Puppy survival thread! June 2020

[Juiceey]

Hello, anyone around to join me?

We've got our first puppy, a miniature poodle, yesterday. So far so good apart from the incessant humping!

He's VERY bitey, which doesn't hurt yet but no doubt will soon. He's massively attached to DW already and cries if she leaves the room. He loves DS but I think he played with him too much yesterday and overtired him, hence the humping?!

Crate training isn't easy and he cried for half an hour last night but then slept through til 5. Which is horribly early but I was ready for that!

We're doing virtual puppy classes starting in two weeks. Wish it was in person though.

Two things from the last 24 hours.. first of all the humping really is grim. He just can't seem to stop and I don't know why I hate it so much!

SLEEPING. He cried non stop last night in the crate til 330 til DW eventually literally went to sleep on the floor in front of his crate. Then he slept. Til he woke at 5.

We're all zombies today!

Oh blimey Juiceey, that sounds tough! Hope tonight is better for you. Did I mention the cuddly toy with the pretend heart beat already? I'm on the app and can't scroll back, but I'll mention it again just in case it might help you. We had no crying at all the first night and just a little crying last night, about 8 minutes when I first put him in his crate and about 20 seconds worth after putting him back after midnight wee. I obviously can't say for sure if the cuddly toy helps, but might be worth a try?

The good news here is that all poos since midnight last night have been done outside. Hurrah! The bad news is that most wees are still being done inside. Gah!

I hate to say this, but I'm so glad other people are struggling as well as it makes me feel better to have company in my (occasional) misery. I've just sat on the stairs away from pup in the kitchen and had a little cry. It's been non stop for 3 weeks and this time of the night is just impossible.

Aw totallydevoidofideas - it is tough! I’ve totally had moments of ‘why did we do this?!’ since our puppy arrived. They are hard work. But think about it - how many adult dogs do you meet who bite/wee in the house/keep their owners up at night? Probably none - they will grow out of it!

I also read advice somewhere to remember they are dogs and need to fit around your own family. Some friends of ours let their French bulldog rule their lives, spent thousands on dog behaviourists and god knows what - it’s a bit silly. Obviously we need to show them lots of love and train them, but I think it’s important to take a breath and remember they’re pets, not our kids etc. Easier said than done in the thick of the puppy stage though I know! I’m sure it will all get easier for us

@Lovelylurcher thank you! You're right, he will grow out of it, eventually. He's not my first dog either, I think with the last pup 13 years ago I was out at work, there were 4 of us at home all helping, it was different all round and we weathered it much better. We've had a lovely morning, having said that, and he's snoozed and played like a little sweetheart.

I'm realising they need SO MUCH sleep! I think we were a bit trigger happy in the first few days to start playing with her the minute she opened her eyes from a nap, and she seemed far more bitey and hectic. She still gets like this, but I know now it's because she's tired xx

Agree re the sleep. I don't think our puppy got enough in his first few days at home, not helped by also having a very active and loud 7 year old son! Today I'm trying enforcing a nap every other hour, so an hour's play and then an hour's nap. I'm putting him in the crate, which I didn't do previously and he's getting more sleep as a result of it.

He's only been home for 4 days, so I'm yet to experience the 'Why did I do this????' feelings...but I'm 100% positive they'll come!

I think dh and i have reached peak puppy tiredness! The pup was up at 4.30am and we just can't catch up on our sleep! I don't remember being this tired when the dc were babies!

Having said that he's such a lovely boy, only a little bit of biting and humping, oh and chewing the vacuum cord wouldn't swap him for anything, just can't wait to get more sleep!

@Rowdythree I'm at peak puppy tiredness I think as well, I've got that sort of drunken twitchy tiredness, iykwim, where you could just fall asleep anywhere. I'm determined I'm not going to cry tonight! I'm not really sharing it with DH or ds as they are both working and I'm not, so it only seems fair that I do the early get ups...but I'm so tired. I was 13 years younger when we had our last puppy!

totally its been 13 years since I last had a puppy too, I only had one child then instead of 3, I also was a lot younger 🤣

Our pup is doing well, she's pretty chilled as puppies go I think. I've had puppies before and the sleeping bit isn't too bad (yet).

She was in her crate next to my bed by 10 and I went to bed at 10.30 I was up for the loo at 5.30 and I had to wake her up so she is going quite a long stretch so far so good!

We've had three wee accidents so far now, mostly my fault where she has fallen asleep in our labradors bed under the table in the kitchen and woken up and I haven't noticed - she always, always needs a wee upon waking.

