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The doghouse

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

Does anyone fancy a "puppy survival" thread part 2

997 replies

Soubriquet · 16/05/2017 11:16

Here we are again

Just jump in and join us

OP posts:
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63
CornflakeHomunculus · 22/06/2017 14:16

Personally I see a massive difference between choosing how to feed a puppy and choosing whether or not to willingly cause them distress in the name of training which may or may not have the desired outcome.

I can see my advice isn't welcome on this thread though so I shall stop posting.

BiteyShark · 22/06/2017 14:18

CornflakeHomunculus your advice is welcome on this thread that is the whole point I was making. We ALL have opinions which people can choose to follow or not. Everyone should be made to feel welcome and ask for advice but equally we all acknowledge that all our advice is an opinion and it may differ which is GOOD (sorry for the shouting).

Lotsofsighing · 22/06/2017 14:30

I slept in the room next to my puppy for the first week and he never made a sound, apart from one night when he was disturbed by fireworks. And he never weed in his crate nor near it (he was in a gated area with the crate door left open). Right from the off, he'd sleep from 10.30 until 6.30, it was weird and completely unlike any of my children.

He's still not entirely reliably housetrained during the day at 11 months, but the night time thing was easy. At night the only time he's ever made a mess was when he's had diarrhoea (which seems most likely, unfortunately, when we go away).

What I'm saying is that one can't assume that all puppies will need taking out multiple times in the night - he always had his water bowl next to him and was encouraged to drink so it wasn't as if he was dehydrated or anything, he just has a strong bladder.

And he's never suffered from any sort of separation anxiety - I left him for up to an hour when he was little and now up to three hours (only occasionally and only after a long walk. Luckily there are builders next door and one of them is a sweetie who adores dogs so he comes in to break it up).

He's a terror in other ways - chews everything, digs up the lawn, had a really bad phase of barking at and chewing the trouser legs of my children, gets into rucks with intact males, can't ever settle in the evenings etc, etc. (I've added this in case I sounded smug. I've spent a fortune on behaviouralists...)

I love him as much for all these faults as for all his qualities though.

Iamblossom · 22/06/2017 14:58

Lotsof - that is great info.

I will certainly read everything suggested on here.

Don't flounce Cornflake! Grin All views are welcome I am sure.

SkeletonSkins · 22/06/2017 18:12

I think the difficulty is, people post their opinion as fact (and that's goes both ways). Everyone has different views but what I've always liked about this thread is that people are free to do what works for them. At the end of the day lots and lots do leave pup on the first night and have absolutely no issues. Previous poster isn't saying she's going to leave it crying for 8 hours alone lying in its own excrement - she's said she's going to go down every few hours for toileting etc. Lots who do have pup upstairs/sleep with the pup do still end up with seperstion issues.

I guess my view is that it's totally fine to present what you think, but it's not fair to present it as the only way. It completely depends on the puppy, the owners, all sorts of different things. It's not black and white, we're all different shades of grey and saying what works for us.

My pup is currently crying because he wants the (empty) food packet he can't reach. Tough on him!

BiteyShark · 22/06/2017 18:29

I think it's because we all love our furry beasts we get passionate about them Grin.

Anyone else bloody glad the temperature is dropping at last. Mine had just been for a paddle in an old plastic bed we filled with water. The daft thing was getting excited about the ripples he was making in the water. We have just ordered a proper doggy paddling pool for him which arrives tomorrow so hoping he likes it.

blue hope the vet appointment tomorrow helps.

Iamblossom · 22/06/2017 18:40

Totally agree with Skeleton. And thankyou for your post.

Have read all those Facebook articles, really interesting. Have printed off the first night one and the toilet training one.

Wolfiefan · 22/06/2017 20:43

Bitey my DH said no to a doggy paddling pool. Shock Mind you we would need a bloody big one! Grin
Her cooling coat arrived today though.

Does anyone fancy a "puppy survival" thread part 2
BiteyShark · 22/06/2017 20:49

Oh no, why did he say no to one? I have ordered a 120cm diameter by 30cm high one so hopefully because he isn't actually that big for a cocker he should be able to lie down in it. I do know you can get bigger ones for WolfiePup Grin

Stopnamechanging · 22/06/2017 20:50

CornflakeHomunculus I often see your posts on the doghouse and nod furiously away.
I am on the groups on FB that you mention, they are great and have helped me so much with my reactive rescue and puppy. Flowers

SkeletonSkins · 22/06/2017 20:59

Puppy class night for us and he was a good boy during stays but playing with the other dogs is defo a particular joy for him and sometimes is better than my sausages! Luckily he's fine out in walks as he's ball obsessed so would rather chase the ball but at training the other dogs are definitely very appealing!

