Does anyone fancy a "puppy survival" thread part 2

[Soubriquet]

Here we are again

Just jump in and join us

Wolfiefan yes smile and nod and then ignore She looks fine to me as well and definitely not too big. Bloody hell if I didn't give my dog some treats he would rip my arm off

Mine was far too skinny so I have been overfeeding him and he does seem to look a bit better but he's so active it's hard to keep him like that. I would be very worried if I could see his hip bones so what an awful thing to say. Yes it's not nice seeing overweight dogs but that is going to the other extreme

Thank you, looks like i'm doing the right thing - i just need to be patient!

DaisyChainsForever fortunately they can't hold it forever especially when they get bigger and you take them for a longer walk. They key thing I found was just to make a big fuss so they knew it was good to do it on a walk

I still find myself saying my key word even now on a walk when he goes

Well I'm back, PuppyDog has now been renamed Daniel. I really thought we were making great progress, he put himself to bed in the kitchen not his crate so I allowed that...then he started pooing and weeing in the kitchen and not yelling to go out, so he's back in the crate. I've made my office his bedroom, put his crate in there. Last night he woke at 5am for the toilet, took him out and back in the crate, he cried for about 15 minutes before settling back down until 630.

I also think he's teething as he's super bitey these last 2 days and hard nips at that. With the kids being on half term and me working from home EVERY kid seems to be here...well 1 per day so they keep playing and getting Daniel over excited so I am giving him plenty of timeouts in my office today.
This weekend he's coming with us to my sister in laws. She's planning on getting a puppy in September and whilst I don't want her to just see the good stuff I really hope he isn't bitey with her children and put them off so it'll be hard work watching everyone.
Also anyone know if a puppy can go in a church?! It's my nephews christening and my dh was going to wait outside the church with him...but I figured if he was on a lap he may be allowed in?! The christening is about 2 hours away so he can't stay at home

Puppies are horrible bitey sharks . I wouldn't shield your SIL too much as she needs to see the reality of trying to manage a puppy and children.

Yes to timeouts especially with lots of kids as mine was always terrible when overexcited.

Umm no idea with the church. I would phone the church up and ask as this might vary on the vicar/type of service etc.

He IS a bitey shark! He keeps getting the same blummin spot on my thumb too, like he can smell blood and goes for it again!!

I'm off to pets at home later for something he can get his teeth into, I hope a few days of hard chew toys and us all stopping play as soon as he bites us will work.

He is allowed his first walks from Friday so I'm hoping that will help also, bit of distraction and something new to keep his mind occupied

Nylabone
Raw carrot. Freeze it too!
Stuff a kong. You can used dried food soaked. Freeze that too!
I wouldn't take a pup to church. But then mine is a monster!
Can you travel with a play pen or stairgate to keep kids safe?
The teething stage is bloody awful. All my clothes had holes in. I couldn't leave her for a moment. She ate through a wall, ripped bits of the non slip mats (rubber edge) and tried to eat it and chewed the fridge, oven and kitchen door!

Skeleton he is only 14 weeks so yes, still very young. I handed the letter to my neighbour and he told me he remembered asking previously if Bluepuppy was any trouble. He was more worried about him than anything.

I've now noticed that there is some damage to the inside of my front door which I know is classic separation anxiety. Sigh. I thought I'd done the right things. Started leaving him alone early, not making a fuss when I leave and trying to ignore him when I get home. At least I don't rent and have to try and explain the damage.

I'm trying to focus on his good points as well. He's pretty much stopped biting, toilet trained very quickly and is a very sweet little guy

By the way Wolfie your girl looks wonderful.

Right now he's on the office seat next to me trying to eat it.
I may not be waiting until lunch time to get him some chew toys. He has a bone but lost all interest in it so I'm also setting toys up on rotation.
Carrots could be good, I did give them to him when he first arrived but they dont last long in this house as we've also 5 guinea pigs - in fact no veg is safe, my daughter helps herself to feed them and ignores the fact I may well have bought them for tea...!

She is!
Mine had the most awful separation anxiety. She would cry and drool and have a pounding heart and wee on her bed and chew it up too. I started leaving her for seconds to start with. It worked. But was a nightmare.

blue don't panic yet, being lonely and a bit bored can lead to destruction and isn't necessarily seperation anxiety which is much harder to treat. If I leave my dog alone whilst I am doing stuff in other parts of the house if he gets too bored he will find something naughty to do and at the age yours is he would try and bite and chew anything especially wood.

If you add in details of where you leave him, and with what toys etc maybe someone can think of other things to help keep him entertained whilst you are out.

Do you leave a radio on whilst you are out on a talk channel? Mine doesn't care for it but I know some people say it helps hearing human voices when they are on their own.

Separation anxiety is quite obvious in mine. She showed physical signs of anxiety.
You can film in your absence if you want to know what's happening.
The FB group dog training advice and support does have advice on separation anxiety but I warn you. It's don't leave them for any longer than they are happy to be left. It's hard.

wolf just read that she is almost 50kg wow. What weight do they typically get to as an adult?

I was thinking mine was a lump trying to pick him up at 12.5kg

Bitey I'm going to try the radio on tomorrow. He cries when any human leaves him not just me. My mum had to do some jobs out the front of the house when she came over today and he cried when she went out. He also cries at daycare if he can't see a person. I don't know if that's better or worse than if he just misses me!

