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.

When Cleo was 4 months she did the recall brilliantly but at all.most ,6 months she's a nightmare and I have had to go back to training lead. She gets distracted by dogs and people and away she goes, she's so fast I have no hope if catching her! So training lead it is when I'm on my own. Will see how she is at the weekend when my dgd comes at least she can run after her!

She comes when I call her and promptly runs past me at full pelt!

Sostenueto Yes exactly the same here. It all went downhill at 5 months. He was so good when he was little!

One tip which did work was to turn and walk away from them when they refuse to come back. You do need to have nerves of steel to not stand there and keep calling them but they don't actually want to lose you. I spent many days walking off in the opposite direction to him (looking stupid because as soon as he passed me I turned and walked in opposite direction ) but it did work as he started to keep an eye on me as he then wasn't sure I was going to be there when he ran off. Because really when you stand there shouting them and they can see you they are safe in the knowledge that they can ignore you and come back when they feel like it. Obviously this works best in the countryside when you have massive safe spaces rather than anywhere that they may venture into a road.

Did that work with other dogs around Bitey? He now ignores people with no dogs, joggers and cyclists but dogs are irresistible and one day he will get badly bitten unless we can crack this .

Elphame it they were in the distance yes but close by I didn't trust him so before that happened I would walk away so he would follow me. If I couldn't do that he went back on the lead and I made him sit until the other dog had passed. The only thing that stopped him going to other dogs was when he decided I was much more exciting than them which was when I stopped 'walking him' in the traditional sense and started playing with him on walks (chasing balls, finding balls I had hidden).

I think recall came back with a combination of many things. Maturity was a big part undoubtedly, but also him knowing I will walk off without him (I still turn my back and walk off now just to make sure he doesn't think I will always follow him) and me being more exciting than a sniff and chase of a dog.

Funnily enough I dropped the end of the line completely today and found a much less distracting environment to walk. She was amazing, was joyful to watch her go and sniff and bounce back to me! I don't 'walk' as such...similar to Bitey I now get us to a big open space and play, hide, run, tug, training games - literally anything to keep her interested in me!! My fear is that if the lead comes off completely I'll be scuppered if she does choose to disappear off. Plus, as one of life's big worriers, I really don't want to be told off if she bounces around an unwilling dog or person....

Also, Elphame I was kicking myself for walking too much in highly distracting environments and wondered if that has made her always so excited to see other dogs as she thinks they'll play. Reassuring to know that you've done it the other way around with similar results! I guess it's just maybe a personality thing.

Actually that is good to hear - I can go back to my woods and fields!

I don't think either of us much enjoyed today's route march (which is what it was). He didn't get a chance of a proper gallop which he adores and I was somewhat nervous of some of the dogs we were encountering (big snarly types on double leads and headcollars). I'm used to meeting labs, terriers and collies and mixes thereof.

He's not toy or game interested when we're out - just wants to sniff about and stick his head down every hole he can find -and chase after other dogs-. I'll try walking away from him though (but I feel bad that's he bugging some other dog owner in the meantime)

Elphame try the walking away before you see any other dogs. This may mean you don't actually cover much ground as you tend to zig zag back and forth but I did find that he suddenly started to keep an eye on me wondering why i wasn't just following him and it unnerved him thinking he might lose me rather than the other way round. I can't remember where I read it but it was about when you lose recall and want to get it back, but it made sense when you think that they know exactly where you are because you stand there and shout their name but when they don't know which way your walking and don't call them they lose their confidence stubborn streak . I started off in a wide open space so I didn't panic as I could always see them but then as soon as he dashed in front I turned 180 degrees and strolled off. I did that everyday for a few weeks during the hell teenage period

We use high reward treats every single time sofa pup does a good recall...hes pretty good at it. But at 4.5 months maybe he hasn't found his stubborn teenage streak yet.

We are 8 days into this tummy bug now! Every time i think he is starting to improve it seems to get worse. But he's perfectly happy in himself now. I think if he is still loose on Monday i might take him back to the vet!

Sofa mine was great at recall but then around the age of 6 months it started to go wrong and quickly deteriorated

Missing my pup

He went for a sleep over at a friends last night in preparation for staying with them for the week we are away. The house seems so empty without him and even being able to eat my breakfast without his little furry face trying to see what I'm doing hasn't been the guilty pleasure I was expecting.

I hope they return him soon! It's funny how they wedge themselves firmly in your heart even when they are a complete pain a lot of the time.

Elphame I know what you mean, ours has a few nights at the pet sitters at around 7 months and we thought we would do so much and visit places but it took all our willpower not to go and get him back earlier as we missed him so much. They soon become such an integral part of the family.

Silly isn't it! He's fine (just had a text) and they want to keep him til mid afternoon

I'll try the walking away thing when I get him back

Sofa vet put him on ID dog food which has settled him down. he also started an antibiotic yesterday after we had the bloody stool. It is hard work as toilet training has gone out of the window in the past week.

Elphame .

I hope everyone else is okay. I want to get training back on track now he can be treated again. He's a bitey, barky little pest so I suspect I will have my work cut out!

Yeah we had 5 days of antibiotics. I'm reluctant to take him back again as he literally seems 100% fine in himself besides the loose stools. Which the vet did say could take a while to settle.

I'm avoiding giving him rich treats etc and hes been having lilys kitchen for poorly dogs. Hopefully it will settle soon.

I hope sofapups recall stays! We have just got back from a long walk and now he is snuggled up.

Next problem trying to find a pup sitter for a weekend away! Every local home care place is fully booked!

Just been back to vet and everything looks ok but gotta keep him on plain food as he's got an upset tummy. Back to his normal self otherwise.

Hope all those poorly tums get better soon.

Sofa have you looked at dog walkers as some of them might do boarding?

I really don't like the cone. It's like a battering ram. I miss him being able to snuggle into my face. Getting lots of cuddles though so thats nice.

His farts have been pretty heinous though. Might be to do with the upset tummy too I guess.

I only put the cone on big pup when I couldn’t closely supervise. I couldn’t stand the noise as he bumped into things or the look of misery.😀

I was doing that too but the vet told us off for not leaving it on him

I think they probably assume that people aren’t being honest about constantly supervising and are not diligent about stopping their dogs licking or scratching.
Big pup hardly took any notice and healed at the speed of light.😀

Yeah probably. Dont think he's even attempted to scratch the wound so far, just seems to want to scratch his neck for some reason. Bonus was solid poop this morning.