BiteyShark · 22/06/2017 21:06

Skeleton at least he still wants to play with the ball when out on the walks which gives you a fighting chance of keeping him focused. It seems chasing birds is our downfall at the moment, I really wish he would realise they can fly and he will never catch them Sad.

heidiwine · 22/06/2017 21:39

That's great that your pup can focus on a ball when he's out. Mine just wants to play with other dogs and when i say play I actually mean bark and bite and chase.
Today he was so worn out by is afternoon at doggy day care that he slept through a big chunk of puppy class Blush

SkeletonSkins · 22/06/2017 21:39

It's really hard isn't it trying to find something they love more. Could you maybe try some attention work around the birds on lead? Like, treats for sitting and looking at you, could maybe desensitise him a bit?

BiteyShark · 22/06/2017 22:18

Ironically the birds that just fly away he isn't too bad with but on a few occasions he has come across birds that squawk at him because their nest must be nearby and the act of flying and making a noise overhead is just too much excitement so he starts trying to chase them even though they are flying above him Hmm. The positive side though is he is completely bored of horses now and apart from trying to eat any fresh poo he will run past them with a small sidewards glance Grin

BiteyShark · 23/06/2017 08:25

I do love these early morning walks. He has run around for an hour and had a shower (why does he like swampy muddy puddles) and we are now ready to settle down for the day. I am going to miss this in winter Sad

bluetongue · 23/06/2017 10:34

Bluepuppy had his behavioural vet appointment today. Vet wants him to go on medication but was very impressed I acted so early. She thinks he has a good prognosis but the negative part of my brain is still worried it might not work Sad

At least I know I've done the best I can for him. I'll try and have some fun with him this weekend Smile

BiteyShark · 23/06/2017 10:44

blue you are doing the very best for him. Enjoy your weekend doing fun stuff. When do you start the medication?

Mine is flaked out from running about like a loon on his morning walk but this afternoon we will play ball and frisbee which he adores, you can actually see him smile as he runs around chasing them. At the moment though hoping his bottom clears up because he has been eating rubbish again given the state of his poo Shock

bluetongue · 23/06/2017 10:57

He's starting quick acting medication tomorrow. Then he has a further appointment in a week. Eventually he will be in a different, long term medication but as that takes a number of weeks to take effect that won't happen yet. If all goes to plan he won't need to be medicated forever but we'll see how he goes.

Thank god he's good in the car with all the appontments, daycare and trips to my parents' place he's doing at the moment

Hope everyone's puppies are keeping cool Smile

heidiwine · 23/06/2017 11:38

I know there's been controversy here about crate training and I definitely don't want to pour petrol on flames.
At puppy class last night I asked the trainer about separation as I was worried about our pup (who does have positive associations with his crate already).
Her advice was to stuff a marrowbone and leave that in the crate with him but shut the crate 15/20 mins before going out.
Just done that - butcher provided a marrowbone for free and the marrow still in it so no need to stuff - I came back to the house after 45 mins and I have never seen my dog so engaged/focussed/content. He will only ever get the bone when he's in the crate and the door is closed. It really makes sense - he wants that bone so much more than he will ever want me! And I feel secure that he'll be OK (for fairly short periods) as long as he has that sturdy bone.

BiteyShark · 23/06/2017 11:43

I use a stuffed kong that he only gets when we leave him. However, he has recently got very bored of the filling I use so on the hunt for something more interesting that is easy to use for his prize for being alone.

bluetongue · 24/06/2017 04:46

Gorgeous photo Wolfie Smile

Bluepuppy and me have been to pick up his medication, then on a walk before a run at the park. He even got to see horses for the first time Smile

Now he's watching Doomsday Preppers with me. Not sure a whippet would be much use to me in an end of the world situation Grin

bluetongue · 24/06/2017 06:54

Here's my Bluepuppy at just over four months Smile

Does anyone fancy a "puppy survival" thread part 2
Does anyone fancy a "puppy survival" thread part 2
bluetongue · 24/06/2017 06:57

Excuse the state of the grass in that photo Blush. It's getting mowed this week Grin

Wolfiefan · 24/06/2017 07:48

Oh bless. So cute. Wolfie pup has a pony friend!

Does anyone fancy a "puppy survival" thread part 2