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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:
Thread gallery
56
GetTheStartyParted · 01/03/2019 18:20

It feels relentless some days doesn't it! We've had our pup for almost 6 weeks now, she doesn't try to bite us every time we touch her now Grin shoes are still not safe though.

Boatsnack3 · 02/03/2019 11:42

Our boy has never been very bitey but he chews everything. He's currently on his 3rd bed, God knows how many toys and balls have gone in the bin not too mention the wallpaper, sofa cushions and the wall next to the stair gate. My house is going to need renovated by the time this pup is done. Hes lucky he's cute.

Pringle89 · 02/03/2019 18:36

Anyone else still struggling to leave their puppy alone for short periods? We’ve had builders in for a month so not been able I leave due to nowhere safe/people coming in and out. He’s 5 months and I worry I’ve left it too late. I’m not talking about long periods of time - my husband works from home. Ideally would like to be able to go to cinema with kids for three hours at the weekend rather than one of us staying at home. I feel so suffocated still times. He’s fine if we leave a long etc but that lasts 30 mins max then he barks like crazy.

Any advice if you have succeeded with leaving home alone yet?! X

Original poster
ChestyNut · 02/03/2019 19:19

MrsOh let me know if the biting ever stops Grin

5 and a half months here and still baby shark at times! I admit it’s less frequent than in the beginning. She will back up for a stroke and she chomps at the air like she can’t help it Grin
We have a rope toy we shove in her mouth when she starts!

OP posts:
FrangipaniBlue · 02/03/2019 20:21

We crate trained from the day we brought FrangipaniPup home @Pringle89 and have no issues leaving him because we know he's safe and can't damage anything or more importantly, hurt himself.

He goes in when being left alone, and sleeps in it at night.

Also handy for mealtimes because he is a food pest!!!

Pringle89 · 02/03/2019 20:35

@FrangipaniBlue he is crate trained, sleeps there all night and happily takes himself to sleep there during the day - however if we put him in during the day (even if tired and walked) and go out even a quick school run he barks like crazy and I’m
Worried about my neighbours!

Pringle89 · 02/03/2019 20:35

Sorry should say if we put him in there in the day and go out he kicks off - fine in the crate it we are in x

MiniCooperLover · 02/03/2019 21:56

We tried the crate when she first came home (a week tomorrow) but it only works if the crate door is open. Closed and she gets so upset. So now I leave the door open, Radio2 on and do a quick 'bye see you soon' and so far up to 2 hours has been ok. Mostly it's 30 mins or so but a couple of longer ones.

FrangipaniBlue · 03/03/2019 08:14

Aww bless him!!

It sounds like separation anxiety, did you see Dogs behaving badly on C4 this week?

It was a pig that wrecked the house and pooped everywhere while she was out and he said that's what it was.

He got her to go out the front door but walk back in 1 minute later, then walk back out again, then back in, repeat, repeat but gradually increasing how long she stayed out up to 10 minutes.

He then got her to do the same thing the next day, and the next, slowly increasing the time she was out.

He also told her not to make a fuss of the dog before she left and when she cane back, just a cursory matter of fact pat on the head.

See if you can find the episode on demand?

Could maybe try that?

FrangipaniBlue · 03/03/2019 08:37

Pug not a pig lol

Pringle89 · 05/03/2019 18:38

FrangipaniBlue Just watched this episode, spent ten mins or so today going in and out looking like a crazy person copying what he did, could not believe it after ten mins he laid down when I left and came back 5 mins later still laid there - no barking! Left him to do the school run, prob 20 mins and no barking at all! (He was outside of my doggy camera vue so not sure if he was asleep but calm and no barking) it’s a bloody miracle!!

Thanks so much for the suggestion! X

dangermouseisace · 06/03/2019 11:46

Can I ask (more questions!) where you put your crate during the day? I’ve been reading the happy puppy and she says kitchen...but my crate is massive (I’ll be blocking part of it off) and my kitchen is small. And very noisy due to washing machine/dryer/dishwasher. My living room is carpeted which is the concern, although it is man made fibre so can be cleaned easily. I was thinking crate in the living room and maybe taking our puppy into the kitchen to play? I’m thinking maybe getting a full size crate was a mistake...

