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The doghouse

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

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

OP posts:
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Original poster
ChestyNut · 03/01/2019 16:12

newyoiker when Chestypup has “zoomies” I took up on the settee and let her run round like a crazy thing Grin
Under no circumstances do I get up because she goes babyshark on limbs!

Does everyone have boys? Re spaying Chestypup is a girl so torn.
Don’t want to have to deal with a season and early spaying can reduce incidence of mammary cancer but too early risks incontinence Hmm

OP posts:
LittleLongDog · 04/01/2019 05:30

Twice tonight LittlePup has woken up and not weed in the kitchen (instead he’s cried and I’ve taken him out). Which must be a good sign right?!

Oddly though he’s taking a lot longer to settle back to sleep. Previously I didn’t need to stay while he resettled but now he cries when I leave.

Are yours better at toilet training in the day or night?

Cromercrab · 04/01/2019 08:21

Well, we have had four nights with Cromerpup. He's gorgeous! Sleeps a lot and is very keen on being cuddled. He took to his crate very happily, so first night, we did crate in the sitting room, us on the sofa bed next to him. Second night, crate (door open) inside a puppy play pen in the kitchen/breakfast room(door closed) with paper for peeing on. He hated the play pen at first, so I played with him inside it, let him go in and out on his on, fed him inside it. Settled him as per breeder's instructions and didn't go back to him after 11. He was shouting the place down at 1.30 so I settled him and returned at 6am to get him up for breakfast. Third and fourth nights we've done the same but we're back in our own bed, upstairs, with doors open so we can hear any distress. He's been awake and yelling once each night, then gone back to sleep happily in the crate.

So, we're sticking with the tougher love of separate sleeping and trying to mitigate any potential separation anxiety by closing a door on him for short periods and returning to make a fuss of him before he starts to whine during the day. I don't want a dog that chews his own leg and rips furniture apart through neediness and a lot of the canine behavioural experts seem to trace this kind of behaviour to separation anxiety.

I will post a photo when I get round to transferring from my phone to laptop! The parallels with a new baby are there - up at ungodly early hours, but not doing much with the long day. I want a decent puppy backpack that feels secure so I can walk out with him - stir craziness setting in already, and we've got a long way to go before second vaccinations, immunity and doggy school.

Hope everyone had a good night!

Cotonshaded · 04/01/2019 08:49

We are picking up our pup (Coton de Tulear) next weekend - she'll be 9 weeks old with first vaccination done and we have a couple of hours drive from the seller to home. Can I ask what you actually brought your pups home in? My puppy book and the Dog Listener website suggest a cardboard box secured into car rather than our dog crate/carrier (so puppy can be introduced to new bed/crate when home and more relaxed), I'd be interested to know what you used?

Original poster
ChestyNut · 04/01/2019 09:19

coton we used one of these and she uses it just for the car only.

Puppy support
OP posts:
BiteyShark · 04/01/2019 09:39

I used the same soft crate as Chesty to bring my pup home and also to transport him to the vets before he had all of his vaccinations.

Cotonshaded · 04/01/2019 09:44

Thanks @ChestyNut, that looks good - I'm trying to make the first journey as unstressed as possible so something she can see out of would be good. I was originally going to secure her crate in the back of my car, but don't want it to have negative/stressful connotations for her.
Will look them up online - have already bought so much stuff I'm sure I bought less for my babies!

Cotonshaded · 04/01/2019 09:46

Bitey and Chesty, posted too soon, meant to say where did you get yours from? Most of my stuff is from Pet Planet....

BiteyShark · 04/01/2019 09:47

I think for the first year I increased amazons profits greatly buying so much stuff Blush

Wolfiefan · 04/01/2019 10:34

Those soft crates are only for very small/calm dogs. Wolfie pup burst out of hers one day. Blush
Puppies should come with free amazon prime. Grin

BiteyShark · 04/01/2019 11:02

Yeah mine was only good up to the time he was allowed out to walk after which he was too heavy for it.

Original poster
ChestyNut · 05/01/2019 07:51

coton my DB gave us his but it was from amazon.
She’s 14 weeks and we’re still using it for trips out and she’s fine.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 05/01/2019 10:21

Mine wasn’t even ok until she was allowed out! Blush

purplegoat · 05/01/2019 15:03

Uh oh. Purple pup is now big enough to see the kitchen work top when he jumps up (have been trying in vain to stop him jumping up - will persevere!)
It's even more interesting now he can see what's there. And I can't believe how fast he's growing!

