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!

@Juiceey it was so stressful, yes. The other dog walker there said she had been really shaken by the incident with the same dog and was so sympathetic it was very helpful. Because you feel so out of control don't you? The owner said 'it's maybe a dominance thing?' and I just said 'he needs to be on a lead.' Dominance - honestly! He has a nasty dog who needs more training. I'm a bit worried that my dog might get this a lot as he will be a big lad when he is full grown (retriever) and I don't really want to get him neutered unless it's really necessary, and I think his breed are very soft and playful so I'm worrying about that now as well as he won't be able to stand up for himself. Some dog owners just won't believe anything bad about their dogs.

I've just ordered some Whimzees which are for teeth cleaning and which are supposed to last longer so I will report back on those. He gets through the Ostrich spaghetti too quickly and I never spot when he gets to the last part of it so he swallows it whole, which they aren't supposed to. He's never finished a pizzle stick as they are gruesomely chewy, so generally they get binned after a couple of days. The antler only gets a short chew. I know this sounds awful, but there was blood on one of his chews this morning and I thought 'hurray, that means his teeth are falling out finally!' I think the favourite chew that stops him in his tracks is the icy teatowel but actually he won't sit and chew anything for long. He has a hide chew that he is working away at quite happily this morning so I'm going to get some pig's ears I think, squeamish as I am about that. If I can have 20 odd bull pizzles in my cupboard I'm sure I can cope with a few ears.

Our puppy has had diarrhoea on and off over the last few days, it's a bit of a worry. He's on iams vitality, he had been having a few treats too, but we've stopped them hoping it helps.

Ah that sounds like a horrible experience muckandnettles. Hope pup isn't affected by it long term.

Chews...pizzles win every time here. His yak chew was loved until the pizzles arrived...now when I offer him his yak chew he just sits next to the puppy stuff cupboard looking at me until I get a pizzle out. I think I'm going to get some pig's ears too. Mainly as a new and exciting thing to put in his crate with him. (If they're safe to do that? Just for an hour's nap?) His antler is never touched any more, even when I put it away for several days to increase interest/novelty. Which is a shame as it's by far the least offensive smell/mess-wise of the three.

Zommies are crazy, aren't they? We usually get them around 8pm at night just when I want to sit quietly...

A slight aside, (although relevant in that I wouldn't have bought one if it weren't for the fact that it's impossible to hoover properly with pup around and I'm fed up of filthy floors from pup running in and out of garden and I'm not even that houseproud ordinarily), I bought a robot hoover a few days ago because it was on offer at 'only' £140. Hate hoovering. LOVE the robot hoover. Can set it to do one room whilst I'm in the other room with pup. Best puppy purchase yet.

@marmite51 I'd give the vet a ring if I were you, to be on the safe side. A few days seems a long time to have diarrhoea. People say to give them plain rice if they have tummy problems, I think, with maybe a little chicken.

@OwlInAnOakTree glad the pizzles go well with your pup! I try not to look too closely as I give mine one. I'm always on the look out for something new and exciting to give our little prince as well - I love it when I find something new that he likes. I think we are both a little too lazy for the Kongs at the moment, though I'm trying. It's difficult to find a moment when I can stuff them because he is always there at my side, or sleeping with one eye open.

Envious of your robot hoover...I only bought a new hoover last year when my old one died of shock when I did a lot of hoovering trying to sell the old house, so can't justify a new one. Good price!

@marmite 51
I think diarrhoea is fairly common with puppies who basically put everything in their mouth Dry food is supposed to make a difference but my pup just can't cope with dry food because of his baby teeth. I've been doing the rice and chicken thing which at least made a bit of a difference but I've now been mixing it with tinned food (Lily's kitchen). I took a look at Butternut and that seemed really lovely but I don't want to end up spending loads more money or chopping and changing too much.
For treats I just boil chicken and cut into tiny cubes or strips. He is so skinny anyway - definitely more of a greyhound than a lab.

