Tips for surviving puppy motherhood? 🐶

[GinThereDoneThat]

Hi all, a new poster here and wondering if you have any "pro tips" for a puppy coming to join our family in early May.

I haven't had a puppy for a long time despite being an experienced dog owner, and I'm feeling a bit rusty

They're all SOOOOO cute 😭 god I love puppies! Yes we've gone for a small hot water bottle and a clock wrapped up in blanket, a makeshift toy

Must admit I'm enjoying it very much indeed but am run a little ragged by the non stop routine of feed-toilet-play-sleep about 4 times a day from 6:30am to 10pm. DH has promised to cook dinner tonight so I'm looking forward to that and a little 🍷or two soon, nearly wineo'clock!

Ps we are on day 6 of cat introduction. For 2 days cat glowered through the window at pup. Then we had several face-offs which the cat won, very easily. Cat now breezes past pup (with a talk-to-the paw air) and decamps upstairs.

Pup is home. Bit scared on the journey back, but then settled in the box!

She had a small bath in warm water in the garden and had an explore, and a tiny wee then went inside for a bit of a snooze. The cat came to investigate pretty much straight away, was a bit miffed but we gave her a fuss as well and she seems to be more calm! She's a house cat so has never met a dog before

She's had her lunch and a lounge on the patio and is now asleep on the floor on a blanket, and not in her amazing nest/crate I created charming!

Pup is home. Bit scared on the journey back, but then settled in the box!

She had a small bath in warm water in the garden and had an explore, and a tiny wee then went inside for a bit of a snooze. The cat came to investigate pretty much straight away, was a bit miffed but we gave her a fuss as well and she seems to be more calm! She's a house cat so has never met a dog before

She's had her lunch and a lounge on the patio and is now asleep on the floor on a blanket, and not in her amazing nest/crate I created charming!

Double post

Aw adorable :)
We have two cats and never had any issues, one cat completely avoids all dogs (I look after other peoples dogs occasionally), she meows to be carried upstairs and downstairs as we have a stair gate.
Another cat always wants to be with us and spends time with the dogs, either watching them from slightly higher up or even joining in play :)

Aww that sounds lovely! Hopefully the cat will warm to her. She's been okay so far and just watching from afar/having a sniff

Our cat has always been fine with our dog, her face says it all though! "Is this thing really still here?"

We've had her for four hours now and she's still not done a wee, even though she's eaten, drank and had many many snoozes! She's been out in the garden as soon as she's woken up a lot but just lies down to sleep and so we put her in her bed

It could be the warmer weather or possibly stressed/ tired from her new environment. As long as she is drinking I wouldn't worry and she will go eventually

Success! A small wee has been done and now she's happily chilling/playing in her crate - she's been an angel. I'm sure it won't last and as soon as she's settled in my life will be turned upside down

So cute @GinThere....what's the breed? By the way, ours didn't eat fantastically well first few days. It's a big stress for them moving home. We added a teeny amount of shredded chicken (I do mean teeny) and rubbed it into her food. She hoofs it down now very well. Just have lots of bowls of fresh water everywhere.

Expect a bit of yowling for a few nights ....we had it but all quiet now ...well by night 4 all quiet with shoe addition.

Patience and try your best to stay calm no matter what puppy does. It does get easier and is very much worth it!! X

She's a miniature poodle x cocker spaniel so a cockapoo (nobody flame me, it's a fam friend who's dog has had her!) finally done poo and wee outside and had a play!

@Tinkobell thanks for that! We've got some ham ready to mix in if she's difficult

@Gin - lovely she's gorgeous and a lovely colour! More spanielly I'd say .....v intelligent! Poodle is meant to be calm.

@Tinkobell yes definitely got the spaniel ears hmmm she is not really looking at us when we call her name but she's not had a single accident inside or even tried to successful day one!! Now for the night time

Reading on here helped me. I read one post where someone was trying to cook Christmas dinner and the puppy was ‘zorbing’ down the hall in its soft crate. It made me laugh so much and I thought about it whenever DPup was being a ‘high-needs pet’!

Mine has calmed down so much. He’s nearly 2 now and I’d be lost without him.

@Moodycoo ah can we see a pic? We're going to visit puppy tomorrow, 2weeks before she comes home!

@katmunchkin of course! This was him having a visit to my work the other week.

For some reason it's not showing up.....

Zorbing oh god. So far we are still accident free! Woooohooooo

Okay so the first night went amazingly! Woke pup up from her nap at about 10pm, had a play and cuddle until about 11:30, then popped her in her crate and didn't hear a peep ALL night. Not even one whimper, I woke up regularly expecting a crying pup bursting for a wee but nope! And she's only got up now because I was worried she'd explode what a good girl she is