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!

@OliveButler so glad to hear that Olivepup is home and on the mend. Hope he's back to himself soon. That's an eye-watering amount of money...

Oh dear. High winds seem to be sending him a bit mad! Fighty bitey time already this morning

Anyone else’s puppy frightened of going out in the wind? Just had a walk with 14 week old doing sit down protests every few metres.

Ours loved it but only because there were lots of leaves to chase. It's also bin day near us which he loves as there are so many stinky bins to investigate. He is a hardy almost 6 month old though so not much phases him anymore.

I think it was the noise of the trees that freaked him out. When it was less windy yesterday he liked chasing the leaves in the garden but today it’s a bit wilder out there. Hopefully it’ll be something that he grows out of like your dog LBee2020!

Dragonpup is going nuts in the wind. We’re outside but he’s laying on the grass next to me. He’s not keen when the wind blows his spaniel ears and is staying low to the ground

Can I ask about teeth - are you brushing pups’ teeth? How?!

@OliveButler I'm so pleased Olivepup is home - wishing him a swift recovery now!

@m0therofdragons I give Muckypup a tooth cleaning chewy stick each day. I did the same with my previous dog and his teeth kept absolutely fine through his (quite long) life.

I've tried using a toothbrush and also a finger brush to do Owlpup's teeth with a little puppy toothpaste. I never really achieved much though and now his toothbrush is used more often to clean peanut butter out of kongs. He's lost a tooth recently, I found it on the floor. He may have lost more but I haven't managed to get a good look in his mouth, he gets a bit too nippy and I'm not sure it's worth the risk! So my early attempts at tooth cleaning did nothing to get him used to me looking inside his mouth either. I now give him a dental chew as his crate treat each bedtime.

Anyone had any experience of puppy uti ? Puppy seems to be squatting to wee but just a dribble coming out then frequent accidents all over the house. It looks clear and he is eating and drinking and still active. Hubby called vets as he has appointment for injection monday anyway and they just said bring a sample then - unless he seems worse over weekend. I have been googling and now getting myself in a panic.

Hi all - hope all pups are ok with the wind.
Olivepup is much brighter - jumping and running around. Funny thing is, he now sleeps in his crate which has to be related to the hospital.
I have been watching the Absolute Dogs tutorials and it does look fun. I'll start at the weekend. I am finding that if I give the command 'look' before I say 'leave it' the results are better but still not good enough. I am watching him like a hawk and have retrieved a piece of plastic plant pot and piece of wood from his mouth.
The vet sent us home with the awful Hills id stuff which I really don't want to give him. First ingredient is maize. My luna&me order came today and I am itching to try that but will wait until Monday probably. I daren't mention to the vet that I am trying a raw food diet. They all seem to really hate it. All the dog owners I know who use it are really enthusiastic and God knows I've tried a lot of foods. Does anyone here use raw? Problem is that Olivepup is now absolutely ravenous and even then won't eat the Hills so he either genuinely won't eat it or he knows that soon enough I will cave in and give him something else.
Some days I wish I could start all over again and not make so many mistakes!

@wastingtimeworrying

Anyone had any experience of puppy uti ? Puppy seems to be squatting to wee but just a dribble coming out then frequent accidents all over the house. It looks clear and he is eating and drinking and still active. Hubby called vets as he has appointment for injection monday anyway and they just said bring a sample then - unless he seems worse over weekend. I have been googling and now getting myself in a panic.

Try not to,google. I’d keep a close eye on him for today, offering lots of water and I’d confine him to one room with puppy pads to check if he is going.

The vet should give antibiotics. The bladder is like a balloon, there is only so much they can hold in. I’d make sure he is seen this evening or first thing tomorrow as an emergency.

Not experienced with a puppy but have with my old staffy

So glad olivepup is back home. Dragonpup is on skinners kibble but isn’t keen (it’s what he came home on so we’re gradually moving him over to forthglade. He seems to hate the forthglade duck though. I ended up with skinners kibble, duck and then added tuna which he loved. Maybe he’s more a fish boy? Everyone told me cockers eat everything... slugs are delicious (Not envy) but he’s picky about kibble? Not sure we’ve found his favourite food yet and he generally eyes food with suspicion.

I really hope he will like the next forthglade flavour as it smells non offensive and I like using it, plus it’s made locally. He’s tried Bella and Dukes raw dry chicken (that a friend gave us a little of and now I realise it’s for over 1 year). He hates that more than his skinners kibble.

@OliveButler great to hear that Olivepup is doing so well. I only really hear good things about raw diet too, and I can see why dogs would love it compared to dry old kibble. That said, I doubt I'll ever try it. It seems more costly, and far more time consuming and you need freezer space...to be honest, I have enough to deal with every day without adding raw feeding to the mix. Let us know how the Absolute Dogs thing goes. I bought the game on, leash off download, which I can't find the time to finish. But I do like their ethos. Hope Olivepup continues to improve. And starts to eat!

