Puppy Survival thread part 4

[GooodMythicalMorning]

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

I remember those days. Deepest darkest winter. Sitting on the kitchen floor being bitten and watching for pee. Really really hard.
Getting out helps. No they can't walk far but just being able to get out and sit and watch the world or smell new smells tires them out!
Cornflake I'm not brave enough to dremel. Something to aim for?! We are claw clipping at vets and she's finally starting to relax. I'm not happy to do it until she's calm and I can be shown how to do it safely. Still tippy tapping at the moment. But better.

It really does.

Wolfie to be honest I bought the grinder (wohl but looks similar to a dremel) as a back up as I was planning to just let groomer cut them or go to the vets. If it hadn't been for the limping, which seems similar to when he fractured his nail the last time, I wouldn't have bothered trying and am very very surprised that I managed to do a bit today albeit when he was mostly dozing.

money just being able to put a lead on them and step outside the door really helps so hopefully soon you will have a bit of normality back

Stupid question! Wolfie pup had inflammation at point nail met paw. Anything there? Between pads? Beware the bloody grass seeds!

I have run my fingers between his pads and moved his fur back as I did wonder about grass seeds but couldn't see anything. If the nail grinding doesn't improve it by early next week I think another trip to the vets will be on the cards (thank god I get a discount on consultations with the VIP deal )

Phew. Only right bitey should be a VIP mind!

I find using the Dremel much less scary than the clippers!! It's pretty obvious the dogs prefer it as well, even after all the work I've put in they only tolerate the clippers whereas on Dremel-day there's a scrum to see who can get done first

As you only touch the tool to the nail for a fraction of a second at a time it's actually really hard to go miles too short like you can with clippers. Quicking them with a grinder just means you get a tiny little pin prick of blood which stops within seconds. On the occasions it's happened none of mine have even noticed and these are the dogs who will keel over on a walk because they stood on a nettle

Monkey I used to carry pup to school and back when I did the run, he loved the attention and it tired him out a bit as we really struggled with being stuck at home. He's been able to go out for walks for the last four days and it's been so good to actually get him out the house.

For leaving alone during the day I've got a pen, about a meter square that my friend lent me, he only ever goes in his crate at night time so at least when I leave to go to work / shop / shower I know the house and the dog are safe. My house is open plan and I can't close him into one room so this works well for us.

Indy has decided he doesnt like going outside for wees or poos in the rain so will run straight back inside and pee on floor when its raining. I stand out there with him in the hope he'll go but nope. He's ok when I take him on rainy walks but i guess with the lead on he hasnt much choice

Yes he stays in a pen if going out without him so he knows crate is his bedspace.

Can I join in please? Picked up our little pup yesterday and he is a adorable, loveable bundle of chaos!

I would take him on the school run but dogs aren't allowed on the premises even when picked up although could try meeting a friend at the school gate and one of us walking the children in. I won't be ever tying him up at the school gates I see far to many dogs harrassed by unsupervised children at the end of the school day.

Am also wondering about getting a pen or a room divider for the kitchen so I can leave him unsupervised. I would let him have the run of the kitchen as there is a stairgate but DH will go bonkers if tables and chairs get chewed (I think it's fair to say he's a bit stressed by our new arrival!)

On the upside we have had a slightly calmer morning as DH and boys are out so I've been able to do lots of reinforcement and walking out the kitchen when he gets to bitey/jumpy. I think it will be easier next week with the kids at school and DH at work I can really focus on training and good manners without too many distractions.

Had our little pup for a week. My other dogs hated having their nails clipped so I'm determined this one will like it. I've bought a dremel, but she runs a mile to get away from the noise. How did you get your puppies used to the grinder?

Didn't think about school grounds. My dc are allowed to leave on their own so I just wait at the gates - it's definitely way too crazy to leave a dog on his own at going home time.

I've been thinking we were doing great at toilet training as had no accidents for a week but had a few in the last couple of days, think it's my own fault for getting complacent. He never goes in his pen but I've been letting him have the run of downstairs while I'm upstairs or sorting laundry and he's gone beside the back door twice - if I'd been paying attention I could have let him out so I've learned that lesson!!

Course you can slave. More the merrier.

Welcome to the madness slave

What sort of pup do you have?

Where are you getting your dremels from? Think it will be the way to go for me seeing my first attempt at nail trimming ended in a bloody disaster (literally).

How often are you supposed to clip their nails?

I bought a wahl battery pet nail grinder of Amazon for my pups nails.

TheAntiBoop no idea, the vet suggested when they get long and told me how to gauge it but when I went a few months ago thinking they were long the vet said they didn't need doing. However, yesterday when I looked when his paw was flat and he was stood up his nails touched the floor which I think means they need doing :)

Welcome slave and waves to everyone else. I'm soaked from walking in torrential rain so just drying off and getting warmed up.

How often are you supposed to clip their nails?

It depends on the dog really and how quickly their nails grow. Some people do it every few days, some once a week and some leave it a bit longer. I do mine weekly and I definitely couldn't get away with leaving them any longer between trims.

twojules I'd highly recommend the information about counter conditioning and desensitisation in the 'Files' section of the Nail Maintenance for Dogs FB group. I'll post some of the links here a bit later, I'm actually just about to do my dogs' weekly Dremelling session

We have a monthly check up with the vets as a package deal so she does them then.

Yay! He is a rottweiler pup got to get him booked into the vets on Monday for a check and to arrange his second lot of immunisations. Also to arrange his insurance as our local vets use their own so once his 4 weeks free has run out we will need to get that sorted. I'm sure I didn't think this through as I now have a 4yo 3yo 18mo and a rottweiler puppy its mayhem in my house right now.

Been on a very wet walk. The boy now.

These are some of the videos from the FB group I mentioned up thread (plus a few that I like) that are really worth looking at if you're struggling with nail trims:

and , the whole channel is worth a look as she's got some other great videos on teaching a dog to self trim on an abrasive surface and , again worth looking at some of her other videos as she's got some other quite good nail related ones

How to Desensitise Your Pup to a Nail Grinding Tool

Whilst I was getting my lot comfortable with having their nails done (it took a while as we weren't starting from a good place, because I was scared of quicking/hurting them with the clippers I had very effectively taught them to be worried by the whole experience) I also did some work on getting them to self trim just to keep on top of things so their nails didn't just keep on growing and growing until I was able to actually clip/grind them.

Using a scratch board is a really great option as it involves no handling of the feet at all, it's all done by the dog, and you can even train them to do it with their hind feet as well.