Puppy survival thread! July/August! Roll up!

[Juiceey]

Here we go, hero puppy owners.

We've just got back from the vet where I was shocked to discover he now weights 4kg. Little lump! He's 19 weeks old tomorrow. Wonder how big he'll get? On a miniature poodle group I'm in the adults are anywhere between 6-12kg. I hope he's small as easier to carry about!

Hello everyone,

I've been checking into this thread regularly but have had so much going on I haven't had a moment to post. It's so great to hear about all the 'old timer' pups progressing, and lovely to see new joiners.

@GingerAndTheBiscuits I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but it all sounds like it's for the best. Sending lots of and possibly to you...it must be a relief in so many ways.

I'm actually coming on not just to say 'hi' but to ask about others experiences. Our lurcher pup is 18.5 weeks now, great some of the time but a fair few things are worrying me. We had, like so many on here, a lot of puppy mouthing and nipping at our ankles. She's now started teething too - puppy teeth are gradually falling out, and she loves chewing on hard chews/cold things. All this fine and to be expected of course. Early on we identified some guarding issues - taking things and flying off with them, most probably a result of her being from a big litter. We are working on those and she's getting extremely good at 'leave it'.

However, there are times - particularly when overtired or stressed - when I've seen her tip over into what looks like proper aggression. Snarling, baring teeth, trying to actually bite us. Aware that a few of you encountered this, particularly in the evenings when pups were tired. But this seems like a fairly new thing for us, which is making me worry a bit.

Last night the pup climbed up onto a chair while the whole family was eating outside. Usual commands of 'down!' weren't working, and my son calmly tried to pick her up to get her down. She snarled at him VICIOUSLY, and moved to bite. Horrible. Granted, she was knackered, it was boiling, the smells of the bbq were driving her insane - but still. I read threads where people say things like 'my dog has never behaved aggressively' - well, ours totally has. We've had a few other similar episodes too.

Do I put this down to normal puppy brattiness that she'll grow out of (being mindful to avoid future situations)? Or do I have to start worrying?

Sorry to wade back in with an essay and a cry for help, but tbh I'm pretty upset about it Would love to hear thoughts and advice....

Last night the pup climbed up onto a chair while the whole family was eating outside. Usual commands of 'down!' weren't working, and my son calmly tried to pick her up to get her down. She snarled at him VICIOUSLY, and moved to bite. Horrible. Granted, she was knackered, it was boiling, the smells of the bbq were driving her insane - but still. I read threads where people say things like 'my dog has never behaved aggressively' - well, ours totally has. We've had a few other similar episodes too.

I wouldn't encourage anyone to pick a dog up in that situation. Next time throw treats on the floor to encourage her down.

If you are having resource guarding issues then I would be tempted to get some RL help from a behaviourist that can observe how the household operates and give you the right tips to manage that behaviour.

Do you keep a lead on her @Lovelylurcher? This has been the only way we’ve been able to redirect our Pup when she won’t be commanded or lured away with treats, but when we can’t get close enough without getting bitten.

Thank you @BiteyShark. In retrospect we should have absolutely tempted her to get down herself, but we've never had a problem physically moving her before. What I have seen before is guarding over things she shouldn't have - if she flies off with a shoe, for example - and growling/snapping when someone tries to get it off her. Classic resource guarding...but yesterday seemed much 'nastier' than that, which is what worries me.

We did in fact see a trainer/behaviourist just over a month ago and I discussed the guarding with her - and she taught us to exchange treats for 'leave it', which pup is much better with now. Kids know never to grab things off her now etc.

It's interesting what you say about 'I wouldn't encourage anyone to move a dog in that situation' - absolutely right, but I keep reading about these dogs that NEVER show aggression, and some trainers/owners say you should pretty much be able to 'handle' your dog at all times...

@GingerAndTheBiscuits - no, we don't keep a lead on her in the house. I get the logic and had thought of that - but until now using treat rewards/commands has been working 95 percent of the time. It seemed like the lead would be more trouble than it's really worth. It might have to be something I look into more seriously...but ultimately, I ideally want to work with her not to be aggressive, not use a lead so I can move her in the event that she is!

It's interesting what you say about 'I wouldn't encourage anyone to move a dog in that situation' - absolutely right, but I keep reading about these dogs that NEVER show aggression, and some trainers/owners say you should pretty much be able to 'handle' your dog at all times...

Ah but I take that kind of thing the same as those that say their dog slept through since day 1 or that they were completely toilet trained in a week .

I have a daft spaniel and he has been manhandled lots of times having been really ill or during his many accidents. However, he has his limits and occasionally he has growled to say enough is enough and we all back off. We have never had any resource guarding but one of my old parents dogs used to do it with high value items.

