Puppy Survival 2020 - let's talk about something other than Covid-19

[MortyFide]

I know a non-coronavirus thread will quickly disappear down the active list, but these Puppy Survival discussions have been popular in the past - God knows I could do with one now, not just because all talk tends to be limited to CV at the moment while we're all stuck indoors, but because I have so many puppy questions which aren't necessarily answered just by googling.

Any takers - has anyone else just got a new puppy and wondered what on earth they've done? Why does he pee every 3 minutes? What do you DO with a puppy all day? Am I doing everything wrong? Etc.

Here's mine, he's an 11 week old border terrier. I'll come back with more posts and questions to bump the thread at peak times, see if we can't get it going. If not, oh well - I tried! Thanks to Biteyshark for the suggestion.

The 1st 4 months or so are an ordeal (imho) with a puppy. We've a 6 month old who is now turning into a lovely friendly and sociable little dog. But in the initial months it was hard to like him at times. Even though we thought we were well prepared for him, the sheer relentlessness of everything and not being able to take our eyes off him for a moment was exhausting.
Now the challenge is managing his disappointment that social distancing means he doesn't get to play with all the big dogs on our walks and that he has to stay on the lead. He's very about this and spends our walks scanning the horizon looking for people and dogs.

Meeee! 11 week old Vizsla driving me bonkers and giving me sleepless nights.

I'm worried he will suddenly wonder where everyone has gone once this lockdown is over, kids back at school etc!

People kept telling me it gets better. And it does. It really does. They start sleeping through, they learn to entertain themselves a bit, stop following you everywhere. Well, actually that hasn’t really stopped. Don’t bite every foot.

Also we’ve learnt that when she’s awful she’s usually overtired.

I've got a 13 week old staffy. She's lovely.

She gets her poos outside but we have widdles indoors. She sleeps with us now but we're doing create training. In the day she will take herself off to her create and have a sleep.

Whenever she has zoomies she gets taken into the garden and played with. WFH with her is a mix between "omg will you just stop biting my laptop" to adorable snuffly napping.

There's four of us to give her lots of attention and we have a large garden which makes puppy life easier. She sits on command now and has started to come when we call her name.

She did try biting a tit the other night in bed! Not nice!

It is exhausting never being able to take eyes off him in case he wees. No problem with poos, all of those happen outside, but if he's been rampaging around like a fool he'll just suddenly stop and sprinkle right where he's standing. It's maddening, we get no warning, but to be fair I don't think he does either! Today has been better, no accidents so far - but yesterday we were fine all day and then he did FIVE wees in the space of an hour in the kitchen and living room!

I miscounted, he actually turned 13 weeks yesterday. I can't wait until he's a bit more reliable and he can have more freedom to roam around and amuse himself.

We haven't done much on leaving him alone yet, bit worried about that for some reason.

Ours hates being left alone. so we've been doing a bit of flitting - so just doing boring stuff between rooms and eventually they give up following you. We are also going to start trying leaving the house a bit and sitting in the car for a bit. But we are going to build up to it. At the moment anything longer than a couple of seconds can lead to her being a bit skittish.

It sounds like you're all doing a great job in difficult circumstances! I am a dog trainer so let me know if I can help with anything.

Yay fluffer-mums to talk to! This is Edgar, Jack Russell Pupper. He will be 11 weeks tomorrow. We picked him up a few days before lockdown so he hasn't been jabbed yet. We are slowing building up crate training and he currently sleeps in a massive box by our bed. But comes up into the bed after the 4am wee and zoomies. Clicker training started this week.... hit and miss but we do get a nice sit. Look forward to chatting and tip with you all

Edgar! I love it - look at him sitting on top of his igloo, the little rebel.

Ooh steady @readyforachangemaybe, I will have LOTS of questions for you!

