Puppy Survival thread part 4

[GooodMythicalMorning]

Puppy's getting bigger!: continuation of Bitey's thread. If anyone wants to join feel free.

We keep having the discussion about whether to ditch the crate or not but although he isn't a destructive dog I am not sure I fully trust him not to chew something. It's not too bad in that he's quite small and it's a 48inch long one so he has lots of room in it.

Interesting you mention about the raw food Wolfie and being calmer. The dog trainer who we saw today recommended a raw diet and said it makes dogs much calmer. I think we'll move over to raw. Monkey dog's hour of evening madness is getting crazy mad and he's been a right tool tonight. Lots of barking and jumping and nipping. He's also decided to add leg humping in to the mix for tonight's crazy hour .

It could also be that she's off the long line. And she's older. But I have seen a massive difference. Other people have commented on it too. She's not itchy anymore either. The issue I had was the commercial stuff isn't cheap and to DIY you need to know what you are doing. Found a good and cheap supplier who owns wolfhounds and can advise me too. Fantastic!

Indys been so lovely today but did bite my leg and puncture it so it bled. (Before my pt gym session, brilliant!)

Between 7-8 is indy's mad hour

Yup 7 til 8 here as well. I would leave him in the garden to just get on with it but I don't think my recently planted young laurel bushes will survive! Plus he falls down steps and off garden walls is no one is watching.

Yes indy is like that too but bulldogs are notorious for clumsiness.

Interesting about the raw food and calmness. We can't do raw here for practical reasons but do you think it calms them as they have to work more to eat it whereas for kibble my dog tends to inhale it rather than chew it?

BiteyDog still has the odd days where he goes a bit crazy with lots of energy at night (I have to throw him a dried cows ear to chase about the garden to tire him out). I call it his witching hour

I think madam reacted to the wheat. I also think it's very carb/sugar heavy. Bit like feeding her on Happy Meals! (NOT all kibble is bad. There are some better quality ones but hard to find and I worry so much about nutrition as she's growing so fast.)
She's had breakfast. I'm psyching myself up to walk and she's lying on her back with her legs in the air! !

Yes Bitey the 'witching hour' still happens here. Full on inside whippet zoomies with flying leaps on and off my bed

Bluepuppy is now only going to day care twice a week. I'm happy to keep this up for the foreseeable future. The whole exercise of dealing with his separation anxiety hasn't been cheap but he's turning into a really lovely dog and I don't have children so it's not as though anyone is being neglected because of his expenses.

My current issue is that the only kibble he really likes is having supply issues It's Royal Canin so hardly an obscure brand. I bought the only bag left on the shelf in the Australian version of Pets at Home a couple of weeks ago.

Bitey the trainer told me that the carbs in kibble gives the dogs slow release energy throughout the day whereas a raw diet they aren't getting all the energy as it isn't full of carbs. He said if I didn't want to go raw I should aim for a food that is 80% protein.

Monkey pup was up a lot in the night with the runs so we've been to the vet this morning as he was very quiet and sleepy this morning. We're back on chicken and rice for a few days and then I'm going to either go raw or high protein. Not going to even try to get him back on Arden Grange (that's what he had at foster home) now as he has had the runs on and off since we got him and as soon as I slowly reintroduce AG the runs come back.

You don't "need" carbs for energy. Unless complex they provide a short sugar high. Dogs don't need sugar.

Dogs don't "need" carbs. Unless complex they just give a short sugar high. Dogs don't need that.

Daft phone. Grr!!

It's interesting regarding raw versus kibble. I would like to feed raw but for various reasons we can't so I use a high protein kibble (Millie's Wolfheart). I have always been worried about his lack of hard poo on walks but speaking to other working dog owners including one of my vets it seems to be common that they like to 'empty' themselves on walks so I have stopped worrying about it given he is otherwise healthy.

It seems one thing after another. Now we are over the trauma of neutering he is now limping. Hardly any limp on normal surface but very obvious on large gravel so I am going with paw/claw issue. Nothing obvious in paw and pads don't look terrible so going with claw problem. I have just tried a nail grinder for the first time and he wasn't too bad except wanting to stick his nose on the grinder . For those that use grinders any tips on how much to do and how frequently. And would you go with claw problem given gravel seems to make it really bad?

Raw doesn't suit all dogs. Neither does kibble. I looked in to Millie's Wolfheart. Seems a good brand.
Could it just be gravel is sore on pads? Or that feet slip on gravel and causes muscle type ache?
There is a nail maintenance group on FB but I'm not brave enough to try myself after last time!

I have seen him limp a bit on other surfaces but much more pronounced with gravel so thinking nails. Will keep grinding a mm a day off them until they are a bit shorter as I needed to start but had been putting it off

Oh did I say we were over the trauma of neutering? DH had just spotted a small pink lump on his wound. Not sure if it is a bite (saw a tick on him there whilst looking which I managed to kill before it dug in ) or whether it's the start of something more serious. I have taken a photo and will check how it looks tomorrow. I seem to always be at the vets with one thing or another so hoping both issues resolve themselves .

Bitey there are some great nail related links on the Doghouse sticky thread. The FB group especially is great, really supportive and lots of good information in the files section.

I use a Dremel for my lot and do them once a week.

I'll take a look at the links, thanks.

I've had another go at them as he is flat out dozing on the sofa and he just let me get on with it which was great as this is clearly the time to do it. I have only take a small amount off as I am still a chicken despite looking at you tube videos . They did look a bit long and I think a couple were touching the floor when I pressed his front paws flat so might need to have a go again tomorrow until I am happy that they are short enough not to be the cause his limp.

Not enjoying Monkeypup today I know nipping and biting is standard but he just seems so over the top with growling and barking and jumping up to get my attention. He's been like it all evening. Am trying to just leave the room when he is way over the top. We now even have the joy of leg humping (only mine).

I must admit I'm low on patience today as he was up lots in the night with the trots and a visit to the vet first thing. I feel permanently attached to him which would be OK if we could sit and have a calm stroke and chill out for half an hour. I was expecting hard work and I'm definitely putting in the time but I'm really worried I'll end up with an unruly bitey dog.

monkey it is relentless and I remember feeling so glad to go back to work when he went to daycare just so I could have a break from all the puppy stuff. There were times I thought I would have to get a behaviourist in as he was so bitey (hence the username ) but it is really just part of the puppy phase. Just keep reinforcing the non biting behaviour and ignore/distract or remove him for the biting behaviour and he will get better.

Thanks Bitey (how apt ) I confess I feel rather suffocated by him right now. Not helped by the fact we can't go for walks yet or training classes I feel like I only exist in the bubble of my kitchen or garden (thank god for the good weather since he arrived home). Doggy daycare sounds bloody bliss around about now! I've been trying to fill in a job application for about 4 days now and still haven't got it finished.

Oh yes I remember just existing in the kitchen and garden except when I went to bed only to have it all again the next day . I stayed at home for the first month and envied DH who left for work every day .

When is monkeypup allowed out for walks?

He can go out on Wednesday. I know he can't walk long distances but just the thought of being able to sit in the park or go to the garden center!! To be able to exercise him without having to distract him from digging up my new shrubs all the time!

This serves me right really, the first 3 or 4 days he was a timid, loving, gentle little mouse and I smugly ignored this thread thinking I was in for an easy ride and wouldn't really need it!

Monkey yes that'll use up some of pups energy so hopefully you'll have a calm sleepy dog after a bit of a walk.