Puppy survival thread! July 2020

[Juiceey]

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.

Can I join? We are picking up dpup tomorrow morning!

Been following along for a few weeks, been really helpful so far. Hoping you've given me a realistic expectation of the early days.

Any top tips for the drive home ? It's a 2 and a half hour drive so worried about that.

I'd crate for safety if it's over an hour in case they wriggle and try to slip out of your arms or worse. I would ensure they can see and interact with you like we had. Then you can cuddle them in your arms to sleep and slide them into crate.

The Kong worked for the first time with the salmon mousse - sorry to interrupt a serious conversation - and pup sat with it for over 30 minutes. I squeezed the mousse in, froze it and he really worked at it for ages. I don't know if he has a really long tongue, but he got to the bottom of it all right in the end. I think it's a case of matching the size of dog to the Kong. He's a big puppy and he has medium and large Kongs, just the usual red ones.

@Makemedoit we had our pup with a harness clipped into the seat belt and then he was on my lap for our journey. It's the law that they need to be tethered in some way. Someone in our village has a miniature dachshund puppy and it is so tiny and cute! Makes my pup look like a great elephant. Enjoy!

@muckandnettles Thank you that's really helpful. Can you recommend a harness to connect to the seat belt?

It just depends really - we wanted a harness that we could also use for walking pup a little though we knew we wouldn't do much of that for a while, so bought a little cheap one from Pets at Home then a connector that joins to the seat belt holster bit (if you know what I mean) and can also be used for walking him with a lead. He soon grew out of that one and we bought another more substantial one from Ruffwear to use now. It's always a bitey fight to get him into his harness but once he has it on he's fine with it and is happy on the back seat of the car.

Dear God, first experience of the bull pizzle stench 🤮🤮🤮

When we collected dpup she sat on DD's lap. She was a bit distressed from leaving her pack so I'd have hated to leave her alone

Hello all. Sorry you're having it so rough @GingerAndTheBiscuits You sound so lovely and she's lucky to have you
I'm exhausted. Finally realised today it's all due to puppy. Thinking, planning and trying to work whilst having an ear open. My brain is fried. I had time out tonight for a manicure and it gave me the reset I needed. DH took polka pup for a "walk" (no distance covered but it's tiny steps right?) and a group of youths in tracksuits and hoodies were on the field and melted before his eyes. One lad , gruffly said "that's the cutest thing I've ever seen". This is heart melting right? "Tough kids " going gaga for a puppy cuddle

@Southlondonchaos

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!

Oh @Southlondonchaos I have exactly the same moments! (And exactly the same issue with 10 yo DD...although she doesn't help herself sometimes wandering around barefoot and in a flappy nightie 🤦‍♀️). The bitey-ness is by far the most stressful part of it all at the moment. I know it'll pass though. 🤞

@polkadotpjs a group of “youths” were cycling towards DH walking the pup the other day and one shouted “off your bikes, the puppy’s nervous!” and they all did The kids are alright!

After quite a nice day she‘s just spent nearly two hours being a bitey pain in the arse, including a growl and lunge at DH’s face. We’re really struggling to have the energy for it every night. Ended up having to drag her into the kitchen to try to chill her out and compose ourselves without her for five minutes while she went ballistic. Think she’s finally given in and gone to sleep for the night, fingers crossed.

[quote GingerAndTheBiscuits]@polkadotpjs a group of “youths” were cycling towards DH walking the pup the other day and one shouted “off your bikes, the puppy’s nervous!” and they all did The kids are alright![/quote]
Love this!

@GingerAndTheBiscuits, sorry you're having a tough time of it. I hope you find a way to resolve things that works for all of you.

Not sure if it's coincidence but biting here seems to have trailed to nearly zero unless totally over excited. Just over a week ago we started having a nightly half hour puppy play date with an acquaintance who has a puppy who is 3- 4 weeks younger but a larger breed - both terriers so they are well matched. What a difference it's made. It's like she gets all her bite practice out her system with that and the few other impromptu puppy plays. If any of you can arrange this I'd highly recommend

Polkapup been very lunge/ bitey just now. Sigh. Think he's ready for a nap tbh but still. He just rolls onto his back and waits for a belly rub from DH! Never bites him

And yes the kids are all right. Some teenage girls also got the polka pup "look at me" treatment. They were all down on the pavement as he trotted to each one for a cuddle. So he's not secretly aggressive just for liking my leg right?
@gingerandthebiscuits I hope she slept ok.

Wish me luck guys.. tonight we take DPup away for the first time. Its a dog friendly cottage and we are taking literally everything she owns to make it feel like home.
Does anyone have any tips for pups first holiday?

BiteyDog was an adult when we first took him away but I do what I always do when he's at a new house. I take him out frequently and give him the 'toilet' command to cement where he needs to go e.g. a bit back to basics.

Thanks @BiteyShark, it's quite rural and the weather is supposed to be good this weekend so that should be fine
We've almost cracked toilet training (bar a couple of excited wees) at home so hoping things will be okay.
I'm just excited to be somewhere different than my house!

We are going camping on Sunday - beginning to wonder if I'm mad! 🙈

@Imadreamer44 I have no advice but will await your report back with interest as we are doing something similar at the start of August, going to an Airbnb with Muckypup to a house in a city, but on the river.

I also have a teenager story - yesterday when Mucky was off the lead at the country park he saw a group of teens laughing so ran towards them, ignoring me and my calling. One of the lads very deftly caught Mucky by his harness and held him until we got there. So sensible.

@midnightstar66 good luck with camping - sure you'll have great fun.

I've ordered lots of v smelly chews that d pup can have outside while we sit out to eat etc. Just hoping she doesn't decide to stay hiding them around the bed area

Our pup went to a 'puppy club' yesterday, run by local dog Walker. He got picked up in a van and dropped off again afterwards. He didn't enjoy it at all, spent the whole session hiding on a chair or in the arms of the dog walker. I feel bad, it was clearly too much too soon for him. Will need to introduce him to as many dogs as possible on a calmer one to one basis. My poor baby! I felt awful for him.

Ah don’t feel bad @marmite51 - sometimes you have to try these things to work out what suits your pup and what doesn’t.

@midnightstar66 and @muckandnettles glad I'm not the only one mad enough to be doing this!! DPup is fond of sunbathing in the garden so hoping she does plenty of that and I can have a