What I am trying to convey is that dogs are individual and it's places like this that people tend to be more honest about the difficulties they face like being lead/dog reactive, resource guarding etc.

I also think we don't realise why something is happening or how our own behaviour is contributing to theirs. This is why I tend to say 'get a good trainer or behaviourist' as they should pick up exactly your dogs and your own body language that we often don't see as a dog owner.

@BiteyShark - thank you again, that's made me feel a lot calmer. My DH says similar - 'remember she is an animal, they will sometimes show their limits'. He's right of course, but I feel so overwhelmed by all these people saying 'my dog NEVER did that.'

I think people forget what puppies are like too. A friend with an adult dog seemed utterly appalled by my pup mouthing her the other day - 'she really shouldn't do that'. But from what I gather on here, all puppies mouth!

@pistachioicecream mine sleeps on or next to our bed!

He's bored silly of kibble and barely ate it so we moved him onto butternut box and he loves it. (not currently as he's on a food strike due to illness, but usually). I like it cos it hardened his poos up!

Managed to get Juiceypup to eat his usual food at lunch yesterday and today... by spoon feeding him. he is so so so spoilt! But he wouldn't touch it any other way.

He's also eating white fish and chicken but won't touch the rice, so I'm worried about his diet at the moment.

@juiceey - hello again. Sorry to hear juiceypup under the weather. I remember a gp friend once saying to me that it's actually very difficult for toddlers to become malnourished, I could be wrong but imagine it's similar for puppies? He's not teeny tiny anymore so I would think a few days without much food won't harm him. Appreciate it's worrying though

I think people forget what puppies are like too. A friend with an adult dog seemed utterly appalled by my pup mouthing her the other day - 'she really shouldn't do that'. But from what I gather on here, all puppies mouth!

Yes to this. It's amazing how people forget. I am waiting for that to happen looks at BiteyDog who is 4 years old in less than 2 months

If you have already engaged a trainer beforehand then perhaps get in touch with them again to get more tips and tricks for moving a dog in such a situation. It isn't worth battling things on your own as having support from others whose job it is to understand dog behaviour can really help and make things feel less stressful.

He's also eating white fish and chicken but won't touch the rice, so I'm worried about his diet at the moment.

A few days really won't hurt. Ours had such digestive problems that he was undernourished for months and you could see his ribs. The vet used to tell me being on the thinner end is actually less to worry about than being fat when young as being overweight can be a real problem for their joints.

I now have the other problem as I get a bit of a telling off as he is now moved into the podgy side

@pistachioicecream our pup in theory was going to sleep in a nice crate (huge great thing that takes up half the kitchen) but we failed at getting him in there, so he sleeps in his bed in the kitchen and has never been a problem with that. Food wise, we have always had Millie's Wolfheart and he has kibble and also the cans of food - he much prefers the cans to the kibble I think, and though it stinks a bit it looks like good stuff. I don't know how big your pup is, but Lily's do smaller canned food specifically for puppies which he also loves but the Millie's is what we usually go for, an enormous delivery every once in a while.

@Lovelylurcher I'd agree that people forget what puppies are like. I've had the same thing with a friend being horrified at my wounds and scars from puppy biting and saying 'you've got to put a stop to that, nip it in the bud!' Same friend also said she had heard that pressing a dog's lip on his teeth when he bit would stop him. She had heard that from someone who had had a lot of dogs over the years. Made me feel a bit stupid I was 'putting up with' biting, but actually I would never want to hurt my dog like that and get him to behave by making him feel pain. It's amazing how that still continues though.

With the incidence of being a bit aggressive, I think things sort of 'stack up' for puppies sometimes, and you end up with a perfect storm of too much going on out of the norm. I've just been humped in the paddling pool for example...

@pistachioicecream I maybe have a similar issue to yours. Pup's crate is in the back room that leads into the kitchen. The back room is my favourite room, but once he's in bed at 8.30, I move into the front room for the evening. So I feel like I've lost my space. I don't think moving the crate into the front room will work though because that's where all my son's toys are, so it's where he plays. That said, pup doesn't take himself off to the crate in the daytime. Happy to follow a kong into it for his nap, but doesn't use it as a 'safe place' so maybe it wouldn't be an issue if it was in the front room for bed times. I don't know. But, like you, it doesn't feel like what we're doing now is the long term solution. Pup is on Burgess puppy food, our third brand of kibble. It's a minefield, isn't it?

@Lovelylurcher it's so stressful isn't it, the thought of having an even mildly aggressive or reactive dog. It's a big fear of mine. I think your DH is right though. I hope you get some reassurance about it.

