Young Puppy Support Group

[DuchessDarty]

I’d been looking for one of these but the only puppy support thread currently running is for older puppies. I’ve seen a few threads recently from posters who have new puppies like me, and thought I’d start our own group as I’d love to compare notes. But all welcome!

To kick off -

My pup, DartyPup, is a female poodle cross who is nearly 11 weeks old. Very sweet, friendly, fairly calm, sleeps a good stretch at night in her crate no problem and is happy to play in the garden by herself if I’m in the kitchen/conservatory and we easily have eyes on each other. She has a lot of naps and is doing well with house training.

But- she has the usual puppy traits of being needy and nippy. She loves biting bare toes and has a witching hour in the evening (as another poster aptly describes it!).

I adore the bond we seem to have bit am finding it draining. My children are old enough to be hands on and are keen to be, but their periods of peak energy don’t always correspond with the Pup’s. And when it comes down to it, she often wants me and so will whine if left with them downstairs while I escape for a rest. If they mistakenly leave a door open giving her access to the stairs, she’ll leg it up to find me. A stair gate isn’t an option unfortunately due to the design of our stairs.

Both my kids have never been particularly early risers and I’ve always been secretly pleased about dodging 6am wake up calls ... until DartyPup.

Our pup does seem to go more frequently in the evening and does more little wees iykwim, I wonder if being a male dog he is gearing up for when they do a little wee every 5 mins on a walk?

He can hold his bladder a good 6-7 hours over night so it can't be that small!!

It does help slightly that I’m not the only one experiencing this. Will just carry on doing what I’m doing and repeat, repeat, repeat!!

We’re the same as @Putanotherwashon, I don’t really know if she needs it or not but if I know she’s not been for ages (as in, more than 30 mins), I take her outside and give her a few mins to have a wee. If she doesn’t or just messes about, I don’t actually stay outside for very long. We come back in and she’s under close control, on my knee, in the crate, on a long line. 5 mins later out again. Repeat until she goes. I find that if she sniffs one spot, it’s normally just a sniff, but if she sniffs while moving around it tends to be that she needs the toilet. Mind you, having said I thought we were nearly there this morning, we’ve had two accidents today!!

We’ve had a better couple of days as we’ve been out 7pm onwards at various training things so I’ve had her with me and being out and about seems to have fended off the evening devil puppy a bit. Then I’ve been doing some training with her in the kitchen and then settling her with a chew and this has worked and helped to calm her. Definitely going to look at some brain enrichment stuff as it does seem to help her.

Drum roll.......

I SLEPT IN MY OWN BED!!!!

I risked going to bed instead of my perch on the floor and it was fine! Although typically I actually barely slept as I was worried about him whimpering, or me not hearing him. But he was fine, a wee at 3.45 and then up at 6. Tried to put him back to bed but he was having none of it.

We have had him just over two weeks now, and now that he is settled and sleeping better his cheeky personality is def coming out more. He is much more playful but also getting a bit nippy so trying to discourage that.

He also does around 2-4 little wees....sniff, sniff, wee, sniff, wee, sniff, sniff, wee etc

We have started getting lots of little brown circles on our nice lawn 🙄

Why a lady at a puppy party we went to had the same problem as you, strangely also a cockerpoo. It was nice weather at the time and she said they could spend two hours playing with the puppy outside and then she would immediately wee inside. She said it was like the puppy wasn’t confused and thought the house was the toilet and was making a bit effort to hold the wee outside to then wee inside. The trainer gave the same advice, just keep them out until they wee and if they don’t then keep them on your lap or v near you when you go back in and take them out again every few minutes. Eventually they will wee and you go mega overboard on praise and treats etc.

We tried a new vet yesterday as I realised he had been wormed but not had the flea tablets. The new vet was soooo much nicer than the other place we tried. Checked him over really thoroughly, gave loads of advice etc. Very glad we switched.

He has crashed and gone back to sleep now 🙄

Woo hoo sunny that's great progress!! Sounds very similar sleep wise to what we have, girliepup pretty reliably goes through til 5am and 7am now though (I'm still knackered mind, was used to 8-9 uninterrupted hours of sleep pre puppy!!)

That's really good sunny - it must feel so good to be back in your bed!

I thought we'd had a great night - slept from 9.45pm-7.10am with one wake up at 3am. But then when I took the vet bedding out of his crate I could feel 2 wet spots so looks like he may have weed twice in his crate overnight. He definitely didn't wake us as I am a very light sleeper and would have heard him as he's next to our bed.

I have to finally admit I am really not enjoying having him. We have 2 DDs and I feel like I am ignoring them and palming them off watching cartoons because I have to keep my eyes on SmileyPup at all times. It's the last few days of the school holidays and we can't do anything or go anywhere. I am actually looking forward to going back to work next week because I won't be around him all the time! I knew it would be hard but wasn't prepared for how hard or how I would feel.

