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.

As someone who works with dogs I hate harnesses so I'm in the collar or headcollar group.

It's practically impossible to lead train them properly on a harness as they tend to lean into them. As soon we we get a dog in it's automatically transferred to a slip lead as you have pretty much no control over it in a harness, I really do think it's having a hold of the head end that helps! Not to mention the amount of dogs I've seen ran over when they have backed out of them.

I use a dogmatic and a flat collar never had any problems!

There's no reason at all you can't train a dog to walk nicely in a harness just as easily as you can using a collar, in fact these days many great trainers recommend the use of a harness over a collar whilst training loose lead walking.

The advantage of a Perfect Fit harness is that it can grow with your pup because it comes in three separate pieces. We just needed to buy a larger belly strap when cocodog was fully grown. We did a lot of loose lead training using collar and short lead and it has translated to loose lead on harness too.
I would really recommend having a comfortable harness for a pup mostly for a long line to be attached when the inevitable teenage recall angst hits😢

Meant to add that I have seen lots of dogs wearing baggy Ill fitting harnesses which could be a problem. There is no way cocodog could back out of hers.

Yes check they can't back out of a harness. The one I have hooks under the front legs and has a chest brace which you adjust to fit and there is no way he can wriggly out of it. It also has a handle on top which has been useful for holding onto him during agility . However, for loose lead walking he was a pain in the arse in it and could really pull so I had to stick to lead and collar for that training.
Fannyfanakerpants it's so personal to the dog and person on which suits but anything you buy now you will have to replace when they get older and grow so maybe don't worry too much and buy something you like the look off and then you can see what you like or don't like when you come to replace it with an adult size.

I can’t get a harness small enough 🙄
She’s not allowed out yet until
January anyway as so tiny that injections spread over 6 weeks
She’s got an xxs adjusted right down and it’s still baggy. She’s almost 1kg

QOD if you want to get your puppy used to a harness in the garden you could get a cat one! (I wouldn't use it anywhere pubic as they aren't sturdy or secure but it could be a good intro!)

My 14 week old less than 1kg puppy fits an xxs harness, we did try a cat harness but it was too big and not secure enough.

Bananapup has to wear a harness because she’s a Pomeranian and they’re prone to trachea problems, a collar could do her a serious injury. Being so light pulling isn’t ever going to be an issue though.

We had a tiny little dog in class once who wore a ferret harness 😁

Yes, it’s absolutely possible to teach loose lead walking with a harness. And it’s essential if you’re using a long line.

PizzaPup suits a harness better as her head is a lot smaller than her neck so a collar slips off. A slip lead terrifies her so that’s no good either.

PizzaPup hasn’t eaten her breakfast. I’m concerned because she usually eats it in 3 seconds flat. She is fine apart from that. Need to keep an eye on her today. Could be doing without this worry.

Deepfried hope she is just holding out for a better breakfast and not anything more.

Hope he is ok pizza pup and just having a slow morning.

On the subject of food how / when did everyone go to two meals a day? Dpup is six months now and it would make things easier for the two days he’s in daycare if he didn’t need lunch but I can’t work out how to stop it. He always eats any food that’s put down, so I can’t work out if he needs it spread out of it he’s just a bit greedy!

Mine started to not want his breakfast as much around 5 months so cutting to two meals a day was easy. You could just start offering more at breakfast and dinner and slowly reduce the lunch offering.

I just got back from a school show and she's still not eaten her breakfast so I put a cocktail sausage in her bowl and she ate that. I didn't think it would be fussiness as she eats literally anything

Hi all, we’ve been lucky enough to be offered a chance to foster a 13 week old whippet X who should be arriving with us in the next few days.

Anyone have any helpful tips for me?? This is our first time fostering a puppy. We’re planning on introducing a crate ASAP.

Thank you very much. I'm so glad I've found this thread as I have so many questions. I'm more worried about getting it wrong with a puppy than with my children.

GothicRainbow can't comment on the breed but the usual stuff, puppy proof the house, think about sectioning a room off whilst you work on any toilet training/mouthing etc.

As his confidence comes in, he is mouthing more. What the best way to handle it? Our classes don't start until after Christmas, but I don't want to reinforce unwanted behaviour...

stillnotjustamummy I used to either stuff a toy at him to mouth instead of me or when it was really bad I used to remove him or me so he couldn't continue and he soon got the message that fun was stopped when he started biting.

I found with my BC when he was small that when he got bitey a nap was needed. Bit like a toddler, they need naps enforced so it was into his crate with something to chew, the radio on and a blanket over the top. Leave for at least 20 minutes and 99% of the time he would fall asleep,
I think we underestimate just how much sleep puppies need and I’ll be following this with my new one.

Yes Elfpup was always worse with the mouthing when overtired. I learned to enforce naps at times too.

Otherwise I'd just distract by shoving something he was allowed to chew in his mouth with the comment - that's me- have this. Now if I say " Oi that's me" to him he immediately lets go.

New first last night - he was left home alone for the evening whilst we went to the pub. It was about 5 hours but he was fine. Normally we'd have taken him too but a city centre pub the week before Christmas was going to be packed. He had a late walk and an early bedtime and had clearly been asleep when we got in. Quick trip outside for a wee and he went back to bed. He was missed though - he can come next time!

Arghhh, pup is sneezing lots & is waking with discharge in her eyes...I'm taking her to the vets later aren't I? Why is there always something???!! Constantly worried about her 😔

PerfectlyChaotic I am holding my breath hoping we don't need an emergency vet visit over Xmas like we did last year. He's having his boosters and kennel cough vaccine tomorrow so praying for no reactions.

Mine often has runny eyes and usually it's because he's has his head in some vegetation and they check them over for foreign objects and do a rinse. I was told they don't like to take any chances with eyes so I would be reluctant to sit on it with the extended break coming especially if it is something like conjunctivitis.

We’re in the front line of the mouthing too at the moment. I’m trying to distract with a toy, and if that doesn’t work remove myself from Bananapup by sitting on the sofa with my feet up (feet are her favourite chew toys) and ignore her. If I do that she usually settles down and falls asleep within five minutes or so.

DH filmed Bananapup in her crate while we were out the other day, the results were a pleasant surprise. She played with her toy mouse, had a tug of war with her blanket then went to sleep. No moping or whining. The longest we’ve left her is three hours, we are going for a day out on Saturday but I think it’s going to be too long to crate her for so she’s going to my mum’s.

Perfectly I hope your pup is okay, they really are a constant worry.

Thanks both! Bitey, keeping fingers crossed for you. And yes, my fear is the out of hours over Christmas 😬 My gut feel is an allergy...could be all sorts at this time of year couldn't it? Maybe Christmas tree!!!!

Dpup is still a bit mouthy when she's excited. She has learnt to be very gentle and doesn't mouth my children. It's generally just me when she's gets a bit over the top playing. She's 7mths & I agree with stopping the game as soon as teeth contact skin!