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!

2 days home.

The good:
DPup now knows sit and lie down.
DPup has had very few accidents and has had dry nights.

The bad:
DPup chews everything including us.

Please can I join? We've got a 10 week old french bulldog named Frank. We've had him 2 weeks and my DP was off work for those 2 weeks to help settle him in. It was so stressful anyway and now it's worse that I'm on my own with a puppy and a toddler. I completely misjudged how this would be and I thought because I'm a really easy going person, the chaos wouldn't bother me but it really does.

He's no different than any other puppy with biting, chewing things he shouldn't, digging up the garden etc. We're telling him to "leave" and distracting with his toys which works most of the time so I guess that's normal. Had a couple of accidents but he's really quite good with toileting.

We've got 2 cats and they haven't got used to him yet, they come down for food and then disappear upstairs again so I feel guilty about that.

He makes my DS cry when he barks or cries. I feel really guilty about impacting my DS life negatively but it's only temporary right? He'll get used to him I hope.

His sleep has been the biggest issue. I slept downstairs for 10 nights(!) til I couldn't do it anymore and we had to let him cry. The crying at the beginning was so loud and he didn't stop for half an hour which is why I'd give up and sleep downstairs. So now we put classic fm on, cover his crate with a blanket, he has his cuddly toys. He only cried for about 10 minutes last night so that is progress.

Early last week, I was fully ready to give up. I was so tired and feeling guilty about everyone not getting the attention and love that they deserve. It's not fair. I knew it would be hard but I just didn't think it'd be this hard. I thought I'd deal with it quite well but it's making me quite depressed. I don't love him yet, I'm just going through the motions of meeting all of his needs (well trying to the best I can) and I just want to get to the bit where he's a settled, calm dog.

I know this probably makes me sound terrible but it's honest and I feel abit better for getting it off my chest.

Pic cause he is quite cute I guess🤷‍♀️

Another thing the trainer said - which I wanted to ask you all about - she thinks lead walking is better done with a collar rather than a harness.

I thought using collars was quite old fashioned, and these days harnesses were perceived as better. Less risk of damaging their necks etc. But she pointed out that puppies/dogs aren't willing going to choke themselves, it gives the walker more control and harnesses can damaged ligament development, particularly in larger breeds.

In the class I had a harness and I was totally struggling - pup was biting it, rolling around, trying to wriggle out etc. Trainer made me clip the lead onto the collar and I have to say there was a lot of improvement with walking. However, I just can't help but worry it's not as comfortable. What are others doing? x

@pleasecaffeinateme hi there! I severely underestimated how difficult this would be as well. Things are slightly easier though I haven't actually left pup yet at all, but in the first few weeks I sat and cried on the stairs a few times, just feeling really overwhelmed. I love the puppy photo!

@Lovelylurcher so far we have gone for a harness for walking but pup doesn't fight against the harness at all, seems quite okay with it. He also wears a collar but we haven't tried walking using the collar yet. Our old dog was quite willing to choke himself on his own collar (labrador) and was always a really bad walker, pulling and choking himself, almost dislocating our shoulders, so I'm trying something different this time for that reason as much as anything. Also, I find it quite easy if we have him using the harness in the car, to just put the lead on it as he gets out for a walk.

Pup in harness (very wet from the grass!)

That's really interesting @Lovelylurcher - I read the same thing on the miniature schnauzer FB group I am on. It seems like the group were divided on it. I agree though that he wouldn't want to be choked- would worry about pulling him to hard though when he refused to walk! Did she recommend a type of collar?

Welcome new people and lovely to see everyone's pups. The worst bit is definitely the first four weeks- ours is 14 weeks and we all a lot less anxious and stressed and are adjusting to having a dog. Keep going everyone- it will pay dividends!

Today he went to sleep upside down on the shopping bags!

We have a soft collar for our puppy, and have been putting it on him every day for a while, then rewarding. He struggles to get it off and doesn't like it much!

