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!

[AmigoDog]

Amigo pup is currently licking a sock which we soaked in chicken stock and froze in the freezer. It was suggested by our trainer. Sounds odd, but pup is very pleased with it.

[muckandnettles]

It's been far too hot for Muckypup today although he has been sort of well behaved and dozy in the heat. To cool down, his instinct is to dig a huge great hole and sit in it, so persuading him against that idea isn't easy. I really hope it cools down enough to take him for a walk later. Our poor pups!

[Imadreamer44]

We're fortunate that DPup loves snoozing in the car so we just took her for a drive in that for half an hour with the air con blasting. She was in heaven!

[GingerandTilly]

Hello, please can I join? Here is my little 8 week Border Collie...

[muckandnettles]

@GingerandTilly beautiful puppy!

[Juiceey]

@OwlInAnOakTree I use these www.amazon.co.uk/Headrest-Adjustable-Elastic-Pet-Restraint/dp/B07NCPNP13/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&psc=1&crid=14ASCY6Z36W3W&keywords=car%20harness%20for%20dogs&sprefix=car%20harness%2Caps%2C170&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRjBJSUNUTU84UTlLJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjE3OTA0Mk5JQTQ3VDhHN0dQTyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTM0MzgwN1hFNjJTVFRaTVdFJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ%3D%3D&qid=1596208628&sr=8-2-spons&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Could you put it on the head rest of the back seat and drop down into boot?

Juiceypup sits on the back seat with DS now or front seat when it's just us. He travels so well but there were weeks of crying at first which I had no choice but to ignore!

[Juiceey]

CRIKEY that's a long link. Hope it works.

[Juiceey]

Well glamping is going well. He's being very well behaved. So glad we bought the stake thing tho (and managed to screw it into the rock hard ground with enormous difficulty!) as he kept running away and not coming back, ran AT a car and lunged at it (gave me a heart attack) etc. He's fuming at the stake but it gives me some peace and meant we could enjoy a camp fire without worrying.

He was terrified last night though and didn't sleep til the early hours as the wind was howling and the bell tent was really noisy in the wind. So we're all shattered today.

[polkadotpjs]

@Gingerandtilly. Beautiful pup! 😍. Polka pup is fed up. I might give him an ice cube. Chicken stock sock sounds ace. Which stock and how weak?

[AmigoDog]

gingerandtilly what a lovely pup!

polka I just poached some chicken breast in water for his treats and then reduced the water at the end a bit to make a sort of stock. I’m on the search for a dog friendly stock cube though which is probably both easier and tastier!

We’ve had a few wee accidents in the house today which I guess is a good reminder that although he’s getting good at attempting to go each time we take him into the garden, he’s not near asking to go out just yet. Both times occurred within minutes of me thinking “I’ll just finish doing X and then take pup outside...” so totally my fault. The heat is making pup a bit crazy and me a bit dozy. Not the best combo!

[Coffeewithmyoxyg3n]

@Emrysmcdogface he is doing small bursts of training and that's great. You're right it's generally lots of 5 minutes, it's more the behaviour in between he was getting better at getting down when told when jumping up and could stroke him ect without being attacked. That feels like the step backwards as means the nice bits before where I felt like I was bonding with him are not happening as ends up either being picked up, put in the kitchen behind the stair gate or we remove ourselves as he just gets manic and we end up covered in scratches.

Thankfully he has had a good day today, he's slept lots in his crate I presume because of the heat . Set up the fan near it so he was cool in there and has had his Kong or his puzzle feeder toy on rotation in the freezer as a cold treat to help cool him down when awake.

[OwlInAnOakTree]

Beautiful pup @GingerandTilly. I think that's 3 tri BCs on this thread now.

Thanks @Juiceey but my car doesn't have head rests on the back seats. It's 16 years old, maybe they weren't invented then... Glad you're enjoying your trip. Hope pup sleeps better tonight.

Cooling down a bit here now thankfully. Thunder and a bit of rain now. OwlPup's been a bit calmer as a result of the heat, I think. Had a couple of really long naps. Or maybe that was food-induced after all the bacon and sausage he snaffled this morning.

We had a week accident today, first in weeks. My fault. I was faffing in the hall after coming in from the walk this morning. When I came into the back room, OwlPup was sat very calmly on the mat in front of the patio door waiting to be let out, weeing whilst sat there. I had some bells up but he messed about with them too much so I took them down. Tried putting them back today but he just loves jumping up at his reflection in them and playing with himself. I might try something different there instead. Sitting patiently at the door is brilliant when I'm sat on the sofa in the same room. Clearly doesn't work now he might be in the room on his own.

[Imadreamer44]

That's a shame about the accident @OwlInAnOakTree , we have a similar issue here. About 50% of the time DPup will whine at the door but sometimes she stands there, waits maybe 10 secs then wees. You have to be quick once we see her there! We average maybe 2 wee free days a week at the mo so going in the right direction!

