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!

@OwlInAnOakTree thank you - I'm able to laugh about it now but at the time it was dreadful.

Muckypup goes to bed whenever the kitchen goes quiet in the evening, around 9pm and sleeps through until I come downstairs, usually 7am. He is now 22 weeks. He sleeps where he wants in the kitchen, we have failed to crate train but it's not been a problem so far.

We have a Sunday lunchtime class, it's outside (but with open army tents so we have shade/shelter) and the trainer is very keen for at least 3 x 5 min playtimes so they get the chance to learn how to play.

We had another option for 8pm class in a scout hut! Puppy becomes a drunk thug at 7pm, falls asleep at 7:20. I can't imagine how bad it would be if we'd tried that one!

Evening classes sound hideous for everyone! I’ve emailed the spaniel trainer our breeder suggested but no reply yet. I’d like a 1:1 session just to boost our confidence with training.

How anyone does this puppy thing with very young dc is beyond me. Dd1 is 12 and able to help out/give me a break. Dd3 is 9 next week and great with dpup. Dd2 is slightly less confident so I wouldn’t leave her on her own yet with him but she’s gaining in confidence daily abs dpup is jumping up less (except for evening zomies when’s he’s mental).

@Emrysmcdogface that was the sort of class I was hoping for, where they could socialise a bit and get it out of their system but also learn to play. The trainer said we couldn't do that any more because of Covid. Sunday lunchtime also sounds perfect as a time. I'm starting to realise my class is never going to work, but I felt worse because the other pups seemed okay with it, but then again I'm not really watching them so much.

Hi
Sorry @OwlInAnOakTree - I had a lie-in today (8.30!) Feels strange without my 6am alarm call.
So, yesterday the vets x-rayed again and then had to sedate Olivepup to get a better picture. The x-ray showed a grey mass in his stomach which wasn't moving along as it should.
Because he is only 4 months old, they decided to go the endoscopy route and managed to remove what they could see which was mainly stones, bits of stick and a silica gel sachet! Apparently after the sedation wore off, he was much brighter, jumping around etc. He did then proceed to have a couple of bouts of explosive diarrhoea (nice for them) so they will repeat the x-ray today and make sure it is now clear.
I sent my DSs into the rain to collect all the lumps of brick and concrete they could find and we will work on making everything safe.

I am working on leave it but I think once Olivepup is home (and the vet seemed hopeful it has been resolved) I need to use a soft muzzle for walks. No doubt he will hate it but this has been a total wake up call.

Thanks for everyone's advice and support. I will update if Olivepup gets discharged today. I need to see whether the insurance (Waggel) will pay the vet directly or if I need to claim. Think the cost will be around £2K

@muckandnettles, I absolutely hated taking our dog to puppy training classes. He just wanted to play with the other dogs and spent most of the time whining and fidgeting while all the other dogs sat calmly on their mats. 🙄 I felt very embarrassed and loathed going towards the end. The trainer used to waffle on and on before getting on with the actual training and our dog would lose interest. I couldn’t blame him because it bored me to death too! The dogs weren’t even allowed to play for 5 minutes at the end so they could socialise. For me it was a totally pointless exercise. I’d learnt the majority of what he taught from YouTube anyway and had been socialising him with other dogs on walks. You are not alone!

That sounds like good news for OlivePup. On the muzzle I think the basket type ones are recommended for running about rather than the cloth as they can still drink and breath properly. Your vet probably sells them and would be able to advise on the correct size.

Think god for insurance. It's amazing how quickly vet bills can escalate into the thousands.

@OliveButler oh my goodness, poor pup! That's shocking that all those little bits could do that - certainly a bit of a wake up call for me as well as Mucky picks up all sorts of things and they just disappear sometimes before I can get to him. It sounds as if Olivepup is going to be okay now once his tummy has settled back down and I think you are right that a soft muzzle is probably the way to go until he has learned more.

@heatseeker14 thank you for saying that! I'm (sort of) pleased others are also having disastrous puppy classes as well. I was bored listening to the trainer waffling on about her own dog and what he does, etc, and why we should do this, why that. I also felt a bit 'told off' at times because she went on about how you need to really get on top of the training of a big dog especially because they are so strong. Yes, I know that, that's why I'm here!!

