Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Puppy Survival Thread Part 6

857 replies

Elphame · 04/03/2018 15:46

As thread 5 is almost full!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
59
BirdyBedtime · 02/10/2018 09:58

Anyone else going through sleep regression?

Birdypup (almost 5 months) has slept through the night (11.30-6-ish) since thr first week we had her but the past 10 nights has been up at least once if not twice - always to pee and most nights to poo too.

I've googled it to death and it seems like it happens with lots of pups due to teething/growth spurts/general puppiness so I'm sure it is just a phase that we need to ride out, but god it is tiring.

I was up at 2.30 and 4.30 this morning and was so tired I got really upset - puppy blues x100 and heading towards regret-ville. All a bit less dire in the light of day though.

She can go for hours and hours during the day now without peeing which makes it even more frustrating.

On the positive side though the bitiness has improved hugely in the past few weeks - thank god! And no accidents in the house for over 2 weeks.

BirdyBedtime · 02/10/2018 10:02

MrsMaisel - our trainer recommends only letting them 'meet' 1 in 5 dogs (or people) they meet. Reason being that if you let them 'meet' everyone then they'll come to expect to say hello to all dogs and people they meet when out which isn't practical (or safe).

Easier said than done I have to say - I try to distract Birdypup with treats and keep walking but do sometimes have to pull her a bit. If she comes back when off lead when she can see another dog it's treat and praise-central

briteside · 02/10/2018 11:11

Hello, been great to read all about everyone else's experience and know that these puppy 'blues' are a real thing! I have been desperate for a dog for ages and thought I knew what to expect but feeling pretty overwhelmed!

Sandy is a gorgeous, happy pup - house training is going really well. But her separation anxiety is terrible...she won't sleep without someone staying in the room with her, her crate doesn't fit in our bedroom and she is still in the exploring / chewing phase so I am nervous to have her sleep on our bed incase she gets up to nonsense while we sleep! (I have no problem with her sleeping on our beds in the long term). birdybedtime you weren't the only one upset in the early hours, wondering what the hell to do next!

Added to that, we are crate training and it is going OK but she cries if left alone for more than a few minutes. I have to go out on Thursday (Appointment that can't be moved) and will have a pet-sitter come to spend a couple of hours with her but she will be along for around an hour in the morning and early afternoon. I am dreading it, seriously been crying about it! Any words of advise?

Autumn2018 · 02/10/2018 11:45

I watched a crate trainer explain what to do when they cry.

He said the remedy is very simple, and really, it's the only way if you want to start as you mean to go on.

It's a clever little device called earplugs Wink

briteside · 02/10/2018 12:42

Love it! We have already decided to bite the bullet and embrace the earplugs on Friday night but after a little while in the tent, the -bloody- dog starts yapping & wakes the kids up.

We love her, we really do!

briteside · 02/10/2018 12:42

Never mind the typing errors there, lack of sleep coming through :-)

marioncole · 02/10/2018 13:09

Well pup's just had to have his first bath 💩

I'm a bit overwhelmed to briteside. I have to take DS to his music lesson tomorrow after school which means I'll be out for a couple of hours. I can't decide what to do with him. He howls if he's awake in his crate but I'm not sure if I trust him to wander around the kitchen 💩

briteside · 02/10/2018 13:29

Marion, I feel your pain! Don't trust this pup alone either, plus an open plan house means it is hard to restrict her to a specific area.

We are just going to have to take the plunge and leave them. Surely the first time is the worst?

It is exactly like having a new baby - I popped out on my own to pick up milk from our local tesco and it felt like I was escaping to freedom...it felt better than a night out!

marioncole · 02/10/2018 14:42

Briteside oh for a trip toTesco 😂

Yes, I will just have to do it. Still don't know whether to crate though! I'll ask DH and then it's his fault if it goes wrong.

Teddy1905 · 02/10/2018 14:42

Can relate to this thread! I've had my westie pup for 6 weeks now, who has joined my 18 month old Westie. Having the second dog has been so much easier than the first (or maybe I'm just desensitised to the chaos!) They immediately bonded, and my needy, Velcro-like first pup, no longer 'needs' me to occupy her, and is now happy to be left downstairs at night, or when I'm in work. Also, antler chews have proved a god send with both dogs, and have saved many a piece of furniture! X

fizzledays · 02/10/2018 17:51

How'd it go @duplodancer ? X

duplodancer · 02/10/2018 18:09

@fizzledays You know what, it was fine! Although he is being so naughty this evening so think he's punishing me.
In a way I think it probably is easier to just go and leave them than when you have to deal with them at home. When you work from home etc you have to listen to the whining etc. Am sure they settle quicker if they know you've gone.

marioncole · 02/10/2018 18:28

Why do they crap in the house 3 minutes after you've brought them in from the garden?

duplodancer · 02/10/2018 18:57

@marioncole such a good question!