MiniCooperLover · 08/03/2019 11:08

What size is your dog? I read starting them in a crate too big can cause problems of it's own? Can you divide it in half so they have a cosy environment? We keep her crate in the kitchen and try not to move it unless we need it for the car.

BiteyShark · 08/03/2019 11:21

I used an XXL crate for my small cocker as I wanted him to have lots of room. Never caused any problems and the only time he peed in it was when I slept through my alarm and missed taking him out at night.

Boatsnack3 · 08/03/2019 21:23

Our crate is in the living room. My kitchen is too small and far too cold for puppy to sleep. His food is in the kitchen, he only eats treats in the crate.

dangermouseisace · 09/03/2019 16:15

He’s home! With crate in the living room

Puppy support
MiniCooperLover · 21/03/2019 13:20

We are having some serious issues with biting the last few days. Toileting is going well, sleep is fine but the biting can be extreme at times. Any tips? She's 12 weeks. We've done two behaviour classes at the vets and due to start a course of 6 soon. First walk outside will be Sunday.

Bayleaf25 · 21/03/2019 17:56

WillnRosiesmum Where are you based? We are looking for a reputable labradoodle breeder (we’re based in gloucestershire although can travel) . Thanks.

BiteyShark · 21/03/2019 18:03

MiniCooperLover I found timeouts the most affective for biting, especially in the evenings when mine was clearly overtired.

Mrsoh39 · 21/03/2019 18:09

Ours is 15 weeks old today, and such a fuss pot, she is amazing at the field, famous last words Grin

We still have some chewing, and grabbing of the clothes, I'm just trying to ignore her and put her down or distract her with something else, it does feel like a small corner has been turned though.

Mrsoh39 · 21/03/2019 18:12

Have also got her one of these, which she loves.
www.bmstores.co.uk/products/dog-treat-snake-322511

KateGrey · 21/03/2019 18:49

Any tips for when people come into the house? Grey puppy gets really excited. Jumps up and nips. And annoyingly a lot of people don’t listen when we tell them to ignore him and not touch him and give him no attention at all. My mother then commented he was a badly behaved dog 🤨 He’s not normally too bitey with us at home.

MiniCooperLover · 22/03/2019 12:31

Will definitely try the timeout. She was mad MAD y'day, only took one decent nap all day. So by last night she was manic with tiredness. 😩 She's usually great in the morning when my DH lets her out at 5am and then closes her back in the kitchen when he leaves until I get up at 7 but there was a lot of howling this morning ugh. Thankfully today she's already had two decent naps so I'm hoping she'll be less manic tonight because she won't be as tired. The parallels with a toddler are hilarious 😂

Nettleskeins · 22/03/2019 14:56

I find my 15 week old gets bitier the tired he is. Also a frenzy of biting racing round house behaviour when he needs to a pee but hasn't made the connection in his own mind. Sometimes briefly placing him back in his crate, waiting him to calm down for two minutes, whilst I'm sitting next to him (so no hysterics), and then placing him outside to toilet is the answer.

Usually after two hours my 15 week old needs another nap. We put him in his crate at that point even if it is only a 15 minute nap (usually it is at least 30 mins though) always making sure he has done a pee first though.

This has reduced the biting. My other antidote is to take him on a short walk, change of scene, if I think he is biting for stimulation rather than overtiredness. Biting is because they want to play sometimes so you have to find another activity rather than just reprove/remove. Sometimes I do tuggy games with an old scarf, or fetch if I just need to give him a burst of play and don't want to go out and he has only just woken from a nap, but I'm not sure whether that is setting a bad precedent

MiniCooperLover · 22/03/2019 19:17

Yes I'm sometimes trying to work from home which means she has to entertain herself so definitely gets more bitey then. We can start walking her from this weekend so we've been getting her used to her collar and will try and lead and if that's no good get a harness and see how we go there

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