Puppy Survival Thread Part 5!

[GooodMythicalMorning]

Continuing Bitey's thread once more

The thread to be, where puppies grow and we meet new doggie parenting challenges every day.

QOD she looks so tiny

Hope the dermatologist has some answers Wolfie. BiteyDogs leg wound has healed but he has another scratch on his belly already (stupid boy likes to hurtle through woodland at speed ).

Decision time - allowed on sofa or not!

Elfpup discovered this evening that he can get up on the sofa all by himself. I'm not sure who was more surprised - him or me. He's sound asleep now next to me taking up most of it!

I've been delaying making the decision - guess I'm going to have to!

Good luck with the dermatologist tomorrow Wolfie - I hope they have some answers for you

Elphame cuddles on the sofa are the best so I vote letting him stay

He's there. Decision made!
Wolfiepup doesn't climb up onto the sofa but does reverse on to sit on it next to me!
We decided not to let her up as she would take up the whole thing, a muddy Wolfie would wreck it and most importantly we have cats. The back of the sofa is their refuge. She can't reach them there.

Indy now climbs onto our sofas. They're leather so fairly hardy and already quite old so we dont mind. Lots of cuddles today as we are both tired.

Yes it helps that our sofas are leather but I still put a throw over the cushions as well. I love it when BiteyDog gets on the sofa and lies on me for a cuddle

Hello , joining as need some advice. 65 day old Australian Merle came home. He was the quietest one of the litter. We have crate and a pen , ok we are only on night 3 but we are going backwards with wees!!. When we take him out for a walk he refuses to wee anywhere but he will wee on our terrace which is fine . When he wees in the house we say no and take him outside . Give him loads of praise when he does one. When we put him in the pen - we give toys and praise and stay near him. He has weed 3 times now on his blanket, towel and on the floor. LAst night in his crate ( in our room ) he called out twice to go outside . Then he diddn't cry / move and we heard the first wee and took him out . Then at 6.30 we found another one in the crate. I thought they diddn't wee where they sleep. He is getting lots of cuddles, play time . Should we be trying to put him in the pen / crate when he is getting drousy ? I think we have read too many books and just getting confused.

I think if nervous or scared they do but most try not to.

Hmm so during the day he has found his favourite place and we can leave him there . But we need to have him going into the pen so he gets used to it . But I am worried about night times as he was calling and getting loads of praise when he did . BU last night was a failure.... From 3 am anyway !

It's very early days Rosa. We had a few accidents from Elfpup in the crate during the first few days.

We still wake him in the evening when we are off to bed and take a half asleep pup out for a last wee.

There is little point in saying no and taking him out once the deed is done - they don't make the association. I took Elfpup out every time he woke up, after every meal, after every drink, during play sessions and every 30/45 minutes when none of the above applied! It was often a case of waiting outside with him until he went and then exclaiming excitedly ooh wee wee whilst he was going so he associated the words with the deed. Then lots of praise. At 5 months he will now wee on command.

Rosa they try and avoid toileting where they sleep but when small they sometimes can't avoid it as they can't hold it for long. Make sure you clean any accidents very well. At night I set an alarm frequently to wake him up for pee breaks to avoid accidents until he was old enough to hold it.

Thank you ! Really helpful
The breeder told us to say No - and then to take him outside .
We are taking him out every 35 / 40 mins - or as soon as he wakes up it it is outside and he gets loads of priase when he does it. Tonight we are going to set the alarm for every 2 hrs I think . His crate is a big one so he can wee at one end and then not sleep in it ! We are using bicarb as well to reduce the smells then today . He took one look at the crate when we brought it in after washing it outside and shot under the table !! HAve attached a pic !

Rosa he looks lovely

Once you get into a routine at night you can then start to extend the time inbetween taking him out. I know some puppies can go for hours at night but mine needed to have pee breaks (one time I missed the alarm he ended up peeing in his crate as he never made any noise to wake me). Fortunately they grow up quickly

He looks very cute Rosa!

He's there. Decision made! I fear you are right Wolfie - currently looking at sofa sized throws!

You'll get there Rosa! I bet you'll soon work out his nighttime routine. And as Bitey says they do grow really quickly. I genuinely thought that my girl would NEVER be fully housetrained...and then it suddenly just clicked. Could you maybe section off his crate to make it smaller whilst he's small? We cut vetbed to fit the whole of Dpup's crate and it was the only place she didn't wee!!

LAst night was a bit erratic... Took him for a late walk and wee. In crate with freshly washed blanket - he weed. Took him outside again whilst cleaned it out . Back in and 5 minutes another one in the crate . We took him out at midnight and at 2 and then he was restless at 3. Then at 5 he looked at me with a sod off expression and then when we got up at 6.45 he trotted outside and did another. We have put the crate in the living room with the door open and keep putting his toys inside . Tomorrow we are going to try the pen with toys for 5 mins at a time to try to get him used to it. Thanks for the encouragement !

When you take him out for a wee he should be on a lead. Praise him whenever he goes outside. I used to say "good girl wee wee garden". Now she goes when asked to. Very useful!
You need to start by getting pup used to crate with door open. Throw treats in. You want to get to the point where pup goes in and looks for a treat.
You mention walking. Are all vaccinations done?

Rosa with toilet training it can be up and down for a bit

As PerfectlyChaotic mentioned could you make the crate smaller if it is too large right now with some dividers so pup sees it all as his bed rather than bed and toilet area.

How did you get on at the vets yesterday Wolfie?

Hopeful! Yeasty foot we think. Some dogs have a massive overgrowth of yeast and don't react. Madam gets a bit and goes full itchy. We have to keep it uncovered and stop her chewing it. (So more sitting here watching her like a hawk) Last night she went to bed in a muzzle and cone. Washing with diluted hibiscrub twice a day and ointment twice a day. Really hoping to see an improvement. Would be lovely to be able to take my eyes off her. Gorgeous though she is!

Oh that sounds exhausting. Why can't they leave their sore bits alone . I imagine it wasn't fun putting a muzzle on her.

Diluted hibiscrub is often used here and just seems to help keep sore bits clean from their licking (and I quite like the smell )

The muzzle was absolutely fine actually. She just stood there looking a bit sad. It was a soft fabric one and not that dissimilar to the dogmatic she wears. She hates the cone though. Really and truly detests it.
The dermatologist said to dilute it 50/50 which seems strong to me. I went to buy more today. 5L or 500ml!!! Eek.

Well it is useful so maybe buy in bulk

It's not cheap. May have to shop around. 5L would be not far off £50. Was tempted though as it takes a fair bit to do a Wolfiefoot!

Yes it's dear. To be honest a 500ml one will last us a very long time but that's with it very diluted rather than 50:50.

I must one day count up all the money I have spent on him. He's worth it but bloody hell I must stop spending