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

I am exhausted and for the first time questioned why an earth i thought a puppy was a good idea. Smileypup has been a sweetheart but im on day 5 of solo parenting a hyper 5yr old with asd who is finding daddy being away after so long at home hard to deal with, a very poorly 3yr old and a 2yr old who has an attitude problem and in begween all that im trying to train and walk and play with a puppy

Positives to today are that smileypup loves water and has been having a great time in the paddling pool.

Negatives are that he has had so many toileting accidents in the house ive lost track and i actually sat and sobeed whilst cleaning up the last one.

He isnt coping well with the heat and im worried about him being in his crate overnight so i cant sleep ive switched all his bedding to nice cool cotton sheets, he has his cool pad in one side of it, fresh cold water and a fan oscillating on him, hes under an open window (curtains closed) and ive taken the blanket off the top of the crate to allow air flow but hes still panting a lot. I cant leave him out the crate as he will chew everything and bark all night.

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

DH has had to take GP downstairs because yet again she is so manic it doesn’t feel safe to have her in our room. We’re two grown adults staring at her stood on the middle of our bed with no idea what to do that doesn’t involve getting bitten. Hoping she settles down there with him but we’re back to feeling completely done in with it and I’m solo bedtime for the next two nights 😫

[Emrysmcdogface]

Morning all!

I'm so sorry @smilingthroughgrittedteeth that sounds like an awful lot to cope with! I'm not surprised it is all getting to you.

@GingerAndTheBiscuits I'm sorry, just when it seems like there is progress! Hopefully it's just a temp set-back. You've put so much time and love into that puppy, I'm full of admiration for you.

DD cracked the dishwasher! We load the dishwasher at puppy meal time, but his mat next to the dishwasher, get him to lie down and drop 2-3 bits of kibble for every plate or two we put in! Works like a dream. Just have to work on reducing the treat rate... (currently he eats his whole lunch on his mat by the dishwasher....)

DD is my hero. I told her I was changing her name to Barbara woodhouse, but she doesn't get my references....

[pupstersdream]

Anyone else finding the not going out with pup really hard? We’d expected to have second jabs yesterday but apparently breeders vet used an unusual brand so it’s 4 weeks apart rather than 2. I know it doesn’t matter in long run, but dh and I both have a week off in 2 weeks and we’d planned to start taking him out and about. Now I know I’ll be home most of the time while dh takes out dc- so trying not to feel annoyed.

[OwlInAnOakTree]

Did GingerPup settle in the end @GingerAndTheBiscuits?

Three young DCs and a pup must be non-stop @smilingthroughgrittedteeth. I'm struggling with one! When is DH back?

Luckily he launches himself at the door when he needs a poo at least @Imadreamer44! And I hear that from the kitchen.

Hope everyone's days go well.

[OwlInAnOakTree]

Ah that's a shame @pupstersdream. OwlPup had been home for 5 weeks before he was officially allowed out. It was worse than lockdown for me. At least before OwlPup we'd have a good couple of hours out of the house every morning. Even now, post-injections, it's difficult for my son as we can't stay out for long with pup. Can you get a puppy sling to carry pup in? Then you can go out with the rest of the family?

[MrsElijahMikaelson1]

@Doorbells what breed is your pup, he’s adorable!

[pupstersdream]

@OwlInAnOakTree that’s a good idea. Although he’s not tiny and is quite wriggly. I’m not sure he’d cope for long. We’re are very outdoorsy family and much as I love a puppy I’m looking forward to him being able to join in with family life.

Yes in some ways it is worse than lockdown. I do t mind getting up early- but usually I run before anyone gets up and it makes me feel ready for the day. But I’ve not been able to do that since we had him.

Apologies I’m realise I’m totally moaning and many of you have it so much worse. Pup is so well behaved, sleeps well and barely any toilet accidents so it could be a lot worse!

[pupstersdream]

Also @OwlInAnOakTree I notice you said ‘officially’ did anyone take pup out to quiet places before they were meant to?

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

She eventually settled downstairs sometime after 2am. Already dreading tonight as am at a loss to know how to prevent/manage it.

[OwlInAnOakTree]

@pupstersdream I had a bag for pup but only managed to use it for a couple of weeks before he was too heavy and wriggly for it. It helped in the first few weeks though. By 'officially' I meant on a proper walk rather than me just carrying him. That said, I did take him out for a little run about the field at the park two days before we should have.

[BiteyShark]

@GingerAndTheBiscuits

She eventually settled downstairs sometime after 2am. Already dreading tonight as am at a loss to know how to prevent/manage it.

This is a long game thing but might be worth starting now.

We have a toy (ball) that we always play for 10 mins then everything gets put away. He has dinner and we do 'nothing' afterwards. Same thing everyday with no changes and he knows it boring time after and just takes himself off to sleep even if we are up and doing things.

What I am saying is start small but try and have a distinct routine which means play/up time has finished. Tailor it to your own household but maybe no talking to her, no playing, no trying to wear her out. It's about calm settle time. If she is running about, lead on so garden isn't a playground (use a slip lead for quickness if it is a battle), quick quiet toilet break outside then back on bed to settle and repeat.