Puppy survival thread *September!*

[JuiceyBetty]

Can't believe we're in September now, our babies are growing up!

Newbies always welcome especially if they come bearing photos....

Thank you OwlInAnOakTree - I think I'll just have to wait and see what restrictions come into force and the scope of them, but good to hear that there it's potentially still doable. We've got a significantly longer journey that that though, which makes it a bit trickier

MummyMe87 - it's about 4 hours (near where our family live). Yes, exactly! Dominic Cummings springs to mind!

We are just back from walking along the seafront at Southend, the boys LOVED it and they loved the water, rolling about on the sand. Greeted every dog big and small and slept so deeply in the car on the way home I managed to clean their wrinkles with a face wipe which they never let me do

It makes such a difference being able to take them out and about and I actually enjoyed a whole day today!

Sounds lovely @GazingAndGrazing! I can't wait til the time when I can get Pup out for a walk. I know it'll only be a few mins at first but I hope it will make a difference.

I totally agree about routine and enforced naps. Things have been a lot better for us since I've tried to keep to the 1 hour awake 2 asleep. Pup is like an energiser bunny though so more often it's 1.5 awake, 1 asleep but it does give us some structure.

I want to sort out our morning routine as it's just crazy at the mo, trying to keep her quiet and contained from 5.30/6 onwards to let the kids sleep til 7.30 is proving pretty impossible. Of course when it's DH's turn on duty she doesn't get him up til 7, but when it's me it's anywhere between 5.30 and 6, unfair! We've had lovely weather lately so been sticking her in the garden after breakfast, but it's due to turn now so wondering wth I can do to entertain her!

And a pic as I've not shared one in ages and I think she's so gorgeous :) almost 12 weeks.

It’s funny because although my anxiety is through the roof, ridiculous inc all mentioned before, what if they die, get stolen, die of heat stroke, get lost...

when I’m out and about with them it all fades away and it’s peaceful and fulfilling and I’m so proud of them even though we aren’t perfect we are a unit and things still need to be better but we are a work in progress and they make everything worth all the shit, anx and worry.

I suppose having 14 week old pups that everyone wants to say hello to and gush over helps take the focus off me and my anxiety. They give me a reason to shower and get out of the house and then I enjoy it and they love it and in turn we are all happy.

I just wanted to post for my own sake and those on the beginning of the puppy life. It’s tough, very tough but worth it in the end.

Ahh @puppygalore what a sweetie! Here is my wee man.

@GazingAndGrazing that’s lovely - I know exactly what you mean. All the frustration of trying to get them sleeping or not crapping in the house or not jump up at the table fade away and when you can watch them bumbling about in the undergrowth or on the beach it’s just like “I’m doing something right!”

Took pup to the woods this morning and had some lovely long plays offlead. He had to go back on when other dogs came so he didn’t molest them too much but her did so well. I felt so proud of him when he bounded out of the bushes when I called. Starting to feel worthwhile pratting around the house getting him to chase me!

So evening/ nighttime. Our lab likes to sit with us while we watch tv but he of course sleeps coz he’s 10 weeks old. But then when it’s our bedtime he’s up and awake and doesn’t want to go to his bed.
We can’t make him stay away in the eve, so do we just have to put up with him being awake for a while and then get him to settle when he’s ready?

@desperatehousewife21 I would play for a bit to wear him out, give him something to chew for a bit and watch a bit of tv, then switch off and swap the chew for a biscuit/snack. Best to have him up for a bit before you put him to bed! This is pretty much what we do with our pup - once kids are in bed get him up, play, do some quick fun training, give him his pizzle whilst we rest for 20 mins, then give him a snack and put him to bed once he’s looking dopey. He normally goes down very well even if he can be a bit of a sod overnight!!

Thank you he’s naturally wanting to go to sleep at about 8, but we don’t go til about 10. But DH has taken him out for a last wee and he’s had a chew of some toys and he’s said he settled down again now so fingers crossed for a good night!

Blimey @GazingAndGrazing ! You're the most local person I've read of on here!
(no stress - still a good 30-40 minutes away.... but same county!)

