Puppy Survival thread part 4

[GooodMythicalMorning]

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

My dog hates any birds. He does this ignoring technique with the pigeons to catch them off guard and then launches at them. I have no idea what I would do if he ever caught one

I live in a city and was just considering the daily places we will go (school run etc). There are a lot of pigeons. Definitely need to do some training!!!

Good news is that my house insurance has third party cover so at least that is sorted. Now just need to sit down with Dh and some quotes!!

Thank you I appreciate your kind words. I really didn't go into this with blinkers on I knew it would be a massive disruption to our lives and I do not want to be someone that just ditches their responsibility for an easy life.

We haven't had chance to talk since he came home as the kids are around but I'm going to say that a week in is too soon to be throwing in the towel and I'm going to ask him to come to training classes when we start them in a couple of weeks. He just can't get his head around distraction/rewards instead of telling the dog off for doing something wrong. I think if he could understand how good training to promote good behaviours will be what stops bad behaviours then he would be a lot more on board. But I think he needs to hear that from a professional trainer.

How long did you spend planning and waiting for the puppy?

once the dog has sIme training he will probably feel better. It is very daunting!!

I've been talking about getting a dog for nearly five years so not a rushed decision by any means!! We weren't specifically looking for a pup we have been looking at a variety of rescue dogs for a few months since we made the decision and finding it hard to find one that would fit our family circumstances and then this one came up.

I've been reading doghouse threads for years, before getting monkey dog I had training and socialisation classes lined up (bit delayed in getting started though due to jabs not completed). I'm a researcher by nature so I like to read as much as I can around a topic and be prepared.

Hope today is better monkey.

I really wish BiteyDog had developed a ball obsession months ago when we had recall issues. I didn't bother walking down any paths today, just found a patch of land and alternated throwing the ball whilst hiding a second one in the bushes for him to sniff out. He never left my side despite other off lead dogs coming over to bother him. He is however, a bit vocal today. Lots of barking to save me from the invisible monsters he keeps seeing in the garden

Not really, we didn't talk at all last night and he just went to bed. I'm so angry with him right now. Think I may have traumatised monkey pup by sobbing over the bloody chicken I have to boil because he's still on chicken and rice. I have so much I need to get done today and all I can do is cry.

Crying releases tension so let it out. It's stressful enough looking after the puppy.

To be honest DH and I have very different attitudes with caring for the dog so if we bicker it is usually over him.

Thanks Bitey, pup is asleep now so going to have a quite cup of coffee and then try to do at least one productive thing this morning.

Oh Monkey that's no good. I'll admit I've been where your DH with wanting to give pup back. It's a huge life change and I'm very much an animal lover so I could imagine even harder if you're not really a pet person. I think he really needs to hang in there. Try and incorporate some fun with pup into your day so it's not all chores and responsibility.

Bitey howisBitey pup now? I remember once joking withmy vet practice that I needed a loyalty card like for coffee when I was in all the time with my poorly cat

A question for those of you with older pups / teenagers. When is the peak time for teenage naughtiness and when do they start to calm down a bit? Bluepuppy is now six and a half months old and a bit of a handful. I've had to clear nearly everything from my kitchen counters and even fridge magnets aren't safe It's amazing how high a not very big whippet can reach!

Monkey, I don't know if it helps but my dh has already made a couple of similar comments after only 10 days. He's been shocked at how limiting having a dog is, despite Fillypup being 13 weeks & fully vaccinated, and even tho he knew it would be like this. To be fair to him, he's never wanted us to get a dog, as he was concerned that with 2 full time jobs and 3 kids we don't have enough capacity to take on more commitments and he didn't want any more limitations in our lives. The push has always come from me, but this has been something I've been wanting to do for many years and we had agreed now would be the time. So it's very much on me to prove I can make it work.

Which is hard when I haven't got a clue about so much, and can only work from home once a week....I really need to sort out puppy care for when kids are back at school after this week. Before anyone flames me - house is occupied a lot during the day: aupair, cleaners etc. So Fillypup will have lots of company around the place but not necessarily people who will directly play with him or take him out. But we do need to sort out the separation anxiety/crate thing pretty urgently as he does need to be able to cope with up to 2 hours on his own fairly regularly....

I'm panicking but can't admit it to dh...

