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!

Oh there is nothing sweeter than a puppy sleeping funky.

We started with a puppy corner, now it's expanded to take over my entire house with mess!!

Bitey sounds like the teenager stage has well and truly hit - I've heard it can be like teaching recall all over again. Could you attach a long line to him, even if you just let it drag behind him, at least he'd be easier to grab hold of?

I had thought about a long line but he is so powerful and fast I am worried he would hurt himself and he dives into the forest undergrowth so have visions of spending hours detangling him

Just hoping this phase doesn't last too long otherwise I will need more

Bluepuppy is home

He was not happy about being taken away from his family and was very vocal on the drive home.

Now he has settled and we're practising 'watch TV with my owner'. A very important lesson.

True to form for a Whippet he keeps trying to sneak behind me so he can have the sofa all to himself. Very cute

blue Yay glad he is home and watching tv

I keep checking this thread cos all your pups are so cute and it reminds me of how far Cocopup and I have come on this journey of growing up😆
Bitey, our absconding episodes happened in the woods. I stopped walking her there for a couple of months and kept to open spaces where I could see her, longline attached and practised recall with games and treats. Results are good and offlead is a lot less stressful. She will disappear for a minute or two out of sight in the woods now but always returns, I now grade her recall treats, mild praise and a bit of kibble if she is slow to return, sausage etc and high praise for a speedy return and lead clipped back on if I have to go get her. I still have certain walks where I am on constant alert for distractions though.

Awww welcome home bluepup! Hope you've had a good first night, the fun and games start today!!

Bluepuppy is playing and seems happy but the breeder gave me some kibble to give him and he doesn't seem interested. I did have a can of wet puppy food but to my horror it needed a can opener to open it and it's so long since I had to use it that I had no idea where it was

Luckily I found a bottle opener with a device in the other end to punch holes in cans and I managed to open the can enough to get the food out. He ate that fine of course. All that planning and puppy corner and I was thwarted by a lack of a can opener

Should I be worried about the eating thing or is it just the stress of first day in a new home?

coco how old is your dog now? Wondering how long I have to wait till he calms down :)

Open spaces are actually a bit sparse round here as tends to be forest. I did start waking him where there was few trees but that is where we have the wild horses . I think though I might try with your grading rewards and see if he gets better. Fortunately today he came back to every whistle and did his sits and stays ok so I can declaring today a success

It's a bit quiet from everyone. How's it going? Is everything fine and you are finding it a breeze or is everyone sleep deprived, stressed and face down in their cup of tea?

blue I wouldn't worry too much with the food as it's going to be a bit stressful for him. Our breeder said they wet their kibble but it was only a few days later after struggling to get him to eat that it became apparent that he preferred dry.

I would just go with what he will eat right now whether that is his 'usual' or wet food.

Don't worry about the food, everything is temporary with a pup and he's probably just overwhelmed with it all!

Things are going pretty well with us. Pup has settled into our work routine really well and is a good boy on walks (at the minute ha!). We are 100% successful with wees outside but less so with poos - still have to watch him constantly to ensure he doesn't head towards his 'familiar' spots for a poo inside. Need to crack that.

Had no puppy class the past couple of weeks due to Easter break so back to it this week which I'm looking forward to.

He lost his first tooth yesterday too! So let the chewing commence ha!

Ooo you are at the teething stage. I used to find more blood on his toys than teeth, think he used to eat most of them.

Glad things are good despite the sneaky poo's

We are going to take a few days off soon and our puppy is going to be home boarded. I am looking forward to some dog free time but at the same time I am going to miss him

Turns out Bluepuppy has also thrown up at some stage today. Not sure when. I found it on a blanket he was sleeping on.

I'm actually feeling a bit teary at the moment. I do take medication for depression so I guess it isn't entirely unexpected at the moment. It also doesn't help that I lost my beautiful cat last year to suspected lymphoma and her main symptoms were vomiting and loss of appetite.