Anyone tried royal canine sensitivity control for their pup?
Wee bailey had the runs yesterday and wasn't sure if it was due to the worming tabs or the frozen carrot we gave him so phoned vet this morning and apparently when he was at the vet last week they gave us something to treat ear mites so we thought that was all it did but it also acted as a de wormer so we gave him more de worming tabs 3 days later not realising
Vet has gave us that dog food and a paste just now

@Juiceey On one Facebook group I’m in they suggest tying knots in old dressing gown cords, or strips of old sheets or towels, to play tug with. Helped us out last night with the bitey baby shark although today it just sent her into a frenzy.

I’ve read about zoomies but think we only experienced it today for the first time - that would be the manic jumping and off the sofa and trying to bury herself between the back cushions, I assume?

She’s a dream dog when she’s first woken up in the morning and wakes from a nap, and when she’s in the kitchen (no mouthing there yet). She is an absolute demon the second she starts getting tired and as we’re still building up to using the crate, settling her to sleep anywhere else takes forever. She will settle on the sofa (or back of the sofa!) eventually and then she’s an angel again. Thank god this thread taught me puppy regret is a thing or I’d be really freaking out!

Yes Ginger puppy regret is a real thing!

Ours gets the zoomies BIG time in the early evening. We've not got a very big house and he just flies around!

We've made the switch to Butternut Box over the last two weeks and I'm so happy with it. Pup has gone from being disinterested in his food to wolfing it down. He barks and spins in circles with excitement when I'm preparing it!! And best of all? His poos are now rock hard!

Can someone link me to the pizzles please? ideally amazon!

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07X8TN7N4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

Hope that link works, @Juiceey. I bought the Maltbys ones anyway. I also bought a brilliant tug toy today that has pup in love with it and worked well on a walk to get him to come back to me - I then let him carry it for a while. It's from Tug-e-nuff and has sheepskin on the end part which he adored. Anyway, I'll see how he goes with it. @GingerAndTheBiscuits I made a couple of lengths of old clothes plaited together which pup loved but in the end I decided he maybe wasn't clear enough about those and the clothes we were actually wearing, so I've discontinued those for a while!

I'll have a look at Butternut Box as well, as I like to vary pup's diet where I can. He has been on Millie's Wolfheart kibble and cans and I've bought some Lily's cans. He is bored with kibble generally and looks disgusted if that's all I give him, so I mix it up a bit to keep him interested.

I'm a bit at the price of pig's ears! I've spent so much on this pup so far that I just don't think I can bring myself to spend that much on chews that don't look as if they'll last very long at all...?

Also looking at cow's hooves...anyone tried those? I read somewhere that they last a long time. Look more value for money than pig's ears maybe.

My plan to just use kibble instead of treats for training, etc. isn't quite working out as I'm now plying him with high value treats to lure him into his crate every nap time. Would be fine if he was only having one nap a day, but he can have about 5! And then pizzles and a lickimat every evening to give me a bit of peace. His boring old kibble's going to be worthless soon, isn't it?!

@OwlInAnOakTree yes my pup just looks at me if I give him kibble as a reward. Like, where's the treat lady, cos that ain't it! Ain't doin nothin for kibble...
He's a bit rough, the way he talks I'm afraid. That theory of giving them their meals as rewards might work if I gave him a fistful of sloppy canned dog food because he loves that stinky stuff, but kibble? Nah.

Thanks for the cat advice - not sure I want a leaf smell but might be worth a go...
Pup has been a horror early evening. Biting me and only me. Refusing to let go of clothing / hand/ foot. Drew blood and I had to try and pull my trousers out of his mouth. And now he's like this pic ...cheek of it
It's all very well saying walk away but he hangs on and starts getting growly? Like he's a frenzied rabbit slayer...and the teeth. So sharp when locked into my hand. Only mine. Leaves DH alone. And my kids. As someone else said, predictably I am doing all the toileting, cleaning, feeding and remembering- he peed in kitchen earlier after waking for a nap...husband was hobby faffing and was all puzzled when I said "you HAVE to take him out when he wakes up. First thing he does is pee". He's peeing outside pretty much whenever taken out but pooing inside. That's another post. Going to enjoy the cuddle for now and buy a sheepskin toy! Wondered if my Ugg slippers may be to blame for the frenzy ?!