Well, we had a lovely day yesterday - only one accident, less bitey overall (except the evening when he got tired and was a massive knobhead). And even more amazing, he taught himself to use our dog door (which our old dog never used in 3 years). I only showed him the door, the sound it made and so on, but he worked out how to use it himself without any real training, and just a bit of encouragement from us when we realised he was going to go for it. He batters the door with his paws until it opens and then launches himself through - by late afternoon he was taking himself off for a wee alone with no prompting, so he was going out when he got the urge instead of just sprinkling where he's standing like normal! We were seriously impressed and very proud.

Sadly, he's ruined it all today by being horrible. He's been terribly bitey, won't play with any of his toys or chews but is only interested in our clothes, hands, feet, shoes and electric cables; looked me in the eye and pissed on the carpet three times, picked up a full bowl of water and ran across the room with it, refused to go for a walk with my husband and just planted his feet, and finally pissed in both of his beds and over ALL THREE of the puppy blankets I have for his nesting requirements (god this puppy loves to muss up a blanket to snuggle in).

All I need is for him to take a shit in my bed and we'll have a full house, I've told him he's going back for a refund!

Hi all, can I join? Just got a new pup on Monday eve so he’s been with us 5 days today.

We are doing well on toilet training - bringing him out every hour and he does his pee straight away then for poos we’ve had to have him out there a big longer but this morning he came running up to us whining and when we let him out he did a massive poo straight away. He’s a lovely little fella. Already doing a bit of fetch and give and he loves his crate and pops in there to nap during the day. I have two things I need help with.

1st is that we have brought his crate up to our room since he arrived as I read they like to be near someone for the first while. He was in a litter of 7. The first two nights he whined a bit the last two absolutely fine. Not a peep out of him until he needs to go toilet at 6am. When should we start trying to move crate downstairs to sleep? He’s doing so well with toilet training I don’t want to put him off and I also don’t want to move him down, realise it was too soon and is a disaster and then have to move him back up so he’ll know when he goes down again he just needs to kick up to get back in the bedroom.

2nd is I’m worried he’s not eating and drinking enough. How much should a puppy eat and drink?! He’s two months old and a cockerpoo. Today and yesterday he’s had 140g of Canagan nuts, each with a teaspoon of salmon oil and he’s had around 4 moist liver treats (size of a piece of kibble).

The Canagan guideline is 210g for him but he just doesn’t seem to be that hungry for it. Also he doesn’t seem to drink tons of water. How much should he be drinking and might start measuring it. I had another thread about how he was previously in pedigree and a mix of wet and dry so I’m trying to wean him onto the good stuff but don’t want to do so at the sacrifice of his growth and development. I was told once they go on wet it’s hard to get them back. I don’t know if it’s ok that he’s not eating the full amount or not.

Thanks so much.

Hi can I join I have an 8 week old staffy. (Bought at 6weeks from a backyard breeder)! That's a whole different story but she's her now.

She's learning her manners from my old dog Who's 7yrs, but also a few bad habits (particularly digging)! She still doesn't know her name but toilet training is going fab. She's really coming out of her shell this week. She's nipping a bit but understands "NO".

Meet Coco

Everyone welcome, can't guarantee we have all the answers but we'll have a laugh trying to work it out and getting it wrong along the way!

Coco is adorable - I got a 6 week old puppy from a backyard breeder once too, we had her for over 12 years!

Josie I'm not too sure about the crate thing as I've actually never crate trained - I've sectioned off the living room with playpen barriers for daytime, and at night Trev is in a cordoned off area next to me in our bedroom (I've just made it a bit larger as he's grown). He just stands up and bats me with a paw when he needs a pee or poo and I'll get up and take him.

We don't really want him in our bed all the time, as we let that happen with the last one and it's actually a bit of a pain in the arse - but we're quite happy for him to be upstairs or in our room in his own bed. He does sometimes whine and whinge because a couple of times when he can't settle, I've brought him in with me for a cuddle and he falls into a really deep sleep - then I move him back to his bed. But he isn't persistent and if ignored, he gives up really quickly without getting hysterical about it. Ultimately, when he is 99% reliable and can get downstairs on his own to use the dog door, he'll have access to all areas and can sleep where he chooses (just not in the bed with us).