He is left with the run of most of the house and has a dog door to my small backyard. I know it's frowned on here at the doghouse but it's pretty much standard practice here in Australia.

He has soft indoor toys and various balls and outside toys as well as a Kong. The down side of the dog door is that indoor toys become outside toys and vice versa. One potential issue is that there is a gap under a small section of the garage door that he tries to put his pointy nose under it.

Apart from health issues I have to admit that separation anxiety was one of my big fears with getting a puppy so I won't lie, I'm feeling pretty upset about it

Would he be better having a smaller area to wander about in. Thinking more of a den where he could curl up sleep where he felt safe when he was on his own. Mine has access to an outside bit for toileting but his inside isn't large so he just sleeps in it once he has tackled the stuffed kong.

The stuffed kong is only ever given to him when I leave him as that is now a signal to say I am off see you in a bit. Maybe find a prized toy that he only gets when he is on his own and you take away when you get back. Mine practically shoves me out of the way when I leave to get to his kong

A smaller area might work. There is a laundry that he can access outdoors from but it's coming into winter here and I want him to be warm. I haven't actually used a crate with him so it might help him to have a safe space and den area.

I'm considering getting a trainer to come and see him at home and see if there's a better set up for him. Also not averse to trying medication if that helps.

We had a wee on a walk!!

Yay. Tell me that's was the royal we and you didn't model the desired behaviour!
Blue I typed a whole reply and lost it. Please don't panic about the separation. Big pup was truly horrendous. Literally never happy if she couldn't be in physical contact with us! Stairgate a can help so they can see you but there is separation. We use a crate but it needs to be a very gradual introduction. Throw treats in. Dog gets treat. Don't shut the door. The aim is for the dog to want to be in the crate. With the separation thing we basically didn't leave her to start with. Then built it up. A few seconds, a minute, a couple of minutes. There's some advice on the FB page I think I referred to in both crates and separation anxiety.
Also adaptil? Covered crate? Something like a shirt that smells of you? Soft toy to sleep with?

blue at this age nothing is permanent - my puppy couldn't be left in a different room and when I took him outside would cry until I picked him up!! He's also eaten part of our sofa when left alone but think it's boredom. As they get older they do get more into a routine and sleep during the day. Your puppy is still so long and they change so much every other week. Do your best to help your pup out and just wait - honestly wait it out and see if the behaviour persists over time.

Soub my pup didn't wee on a walk for AGES!!! It's only now that he's starting to do it!

Hmmmmm rumblings in the recall training today.... he's coming within a couple of feet of me but didn't want to come closer and he knew that meant lead!! Little devil. My fault though - I didn't take treats with me.

Off to the vets soon. He had a heart murmur as a puppy and just needs a check up to give him the all clear and write a letter for his insurance to lift the exclusion they've got on heart problems. I hope he'll be friendly - he's got a bit nervy of strangers recently!

Yes!! Royal wee

No urination from me

Good luck skeleton. Mine has been through a7/8 month fear period and people have been very scary. It's not unusual apparently.
Soubriquet phew!!
Bitey she may well make 65kg!

We are back, he was eager to go in then wasn't so sure about it and tried to cling to my hair 😂 But he behaved himself and heart has been given the all clear. He weighs a massive 7kg!!

That's good news Skeleton. We've just been on the phone to the vets. DDog is limping on one of his front paws. I only noticed it after work when he was as back from day care. If he isn't better by tomorrow we will be taking him in for a check

Blooming hell wolf that's big. You won't be picking your puppy up in a hurry

Blimey. Been awol for a couple of weeks. Busy with work/kids/dog/school holidays/absent husband for a few days too

Will go catch up in a bit. Here's my update

Eddie is now 4 months (think 18 weeks but I have lost count). We have been to puppy class (last class next week) so far doing well and I'd totally reccomend going to a class just for a bit of a vote of confidence if nothing else! House training is going really well. Odd accident overnight and if I leave him alone too long during the day which is understandable. Occasional cheeky wee in the lounge even when the back door is wide open is frustrating but not happening often anymore. He has so much energy. Sod the 20 min walk plan he needs a good 1/2 hr or plenty of training mental stimulation to help him calm down especially in the evenings. Had a day off today and took kids out this morning and left him home (this is normal as I normally leave him at home while I go to work) one wee to come home to. It otherwise no problem. He loves to chew on sticks from the garden and my house seems to be covered in bits of bark no matter how often I sweep. I'm also having to take snails off him constantly. (Well aware of lungworm and would rather avoid that!). Last week or so daughter and I have been taking him to a local field that lots of dog walkers use and let him off lead. His recall is still a bit patchy when there are other dogs to distract him but getting better every time (thankfully he will do anything for a bit of cheese or hot dog). He's also meeting lots of other dogs there! Some better behaved than others!
I saw on the end of the old thread a bit of chat about how often they get fed. ed dropped from 4-3 feeds a day at 3 months and I'm expecting him to go down to 2 at 6 months there are days where he doesn't eat much breakfast or sometimes lunch but it gets offered every time and some of the lack of appetite I'm putting down to the heat as it has been so warm here the last couple of weeks

Off to catch up and let Eddie out for a bedtime wee