Teddy1905 · 02/10/2018 19:45

😂 because they can! And they don't give a s.....

Teddy1905 · 02/10/2018 19:48

Sometimes it really feels like a war of attrition, and it often feels like they're winning it. Be strong puppy mums! X

marioncole · 02/10/2018 20:33

One thing I have to say in pup's favour is that he has no attachment issues. We're in the lounge and he is currently running around the kitchen with my Croc in his mouth, absolutely not bothered that he's on his own.

marioncole · 03/10/2018 06:31

Excuse my language but fucking dog. I just spent an hour in the garden with him from 5.15am then he went on the kitchen floor 😣 I managed to catch him mid-dump and take him outside but still...

duplodancer · 03/10/2018 09:49

Oh god that's so depressing @marioncole
I did find they cotton on to doing the poos outside quickly though so hopefully it'll only be another couple of days.
D dog always goes outside unless he's poorly. That said he's poorly a lot. Taking a poo sample in to the vet on Thursday - you need a sample from every poo for 3 days Shock
Wondering if he's picked up a bug somehow.
He needs to walk so badly. We've fenced everything off so securely that now he's resorted to literally ripping apart the wooden fence panels. If I wasn't ok to walk him in a couple of days I think I might end up just risking it anyway as he's getting so desperate.

marioncole · 03/10/2018 09:57

@duplodancer poo samples for three days doesn't sound fun.

I'm focusing on the positives - he slept through from 9:30 to 5:15 and I also went to bed at 9:30 so I'm not tired today. Hurrah. He goes into his crate now out of choice and didn't complain last night when I shut him in at bed time. Hurrah. And he is super cute, especially when he's sleepy.

fizzledays · 03/10/2018 12:28

@duplodancer agreed - what we don't know can't hurt us right!!

briteside · 03/10/2018 15:18

Yoohoo for sleep marion

We caved in an brought our Pup into our room last night, she slept well and did not disturb us too much so I think it will continue. Her crate does not fit but she slept in her bed - she started off on our bed but ended up in her own.

Of course - Hubby and I slept very badly, waking every few hours to check that she was OK. Which she was! It is exactly like having a baby...

@duplo and Fizzle I hope that is the case, taking the plunge tomorrow and leaving her alone for 90 minutes in her crate. I anticipate one UNHAPPY pup...

Autumn2018 · 03/10/2018 17:34

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised leaving them. Or at least, I was. Having dreaded it for so long it was actually fine on the day. I did all the right things, left her exciting toys and treats and toileted her first, then with no fuss or eye contact I just quietly removed myself. She howled as I left, but by the time I got to the end of the drive she's gone quiet. I thought she might start up again but when I returned about an hour later she stretched sleepily when I came in (again without making eye contact or a fuss, letting her out for a toilet).

She's been pretty good like that. The only time I get prolonged squeaking is at night time if I don't settled her in her bed properly (sitting ignoring her for about 5-10 minutes until she clicks her tongue and sighs and slumps in her bed). Then I move away quietly without eye contact.

Autumn2018 · 03/10/2018 17:34

She's a chewer though!

briteside · 04/10/2018 20:40

Well - today was interesting. I had to leave the crazy puppy - she had one hour alone in her crate, two hours with a dog sitter and then another 90 minutes alone in her crate until my husband got home.

Twice she was left secured in her crate - gate locked, surrounded by her toys, a Kong filled with her favorite treats, Radio 4 playing in the background, Adaptil plugged in and even one of my old worn t-shirts. We have been doing crate training every day so I was cautiously optimistic.

TWICE she somehow escaped. We now think that one of the sides of the crate was not secured properly and she squeezed through the gap (???)

After both escapes, she was found sleeping on my son's bed.

The bedding inside the crate was destroyed & chewed to death but to be honest we can't see that she did any damage to anything outside the crate.

The only issue we had was after my husband got home and he was playing with the crate, trying to work out her escape route. Houdini-dog panicked that she was being put back into it and ran upstairs then weed on our bed.

I am not sure whether to be amazed at her tenacity or concerned for any future stays at home!

Never a dull moment...lucky we love her so much (And I do feel guilty that today went so badly for her!)