She's not too bitey either, I have ds11 and ds7 and they are pretty good with her, I just say to them when she chews or bites pop a toy in her mouth to distract her and it generally works.

I'm trying to be tough on the whole cuddling on the sofa and beds thing, it's hard as she's so small but I remember the size of her Mum and when grown it wouldn't leave much room for us so she has a bed on the floor next to the sofa.

This is a photo of Bella our fox red lab with her new sister, they seem to be getting on well.

We have a 12 week old puppy who has been with us for 4 weeks. He is a mini Schnauzer called Wilf.

We are loving it so far- he is sleeping through the night in his crate from 10-7 and enjoying his first walks. We just put him in the crate, shut the door and went to bed. Cried first night and nothing since. Breeder recommended this but I'm sure it's not for everyone- bit like parenting! My husband also keeps reminding me that he is a dog not a child - he is a farmer's son and not as gooey-eyed as me!

Mainly weeing and pooing outside which is good, but maybe one accident every couple of days? Has got the hang of 'sit' and we are now moving onto recall. Have you all read Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy? Really good.

We haven't had any humping 😂!!

But the BITING!!! Ouch! It's bloody awful!

Oh and here's my baby puppy

I'll join too
I have a 12 week old staffie.
I've always had staffies but the last time I had a baby one was 17 years ago when my old girl was a baby and 6 months later our Male dog.
We lost her in January this year and the boy 4 years ago.

Anyway
This baby he is so sweet and cute but my God I forgot how hard it was.
He is sleeping through now so I think this week his crate will come downstairs.
His toilet trained pretty much but if we aren't at the back door in nanoseconds he piddles on the kitchen floor but he gets it.
But the biting. Oh my goodness.

We started walks this week but up to yet he is NOT impressed.

And his favourite pastime when he isn't biting us is pulling up the plants in the garden..

Good job he is cute!

Such cute puppies!! Love them all!

I actually think I might have escaped being humped today. I'm not sure as it's gone a bit Groundhog Day round here recently, but I think he might have had a day off. So far. If I don't spend any time crying on the stairs tonight it will be a result!

Our JR is 10.5 weeks and the biting is driving me nuts! From Thursday she can go out for walks so I’m hoping she will be more distracted/better.
Sleeping is going ok. Training not so much. We have the back open constantly but she will still wee and poo in the house. I was advised not to use puppy mats so we could just move straight to going outside but now wondering if I’ve made a mistake?

Hi all, 10 week old cocker spaniel puppy here and I will confess, I am considering contacting the breeder and asking if we can return. This isn't our first puppy but I forgot how hard they are. We have a 5 year old dog who is putting up with the puppy but I really really regret getting this new one. We are still in lockdown with two kids remote learning, both working full-time. What was I thinking? I thought he would be good for the kids in these times and I had forgotten how hard and annoying they are. I am filled with so much regret. Does anyone else feel like this? I feel like I have ruined our lives, as ridiculous as that sounds

Australia77

I have days like this too
Especially if the day has been particularly trying... which a lot of them are in these early days.
They're such a huge commitment and very hard work
What keeps me sane is knowing what lovely dogs my last dogs were even though the puppy stage was hard.
We have a cat too who the pup likes to play with at the moment. No amount of being whacked by the cat is stopping him right now but it is all very excitable puppy and I'm hoping as he mellows so will that.

Just take each day as it comes.

Oh after reading this thread wondering if to get a puppy!! But have fell head over heels!!

Hi everyone! So pleased to find this thread.
Our little cockapoo will be with us tomorrow. 8 weeks old.
Very excited and rather apprehensive too.

I think we have more or less puppy-proofed the kitchen.
Any top tips for the first 24 hours?
Thanks!

@Australia77 I have had moments of this. I have a crawling 10 month old and they can’t be on the floor together as they constantly after each other. It will get easier though I know. When can your puppy go for a walk? Ours can go out on Thursday and I’m hoping that will be easier.

I'm loving seeing all these pups 😍 here's our little bear

thanks to those who responded. Ours is 10 weeks and we are walking him around the block to get him used to a harness and lead. He isn't too bad. he is being socialised by our older dog who is very patient but does get annoyed with him biting and jumping all over him. Our kids are older this time (7 and almost 10) and so they are good with the puppy. It's just this dread in my stomach where honestly if someone can and took him away, I would just be relieved. It is a terrible thing to say but that is how I feel. I remember feeling the exact same way with our existing dog - it took me ages to bond with him because he annoyed me so much and now I can't imagine life without him...