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Original poster

Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3

975 replies

BiteyShark · 14/07/2017 10:28

Continuation of the support thread.... anyone is welcome whether they have new or older puppies, just want a chat or are battling with ongoing puppy problems.

I thought I would start this thread off as I am hoping it might be the last one I need support from as BiteyPup is now 9.5 months old and we have survived the early puppy months and his teenage antics seem to be subsiding. Still working on our relationship and recall but it's getting better and can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel (fingers crossed) Wine

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Original poster
BiteyShark · 28/07/2017 09:36

Very funny sight on our walk today. BiteyDog doesn't return from a recall whilst in the forest. I couldn't see him as it was thick trees so kept calling him on the whistle and eventually out he pops with a deer chasing after him Shock. Ummm now I understand dog chasing deer but deer chasing dog?

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Soubriquet · 28/07/2017 09:45

Male or female deer?

Males rutt in the autumn and WILL chase a dog.

Females might have a calf right now and will obviously chase off a dog to protect her young

Original poster
BiteyShark · 28/07/2017 09:48

It was female. Perhaps she was defending her young then. I hadn't realised they were there as they hide so well. If I spot any I steer BiteyDog away but it was only when he didn't come running out straight away I figured he had found something.

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Soubriquet · 28/07/2017 09:50

Yeah I would say she's got a young fawn hidden somewhere and maternal instincts kicked in.

It's hard to spot them sometimes but that's nature. They need to stay hidden

isthismummy · 28/07/2017 10:33

I was feeling quite confused about the ignoring versus not ignoring. All the puppy books I have say ignore the barking and crying?

SkeletonSkins I'll get her a kong today. She loves her food so that should help.

Biteyshark she does have quiet periods so perhaps rewarding those with a treat would be good? I just need to help her see the pen is a place to relax. She just wants to be with us all the time, which is totally fair when she's a tiny baby.

Quite annoyed with DH actually. I found his attitude this morning really lacking in compassion. I told him before we got her that puppies are hard hard work. She's not even a difficult puppy either, so he should consider himself lucky!

isthismummy · 28/07/2017 10:36

ButFirstTea I'll start popping her in pen when we are in kitchen and treating/praising accordingly. I don't want her in there too much. Just need a safe space for when DH and I are busy.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 28/07/2017 10:41

isthismummy one of the best advice I ever heard was remembering to praise or reward them when they are quiet. He happily goes in his crate now if we are having stuff done in the kitchen and he needs to be safe. I still pop a few training treats through as a reward for just being good. At night when he is settled I sometimes tell him he is a good boy and gets a pat (not too much that it excites him but enough so that he knows he is being good).

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towelpintpeanuts · 28/07/2017 11:13

Morning everyone :-)

So ... yes, I suspect we have the first rumblings of teenage-dom! Two recalls this morning where pup's recall wasn't perfect first time - one he ran towards me, then smelt something more interesting and ran on past me, and the other one where he just ignored me for a bit. Bum! I did lots more recall work with some 'big rewards' as I'd really, really love not to end up back on the long line - it's soooo nice not having to tangle myself in and out of every bit of grass/tree etc

In terms of crate - I'll be honest and say we actually only use ours at night now - pup's not a chewer, so he's allowed the run of the kitchen. But, when we were using it more, we built it up really slowly - so starting with staying next to it, then further away, and longer stretches at a time. It was definitely his safe space for a long time when he was really little (he'd retreat in there if we had someone around he was nervous of, for example)

Towelpup had another low-intensity groomer session this morning - popped in, said hello, few strokes and lots of treats - and seemed happy :-) And then we popped into PaH and picked up a couple of pigs ears - am I right in thinking these are for supervised eating only as they can splinter? Anyone else's pup have them? We've got a hoof to have a go at at some point too Envy

Original poster
BiteyShark · 28/07/2017 11:17

Pigs ears didn't do much for our dogs belly as they were too fatty for him. However, I found dried cows ears and he is fine with them but yes I do supervise as he tends to eat the last bit too quickly, choke, bring it back up and chew it a bit more before finally eating it Hmm.

