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

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

The doghouse

Stressed out with Puppy

34 replies

Softsoftsoft · 16/04/2019 19:08

Pup is 11 weeks old and is so good really, sleeps all night, pees and poos mostly outdoors.
But I wasn't expecting the constant need for attention. I love the cuddles on the sofa but I honestly cannot leave his side. He can be sound asleep and I get up and go to kitchen and seconds later has at my side.
Then in the evening when DH and DS get home he goes mad biting and charging about.
For context, he had surgery at the weekend as another dog bit him! but he was like this before the attack.
I love him to bits and his little face melts my heart, but please tell me it gets easier?!

OP posts:

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Softsoftsoft · 18/04/2019 22:49

it's awful bbcessex Yes friend is mortified and offered to pay for excess and extras.
went for check up at vet today and the wound isn't healing properly. So they've put medi honey and bandage on. If that doesn't help then it's more surgery

OP posts:

bbcessex · 18/04/2019 20:45

😱😱😱😱 oh my god, how awful. I bet your friend is mortified...

So sorry.. do you have any very calm dogs you can introduce him to slowly so he gets confidence back?

Softsoftsoft · 17/04/2019 22:53

bbcessex on his first outing, he was on a lead and harness and another dog bit him. It was a friend's dog, he has 2, one was sat with our Lab and the other one shot out of the house and went straight for him, he had emergency surgery for a ripped muscle
He's been fab today, sat on a blanket in the kitchen and watched me do some chores.
wolfie I bought an inflatable cone but he can still get to the stitches so he's back to the horrible cone.

OP posts:

Eanair · 17/04/2019 21:52

Definitely join that Facebook group and also look at the flitting game they mention. I use lots of their advice (5 month old sprocker spaniel here, so never knowingly calm!)

Mamabear12 · 17/04/2019 21:35

It does get easier. But they do like to follow you around. Mine will sometimes follow me to the toilet! However, it gets less and less and also, it helps when they are tired out from a good play in the park. 11 weeks is still very young. Mine is now 1 year and I forget when she got easier, maybe around 6 months?

Theworldisfullofgs · 17/04/2019 21:05

He is so lovely! Our ddog and cats tolerate each other. Ddog not allowed in bedrooms, that is cat territory.

Ellapaella · 17/04/2019 18:39

Oh my he is beautiful!
My adorable black lab is 18 months now and is like my shadow. She follows me everywhere around the house, even to the toilet. It is just like having a toddler really except she doesn't constantly say 'Mummy' and 'why'!

Wolfiefan · 17/04/2019 18:16

That FB group is fab.
And it’s normal to feel as you do. My pup was a bloody nightmare as a pup. Couldn’t be left at all.
She also has bouts of foot chewing. We have had night where she has worn a cone and a bandage and a muzzle. Can you cover the leg? Soft cone? Reinforce or extend the inflatable one?

bbcessex · 17/04/2019 18:12

OP - he is BEAUTIFUL!!!

We have a fox red lab - just turned one. He still follows us around during the day, and like the other poster, we find ourselves staying put not to disturb him!

His bite sounds nasty - how did it happen?

Softsoftsoft · 17/04/2019 10:11

thanks rumbletum I will have a look.
I think it's the wound and stitches I'm stressing about. It's very oozy and I'm paranoid it's not healing. Saw the vet yesterday and back again tomorrow!

OP posts:

Rumbletum2 · 16/04/2019 21:28

Join the fb group “Dog Training Advice And Support” - it’s run by proper actual trainers. They can help you with any issues.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 16/04/2019 21:23

There are so many threads on here about puppy remorse, you're definitely not alone and it is hard work! However, it's never too early to train the behaviour you want. So have a mat in each room, and if the pup follows you in direct them to the mat (with a reward when they get there). It will of course take time and lots and lots of effort, but you will be able to make a 'safe' spot for them - I think especially in the kitchen this is important, my dog doesn't follow me in there cos he loves me, its because he wants food!

And yes, if I had a puppy (DDog was a rescue) I would definitely crate train.