These may be silly questions ....
Is it correct that you take their collar/harness off for sleeping in the crate? As puppy's sleep so much aren't you constantly putting it on and off all the time?

Pup is going to be on a house lead most of the time to control his environment as our Lounge and garden is quite big. When I take him out at night for the toilet I'll need to put his collar & lead back on. Is that ridiculous? My worry is that he'll dart off in the pitch black to the far reaches of the garden and end up in a game of chase.

Am I over thinking things??

Keepsmiling I know exactly how you feel. We've completely decided to return pup because I'm just sitting around panicking and crying but as soon as we've decided I feel better and more able to cope and want to keep him! Pup was crying all night long ( every hour for 15 minutes all night and take him out and no weeing just trying to climb up my leg. ) also terrorising my poor Labrador who keeps trying to climb up the back of the sofa and up me to escape . Then last night only cried a bit and then again at 5am. And this morning playing with Labrador chasing each other about! So now I'm thinking it'll be fine. But then I worry I'm going to start having anxiety attacks again. ( which I've never had before but currently peri menopausal so haven't got as much capacity for stress as I thought I had. ) pup is actually fine it's me and my mental health I'm worried about... really not sure what to do...

Keepsmiling we can worry together!! It does help to know I'm not alone in finding it tough. I just overthink everything, like to have a plan! My last pup was a dream pup. Slept all night quietly happy to be left in crate from day one. Freaked me out that this one is so much more needy

Has anyone got any suggestions about leaving pup? If I put pup into his crate he cries and whines and barks and howls and scratches and bites the crate to get out even if I'm sitting next to it! Or in the room . Or not in the room. Any advice?

@Chelsea567 yes we can definitely worry together! I don't think I would be able to return him after all he is being a 'normal' pup I think and DDs and DH wouldn't let me! But if I could have my time again I don't think I would get him. I keep clinging on to the fact that this is just a stage and it's the adult dog I want not the puppy.

I'm not sure about whether you should be in the room or not when you leave them. In some ways I don't know if it's worse when you are there because they can see you but can't get to you. We are going to leave him in the pen later for 5 mins and see how it goes.

Some of the things I've read just panic me as they say if you do it wrong it can lead to separation anxiety so I'm terrified of getting it wrong!

He's also had slimy runny poo today with a streak of blood in it - any ideas? He is happy, playing and ate all his dinner. Up until now they have been ok so not sure why the change today?

Some of the things I've read just panic me as they say if you do it wrong it can lead to separation anxiety so I'm terrified of getting it wrong!

The research articles I read many years ago when I got BiteyDog (rather than those that just voiced or quoted opinions) found that true SA tended to be more in certain breeds and were often triggered with things like moving house.

Also I found one article from a behaviourist that essentially went through case studies where everyone had labelled the dog as having SA but actually there were other reasons that caused the dog to suffer some anixety and with a bit of help that anxiety was removed whereas true SA is actually hard to solve.

My opinion (and yes that is an opinion rather than anything else) is that SA is horrible and hard to manage but lots of people now overuse that term so if your puppy is upset or annoyed and cries because they want to be with you then you gets lots of people jumping straight in to say they have SA.

@Chelsea567 I’ve been given a step by step plan of crate training by our trainer.
Step one is to sit by the door of the crate. Have the door as wide as it will go and sit by the latch side (not the hinge side). Show puppy treats and toss one into the crate, if he doesn’t go in for it then start by putting the treat by the door as reward for just approaching the crate.
Is that the kind of thing you’re after? There are loads of steps which I’m happy to pass on (just don’t want to type them all out if you don’t need them).
Sorry you and @Keepsmiling1 are feeling so rubbish. It really is so hard. My pup is 14 weeks now and is still hard but nowhere near as hard as she was.

@Putanotherwashon SmileyPup will happily go in his crate for treats and all his meals and he sleeps in there all night no problem. I'm just not sure how to start leaving him alone?

@BiteyShark thank you for that. Can I ask how you started leaving BiteyPup alone?

This thread is making me feel so much better. We have an almost 13 week old pug, we have had him since he was 5 weeks and I switch between aw he's adorable, I love him so much to regretting ever getting him.
Some days I feel like house training is going well then other days I feel like it's never going to happen. Yesterday evening was ridiculous little pees every 10mins, as soon as we brought in him from outside. Then somedays he will be great and go to the door to be let out to pee.
He's so nippy as well especially in the evenings when he gets really hyper. He's trying to chew on my knuckles as I type this. I just keep telling myself that it is just a phase but almost 5 weeks in and I'm knackered, the fact that he sleeps in our bed probably doesn't help

That should say we have had him since he was 8 weeks

Keepsmiling I just put him in his crate for short periods and occasionally fed him snacks through the bars when he was quiet. I also used babygates to move in and out of the room lots. At the beginning it was for short periods but I did it when I knew he didn't need to toilet and essentially didn't worry too much about the odd cry.