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Wolfiefan · 28/07/2017 12:04

If it is proper separation anxiety (panting and drooling and wetting themselves and raised heart rate) then don't ignore. Leave your dog no longer than they are happy for. That could be not at all or 10 seconds. Very gradually build it up. Never allow dog to get upset.
If puppy is just having a whinge that's different. My girl has proper full blown separation anxiety. If I left her she had a panic attack. It was awful.
Join dog training advice and support on FB. Great files on this.

isthismummy · 28/07/2017 12:06

I'll keep that in mind BiteyShark She's actually brilliant on night time. Goes in her crate in bedroom on night and sleeps for seven hours straight.

We went to buy some Kong toys. She's a happy puppy.

Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3
isthismummy · 28/07/2017 12:07

Suprisingly heavy to carry everywhere though. I can't wait until her second jab is done!Shock

isthismummy · 28/07/2017 12:35

It's definitely proper separation anxiety Wolfiefan She starts panting and howling in distress.

I'll build up gradually. I'm having to time leaving the house around when she's fast asleep atm as I'm scared she'll wake the whole neighbourhood whilst ending up traumatised!

isthismummy · 28/07/2017 12:37

I'll look up the fb group too. Thank you for that🙂

GooodMythicalMorning · 28/07/2017 20:58

So glad to see my boy after a long day. Still a bit nippy but not quite as rough as he has been. Very lucky here he doesnt seem to have separation anxiety, just very happy when i come back

towelpintpeanuts · 28/07/2017 21:11

Kong toys are so cool, isthis!

A good day here :-) I've sent out an email to get some mates round to train towelpup to be nice to people coming into the house: lots of lovely volunteers to be barked at :-) And first one came tonight and pup hardly barked at all - showed me up after all my dire warnings :-) AND a good non-grooming-session at the groomers this am having a little play/brush.

BUT recall has definitely gone a bit sideways - and he's got blooming opinions on where he wants to walk - just sits down if he tthinks I'm going the wrong way/taking him to the car!!

TheAntiBoop · 28/07/2017 21:54

Extremely excited to be picking pup up tomorrow!!

Any last minute tips for day 1!!

Yokohamajojo · 28/07/2017 22:24

antibop I would just advice to take it easy! Start in one room preferably kitchen or near where you'll be taking it out to wee/poo

Very exciting!! I was super nervous about the drive home with ours as it was over 2 h drive but he was fine just struggling to get out of my lap to get to the kids I. The back seat!

Good luckSmile

TheAntiBoop · 28/07/2017 22:34

Overexcitable dd is off out in the afternoon so I'm hoping we can keep it all calm!!

I was going to put him in a box between the kids on the way back and let them comfort them. Is that a mistake? It's 45 mins

Wolfiefan · 28/07/2017 22:56

What is he? Could he jump out of box? What if he has an accident?
This was our journey home. She napped in the crate and then came and sat on my knee. Back in crate for a nap. Repeat! It was over three hours. Disclaimer. I would never have an adult dog loose in the car but a puppy who's leaving the only home they have ever known I would make an exception for.

TheAntiBoop · 28/07/2017 23:00

Well it's a car box type thing so it is tethered and in theory we could zip him in but I think the sides might be a little high. If he has an accident we will pull over I guess!! I'm hoping the short journey will help!

CornflakeHomunculus · 28/07/2017 23:06

Ideally you want the puppy in something safe like a cat carrier or crate (depending on the size of the puppy) properly secured in the car with an adult there to comfort them and also deal with either toilet accidents or car sickness, both of which aren't unusual for a puppy's first long trip in the car.

With just a box placed on the seat there's the risk of it (and the puppy) sliding off in the event of even just some sudden braking.

CornflakeHomunculus · 28/07/2017 23:08

Ah, cross post. What sort of box is it?

Something like a normal crate (not ideal for travelling usually but you can at least secure one reasonably well on the back seat for a single journey) or wire cat carrier, depending on the size of the pup, are good as you can reach in to settle and comfort the pup without having them completely open.

TheAntiBoop · 28/07/2017 23:20

It's a car seat/carrier thing. So I guess more similar to a cat carrier

We can always start in the back with the kids as there are plenty of places we can stop and I can swap seats with ds!

Wolfiefan · 28/07/2017 23:24

I would rather an adult sat with the dog. You don't know how it will react to being in a strange car. Wolfie pup had a major panic and needed settling down.