I don't know what it is with puppy classes as a lot of people on here and in RL haven't found them to be very good.

I just wonder if the generic sit and talk at you then expect you and your puppy to understand it in a few goes is just rubbish unless you happen to have a puppy that fits that type of learning.

The only lessons I found worth the money were 1-1 or specific training like agility or scentwork.

If I ever never have another puppy I would not waste my time and money on the group puppy ones at all.

@BiteyShark I'm just relieved I only paid £69 for 6 sessions, which seemed reasonable at the time, though as I doubt I'll be going to any more it's more expensive! It was the sitting alongside Mucky for so long that was hard as he sees me on the floor as invitation to play and isn't used to just sitting for no reason with me. I sit with him and brush him or play a game or give him a cuddle, but never just sit for ten minutes alongside him on the floor!

I would like to add @muckandnettles, despite being disruptive at classes our dog is now very well behaved for a 12 month old dog.😄
Sorry to hear your puppy has been poorly,
Olive.

@heatseeker14 thank you, that's good to hear!

Glad to her olivepup is on the mend @OliveButler

Smileypup has taken to stealing food off the children including jumping on to the table to steal their food. He usually gets shut in his crate with his food at meal times but he is now stealing snacks, ice lollies, crisps.

What age did you all start offering treats, dents stix etc in-between meals? dPups are 10weeks today.

Glad to hear Olive pup getting there. Polka pup also eats or at least chews all sorts. Must get myself a treats pouch for leave/ drop while we are out. Scary how expensive it gets. Hope the insurance pays directly!

@AmigoDog don't look at me for tips for the humping, nothing we do stops him except completely totally ignoring him! Just make sure nobody laughs at Amigopup or it could be done for attention after that.

Juiceypup just lost his first tooth! The super spiky fang one so I'm pleased. Hoping the other one pops out soon. The replacement ones are already growing in too. Makes me think perhaps all of his poorliness the past two weeks may have been teething?

Finally we are home and Olivepup is still feeling a bit off colour but we are all so pleased to have him back.
He has a few bald patches and has lost a lot of weight. Still a bit of a dodgy tum. We have some medicine and paracetamol and also some of the Hills dog food. We take him back in three days for a check up and hopefully all downhill from there.
I had already paid £500 deposit and the cost today was a further £2710. I have made an insurance claim but that was such a shock. If he had an operation I can't imagine what it would have been.
I have subscribed to an Absolute Dogs course (sexier than a squirrel) so I will start that with Olivepup when he's more himself. I am also thinking of a 121 trainer to get the 'leave it' command.
Thanks for advice about muzzles. I am hesitating a bit but he won't be off the lead for a while anyway.
I'll catch up properly but wanted to say a massive thanks for the support

Ouch that's a lot of money. But so glad OlivePup is home.

@GazingAndGrazing weve been giving chews since he came home at 8wks just make sure you check the age they can be given. Hes had a frozen puppy tubo before bed since he was about 9wks

smileypup is 16wks and he goes to bed at 9.30pm and sleeps till 7am if left undisturbed

So glad he is safely home @OliveButler !
Do you have to pay the bills first, and then get the money back? So scary...

Emrys puppy ate a biro today, hoping he just crunched it and didn't actually swallow anything...

Do you have to pay the bills first, and then get the money back? So scary...

It really depends on the vet and the company. Some vets do direct with some insurance companies.

My own vets it's pay them and then claim from the insurance company. However, I have been to a specialist hospital where they did pre authorisation for some companies (mine which is pet plan was one of them) so you only pay your excess and the vets claim direct.

I’m with Waggel and the vet said they couldn’t find a telephone number for them ffs. I think normally you pay a small deposit to cover immediate costs and the insurance deals with the rest. I had to get DH to pay!

[quote smilingthroughgrittedteeth]@GazingAndGrazing weve been giving chews since he came home at 8wks just make sure you check the age they can be given. Hes had a frozen puppy tubo before bed since he was about 9wks[/quote]
Thank you

It worries me so much because i wouldnt have £2500 to pay thats why i pay insurance, id have to ask my mum for a loan