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.

I put a message on a facebook group and that's all I got in reply! Oh, I never needed to get up. Right through from the first night.

The best way to think about it and resist poking people with sticks is that people will always be battling with 'something'. Yours is sleeping whereas theirs might be settling in the day, excessive biting etc.

Absolutely exhausted here. The last of my 8 xmas house guests have gone home. 2 old school "you must show them who's boss" types and one non dog loving "know it all". This last one shut the pup in the kitchen and told me off when I went to him because he was crying....

Poor elfpup - a loud chorus of no whenever he did anything "naughty". Completely counterproductive of course - it just confused him and took his attention away from me, stopping my instructions being listened to.

Peace reigns. DP is going to take him for a nice long walk and I'm going back to bed. I should be tackling the clear up but frankly don't have the energy.

Oh Elphame that sounds stressful and very hard to ignore when they are your guests when you probably wanted to shout 'shut up' at them.

Very dull here, trying to keep BiteyDog entertained without too much running about. Think both of us are bored.

Do you think it's like babies? All the other mums brag that their baby slept through from 4 weeks, and then when they get to about 3, they all admit it was hell and sleeping through really meant 12-4.

I'll admit that I gave up with the crate at night within half an hour. She will happily sleep on the floor on a blanket and then after her 4am wee, she's on the end of my bed, otherwise she seeks out the cat to play.

Fanny I think it's a combination of all puppies being very different and have different issues as well as people 'forgetting' how difficult they were now they are an adult dog. Saying that I am sure there are a few 'easy' puppies which makes me very jealous [light hearted] but then most of us on this thread don't have one of those

My pup was easy to toilet train and the getting up during the night didn’t bother me as I’m a rubbish sleeper anyway. We do however have other problems. Honestly, I think some of it is just luck of the draw.

Bluepuppy had his longest car ride ever today. He was very good We both explored new beaches and shared fish and chips. We’re both shattered now (and I’m sunburnt.)

blue I am very jealous, eating chips walking along the beach is just lovely. I am going stir crazy sat in the house so your day sounds just fab

Thanks Bitey it was mostly. Pup got to see a big boat for the first time (ferry) and dogs going on there. It was pretty noisy when the ramp went up and the engine got going and he barely flinched. Making the most of the good weather as it’s meant to be 42 degrees by next weekend

I still had a bit of a blub driving home. Think long term Bluepuppy really needs a doggy friend but obviously that won’t happen overnight. In the meantime I am going to ask the vet if there’s anything else I can try medication wise even if it’s only something he can take short term. As much as I get stressed out leaving him at the moment not being able to keep him would really be detrimental to my mental health.

Elphame ooo, the temptation to run around at night, locking them all in their rooms and shouting 'no' loudly when they complained in the morning! .

I know what you all mean about babies. I am strongly suspecting I've got myself a high maintenance one, but he will fit in well here! He's already the puppy version of my DS. Anyway, I couldn't work full time anymore and I've wanted a dog forever but I was working 70-80 hour weeks so it wasn't possible. Ill health put an end to that and depression followed as suddenly I had too much time on my hands and had gone from my very sociable teaching job to nada. I got puppy for me after 18 months of thought as a companion because I know I'll have the time. I'm going to be with him during the day so I can train him and he seems up for that. He is certainly food led at the moment! He is lovely and I am happy through my wave of knackeredness.

blue I hope you manage to get sorted with him.

Oh blue I hope they can find something to help short term as I know you have tried lots. It's horrible to think they are sad when we leave them and I don't know what to say to help but I know I can be sad and still have a good life and I honestly think bluepup has a good life. Not many people can have someone at home 24/7 and even then that doesn't always mean the dog gets the attention they want. Are you thinking of another whippet in the future, double trouble whippet mischief

KinkyDorito I know what you mean about always wanting a dog. I am the wrong side of 40 and always wanted my own dog throughout my adult life. We got one now because of flexibility at work and that we can afford to outsource care when we are out. What I didn't anticipate though is having to be around so much through all his illnesses and accidents as then you can't send them to day care. Wouldn't swop him for the world though

They do become a real companion and 'best friend'. The things I tell my dog when I get home and off load after a hard day

Just catching up! I'm currently without PerfectPuppy (she really should be ChaoticPuppy) as we're away & she's staying with family. Am being ridiculous & worrying about all my careful consistent training going out of the window. I know she's perfectly safe and very loved there though 🙈 Kinkydorito I felt like a had a newborn again in the early days...I was EXHASUTED!! But remember that it passes really quickly. I thought I would be getting up at 5am every morning but now she can hardly be bothered to raise an eyebrow much before 9!! I still feel as though I'm messing it all up. Spoke to my trainer about this & she agreed that most put barely any effort it - so I think we're doing ok folks. How's the paw today Bitey? xx

Perfectly he was limping a bit this morning but seems ok at the moment and he's got plenty of antibiotics. Vet thought as they had now stapled it together we might be ok waiting till Tues for another dressing change but it doesn't tend to stay on so I think we will have to do the emergency vets tomorrow as a stop gap anyway. It's so frustrating as we are having to keep him in except for toileting and he can't play much inside. Boring!!

