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The doghouse

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Original poster

Puppy support

656 replies

ChestyNut · 05/12/2018 17:07

Not sure if there’s is a current thread for support for new puppy owners, would anyone be interested?

ChestyPuppy arrived on Saturday and is 10 weeks old.
Finding it tough as forgot how brutal the early days are. Our Chestydog died after 12 years earlier this year, he was my best friend Sad

Highlights of today have been...
Standing in the pouring rain in pjs and a coat shouting “do wee wees”

Dealing with a puppy pad snow storm from her shredding during the night.

Turning into a bitey hyperactive monster during a visit from my friends

Please tell me it gets better?Grin

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Thread gallery
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Wolfiefan · 26/12/2018 21:58

My favourite all time story is the dog that ate the stairs. No not the carpet. The actual staircase. Thank fuck it wasn’t mine. Shock

Original poster
ChestyNut · 27/12/2018 07:46

wolfie and snap aaw don’t say that Xmas Grin
I’m hoping the kitchen wall was a one off never to be repeated!

Dragged self out of bed to see to Chestypup and she came out of crate to say hello then promptly went back in and snuggled up in her crate Xmas Hmm

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BiteyShark · 27/12/2018 07:51

One of my old parents dogs had a thing for kitchen walls. It must be an acquired taste Grin

Wolfiefan · 27/12/2018 08:18

Mine went through a wall. It was just the one! Grin

Original poster
ChestyNut · 27/12/2018 08:38

In a way it’s reassuring that I don’t have a delinquent pup as others do it and I’m hoping they’re angelic adult dogs now Xmas Grin

Chestypup eventually came out, had food, took self for a poop and got back in her crate in the kitchen! I’ve pottered about and come in the living room and she’s still in there Xmas Hmm

Should I wake her up? She slept 10:30- 07:30 when I got up.

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LittleLongDog · 27/12/2018 08:59

Merry Christmas! All your puppy photos are the cutest!

LittlePup has had the best time tearing up wrapping paper helping to unwrap presents.

Bit worried about getting him back into a routine as he was doing 9-6 before Christmas. But all the Christmas chaos has disturbed that. Plus we’ve been staying with family.

Back home today and looking forward to it!!

LittleLongDog · 27/12/2018 08:59

Chesty let sleeping dogs lie. Wink

Maxdoggy · 27/12/2018 09:27

Hi folks,
Maxdoggy was given a Kong by my MiL for Christmas. He already likes chewing it but any ideas of what we could put inside ?

KateGrey · 27/12/2018 09:29

As people with new pups I hope you don’t mind me asking your advice. My mum is in at me to get a puppy and saying how good it would be for my three kids (10,7,5) but the youngest two have autism and the youngest is non verbal. And already doesn’t sleep well at all so I’m thinking a dog would add more stress to my life but I wanted to hear from people who have puppies and who are experiencing raising a puppy now.

All your dogs are super cute.

LittleLongDog · 27/12/2018 09:36

Kate, a young puppy will absolutely add stress to your life. But there are charities and organisations that match service dogs to people with autism. eg www.dogsforgood.org/

Max you can put anything in it! As it’s Christmas, LittlePup’s had mostly turkey in his lately. We usually feed him one of his meal allowances with it.

Original poster
ChestyNut · 27/12/2018 09:43

kate if you have time read back through the thread. A puppy is definitely stressful.

Max we got some kong liver paste she loves! We’re going to try peanut mutter she was given for Christmas Xmas Grin

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KateGrey · 27/12/2018 09:51

I’ve been following the thread with interest and slight fear. Its been an eye opening read.

Original poster
ChestyNut · 27/12/2018 13:05

kate I’m sure some people breeze through the puppy stage so wouldn’t come on a support thread?

Don’t let us put you off Xmas Grin

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Sarahmoore0510 · 27/12/2018 13:34

Anyone’s pup not that keen on walks? He gets super excited about going for a walk when he sees the lead but then a few mins from home he cries and pulls towards home!

Is it just because he’s young and scared?!

It’s not very fun!

Wolfiefan · 27/12/2018 13:38

Young puppies don’t need much on lead walking. A few minutes per month. They need to experience different sights and sounds. Feel different surfaces under their feet. Get used to traffic etc. Slowly.

Original poster
ChestyNut · 27/12/2018 14:03

sarah mines not keen either! Spent ages sat refusing to move this morning! Stops for every bike, car, person, dog that passes but it’s all good experience for her.

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Calmed · 27/12/2018 18:25

I remember going to a pre-natal class, when I was pregnant. The Mid-wife asked us to give all the positives and negatives of having a baby. The list of negatives was VERY long - less sleep, less money, less free-time etc. Very few positives. In fact she asked, why any of us were having babies, if we felt that way! But the problem is that the positives are hard to put into words - they are less concrete, less tangible.

My son has autism and grew up with our beautiful girl, who passed a few months ago. She was so 'naughty' as a puppy and such hard work, but welcoming her into our family was one of the best decisions I ever made - my son said he felt like he'd lost a sister, when she passed.

It's a very personal decision, one to do after careful thought, but don't underestimate how much love and laughter a wonderful dog can bring into your life :)

LittleLongDog · 28/12/2018 10:08

Vaccinations went well yesterday. (But it was heartbreaking to hear him cry when it stung.)

The vet made a good suggestion for training that I hadn’t heard of before and thought I’d share: just like you use high value treats for recall training, use a different high value treat that they wouldn’t normally have when teaching drop/leave it.

LittlePup is quite good at ‘leave it’ but I’m sure if he got hold of something he really really wanted to keep then it would be a different story!

RockingAroundTheChristmasTree1 · 28/12/2018 10:12

@Wolfiefan puppies do need to be lead walking..a few minutes a month?!

LittleLongDog · 28/12/2018 10:20

Rocking, Wolfie said a few minutes per month.

I took that to mean if they’re e.g 3months you only need to take them out for roughly ten mins. Not that they should only be walked once a month for a few minutes. (ie when they’re tiny it’s more the experience than the length of walk.)

Is that what you’re saying Wolfie?

BiteyShark · 28/12/2018 11:21

The guidance is a 5 mins per month of age twice a day so a 4 month would do 20 mins twice a day. However, this tends to apply for lead walking because off lead they can run at their own pace but on lead they have to walk at yours. It's a guide rather than a strict rule and it's to get you to think about how much and what type of exercise is suitable given that too much too young can affect joints as they are growing.

Wolfiefan · 28/12/2018 13:57

Haha. No not a few minutes each 30 days. Yes what Bitey said.
At 3 months my giant breed only had about 10 minutes walking on lead.

Cotonrafa · 28/12/2018 15:12

Has anyone left their puppy home alone yet? Ours is now 15weeks but still quite timid, will sleep in his crate all night alone but know we are going to have to bite the bullet and try the ‘home alone’ or we will never be able to leave the house again!

DanielCraigsUnderpants · 28/12/2018 17:28

I leave mine crated for two hours between me going to work and my mum or dad coming to be with them for the day. He has my older dog with him. It's one of those things I feel (my opinion only) it's better to start with as soon as possible so they get used to it. I leave him with a kong to keep him busy and they have the telly on for background noise

Original poster
ChestyNut · 28/12/2018 18:09

coton we’ve leave Chestypup for an hour crated with her bed and toys (huge crate) between me leaving for work and DM getting up.

We’ve also left her for an hour to go to the shops, crated.

What fresh hell is this? She can get up on the sofa Hmm

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