As for the feeding, yes they should ideally be getting the recommended amounts during this growing stage - maybe he just doesn't like the food that much? Our old dog was a skinny, finicky puppy and we ended up flicking her (dry) food across the floor so she had to chase it, that got her interested! She was a terrier though. This puppy is a pig and will eat anything, it's stopping him that's the problem.

I'm sure the trainer will pop back at some stage as well with some more advice, and there will be others along who will have crate trained I'm sure.

Thanks your dogs are all lovely.

I'm not sure about crate training either, I have a baby gate up and leave her in the kitchen with my older dog at night. She's a barker/whiner aswell, I find it strange cuz all my previous staffs have only barked when someone comes to the door.

She's funny when eating my older dog drops the biscuits on the floor and she catches them. I'm glad we've been having good weather because she refuses to toilet outside in the rain . My boys the same tho would hold it all day if a drop of water lands on him!

I had forgotten how hard work a pup is, I prefer the 5/6mnth stage.

@JosieJosie1 I think the first week when they are settling in their appetite an be a bit weird, I was worried about ours for about a week and then, no worries at all. I didn’t leave the food down but took it away, fed the recommended in 4 meals a day. She’s fine now, she’s only a baby.

@JosieJosie1

With the crate training I would begin to move him away gradually so he barely even notices tomorrow. So in the room tonight, then just outside for a night or two, top of the stairs for a 3/4 nights, bottom of the stairs for a few nights then in to the place where you want him to sleep. Contrary to popular advice, don't leave your pup to cry for long periods because he needs to develop secure attachments and learn that mum will comfort him if he needs it. Leave for perhaps five or ten minutes (less if becoming distressed) then move closer to your room and try again. That will give him confidence and so he's less likely to need comforting. If it's attention seeking (ie bored and want to play) make a mental note and do more with pup to tire out before bedtime next time.

Food wise, just make sure you're giving a good quality puppy food and giving the recommended allowance and puppy will eat if hungry. You can mix a bit of wet and dried together to make it more palatable if you think puppy isn't eating because it's not tasty. Or alternatively sometimes adding a bit of water can help so it forms a bit of a gravy. Better to have a slightly slimmer puppy than a tub to protect developing joints

@MortyFide yikes!

That sounds seriously stressful! Sounds like pupper was overexcited? I would give him meals in kongs or scatter feeding in the garden - calming activities that will also get him using his brain. Short sessions of training multiple times a day- two or theee minutes. Take a look at kikopup on YouTube for great how tos. Regular naps (sit down with him if you can so he's more likely to settle) so he's not being a prat because he's tired. Carry a toy around with you so you can redirect him on to that if he's going for your trouser legs. What chews have you got him? Try and stick to routine as much as possible if your able so he's less likely to become frustrated and play up. If he wees in stuff, just completely ignore him whilst he's doing it and for around 30 seconds afterwards and quietly clean up afterwards. If you bollock him then he might learn to just do it in secret away from you? Always reward toileting outside with treats and praise.

@nearlyfinished1moreyear

Oh my god I love a staffie puppy. ADORABLE!

How about a digging box/ sand pit? Hide treats in it to get her interested. Loads of how tos online!

Thanks so much @readyforachangemaybe great advice!!! I dread what we would be like with children - we’re worrying over this pups every move 😂😂😂 here he is btw.

@SQuueze

Whilst we're all in isolation is an awesome time to work on separation stuff. Most issues need desensitisation- gradually building up the amount of time they are left. Common mistake is to leave for too long. You need to be returning before they begin to get distressed, otherwise being left will remain a negative thing.l and most dogs don't 'get used to it'. I would use baby gates in the home so pup isn't always able to access you. Close doors for short periods eg when on loo of a couple of minutes and leave pup with chew or stuffed Kong. When you're actually leaving the home work out how long it takes before puppy begins to show signs of distress (whining, yawning, licking lips, pacing). That's your baseline and return before that when you do a 'practice departure'. Do several times a day.l and very gradually increase. Take a look at Julie Naismith on Facebook- she has some good resources.