Hi blue we have a vets appointment later today to look at his new lump along his neutering scar and his limp which now looks like it might be a paw pad issue as one of them seems to have lost the black covering (no idea of the correct medical term).

I remember at 5-6 months of age that it was wonderful with BiteyDog then it all started to go downhill with recall and behaviour. So I would say you are probably just starting with it. At 10 months BiteyDog seemed a completely different dog again and is improving all the time except we have regressed a bit in that he is eating stones again and a bit clingy/needy (I guess some of that could be that he has just been neutered)

Fillybuster initially I was going to get someone to pop in for my puppy when I went back to work. However, it was soon obvious he needed more attention so put him in half day care for around 3 times a week which has been a life saver. Not just in terms of keeping him company but other than a quick walk on the road in the morning I don't walk him again on those days because he has had enough activity with the carer. I work full time so just knowing I don't need to walk him those days is great and only being there half the day cuts down on the cost. Would something like that help with Fillypup and take the pressure off you a bit?

I second the day care idea. Even if it's just once a week it's great to come home with a happy but tired dog. The only thing is not all dogs are suited to day care and not all day cares are equal so do your homework. On the flip side, Bluepuppy has been hurt a few times playing with dogs at the park while with me ( nothing serious) but has never been injured while at day care even though he's with other dogs all day.

Ahh Fillybuster everything you have written resonates with me. I'm not working yet though but will be from around October. I totally understand feeling the responsibility to prove this can work but it feels very lonely now and even more pressure than just dealing with standard puppy issues.

I will look into doggy daycare though I think that will be the way forward, even though I'm only looking to go part time.

When I was having doubts I just kept reminding myself that a dog is for life,not just for Xmas. It's a huge thing to take on but it is also a responsibility that has been committed to. i think there have to be really major issues to return a pup

Oh dear I am the most hated mum in the world looking at BiteyDogs face. I have to bathe both areas (his bits and paw) with hibiscrub and he has the cone back on him. I am trying not to laugh because the cone has been firmly taped up so he can't get his teeth into the connecting bits to bite it off this time.

I'm actually quite open to the idea of day care (or half days) rather than visits but was put off because I thought that might be too much exercise for a puppy?

No idea how I find affordable care in my area (NW London) - please pm me if you know of anything!!

Fillybuster my day care is by a dog walker and she put him in a crate whilst she took other dogs for a walk when he was too small to walk with them. Although that meant he was on his own for a bit he still got way more company then if she had just popped in a couple of times a day.

What do you consider reasonable!

Anyone use drontal and had a bad reaction. We gave it around 6 hours ago and for the past couple of hours he has had vomiting and diarrhoea. Might be completely unrelated but I could just do with him being well for a change [sobs in a corner ]

Yes actually

When I gave it to my JRT years ago he had a reaction. Got extremely restless and just could not rest.

He had me up all night and the only way got him to rest was him outside. Ended up getting a lawn chair and sleeping outside with him that night.

Never gave drontol again.

Always gave milbemax after that

Long talk last night (lots of tears on my part , more frustration than anything and didn't get too far but this morning DH said he was going to try much harder with the pup. I'm going to get us all out together on the group puppy walk this weekend and ask DH to come to the training classes too.

Thanks for all the kind words I've been in bits the last couple of days (and bloody tired!) a sympathetic ear has been very much appreciated.

Oh bless you monkey. I have longed for a wolfhound for over 20 years. Her early days still had me sobbing (whilst cuddling her) that if I didn't bloody love her so much she would go back! It's been one of the hardest things I have ever done.
She's nearly a year old and things have changed beyond recognition. No toilet training. She walks nicely. No teething or inappropriate chewing. No separation anxiety. Calmer and socialised. Can be left around kids and cats without fear of life or limb! But the early days? They were bloody hard.
Good luck.

monkey that sounds much more positive from your DH. I think once he gets more involved he will then start to bond and feel responsible for MonkeyPup.

It's pretty shit in the BiteyDog household. D&V from Bitey last night. Not happy with the cone and me cleaning his various wounds. And to top it off with all the things we discussed at the vets yesterday I forgot to mention discharge from his eyes and they are terrible today so going to have to phone the vets up again. I am trying to work and he is just staring at me crying