Where do you get puppy harnesses from, and how do you know they'll fit? He's a 3.5kg cocker spaniel. Feel like I'm hemorrhaging money on puppy accessories, don't want to waste money!

@marmite51

We have a soft collar for our puppy, and have been putting it on him every day for a while, then rewarding. He struggles to get it off and doesn't like it much!

Where do you get puppy harnesses from, and how do you know they'll fit? He's a 3.5kg cocker spaniel. Feel like I'm hemorrhaging money on puppy accessories, don't want to waste money!

We're taking pup to Pets at Home at the weekend to be fitted for one, you can try them on in the store.

@muckandnettles yeah it's very overwhelming. It can only get better and puppyhood doesn't last that long so I'm just looking forward to him being fully grown.

I just guessed with the size of the first harness and it was mainly for the car so mattered less, then the next one I measured him and went by the sizing they said. It's all adjustable as well. I took the recommendation for the one we have from the Simpawtico guy on YouTube and so far it's been spot on.

@marmite51 'Feel like I'm hemorrhaging money on puppy accessories, don't want to waste money!'

I know that feeliing, yes! Every day Amazon brings something new for him and we already have a house full of stuff that is the pup's...

We have a collar, we also have a ruff wear harness that has a lead clip at the centre of their chest, they can’t pull really as it feels weird. But we’re focusing on teaching to walk nicely and not just rely on the harness

It does get better. Ours is 6 months old now, house trained (fingers crossed) no mouthing, no digging in the garden, just easier in so many ways. They are so little when you first get them they are just little babies.

We let her off lead almost as soon as she'd had her injections as there are some great safe dog walkign places near us. They stick really close when they are little and give them lots of little good treats like cut up sausage or cheese - so her recall isn't bad now.

Lead walking not so good as we haven't done much on lead - but I think collar is good advice.

Also got her used to the car early so now she just trots into her crate in the car and goes to sleep.

Also lots of safe things to chew and move the stuff out of the way that you don't want chewed. We kept all shoes in a plastic box by the door till about a month ago. Just kept temptation out of the way.

Snuffle mats, treats hidden in egg boxes, treats in toilet rolls - all brilliant for tiring her out.

Pup has a soft leather collar and lead, ive always used collars with my dogs.

Weve had a fairly good day, my mum came over with his brother so they played together until they were both exhausted. House training went well all day he even asked to go out for a poo and is going on the doggy toilet area DP made for him, until this evening when he has had 3 wee accidents and pooed under the dining table.

How was everyone elses night?

I thought my days of getting up at 3.30am were behind me when youngest DD started sleeping through the night

Last wee at 11pm, woke me at 12 to go out for another wee then again at 3.30am for another one and a poo then wouldnt settle and just wanted to play so i took him back downstairs where he played until he wore himself out and took himself off to his crate which meant i could doze on the sofa.

Hes got very loose poos, he was wormed on saturday with drontal by the breeder and obviously had the upheavel of leaving mum/siblings on sunday, hes happy and has visibly gained a bit of weight since we picked him so i dont think its anything to be concerned about but does anyone have any ideas on how i can help firm him up a bit?

I've not had a whole nights sleep since I got her 2.5 weeks ago. We're reliably up at 2 and 5 each night.

The 2 isn't too bad as she goes out, Wees and poos and then straight back to crate. The 5 is harder as it's light and the birds are singing and she wants to play. I try to be boring and she usually will go back to sleep for another of couple of hours but several times I've woken up stiff on the floor next to her crate!

Any idea when I can expect her to sleep for longer. I can't really leave her to cry as we have neighbours and my dd will be disturbed. Plus they seem like proper longish wees when she does go in the night so I think she'd mess her crate if left.

I'm hoping it's like children when they all of a sudden just start going through

@Borris probably another week? Then again ours started sleeping through then at about 5 months reverted to waking up at 2. Driving me mad.

Our pup is 11.5 weeks now and goes to bed at 10, up around 4 for wee and poo then back down til around 6.30/7. Much better than at 8/9 weeks where we'd be up at least 3 times a night with her.