OwlPup bit me very hard on my thumb today. Just while we were playing. Three little puncture wounds. It really really bloody hurt and is still throbbing away. Two steps forward, one step back.

@muckandnettles - 'With the incidence of being a bit aggressive, I think things sort of 'stack up' for puppies sometimes, and you end up with a perfect storm of too much going on out of the norm. I've just been humped in the paddling pool for example...'

sorry but this made me laugh a lot! You're so right!

@OwlInAnOakTree - yes it is stressful. I think lurcherpup definitely has a few issues with things, but I'm taking comfort on here that they seem to quite common. Also of the many adult dogs I know, they might have their quirks but only one of the many still actually ever snaps gets snappy with people. It's reassuring that that particular dog is the exception, but guess I'm just terrified that lurcherpup could turn out similar!

So relieved to read this. Polka pup has just got a bit crazy and snappy with me after trying to put him in his crate in the hotel we have come to. It's been mostly ok but clearly bedtime in a new place was too exciting. He zoomed round the (tiny) room then growled and snapped when I grabbed to put in bed . I too fear aggression but hope it's just puppy telling us what he likes/ doesn't like. A bit like babies. Oh but it's so warm why are rooms so bloody hot? 🥵

I’m another one really grateful for this thread and the honesty of everyone’s experiences. We have lovely lovely moments with AmigoPup but also some rather unpleasant ones. From reading on other forums I’d believe I was the only person with a pup who ever bit, or a child who accidentally overexcites pup into jumpy shark behaviour just by being in the same room.
I do think most people forget, or they minimise things as time goes by. When you know your 5 year old dog isn’t aggressive I’m sure it’s easy to remember their 12 week old snappy behaviour as normal puppy mouthing etc.
I know my family (especially my Dd) have a lot of learning to do and we still often have to understand our pups limits etc. But it makes it so much easier to keep in the right mindset knowing that so many of you are facing similar issues and that it’s all part of raising a puppy. So thank you everyone.

Hi all. I read this thread every day and it is so good to hear everyone’s experiences. I am having a few issues with my Labrador pup who is nearly 16 weeks. She’s always been quite a bitey pup but I’m starting to worry that it’s more than normal puppy behaviour and it’s aggressive (everyone’s worst nightmare!). I lay awake all of last night worrying about it. Overall her biting has reduced over the past few weeks but she has these episodes where she’ll mouth at my legs/trousers/hands while growling and jumping. I can’t always work out why. It’s often in the kitchen when I’m making a cup of tea or something. She isn’t biting hard and doesn’t break the skin but she is growling at the same time. It’s hard to get her out if it. If I turn my back she just carries on biting the back of my legs. I end up shouting “no biting” repeatedly but she just carries on. It’s so unpleasant. I can’t tell if it’s attention seeking, playing or true aggression. Anyone experienced this? I’m off to puppy obedience class tonight so may ask the trainer for advice.

We're at 18 weeks here now (how did that happen?!) and still have mouthy moments but the dog training group on Facebook says that's normal for up to a year from what I've read! It's never out of genuine aggression and generally when she's overtired or over excited.

Ended up going to the vets for the sticky eyes and it did turn out to be conjunctivitis so now we're having to put drops in. It is not pleasant for all involved!

@Bethanmethane we have a labrador who is now 5.5 months. Everything you describe is exactly what we went through. They are apparently famously bitey puppies and none of the usual techniques for dealing with it worked for us. For the last few weeks the biting has almost entirely disappeared so I think you just need to wait it out....it does get replaced with incessant chewing but hey ho, swings and roundabouts!

Grannypup met my 2 GC yesterday. Warned by this thread I asked my son to get them to wear leggings/joggers and wellies. He also put socks on their arms. Pup was so excited and delighted with them and it passed without any major issues. My GD is at the squealing stage though and that made Grannypup even more over excited. Pup collapsed when they went.

Tried the crate upstairs - started pup on bed and hoped she would settle enough to pop her into crate. Didn't work the first time and had to take her out as she got very wound up. Let her sleep on bed until about 1:00 am and then I moved her to crate where she stayed until about 3:30 Outside for another pee but couldn't persuade her back into crate. Slept on top of bed until 6:00 am

Thank you for this. I am sitting in my kitchen crying because all I want to do is empty the dishwasher and she just keeps jumping and biting me. I think I thought by 4 months she would be improving but the last 2 days she has been biting a lot. My 8 year old won’t go in the same room as her as he just gets bitten. I am hoping things will get better.

@bethanemethane I have tried a technique wear you make a simple kiss kiss noise at the biting and treat pup straight away. It makes them look at you momentarily and you can then distract. Does mean I am constantly wearing a bumbag with treats in it. I'm two days into trying this out and she does seem to be responding

where not wear Duh