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The doghouse

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

When do the health benefits of owning a dog kick in cause right now I feel like I’m heading for a breakdown!

69 replies

Spotty528 · 20/11/2019 16:29

Week 1 of puppyhood and my blood pressure’s through the roof I’m sure! I can’t imagine the house ever being calm again. Can anyone share stories of how hard it is at the start compared to how wonderful it becomes...please!

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adaline · 22/11/2019 16:14

I wouldn't worry about adding loads of trick yet, get the basics down because they're the things that are important out in the real world.

You need a dog who will sit/wait/stay in command because it could save his life. You want a dog who will recall to you for the same reason. For example if you're out at the park and are queuing for an ice-cream, you want a dog who will stand nicely to your side and not jump and lunge at passers by. The fact that he can spin in a circle or roll-over will be of no use in that situation Grin

Do it constantly. Carry treats with you at all times and don't go through doors etc. unless he sits. If he thinks it's optional, he won't bother. Mine knows he has to sit before he gets to out the door and he does it automatically now. I've learned that if you give an inch, they'll take a mile so you do have to be really strict when they're young.

madcatladyforever · 22/11/2019 16:16

Baby animals are incredibly hard work, I'm more of a cat person and I'd never get a kitten again. I only adopt adult rescue cats and if I was to get a dog in the future it would be an adult dog.
All the babies I've had have been cute but my God the work.

Spotty528 · 22/11/2019 19:42

Thanks for all the advice it’s been so helpful.

See I adore kittens/cats, there’s nothing about them I don’t like, I’ve had them since a child so I understand how they tick. Puppies are so new and alien to me.

I genuinely don’t think I’d ever get a puppy again. I’m 100% committed to him, he’ll be well loved (eventually 😄) and he’ll have a lovely life with us but this is a once in a lifetime experience for me!

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adaline · 22/11/2019 19:49

I genuinely don’t think I’d ever get a puppy again.

All dog owners say that - they still do Wink

Spotty528 · 22/11/2019 19:52

No I really mean it-just as much as when I said I’d never give birth again 🤔 oh wait!😆

No I really genuinely do mean it though. I feel like writing my future self a letter about how I’m feeling-to be opened if I ever consider it again!

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fanniboz · 22/11/2019 19:53

Oh boy, I could have wrote this a year ago Grin my lab is my first and is now 16 months old but I remember the early days all too well. Sleep deprived, getting chewed to bits (which really hurt the bigger and stronger she got), the naughtiness. We originally decided to crate train her and there were a few nights I cried and just begged her to go to sleep. Not long later my bed became hers too Grin It does get better and soon these days will be a distant memory. A year on I'm wishing I had those days back, our pups really are worth the trouble Smile invest in a snuffle mat if you haven't already, I remember my pup being mentally exhausted after it and it got her straight off to sleep. She still loves it now. You just hide treats in it and send them to find them. Lots of training, also mentally tiring. Little animals are hard work but so worth itWine

PinkSpring · 22/11/2019 20:01

Mine turned a year old this week and he is still an arsehole.....

I have days I don't even LIKE him and quite often contemplate re-homing him. He is better than what he was but he is still a pain, constantly nipping, jumping up at the kids and scratching them, if there is food about he goes crazy to the point we can't eat with him in the same room.

I am hoping he calms down soon as at the moment, we have major regrets!!

Spotty528 · 22/11/2019 20:02

Snuffle mat ordered-thanks for the suggestion and thank god for Amazon!

He was funny before, clearly tired and getting far too bitey/barky. I put him in his pen and he wouldn’t settle, I was worried he needed the loo so took him out again. He came in and started pawing at me so I sat in the comfy chair and he hoped onto my lap and fell asleep-manipulative little bugger! I let him sleep for 10mins and as lovely as that was, he’d already napped on me once today and I do need to teach him to settle on his own so I put him back in his pen and he went back to sleep in there for an hour. So pleased with that.

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Spotty528 · 22/11/2019 20:03

PinkSpring What breed is he? That sounds really tough! Sorry I can’t any offer advice-I haven’t a clue, hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along with some suggestions.