As to your point of training. I think lots of people just don't bother with it at all and here we are worrying ourselves potty that we aren't doing enough or getting it wrong. With all BiteyDogs illnesses and accidents our training has gone out of the window for weeks on end but usually you can pick it up again fairly quickly.

Agree about doing what you can with training. Bluepuppy has come on in leaps and bounds with his on leash walking and I actually enjoy walking him now His recall is abit rubbish at the moment though. I know I should have been reinforcing it more but like Biteypup he’s had other issues and I’ll work on it when I can.

Bitey yes it would be another whippet. It might be an older pup or younger dog. Not sure at this stage. Obviously this plan isn’t without risk but I know lots of other whippet owners that had tried everything for separation anxiety and another dog was the cure.

The thing is to take him out and about he just seems like a normal dog and he loves going new places. It’s not as though he’s an anxious dog all the time.

I like the thought here. Most people I know don't do much with their dogs except walk them. Some don't even do that.

A quick Kong question. I have frozen some with sweet potato mash mixed with roast chicken bits. Do I give him a frozen one or thaw it a bit? Choice of menu is because he's raw fed so no kibble. Also, I was looking at some of the Ella baby food pouches - has anyone used these in a frozen Kong? Thanks .

I'm shattered and pup is fast asleep already. Hoping for an easier night.

Blue we were saying the same about Dsis's dog who is a mongrel, with some collie. Her separation anxiety is quite severe and she is very destructive. She's frightened of other dogs and was scared of their old dog, but we suspect she misses her as she was never as bad before. I think DSis is worried about making it worse as she's such an anxious dog.

KinkyDorito you can give them the frozen kong but the only time I tried frozen food he turned his nose up at it but mine was being particularly fussy when I tried and I never bothered again through laziness.

When will this rain end? I have just spent 10 mins in the garden getting wet encouraging BiteyDog to do his last pee and poo as I want a lie in tomorrow. He really didn't want to walk on our muddy boggy garden and I don't blame him but was determined to get him to go. It was like toilet training all over again (BiteyDog please pee, no you can't go back in, please pee and repeat )

The rain swept away the snow here and left us also with a marsh. My house is covered with tiny muddy paw prints!

I'll try the Kong frozen and thaw the others if he's not fussed. It might be more appealing in summer.

Meant to ask - how did people get on with putting on collars at night for going outside? He's in a crate so not allowed a collar, cries for a wee so I take him out. He's turned into a rocket when awake and not too cold, so I'm worried he'll stuck in the back hedge at night when he's difficult to keep track of! I figured I'd have to try and get on his collar on the doormat and risk the accident indoors. I just wondered how others navigated this?

I bet you can all tell I'm a worrier - I'm hoping the future dog walks will chill me out a bit!

I never used a collar and lead for toileting but we sectioned a bit of the garden off so he just got plonked down in that so there was no risk of losing him. I think it might have been easier sometimes with a lead but mine was not partial to one as he would just turn and grab and bite through it when I practiced in the garden .

I take it you have a plastic clip together one rather than a buckle which would be more fiddly. Perhaps make it a bit looser than normal and have the lead already attached so you can clip and take out more quickly.

That's a good idea. He has quite a curly coat so I'm worried I'll pinch him. Sectioning off a bit of garden is a good idea too! Thanks very much. . It feels like a minefield of strategy at the moment!

Plus side, he is fast asleep and no whining going down tonight. Baby steps.

Hi bitey, sorry to see biteydogs paw still causing grief. Hope the staples are working. Cocodog has a poorly tum at the moment although seems fine in herself. Think the over excitement of Christmas has caught up with her!
Kinkydorito, has your pup had a Kong yet? I freeze them now to make them last longer but when a pup gave the first few loosely filled to encourage her , then stuffed much firmer and then frozen. I also find the Busy Buddy toy very good. It requires much less food in it but takes cocodog a good while to ferret out the food. Tip, don’t put leftover peas in it cos it’s not as easy as a Kong to wash up.😁
Quick question to any of you with spaniels, don’t want to start another thread... do you clean inside ears and how. Cocodogs smell fine and I have occasionally waved a wad of damp cotton wool around but not sure whether this is enough or how often.

Coco poor pup, hope the tum clears up.

I haven't cleaned his ears at all but I do have a quick look in them every now and again and I think the worst I found was a tick. Not sure whether I should be doing so or not so you have reminded me to look more often although personally I still wouldn't clean them unless they looked dirty. Saying that, keeping on top of his general health such as cleaning teeth, grinding nails etc tend to take a back seat when he's ill so maybe I am not the best person for stuff like that.