Hope your pup is ok @wastingtimeworrying.

Thanks I will keep a very close eye. He is weeing lots and drinking lots. Will update if any change.

@m0therofdragons - Forthglade was on my 'to try' list.
I know what you mean -Olivepup would rather eat plastic plant pots than most dog food. What's that about? All the websites say that you can feed your dog the same food everyday forever and they won't mind. Olivepup will eat something with huge enthusiasm on day 1, slightly less on day 2 and won't touch it at all on day 3.
@OwlInAnOakTree yes it is expensive but I was previously making my own and I don't want to keep doing that. I ended up binning a whole box of Butternut when he went off that so I've only bought a little bit this time to see. Pinning all my hopes on this as maybe it will stop him eating so much rubbish.

I'll just put in a word for Millies Wolfheart as I've found them brilliant. They don't do puppy food, it's all suitable from the start. Mucky has their canned food and their kibble - i alternate to keep him interested (as I think) and he especially loves the canned stuff. They do loads of different sorts and he loves them. He's also loved Lily's Kitchen puppy food but it's all a bit dinky for the enormous young polar bear he's growing into, so the Millies is perfect.

@muckandnettles I will take a look, thanks. I have always thought there is a difference between working dog food and the rest but that might be completely wrong.

@OliveButler If you want to do the Absolute Dogs games then it will be easier to stick to kibble. The games are all about making the kibble more attractive just by being fun with it and turning eating into an experience. I feed raw and use treats for the games which is awkward because you have to use so many. However, I do find poos are smeller and firmer on raw and his coat looks really good.

My 17 week lab loves Millies Wolfheart kibble. She was never enthusiastic about the kibble the breeder had her on (royal Canin) but absolutely loves the current stuff (she’s on the dry countryside mix I think).

I’m glad that OlivePup is doing well.

AmigoPup was so lovely all day yesterday. He had his final injections in the morning and the vet was complimenting him on how calm he was. We had a lovely walk, did bits of training etc. All wonderful. Then my friend came over and pup went crazy and was a little bugger all evening. Wouldn’t stop jumping up and nipping. I had no control whatsoever which was embarrassing and made me realise how woeful our training has been so far. How do you teach a dog not to jump up on people (sat on sofa)? Honestly yesterday I went from feeling proud and like we’d turned a corner to full on puppy regret.

I wish you could get samples. Dragon pup loves cat food so much! I’ve already failed to stop him getting to it this morning as the dc left the door open!

@Bethanemethane if your pup loves the kibble, try her on some of the canned food - Mucky will do just about anything for the canned stuff. They do a sample pack I think.

Morning all. Now 11weeks. Good bits and bad bits!
Sleep at night good-does 11-7.30/8. We are much assisted here by old lady dog though.
However, when she does get up she is absolutely vile! Biting, snapping, jumping. Really difficult to control.

Very bright girl and has learnt that sit=treat. So now every time I look at her she sits and expects a treat even if I haven’t asked her to sit! Loses her mind when out in the garden and only comes to me if she feels It, so a lot to work in for recall.
House training not going so well. She will do her business outside but only if we are on it all of the time. But still will just do it wherever she is, so not getting the-we take you outside to do your business because that is where you do your business!😱. We are using bells and treats-any other ideas? Puppy pads no good as she just uses them to play with and shreds them up around the house!
Kids are getting better with her and not letting her go too mad-we have a pen for daytime so they’ve got more confidence in putting her in their for time out when she turns into a crocodile!

Dh took Mucky out for an early walk today and they both came back all pleased with themselves as Muck had been a little star and played nicely with another dog they met and also behaved himself well. I'm so relieved! Dh often pretends that Mucky only listens to me and that isn't the case at all.

We don’t give treats for toileting, just praise or apparently they don’t empty their bladder as they want treats so just wee a bit at a time. Bells are working here most of the time. Pup woke yesterday afternoon as friend arrived with her older dog and i didn’t get dragonpup outside quickly enough combined with excitement so he wees on the floor. No indoor poos since day 2 though.

Last night we had friends over - 7 dc in the house and 3 adults - dpup was awesome, not too jumpy or bitey and stuck to routine.

This morning I put down forthglade kibble and mixed in wet - dragonpup sniffed it and lay down beside it with proper puppy dog eyes until I put tuna on top. He then gobbled the lot! I’ve ordered a few bits from millies wolfheart as there’s fish ones! Really want him to be on good food but also enjoy it. His favourite was tesco own in jelly that the breeder gave us to mix with the Skinners kibble but I’m not keen on the content.

We might venture out today with dc to a park and dragonpup in a back pack on my front. Can’t wait until he’s has his vaccines. It’s a bit like lockdown all over again