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!

We called our a furry crocodile for a while. She has just lost a canine so she's a gappy furry crocodile at the moment. I wish I could find a tooth or two but I think she eats them.
Jenny, molly is divine! I'll try and attach a pick of ours Her name is Bertie after a children's picture book story that we got a bit over invested in when DS was littler.

Here's my terror she's called Boudicca or Boudi for short...
Totally agree on overtired puppies, we took her to my parents yesterday evening after going for her 2nd vaccinations. For the first half hour she was an angel, everyone cooing over her "oh what a treasure she is" "what a lovely puppy".
Soon after she's jumping up trying to bite my dad's nose because she's over excited, tired and bored! A swift exit and profuse apologies were made.
Re feeding, God its awful isn't it trying to get them to focus on their food, we originally used the kibble her breeder was using but have switched to a slightly better brand which she seems to find more palatable and so will eat over 20 mins instead of two hours. There's lots of praise for raw feeding around but I think until we've got to grips with having an actual dog we're going to stick to kibble.

Our little guy is called Toby, will attach a photo later when on my phone.

Absolutely loveeeee these puppy pictures!!

Buffy how did the night go?

We had a good night - only up once and I just popped him on the floor and he took himself off to the grass for a wee so I didn't even have to step outside into cold and rain!

At the risk of sounding a bit woo, what do you wash your puppies bowels with? What I'm getting at is that dogs have a sense of smell 5000x better than ours if you are using a strong smelling washing up liquid it may put them off their meal?
Having said that Bertie was fussy till I switched to raw now she eats everything I give her, including the kibble she previously turned her nose up at . I just wash her bowl in hot water only rinse her water bowl.

I've never added a picture before. Hope it works.

Mine is called Jasper.

I tried him out in the garden earlier without the lead and he was fine, didn't run off at all. I'd walk over to the garage from the house and he followed me. I would walk back to the house and he'd be at my heels. I made a massive fuss of him and gave him a squirt of primula when he appeared at my side. Hopefully his love of squeezy cheese overrides his instincts to escape :-D

PS - all your dogs are adorable

scarlet Jasper is so handsome!
Hooray for puppy pictures they're all lovely.

So cute, and we're all still smiling.

I've only been rinsing the bowl, but good tip in case of strong smelling detergent.

What tricks do your puppies know? Molly can sit, stay for an instant, and come - as well as use her dog door... hard to find that sweet spot of awake, but not too excited so she can focus on what your teaching her!

Oh I just love all these gorgeous puppy pics!! They look so angelic in that split second don't they.

Jenny Toby knows sit, comes to his name (if there's not something more exciting going on, such as a leaf), touches my hand with his nose when I say touch and is starting to learn down and spin. He loves sausage and cheese!

I've spent the morning worrying - worrying he wasn't eating enough, worried he was sleeping too much, he might be sick etc but now as I watch him try to attack some wires, and wind up our dog, I realise he's absolutely fine he does sleep a lot though!

I have a 17 week old Boston Terrier. House training is getting there but she still poos indoors at night in the kitchen.

Trying to get her to stop pulling on the lead now.

Puppy school is a nightmare! She is so overexcited she can't do anything but try to get to the other puppies. Think I'll go without her and just pick up the training tips!

SkeletonSkins I don't think the worrying ever stops as there is always something going on to worry about

Loving all the cute pictures

MyBoys, she is gorgeous! Name? I spoke to someone recently who said they are going to puppy training without their pup, it does kinda make sense!

The night went well so I was pleased. The only very minor issue is that she seems to decide that 6.30 is the time we should all be getting up though and won't aetttle down again so I end up taking her in my bed for an hour or so. I enjoy the puppy cuddles though of course.

She has been very very sleepy today. Maybe it's a growing day for her. She's been very fussy with her foid today too. The only thing she will reliably eat is cooked chicken but I don't want her to only eat that.

Judging by most on here we are a little bit behind with the training - she knows her name and will generally come when called although she does have selective hearing if there's something interesting going on. Apart from that we just have sit - she's quite easily distracted and has a short attention span.

