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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Puppy survival thread! July 2020

974 replies

Juiceey · 02/07/2020 10:28

Roll up roll up... I'm a day late but here we are.

Latest update: Juiceypup is obsessed with DS's feet, who is now starting to get upset by it. He doesn't do it to anyone else, only him, and we don't know why. DS goes stock still as instructed but we have to prise his mouth open to get him off his toe. Has brought him to tears a few times.

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PuppyBonBon · 15/07/2020 12:30

Thank you @muckandnettles just signed up. Did you order anything before they sent you the sample pack? Funnily enough, I have some other fish chews being delivered today. Fish4Dogs looks much better value for money though. We have a dehydrator for camping foods, so I'm going to use it to try making some apple leather (sugar free) and plait the results to see if that works as a chew. Also got some turkey sausages to cook and dehydrate too. Not sure how successful it'll be. We made sweet potato chews in the oven last week but they don't last long! So paranoid about chews going wrong, her choking or getting a blockage, and she's only 10 weeks (tomorrow) so many aren't suitable yet. She's just getting the hang of her different kong toys and not (yet) destructive. Just need chews to help her love her crate and pen. She cries if she notices we're not there over finishing her chews at the moment, or as soon as her chews are done.

OwlInAnOakTree · 15/07/2020 12:37

@muckandnettles & @DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel we were only in the front room accidentally...DS managed to leave both room doors open. 🙄 So, as the floor was surprisingly and unusually clear of cushion dens/toys/snacks/etc. I decided to let him have a bit of an explore. It was about 15 minutes of me mostly saying drop it/leave it/off... Such fun. He makes a break for it most days and did do a wee in there very early on, but none since thankfully. I think you're both right though muck, it'll remain an exciting place the longer we leave it. I'd best start puppy proofing.

Just 9 months to go then @BiteyShark.

Will have a look at fish4dogs, thanks for mentioning it muck.

muckandnettles · 15/07/2020 12:50

@OwlInAnOakTree I really must get the pup in the front room soon, or it's going to be too big a thing. The first time he made a break for it and went in there when he was really tiny he did a wee straight away as well! @PuppyBonBon I put an order in for some plaited fish skin chews or something like that and joined the puppy club then. So it all arrived together this morning and Pup will be thrilled later when we try some. Though I did order some fish bars from Millie's which arrived a few days ago (just spend my life online at the moment!) and they are huge and loads of them, so it's fish breath overkill at the House of Muck!

Original poster
Juiceey · 15/07/2020 12:54

Just caught up.

Yes- nylabones are SHIT- why does everyone rave on about them?! He's never so much as sniffed them.

Yes- daycare so expensive! £25 a day here, luckily DW's office may not be reopening til Christmas which will save us a fortune.

Ordered a load of treats from JR Pets which tend to be the favourite. Just gave him a goats ear and was nearly sick at the smell! He'll have to have it outside! He loved it though, had to have the windows open, but he chewed it for 40 mins then fell asleep. But I've put it outside now, the smell is RANK. Same as a pizzle but bigger! I've got a really sensitive nose so no more pizzles for him.

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Original poster
Juiceey · 15/07/2020 12:58

@OwlInAnOakTree get the bitter apple spray from Amazon. Works brilliantly to stop the chewing of wood.

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PuppyBonBon · 15/07/2020 13:06

@muckandnettles thanks! I'll see how today's fish chews go down and then pop an order in, see if they come back with samples. I've had fish treats recommended for puppy classes as they stink enough to keep pups attention!!

muckandnettles · 15/07/2020 13:08

Someone said that if you have a Nylabone with the little raised nobbly bits you can squeeze some cheese or something edible to start them off with chewing on them. Works for a few minutes anyway!

midnightstar66 · 15/07/2020 13:19

I got fish skin chews yesterday and dpup made light work of it. Finished in a minute or so and she's not a heavy chewer

DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel · 15/07/2020 14:18

The nobbly nylabone is the only one that isn't completely pointless.
Fish skin chews make me feel a bit 🤢 but I could be convinced if you lot reckon they're irresistible and will make training better!

midnightstar66 · 15/07/2020 14:25

I don't think fish skins will make much difference to obedience training, will just keep them quiet for a short time and are good for coat and teeth- the dried sprats are great though

muckandnettles · 15/07/2020 15:00

@midnightstar66 where do you get sprats from? Are they special dog ones? Mind you, I need to get through some of this stuff first as it's taking up a lot of cupboard space, the treats more than the proper food...no room for the human stuff any more.

PuppyBonBon · 15/07/2020 15:21

I meant fishy treats as in tiny pea size treats, not the skin chews. There are recipes online for baked things made from canned tuna etc. Having looked at fish4dogs, they also have fish titbits/treats.

midnightstar66 · 15/07/2020 17:10

I got them from amazon but pets at home sell them too. Either in a packet or an entire tub.

muckandnettles · 15/07/2020 17:46

Thanks Midnight! Once I have some cupboard space I'll have a look into that. Dh came in the kitchen just now and said 'what's that smell? I can't make it out' and it turned out to be a fishy sort of smell that we have hanging about at the moment...hoping it is because I opened some packets a while ago but the smell will soon go! I need some airtight boxes for things, obviously.