Had our second set of jabs today so we're excited to hit the pavement!

@Lovelylurcher our breeder also said the same about harnesses so we always use a collar. We have a martingale collar and 2m lead. Our trainer said you can only lead train on a long lead. We've had two lead training sessions now but apparently it can take months to lead train successfully. We got a clicker last night to reinforce positive behavior so hopefully that will help.

I do feel our pup has improved quite a lot, he's 15 weeks now so a bit older than some of the pups here. He doesn't wake up at the crack of dawn very often now, and he rarely needs a wee in the night. I hope that helps some of you feel there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Getting him to eat enough is my problem! He's just not bothered by his kibble. I bought a snuffle mat which he snuffled twice, a kong which he ends up just licking the peanut butter out of and leaving the kibble! I end up playing all sorts of games with him to eat his dinner, he has 4 meals a day so can be very time consuming!

How is everyone dealing with the biting and chewing? It's constant and really getting to me now.

Think I got lucky with my puppy. He's slept through from around 9.5 weeks and he's in bed from 8:30 to 7. He's never woken me up in the night, but I was getting up at first at various points until he'd been with us around ten days. I need a lot of sleep due to being a pretty rubbish sleeper myself and am always always tired so I'm so relieved puppy is a good sleeper. My son is too, and I used to say that's the only reason I survived single parenthood. I'm now saying my puppy sleeping through from a young age is the only reason I'm surviving puppyhood.

Biting not constant here, thank goodness. But he's drawn my blood three times. My son and him being overexcited together remain my biggest struggle. But I'm finding the puppy pretty easy in general so far, he's only 11 weeks tomorrow though, so things can change! Also wondering whether a relatively easy puppyhood means I'm in for an awful adolescence?!

@crazycatgal

How is everyone dealing with the biting and chewing? It's constant and really getting to me now.

Not a huge deal of chewing here, but nothing in his pen is chewable at all (apart from chew toys of course).

Lots of biting from our land shark, any time he bites us or our clothing we stop what we are doing and leave the room/pop her in her pen.

@crazycatgal I have nothing to suggest for biting, nothing works here! Chewing, if you mean furniture and stuff, I'm having some success using a tip from Easy Peasy Puppy Squeasy book. I think it's called a positive interrupter. I'm using 'puppy's name no' in a light voice. I know 'no' is frowned upon but it comes much more naturally to me than any other word/sound! So if he's chewing, or doing anything he shouldn't be, I say 'Name no' and when he stops, he gets a treat. Then I give him something appropriate to chew on. I did it constantly with chopped up cocktail sausages for a treat throughout the day a while back and now it does generally stop him doing what he's doing if he's not too manic and hyper. It's worked a few times when he's jumping up and nipping at me, but not when he's doing the same to my son, for example.

That Easy Peasy Puppy Squeasy book is good, by the way. There's plenty of free stuff online, but if you're like me and like to have an excuse to buy a book, I'd say that's a good one for the training basics.

@crazycatgal Ours was much bitier when tired. Fundamentally needed a nap - so we'd sit in a paticular chair and stroke or cuddle to sleep. If way too bitey to do that then would do a 10 second time out - we'd step out of the door and when you come back 5 or 10 seconds later they normally have got that you aren't playing. You don't have to put up with biting. Then try and get them to nap or chew something they are allowed to chew.

Chewing, direct their attention to things they are allowed to chew. We gave ours frozen damp tea towel to chew, or frozen carrot, or fresh carrot or a brocolli stalk. Hid a treat in a toilet or kitchen roll inside. Put a treat in a box and they have to work out how to get it.

But generaly I woudl say if very bitey they are tired. They need way more sleep than they think they do.

Bonnie 15 weeks black lab is enjoying walks now she’s off the lead. I was really nervous at first letting her off but she trots alongside & enjoys it.
Goes to bed at 11pm but awake 2 & 5am for toilet. Exhausting!
Wonder if we should restrict water?