Having googled bulls pizzle... are they really a bulls penis

We tried some this week with our labrador and they are definitely penis. Also, they stink. Would recommend bulls tails over pizzles in terms of odour!

@Borris yes, I find it difficult to believe but I think they actually are. They look like gnarly old twigs. When you smell them...well, just wait...

@polkadotpjs yes, I have a similar problem with my dh who is only now (7 weeks in) starting to see how things need to work round the pup. Like let him out for a wee - did he do a wee? Not sure, wasn't watching. Pup barks so DH tells him to be quiet, pup barks some more so DH tells him again...and repeat. He is finally grudgingly learning from watching me do things as I am erm a little more patient, though no dog whisperer.Tonight he had a go at getting pup quiet by rewarding quiet rather than telling him to be quiet. Thank goodness, it worked well!

@muckandnettles, I suppose, if I'm being completely honest, I'd not be tempted to do anything by kibble either...

Ugh yes, pizzles stink, don't they. I absolutely do not appreciate it when pup comes and leans on me whilst gnawing away at the pizzle he's plonked on my knee.

I cant bring myself to buy pizzle sticks the thought of them makes me feel

After 6 days on the paste pup still has diarrhoea, the vet gave him a 3 day dose of panacur wormer when qe saw her on wednesday. He chews everything im constantly pulling things out of his mouth so not sure if hes ate something or maybe the food doesnt agree with him (its what the breeder had him on but he had diarrhoea when he first came home). This evening is the first time hes refused food though so im going to call the vet in the morning.

@smilingthroughgrittedteeth

We had to phone vet this morning too he was on pedigree puppy food
He was out at the vet last week and never realised vet gave a dose of de wormer so we end up giving him more 2 days after so yesterday he had diarrhoea and was up most of the night
Phone vet and he gave us paste for 3 days and special food (royal canine sensitivity control)

Have just come to bed in tears as she has spent an hour biting me. Tried diverting with play, toys, a different room, trip out for a wee. Nothing. Can’t put her in crate to get a break as she completely melts down (we’re working on crate training in the day but literally only got her to lie down in it for a few seconds today with the door open). I know it’s very early days but I hate this. When I picked the 5 year old up from school today she told me she was staying upstairs away from the dog :(

I hear you, all of you. This is very hard work, and trying the get the whole family to act consistently for the pups benefit is equally as hard.

But I'll take the wins as I find them. A completely clean day today. All toilet outside.

And when the Zoomies arrived tonight I put three treats in a box which rattled and sent him crazy for 15 minutes until he tore it up and got them. Then tried a plastic Pellagrino water bottle with treats in which has completely absorbed his attention as every time he touches it, it spins off in another direction. 30 minutes of that and he had to lie down. It's still intact for another day!!

For the last 2 evenings I've put him in his crate about 8pm when we have dinner as he's suddenly got interested in our food and jumps up at the table. Before that he would lie down at our feet and behave. I've decided I'm going to carry on doing this so at least we get our evenings stress free.

For those of you who are crate training, have you tried putting lickey mats inside with peanut butter? That's how I trained mine and he's hay to go in it now and sleep with the door open during the day.

In other news, leaving him home alone is not going well. We're up to 20 minutes with the FaceTime but he is whining and howling all through. Any ideas?

A 5.30am start today, not caused by the puppy my 2yr old decided to wake everyone up so i now have a puppy whos still tired which means hes manic and biting everyone, 3 grumpy children and 2 tired adults.

One of pups favourite things to play with is a plastic bottle filled with water and frozen.

@GingerAndTheBiscuits have you considered using a playpen instead of the crate? My mum has the crate inside the playpen her puppy hates being shut in the crate so he can go in and out as he pleases but is contained within the pen. Fortunately mine doesnt mind hes crate to much though i did ignore his whining the first time he went in there and hes since decided its not worth whining and he has chews and toys in there so just plays then goes to sleep. Hes only locked in there at mealtimes currently as he has a habit of hiding under the table waiting for the kids to drop stuff. He loves his bedtime crate upstairs but only ever goes in that one when he is completely exhausted and half asleep so is ready just to snuggle up.