Original poster
Juiceey · 15/07/2020 17:52

The stinkier something is the more Juiceypup likes it. But I can't cope with it.

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PuppyBonBon · 15/07/2020 18:10

Skippers wolf fish skin twist, half of one just took 30 minutes to chew through. She wouldn't give it up on her per break, nor for the treat for toileting outside!!! First chew she hasn't traded for a treat.

Southlondonchaos · 15/07/2020 18:45

Hi all, as ever it’s reassuring to read your updates - especially re biting, sorry so many of you are suffering the same teeth issues as us! Pup is so just crazy bitey, despite all the enforced naps (I don’t think it’s tiredness as she’s bitey nearly all the time she’s awake, even when just up from a mammoth nap!). My poor ten year old has been bitten so many times, and regularly has pup hanging off her trousers. So she’s keeping her distance which is such a shame, though I know it won’t be forever. I know it’s normal puppy behaviour but I do have moments of wondering if we’ve got a pup that’s not so nice natured, then I feel bad for thinking that! Trainer last night recommended nylabone keys, which arrived today and were utterly ignored by pup of course! Our trouser legs /fingers / ankles are clearly much more preferable. Sigh. Roll on bedtime!

OwlInAnOakTree · 15/07/2020 20:29

OwlPup has just arrived home after a bit of an adventure. My son gashed his leg in a friend's garden. We went off to A&E, left pup with my friends (dog owners themselves luckily). He went for a walk to pick up their daughter, went to the park for two hours, then back to their house where apparently he had a bit of a barking contest with their whippet, and finally fell asleep there 7 hours after his last nap. He was brought home about 15 minutes ago seemingly perfectly happy for the experience. Phew.

Haven't tried anything fishy here except for human salmon paste on his lickimat. That's by far his favourite lickimat topping so he'd probably love some fishy treats.

muckandnettles · 15/07/2020 20:55

@OwlInAnOakTree hope your ds is okay, sounds nasty - what a drama you've had. Owlpup should sleep well tonight. It's amazing how they just keep going sometimes contrary to the textbook advice. My pup has had a short walk, two very long walks, one with water and went beyond sleep if you know what I mean? Anyway he's now fast asleep and I won't be far behind...

OwlInAnOakTree · 15/07/2020 21:05

Thanks @muckandnettles. DS had six stitches and four steri strips on the gash. He very much enjoyed the laughing gas they gave him. The issue now will be toning down is high energy levels whilst it heals a bit as it's on his shin which apparently can be a bit tricky to heal.

Yes, I know what you mean about going beyond sleep! Sounds like a busy day for your pup too. DS and pup both in bed. I need to wait up to lock the chickens in, otherwise I'd be in bed too.

muckandnettles · 16/07/2020 07:44

@OwlInAnOakTree ouch that sounds nasty - hope he will be okay to just take it easy today then. At least the trip to A&E wasn't Owlpup related!

marmite51 · 16/07/2020 08:07

We're only walking for 20 mins max, twice a day. That's following the advice of 5 mins per month of age plus 5 more. Is that just for spaniels? Want to be kind to his joints whilst they're still forming.

SimonJT · 16/07/2020 08:12

@marmite51

We're only walking for 20 mins max, twice a day. That's following the advice of 5 mins per month of age plus 5 more. Is that just for spaniels? Want to be kind to his joints whilst they're still forming.
Its all dogs I think. We’re sticking to it as well. When we want to go further we stick ours in a rucksack which he doesn’t seem to mind too much.
Emrysmcdogface · 16/07/2020 08:14

Poor DS @OwlInAnOakTree!

Morning all! Yesterday was my first day back at work, but wfh obvs, and was a bit of a disaster on the weeing front.

Today I'm being better at going outside with puppy every time he gets off his bed, and no accidents so far (and is great how much work you can get done if you start at 5:30!)

He seems to be moving towards a slower timetable, so longer bouts of being awake, with longer naps in between.

Very proud, he has learnt to ignore the open treat pot on the ground. I'd say he has at least 5 seconds of self control currently, which is great! Will work on increasing it...

Fetch is only sporadically there however...

polkadotpjs · 16/07/2020 08:23

@OwlInAnOakTree blimey what a day! Hope DS ok. Good that pup had an adventure and was ok.
Polka pup is going back in toilet training specifically poo. Inside. On my carpet. He goes in the same spot so I've just scrubbed wuth the enzyme busting cleaner. But it's driving me mad. I can't spend all day in garden waiting for a wee or poo. Also tried another walk. We made it to house 7. We are 27. They are not mansions. So we didn't get far. He just kept sitting down. But when out with our friend he walked fine and was very enthusiastic with their dog. Clearly I'm too dull. Meh. Bit fed up today of being the only one up and having my toes chewed. Work at the table beckons. Hope everyone ok.