Dogs are sick all the time - honestly. Whippets are sensitive little things and it'll just be the move etc. Our pup has thrown up a few times and it's always been nothing!

Bitey know how you feel as we've got a wedding in a few weeks that I need to sort out care for and I'm dreading it!

blue I don't have depression but I felt very down at times so try to take care of yourself as it can be very stressful.

Our breeder wormed our pup just before he left and he was sick when we got him back home after the car journey.

Over the months DDog has been on and off his food, had the runs and ended up at an emergency vets due to it. I think its quite common for stomach issues when they are young.

Skeleton have you got anyone in mind to do the dog care for the wedding? I was going to just put him in kennels but fortunately we have someone he knows to do home boarding. More expensive but so worth it although I am worried he will still think we have abandoned him.

blue I also meant to say keep posting on here if you are at any time worried about anything.

Feeling better now as I had a quick chat with the breeder who told me not to worry too much. Pup is now into the mad evening hour and tearing around the house so at least I know he's feeling okay. He also tried to snaffle my dinner

That's good to hear blue Oh yes you have to hide all your food from now on as nothing will be safe.

Haha the crazy puppy half hour is so funny! It's the crazy look in their eyes!

Bitey yes we have a friend who can stay at our house which is great as in his own environment. Doesn't stop me feeling guilty though!!

Mine is being a scamp, determined to get upstairs even thou we have a gate on!!!! He hates it when we are upstairs and he isn't!!! It's quite funny as well thou and at least he is forming attachment to us!!! Off out for the afternoon with hubby so my sister is dog/baby sitting hooray :)

Should I be worried about the eating thing or is it just the stress of first day in a new home?

It's totally normal for them to not eat so well for the first few days when you bring them home. All my whippet puppies have been like this then suddenly perk up and trough all their food as soon as it's offered. Just keep offering him small meals frequently (presuming he's eight weeks old he should still be on four meals a day) and keep the main bulk the food the breeder sent home. You can soak it or add a little wet if that encourages him to eat but I wouldn't change his diet completely unless he's absolutely refusing to eat the dry at all.

It's also not unusual for puppies to randomly be sick occasionally. As long as he's not doing it regularly it's nothing to worry about. Rather memorably DWhippet1 was sick, completely without warning, whilst he was sat on my lap. Delightful little creature!!

Bitey, she is nearly 11 months and has been calm around the house for quite a while now. She is very active on walks and out in the garden although have seen her settle down a few times recently in a sunny patch. Doesn't last long though and then she is up busying around. In fact the one thing I struggle with is getting her to relax and rest during the day. Fine if I go out for a couple of hours but if I am in the house she snoozes after her walk but is up as soon as I go anywhere near the back door so she can come outside with me even if she has only been asleep for 20mins or so, I don't let her out until I think she has rested enough and she makes no fuss but sits and waits for the next opportunity. Given I work outside and in my studio, I am in and out quite a bit. I think this is just her personality, she is big fan of outdoors but I worry she is getting over stimulated as the day goes on. She can be quite manic when we get back from afternoon walk.The up side is she is always ready to settle for the whole evening and seems to sleep soundly at night.
Glad walk today was a success😄

Coco my puppy is 95% calm in the house and the garden but yes walks are a different matter as he runs and runs and runs. Yesterday I deliberately hid when he ran off in the forest and then called him so he had to find me thinking I had gone which I am hoping will help focus his mind that he needs to keep an eye on me but it is very much hit and miss at the moment.

Coco, Eddie has had a couple of days recently where he's had a really busy day with visitors or trips out and the has slept like a log after! He also doesn't like to be left alone if we are in the house during the day (ok when he is snoozing in a basket while I work but a pain if I have work to do and he's not settled)

Has been very good going for a walk for 25-30 mins morning and evening the last few days. Has loved meeting some friendly dogs while we have been out and he has been pretty calm at home when we get back too which is a bonus

Hello! Can I join you all?! Picking up my lovely Labrador on 1st may! He's called Chester. We are all very excited!

Duck very cute. Is this your first puppy?