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!

[Emrysmcdogface]

My cats are slowly getting there @Chattycatty ! We have had him for 3 weeks now...

But they wouldn't really eat for the first week! I had to bribe them with super expensive posh cat food...

[polkadotpjs]

Aw lovely pics! Had a good day today. Well in that I found poo fairly quickly after he did it and not much biting. I'm finding immediate crating with a treat in crate waiting (duck jerky on top of crate now in readiness) is helping as he's more often than not tired

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

We had our first lunch out since lockdown eased at a naff local pub. Sat in the garden (in the rain at one point). GP wouldn’t settle really (as it was very noisy as pub was near a road) but mooched around casually enough. Walked beautifully there and back. But is a bitey little git this evening, after a week or so of it reducing. Bit nervous about having her in our room tonight in this mood!

Here she is actually lying down for five seconds.

[AmigoDog]

I’m loving looking at all the pups. Gorgeous animals

[Imadreamer44]

We've definitely got a gorgeous bunch of pups haven't we?
My DParents puppy sat for us tonight as we were booked for a meal out. They said she was good as gold and signalled for all her wees and poos to be let outside. Basically she was ten times better than she is for us haha. I was so proud of her though!

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

Im full of puppy guilt this morning, with DP away smiley pup is only getting 1 walk a day instead of his usual 3. Hes getting lots of training in the garden and stimulating games (more so than usual) but i feel a bit useless because i just cant seem to get everyone out the door. Im not to fussed about the lunchtime one as its to hot to walk him then anyway but he hasnt had a morning walk either because by the time everyone is up and dressed and breakfasted its passed 10 and hes ready for a nap. Id always planned to get a dogwalker when he was a bit older for when DP is away but think ill be moving that plan forward so will be phoning round today to get someone to come in.

My DS has asd and is point blank refusing to get dressed in the morning so its not as easy as just getting everyone up earlier.

[OwlInAnOakTree]

It's such a faff getting out with a pup and young kids, isn't it?! Half hour trips to the park take far more organisation than they really should. My DS has a friend coming to play on Friday. I'm already stressed by the logistics involved... 😆

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

How long are his walks @smilingthroughgrittedteeth? Three sounds like a lot, for you and for him! Give yourself a break. I’m sure the training is more than making up for the reduction in walks.

[OwlInAnOakTree]

Also meant to say @smilingthroughgrittedteeth, I don't think you've any reason to feel guilty. I'm sure one walk is fine for now with everything else you're doing. We get out for a good run around one of the parks most mornings, and occasionally a late afternoon walk, but we don't manage the walk every day. The park trips wear him out and seem enough for now.

[marmite51]

We haven't done any morning walks yet at all- Pup spends the morning pottering about the house and garden, and then gets his main walk in the afternoon. Then a quick walk before bedtime. We're conscious of the '5 minutes for month of age plus 5' rule and don't want to over walk him. He also goes up and down the stairs more than he should!

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

Morning walk and lunchtime is a 10min walk round the corner and back (takes 5mins without a sniffing dog) his evening walk is generally the off lead run round the park/woods with the kids which we are still doing everyday. I think im just conscious that on holiday he had lots of different sights, sounds and smell so being at home must be a little boring for him. He was really well behaved when we were away and is being really naughty this week

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

also i think ive got used to that 10min escape which after 5mths at home with DP and the kids was a relief and doing wonders for my mental health and now suddenly im doing 7 days solo parenting with no time for a break. Pre covid that was my life so i was used to it, DP works in the film industry so is away more than hes at home but covid means he hasnt worked since March, ive just got to find a new routine that includes a puppy

[marmite51]

Our puppy is actually the same, was great when we were away last week, is being a wee bitey pain in the neck this week. We're going away again tomorrow- driving 400 miles to stay with family for a few days. They have a lovely older dog, hoping she'll be a good influence on puppy! Wish us luck!

I've just cancelled the Tails.com food deliveries. The opening offer was great, but this months delivery was £29, a bit much! Also, it's not due to be delivered until tomorrow, and we'll be away, so I'm going to have to go and buy a different brand of food today, which isn't ideal for puppy 😕

I think I just want to be able to be in control of how much food we have in the house, and be able to adjust it for his weight myself as he grows. He's also seemed really hungry this last week, so need to get him sorted on the right food and correct amount for him. Thinking of going back to Iams Vitality that he was on when he arrived? What do you all think?

[AmigoDog]

My pup is on royal canine puppy which is what he came with. I’ve got two bags. The dog trainer said it was good, but I’m tempted to change during the second bag. No idea where to look though. Feeding seems to be so divisive!

I’ve been tracking pups poos over the past 2 days and there seems to be no rhyme or reason in when he goes. He’s eating at 6, 12 and 6pm (although he sometimes eats the dinner later). He’s got the hang of trying for a wee whenever we go outside, but he’s not trying to poo. He’s been awake since 6 and has not been yet...

[Imadreamer44]

We've tried our pup on a few things and she's actually best on Harrington's which is fairly cheap and cheerful but is all natural and wheat free.
Her poos are similar to your pup @AmigoDog, she is fed at 7.30, 1 and 6.30 and just goes whenever she fancies! She generally has one around 6am then goes back to sleep until 7. After that it's anyone's guess!

[polkadotpjs]

I'm looking for an app to track wee and poo so I can plan for it but can't find one - anyone got one? I tried using Alexa but she can't do hourly reminders or so she claims...but she hates me

[Dickorydockwhatthe]

Ah so great to find this thread. We pick our cockapoo up on the 17th. Our first dog and so nervous. My main concern is what to feed her so much choice but some quite expensive

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

@Dickorydockwhatthe you’ll probably want to keep her on whatever she’s been eating so far and make a gradual transition. There’s a website - allaboutdogfood - which you can compare different foods on which you might find helpful. It rates them by their quality as well.

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

Smileypup is on james wellbeloved changed from beta which the breeder had him on and he had awful diarrhoea, hes doing brilliantly on JWB.

Do any of you have the pets at home app? Ive saved loads of money with their vouchers

[AmigoDog]

I don’t know of any apps polka but if You hear of one can you let me know? God it’s just like having a baby isn’t it?! Same toilet and sleep obsessions...

[muckandnettles]

I've just come back from taking Mucky to the vets for an ear infection (drops for a fortnight, twice a day) and they weighed him and he was 25kg. Such a big lump and definitely on the high side of average!

I'm having a serious wobble about taking him away this weekend, really worried about how he will be away from home. Dh is catastrophising about it as well saying he will wreck the place. So we are taking 2 cars, with his enormous crate in one so that if he needs time out he can...Mucky is going with me in the other car. Such a palaver!

[OwlInAnOakTree]

I've just been to pets at home and was told about the app. Bought a new harness as OwlPup has outgrown his. Got him weighed, he's now 11kg!

I think we really need to rethink car travel next... I don't think we'll get a bigger crate in the boot.

[OwlInAnOakTree]

25kg @muckandnettles?! How big do you expect him to be fully grown?

[AmigoDog]

Wow there are some big puppies on here! Toy poodles aren’t much more than 4.5kg fully grown. I love big dogs but I don’t have the space or lifestyle at the moment.

[muckandnettles]

@OwlInAnOakTree I think he will be about 40kg or so maybe? His father is huge - the breeder said he looks like a small Shetland pony! So we are prepared...