@Calmisthemantra I started off taking her collar off if we were going to be out, but now she's so settled at going in her crate I don't bother. I think the recommendation is that you should take their collar off, but she doesn't jump, or thrash around in it, but if she was one to be leaping about in there then I would probably decide differently. Alot of the time she is sleeping in her crate DH is at home in his office and would hear her if something was up anyway.

Biteypup was crated before she came to us, so she wasn't phased at all by being in there. She gets a stuffed kong when she goes in and then gets a peaceful nap, so all's good in her mind The step by step approach sounds a good one though if you have a pup who isn't so keen.

I took her down to our local SANG today which has a huge 6 foot fenced dog exercise pen and met my work colleague with her setter. Biteypup had a blast running around with him and is having a well deserved sleep this afternoon. Although we have been practising recall on the long line, it's nice to be able to let her off safely for a proper gallop about

@Chelsea567 I used to daydream about giving Biteypup back in the beginning. I was SOOOO anxious and basically a gibbering wreck, but it does get easier. I felt so under pressure and didn't warm to her at all, but she's wormed her way into my affections and slowly we're getting there Hang on in there if you can.

@Calmisthemantra my dogs don’t wear collars at all in the house (just cause the jingle of the tags annoys me hahaha and I’ve never had flight risk dogs luckily) but in your position I’d just leave it on. The chance of an issue is absolutely tiny, and it sounds like it would just become a hassle especially at night.

The little training sessions in the evening are definitely helpful and she’s learning so many new things! I’ve made a little Instagram account for the two dogs, sad I know but it stops me spamming my main account! It’s @Annie and Obi but all one word, in case anyone wants to follow us and see what the skeleton dogs look like!

Big break through before was that she was going crazyyyy and I put her in the crate and she immediately settled and calmed down. I think this has just come from me rewarding her /clicking her for being calm in the crate.

Leaving her on her own for 30 mins tomorrow for the first time!! Think I’m going to do a little walk before hand round the block in the hope she sleeps. She’s been having a bit of a runny bum (tmi I know, sorry) so I don’t want to give her too many different chews etc. Chicken for tea tonight!

@SkeletonSkins ahh that's really good! I bet it felt amazing when she settled in her crate straight away.

SmileyPup started this morning with an upset tummy. He's fine in himself and is eating and playing but it's got mucus and blood in it which has got me worried. I rang the vet and he said keep an eye on it and if it's still there in 2 days to take him in. I have had the most anxious week ever!

@Keepsmiling1 is it bright red blood or dark blood?

Mine has had a bit of a funny tum today too but I blame the vet giving him loads of tuna yesterday to keep him occupied while she checked him over.

I left sunnypup for an hour and a half today!! We have previously only left him for 20-30 mins to nip to the shop and back. I had to pop to the shop today and only intended to be out half an hour max again. But I bought one of the cameras that connects to your phone so I could keep an eye on him. We kept checking it and he was just fast asleep, so I said the kids could have 10 mins in the play area as the poor things have been so cooped up. Then we checked again and he was still asleep so I took them for a quick ice cream, checked again still asleep so stopped at the supermarket for a couple of bits. Not a peep out of him. DD was watching as we drove up the drive and as soon as he heard the car he sat up and barked when I put the key in the door. So interesting and reassuring to see it all. He does whine and cry when I leave him in the kitchen when I am at home. But it was like he knew we weren’t there and may aswell just go to sleep. I would never have had the confidence to leave him so long without the camera. We were v close by so could have been home very quickly.

I did keep him occupied and mostly awake, maybe a quick catnap, until we went out this morning so he would be tired.

I’m so sorry some of you are finding it so tough and having doubts about the pups. I do feel very guilty about wasting the kids summer holidays, but then they have got a puppy and actually I think they like all the chill time to an extent.
I am feeling quite claustrophobic about it all but keep telling myself millions of people have dogs and also manage to have normal lives. So I’m sure we will all get there.

Keep us he otherwise eating and drinking normally? I wonder if he's eaten something that's played him up. If you're worried take him to the vet tomorrow don't wait til the wend.

Busy day today so will catch up properly with you all tomorrow!

It is bright red rather than dark blood. Yes he is eating and drinking fine and playing. In fact he was awake more yesterday than previous days.

He has been trying to eat some of the plants in a pot outside (not poisonous) so it could be that but obviously I'm worrying it's the worst possible thing. I have moved the pots anyway. We also gave him some peanut butter (dog friendly) the night before his tummy upset but not sure that would cause blood.

I am going to see how he is today and then may call the vet back.