AnnaNimmity · 05/01/2019 19:36

how old is Purplepup purplegoat?

I took NimmPup to see the busy road today - we sat and watched the buses. He also went to the newsagents. In other news he's learned how to go both up and down the stairs, so the poor cats have no escape. He's going a bit stircrazy in the house.

I was looking at harnesses - what does everyone recommend?

ferretface · 05/01/2019 19:59

We bought a "rabbitgoo" harness from Amazon, it was pretty cheap and had good reviews and also has both chest and back rings so you can attach at the chest to prevent pulling. When he is pretty much fully grown we will probably upgrade it but he has taken to it and it seemed well made.

Proud of FerretPup today, he has learnt "shake" and also been to quite a busy noisy restaurant/bar without fussing. He quietly ate his Kong which we had brought for him (plus some pieces of roast chicken, it was a barbecue restaurant :) )

Whoseranium · 05/01/2019 20:21

AnnaNimmity the Dog Games Perfect Fit and the Indi-Dog Vari-Fit harnesses are both great for growing puppies. With the Perfect Fit you can buy different sized pieces whenever necessary as the pup grows and the Vari-Fit is designed to be as adjustable as possible.

I use Indi-Dog stuff for mine and really like it, their current harnesses are nearly three years old and still pretty much like new.

LittleLongDog · 06/01/2019 08:01

I’ve just caught LittlePup trying to figure out if he can chew the radiator. Hmm

Original poster
ChestyNut · 06/01/2019 09:40

little Chestypup and little pup could set up a business stripping houses, chesty can do the walls and little the radiators Grin

We talked about walking devices at puppy school yesterday. I’m none the wiser as want something that feels secure. They don’t recommend the chest harness with fastening at the back that we’ve previously used due to pulling from the chest.

The two they recommended were a figure of eight that goes over neck and muzzle....don’t like the look of it Sad
A harness with fastening at the side that doesn’t look very secure Hmm

OP posts:
purplegoat · 06/01/2019 11:15

AnnaNimity he's 11 weeks old. He's a Rhodesian Ridgeback so is going to be pretty big once fully grown.

We've jus got a small harness for him at the moment as it'll be temporary. It's a cheap Ancol one to get him used to wearing one.
For my lurcher (greyhound/German shepherd cross) I have a Ruffwear one. Her body shape and character means she can duck out of most harnesses and the Ruffwear one has a 3rd band that goes round the stomach. It was expensive- about £50 but after several years of use it looks at good as new and is very secure. I wouldn't use anything else. We'll be getting one for purplepup once he's fully grown.

Original poster
ChestyNut · 06/01/2019 17:35

Anyone use a snuffle mat or lickymat?

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 06/01/2019 18:11

Snuffle mat was useless when mine was a puppy. He wanted to chew the mat instead of finding the treats.

I have only used a licky mat when he was an adult but he does like that. Interestingly he will lick food out of that but not a kong because I think it helps that he can see all the food that's available.

LittleLongDog · 06/01/2019 18:25

Chesty could you take him to a good pet shop and try some different harnesses on and walk about a bit? I know a dog with the figure of 8 harness and he’s the most gentle walker on lead - but I don’t know how he did as a puppy.

Interestingly, I’ve just ordered a licky mat and was googling videos on how to make your own snuggle mat today.

We hid treats in a small blanket all ruffled up and LittlePup was good at finding those. Also, a few bits of kibble in a finished kitchen roll tube with the ends folded over entertains him for a while.

LittleLongDog · 06/01/2019 18:30

Another photo now he’s getting bigger (and longer) Smile

Puppy support
Pringle89 · 07/01/2019 21:03

Anyone having any joy leaving their puppy? Ours is 14 weeks and although loves his crate and night and for daytime naps, going in the during the massively pisses him off - even tried giving him the run of the kitchen (with kongs etc) just barks till I come back!

All I want is to be able to go upstairs for ten mins without him going crazy, I feel quite suffocated at times 😭 the idea of ever leaving the house without him seems like it will never happen!

Tell me it gets better!

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