Here's a photo of her.

Also earlier I accidently stood on her paw - like not fully. I went to put my foot down and she just appeared underneath and I snatched it back but did put a tiny bit of weight on and she squealed and I just feel terrible. Please tell me you've done similar things!

BuffyChiro don't panic yes I have accidentally trod on my puppy several times unfortunately , it's easily done when they are so small and wrap themselves round your ankles

TheWolf her name is Lollipop! Ridiculous! Took her for a walk just now and she alternately pulled the lead hard or obstinately sat down. I'm going to try a Gentle Leader head collar the trainer recommended but her face is so flat, I'm not sure it will fit well!

Does anyone else's puppy pull a lot?

And all the puppy photos are gorgeous.

Lollipop is a great name! Please don't use a headcollar it can really hurt your pup. How about a harness? I can recommend Perfect fit from dog games. My pup alternates from jumping up and down like a yoyo to standing stock still on the lead. I reward her like mad when she actually walks beside me (rare at the moment!) my puppy class trainer suggested keeping lead walks as short as the pups attention span so we walk in one direction for about 10 mins then turn round and go home, abandoning any desire to actually get anywhere we are lucky as there is a big field behind our house where I take her to run off all that terrier energy.

This (my link) is an excellent guide to teaching loose lead walking that covers equipment as well as technique. There are loads of really useful links at the bottom of the page as well which are also worth reading.

I don't like headcollars anyway (for all the reasons mentioned in my previous link) but something like the Gentle Leader is a particularly bad idea for brachycephalic breeds as if they do pull there's a real risk of it riding up into their eyes and their head structure means their eyes are already at increased risk of injury.

Brachycephalic breeds can also be prone to laryngeal collapse so a well fitting harness is really the best option for walking them so as to not put unnecessary pressure on their necks.

(Any links appearing in this post other than those marked as my own have been inserted automatically by advertising software and may link to companies or products I would neither support nor recommend.)

Joining in! I have a 10 week old mini Jack Russell terror terrier sleeping on me atm. She's horrible Toilet training isn't going too well, like PPs, I'll have her out in the garden for 10 minutes, for her not do anything, only to pee when she gets back inside She's also has a super power: pooing (inside) without being seen There's been a lot of swearing these past couple of weeks. She's also a bitey bugger, harasses the cat, chews everything and will only sleep on our bed. She does, however, sit, down and give a paw almost instantly she's asked, is ridiculously cute and is helping heal our hearts after the loss of our darling old Border Terrier, who we lost just after Christmas. I just can't bloody wait till she's able to go for walks to calm her down and so I can stop feeling stir crazy!

Her name is Tilly, btw. It's a combination for my old girl-cat's and dog's name, Tigi and Holly, which was accidental, really, but serendipitous. I demand more puppy pictures, too!

Well my pup won't even walk on a lead at the minute and just sits down ha! So you're ahead of me!!

What is everyone feeding their pup? I'm so worried he's not eating enough.

She's lovely Owlish.

And thank you for the links to loose lead walking. I'll have a look and start practising. I am looking forward to her being older and being able to go for a brisk walk!

She gives lovely cuddles though. That has been a real bonus. I wasn't expecting such affection, having had a succession of fairly aloof cats!

Buffy don't think your behind at all, I think manners and socialising are most important for our pups right now and they're learning all the time about the world aren't they! I saw a comment in an article (one of the many I've read ) which said you can teach tricks at any point, but there's only really one period of time where pups are open to socialisation opportunities!

Owlish your pup is gorgeous! Definitely feel your pain with the toilet training. Are you using treats? I found that this really made the difference with my boy although we're absolutely not 100% with it haha!

Owlish, I think I could lose Tilly in my cleavage . She is heavenly BTW.

Here's our little guy

SkeletonSkins

We have switched Jasper from Purina Puppy to Arden Grange at the suggestion of puppy training lady. I can't say I have noticed a great difference to be honest but she said it had better nutritional content.

However he eats EVERYTHING. He's like a cute, furry dustbin.