@JosieJosie1

I'm in love! How totally gorgeous! I really need a furry fix, this isolation business is doing my head in!

@PrincessGinderella

That's a real concern actually. Ive advises my clients to find ways to leave their dogs without actually leaving the property. For example go and sit with phone/book in car for twenty minutes. That will prevent being left again coming as a massive shock.

Thanks @readyforachangemaybe! Yes, it was rather stressful - I confess I allowed myself a 15 second cry and a silent wish that we'd remained blissfully dog free since we lost our old terrier in November. We didn't have to get another dog, we were finally free after 12 years of an aggressive, reactive, chronically poorly dog but oh no, DH wanted a new bloody puppy.

But then I pulled myself together and hoped for an easier afternoon.

He has a kong but doesn't really get it, no matter how easy I make it for him - yet surprisingly he's fine with treat balls which churn out his kibble when he pushes then around. Fortunately he loves his food so I can use his normal daily ration as treats for clicker training (I watch Emily of Kikopups a lot, love her!), and I've often hidden his dinner in layers of tea towels, in a box of toys etc etc. It never takes him long though. We do regular training sessions and he does a great sit, a reasonable down, a poor stay, and he can go get a toy if prompted. He's rubbish at fetch though and even Kikopups video is confusing! DH is doing some good work on fetch.

He has flavoured puppy nylabones, puppy teething chews/rings, a rope, and edible turkey nylabones (one of the tiny ones lasts him 2 days). He does love paper and cardboard so I've made him up a cardboard toybox with some cardboard rolls in it, an old slipper, an old bit of webbing tape etc - everything he thinks is forbidden, so he can "steal" them with no reaction from us. He still steals and piles up shoes if he can get hold of them, but he doesn't tend to damage anything.

We do interact with him frequently but he does tend to get overexcited and bitey, especially with tug games - if he gets carried away and too rough, we disengage (end the game and ignore him). Then he'll get the zoomies and rampage around for up to an hour, it's exhausting. Is it OK to let him play around with his toys by himself, without interaction, for any length of time? I can't be switched on every second of the day, I need to do stuff.

He can be soothed to sleep by sitting with me but DH is "old school" and thinks I'm just teaching him that he can only sleep on me!

But he's already improved so much, that I'm hopeful that he'll gradually grow into himself and become a pleasant, easy dog. He's just a terrier puppy at the moment right?!

Hi all,
Joining this thread! We picked up our puppy literally the day before lockdown. He’s a golden lab retriever, he’s so very cute. He sleeps well at night - 10pm to 6am with no weed and does whine to be let out for wees and poos in the day. He’s super nippy and bitey at mo.
He’s also slowed down on his eating a little.. doesn’t seem that fussed at some (but not all) mealtimes. Some he wolfs down, others he’s just not fussed. He’s still on 4 meals per day. I did read somewhere that once pups realise there is no litter competition anymore with food, they can get a little more relaxed / picky at meals. Our lovely vet is doing vaccs - believes them essential to prevent future disease, so we’ve not had a problem getting those done. But they wait 1 month between vaccs so still not able to go out for walks yet. We have mad half hours in the garden & he can’t be left alone really as he’s got a thing for bark chippings - wants to chew them and I’m paranoid he’ll swallow something he shouldn’t so I’m watching him like a hawk and permanently pulling things out of his mouth! Exhausting but perfect distraction for us during lockdown.

Hi my pups the same in regards to chewing and picking up things she shouldn't! I just give a stern NO, she seems to be picking up on it so hopefully it won't last long lol.

@JosieJosie1 I think we have puppy twins