(

Original poster
SkeletonSkins · 31/03/2017 20:42

I think mine bites when he's over tired and worn out, like a toddler goes mental in the same way. Could you force sleep somehow? It's difficult isn't it.

Well guys I'm baffled. Today we went to the puppy party (great fun by the way - all very controlled and about new experiences etc) and I swear I took a different puppy. After him being so terrified to even walk to begin with, then nervous of everything (still won't go near my dad) he was the most confident puppy by far and in fact was over boisterous!!! I can't win! I don't want a scared pup but equally I don't want a rude one either. Think it's going to be a long road!

I was so impressed with the atmosphere etc so I'm looking forward to these classes. Just always worrying I'm doing the right thing and somehow will get the right balance needed for a polite friendly dog!

Our first trip to the beach tomorrow to meet a friend. It's important he likes the beach as I'm in a coastal town so it will make up a lot of our walks!

OP posts:
BagelGoesWalking · 31/03/2017 20:42

Haven't read the thread but are you all on this group?

Loads of info in the Files section, highly recommended.

BiteyShark · 31/03/2017 22:29

Skeleton hope you and DPup enjoy the beach tomorrow.

BiteyShark · 01/04/2017 04:13

Hmm that Facebook link This page has been specifically created to help you, the average dog owner who is constantly bombarded with different views and methods. This place is not like that - we are not at all balanced.We are completely biased and we all share the same views.

Personally I don't buy into the one size fits all and I prefer to do my own research on techniques but it might be a help to others but I'll stick to the 'balanced' camp.