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WagathaChristie · 22/11/2019 20:08

We are just at the sweet stage now where she's calming down and she makes me so happy.

Join the puppy support group on here and bear with it it's all worth it x

Spotty528 · 23/11/2019 07:46

Well he’s amazed me this morning, we did the treat under the oven glove-without the oven glove and I even got a 2 second wait once I’d lifted my hand!

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SweepTheHalls · 23/11/2019 07:54

With my next dog the orioruues will be a rock solid recall, sitting nicely when we have an ice cream, bit mugging visitors when they arrive, and a doggy doorbell at the back door!

peoplepleaser1 · 23/11/2019 08:12

Ah OP I really feel for you, puppies can be really really tough. I'm a dog walker and also do puppy visits so much of this is very familiar to me.

You've had some great advice on this thread and the two most important things that I'd reiterate are:

Firstly, Do look into starting training ASAP. I appreciate that for various reasons you wanted to wait but it's in the best interests of your puppy to get cracking ASAP. Each session is really more about training you, the owner, how to shape your dog's behaviour through lots and lots of practise at home in short bursts. You can share this info with the whole family so that you are all on the same page.

The sooner you get started with basic training, the less time your puppy gets to practise undesirable behaviours. Once these tough behaviours are entrenched they are harder to 'fix'- much better to encourage desirable behaviours from the start.

It's also a great opportunity for your puppy to meet other puppies under carefully controlled conditions- there is great value in doing this ASAP (I'm not advocating a free for all puppy meet and greet, more short controlled nice sessions).

Secondly when training at home think about which behaviours are important to you and concentrate on them first. For me the most important behaviours to train are: sit; wait; leave it; recall; hand touch. These are all critical to keeping puppy safe now and in the future.

Also shaping behaviour without jumping up or biting and teaching a settle are important as a non leaping, non biting dog that can settle makes everyone's life easier.

Other training like paw, spin, lie down etc can be helpful but to me are less important until others are secured.

Be consistent with training, reward with food (no one works for nothing, this included dogs and you can reduce food to keep calories down), always always always look for positive reward based methods of training.

Beware of the tired puppy. Tired puppies can't learn and do tend to be a bit loopy!

Hope that helps.

Spotty528 · 23/11/2019 09:23

Thanks peoplepleaser-that was really helpful!

Any suggestions of fun ways to train recall? I’ve emailed another trainer about classes before Christmas. We’re at a difficult time unfortunately as we’ve missed the start of most courses and then they stop during the holidays.

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BiteyShark · 23/11/2019 09:27

For recall I would think about getting them to come to you both with your voice but then onto something like a whistle. When mine was a teenager understanding that a whistle meant cone back was invaluable as it hides your emotions (stress/anxiety/frustration) and can be heard a very long way away.

Practice in the house in different rooms, outside in the garden before moving to outside. Don't just think about rewarding with high value treats but also toys so when they come to you play with a tug toy or something they love.

Spotty528 · 23/11/2019 10:27

Thankyou, I think a whistle will be a great investment!

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BiteyShark · 23/11/2019 10:29

Acme whistles are great because if you lose then you can get exactly the same pitch again.

peoplepleaser1 · 23/11/2019 21:33

Recall is such a valuable skill. I'd suggest you look at YouTube for some ideas, but do make sure you're looking at a positive reward based method, (Kikopup is good).

TBH if you are rewarding your dog and training in short spells it should automatically be fun for them.....

Another great resource is 'dog training advice and support' on Facebook. The files contain some invaluable info on puppies, training, recall etc..

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 24/11/2019 12:55

I'd say don't overload puppy with too many different commands - we're doing sit/stand/down, stay, send away (into 'down' on a mat, literally only about 2ft at the moment) and recall. Just get them top notch in different scenarios, so that when it all goes down the pan in adolescence, we have a few good ones to depend on.
Another thing I like about a whistle is that when your voice starts getting annoyed/angry/desperate it might put the puppy off actually recalling, whereas a whistle is the same emotion every time!

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