Softsoftsoft · 16/04/2019 21:17

Thanks for the encouragement, it is so like having a baby again, which is 20+ years ago so no wonder I'm in shock!
I've just spent some time with the cats in 'their' bedroom. we had cuddles and catnip toys and Dreamies. 💖

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 16/04/2019 20:59

It can be so hard at the beginning and you are having a harder time with the surgery. I am not surprised you have the puppy blues.

Hang in there. Yes they follow you around all the time and you may never pee on your own again . It will get easier but and for now.

allthechipsticks · 16/04/2019 20:54

Both my dogs (both 4) follow me around especially if I'm in the kitchen, it's where all the food is obvs. The one will sit on the sofa and watch me some of the time though. The cats will forgive you eventually, mine did after a few weeks. It took months for her to forgive us for bringing the baby home though!

YolandaN · 16/04/2019 20:47

I put a large babygro on my spaniel after her op, she couldn’t interfere with stitches and it was less ‘cruel’ than a cone and cheaper than alternatives. It DOES get easier, I was so tired when my, now 2 year old, was very young, it brought back memories of sleep deprivation of when kids were little (not quite so bad though obviously). They love routine and calm down if walks are frequent, meals are satisfying and they get lots of love. I didn’t bother with a crate, she sleeps on my bed, I know, very bad...🥰

Nettleskeins · 16/04/2019 20:44

when mine used to do the biting and charging about I would either put him in the garden to run around for a little bit and do some fetch (if I really thought he was completely bored) but mostly I used to just decide he was completely overtired, needed a pee and then put him to bed, or settle him in a dog bed near us with a chew, and not engage with the biting by showing any attention. the biting and charging is usually OVER stimulation at bedtime. Puppy went for a sleep at about suppertime when he was 12 weeks in our house, I soon realised it was a good time for a little nap, otherwise there was far too much going on.

adaline · 16/04/2019 20:36

That's puppies for you!

Mine is 14 months and is still my little shadow. We have baby gates up so he has to settle on his own sometimes - but it's only recently he's been happy to be behind one while we cook/clean/have a shower.

Nettleskeins · 16/04/2019 20:34

I have three cats, and they are using the whole house again quite happily, there has been a certain amount of petting and cuddling the cats to remind them we love them and at one point dcat was sitting in a special new bed on the kitchen table made of a cardboard box where dog couldn't say hello, but it has been fine and they are all muddling along together now. I like the way the house has become an animal kingdom.

Softsoftsoft · 16/04/2019 20:28

I wouldn't close him in a crate to stop him following me. He sleeps in a crate at night but the door is kept open. If he was tiny I.would wear him in a sling
We had a dog when I was a teenager but I don't remember it being this hard, probably because my parents did all the hard work!

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Nettleskeins · 16/04/2019 20:26

puppy is by my side most of the time, but crating for naps and covering the crate means I can be somewhere else in the house without disturbing his sleep.

He did the fast asleep and then when I moved he woke up thing OP...I found I had to work on crate sleeps for that reason, so he had nice long refreshing sleeps without always being on alert for me leaving...

Sounds all completely normal, the following around incessantly becomes determined mooching becomes doing his own thing at a sensible distance becomes a gentle companionship that you much appreciate...(this is my 2.5 months worth)

Floralnomad · 16/04/2019 20:20

My dog still follows me about and he’s 9 this year . For all those saying crate him are you suggesting the OP lock him in it for hours at a time just to stop him wandering after her ?

IncrediblySadToo · 16/04/2019 20:02

He is a proper little heartbreaker!

...but I understand your ‘buyers remorse’ between the shadowing & ‘losing’ the cats it’s understandable, no matter how cute he is.

Hopefully the cats will come around and see him for the little upstart he is & get him inline! 🤞🏼

He’s very little but I suppose you could start to try to teach him to ‘stay’ when you leave the room. He’s a lab, they’re intelligent, he should be quite trainable.

...try to look forward to when he’s trained and a great companion and even to the midpoint when you can at least take him for long walk to tire him out!!

Whitechocandraspberry · 16/04/2019 19:51

He’s gorgeous. I want him!!

Softsoftsoft · 16/04/2019 19:50

incrediblysad that's exactly how I feel! I actually feel quite depressed about it like my old life has vanished forever.
And I miss the cats, they've taken to living in the spare room
I.just feel so torn and guilty. Here's a picture of the little heartbreaker...

Stressed out with Puppy

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