ZombiePup definitely brings out my anxiety, constantly fretting over doing something wrong, missing key things with him, not doing enough, or alternately doing too much... it's never ending.

You are a good PupMum, and there's definitely something to be said for being able to get out and about, and seeing them sleep after a good day!

Aw, I’ve always wondered if any of us are local to each other, stressed out pupmums living near by!

We are off to meet a friend and her 2 frenchies today plus all the none sense needed to get ready for the week ahead, all good fun.

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday

@LBee2020

Thank you for your support and advice, really appreciated it Andi feel so relieved to know it's not just me experiencing a very testing puppy! Yes already agree this thread is invaluable, has been so helpful reading through all the posts and seeing that everyones puppy is a test,not just mine 😂

@verygrumpyoldwoman it appears we have been very puppies on our hands. How are you getting on now?

I had a shower this morning and let pup cry it out on his own for 5 minutes. It was really hard but necessary I feel as he needs to start learning it's okay to be on his own. Our night times are wonderful now, it's the daytime which is hard work. He's so playful and barky, constantly biting me wanting to play. I have to just sit where he can't get to me and ignore him. My God does he bark though before he finally settles!

TriPup is 21wks today so 5mths ish. DH and had a discussion do you mind measure in weeks or calendar months 🤣 anyway we had a really good 2.5hrs out with her this morning at a local park/garden place with kids play area & ducks etc. So lots of temptations for puppy with running toddlers, geese, picnics with ice creams but also plenty of quiet places so it was really good to see her coping well with smells, noises and resting abit when we sat. We have crated her at home now in nice cool quiet room as she will really need the enforced quiet now.
We did try last night for the 1st time having her in the lounge with her bed to watch TV as a family but she wouldn’t settle so DH has to sit back in the kitchen with her where she promptly fell asleep straight away. We will keep trying though as in the winter we spend more time in there. She’s only been kept in the kitchen/diner so far behind the baby gate so this is the first step in letting her move around the house abit more..

@Phiney86 - muddling along.

Pup seems to do OK at night - and actually he was pretty good most of the day yesterday (until smaller child and I wanted to watch a movie). Today, made the mistake of leaving him chilling (bought him an antler yesterday, which he seems to love and happy to sit in crate gnawing it) while I had a shower; came back after 10 mins to find poo waiting by the fireplace.
Emotionally drained... mid afternoon yesterday, pup & I ended up plonked in front of the TV watching Beauty and the Beast (which made me a bit teary, as reminded me of watching the animated version when large child, who has just gone off to uni, was very small).
Feeling very claustrophobic... just want to be able to get out of the house and go for walks!

Juiceypup went to a puppy playdate in the park with DW today and came home with massive thistles stuck all in him. Took ages to get them out.

@verygrumpyoldwoman I completely understand when you say about feeling claustrophobic. My brother came to visit today and I went out to do a food shop. It was so nice to get out and also to be without pup and on my own. I've also had friends visit on and off this weekend which has been a god send for my sanity. Feeling much brighter and able to enjoy having a puppy again.

When I leave pup i even for 5 mins I ensure he's had a wee/ poo first. I just keep telling him to go potty and then praise him when he's done his business.

Have you tried a puppy carrier? I bought a sling off Amazon and it's been really nice to get out on walks x

Does anyone give their puppy a bedtime snack? And does anyone mind sharing their feeding times please?

When we picked Pup up at 8 weeks the breeder said he'd got her onto 3 meals a day, I thought this was unusual as I know most are on 4. But I didn't want to mess her up, so I stuck to 3 biggish meals, but reduced the quantity slightly so she could have kibble for treats/boredom between main feeds. She is approaching 12 weeks and usually has main meals about 7, 1 and 6.30. On a few forums I've seen people discussing strict feeding schedules and bedtime snacks and wondering if that's something for this age, or for later on when they're just on 2 meals.

I've now noticed that as well as when she's overtired, Pup gets really bitey and aggro when I'm doing the kids lunch or tea, so I assume she's getting hangry with all the nice cooking smells. I don't want to give her a full meal when they're eating at 5ish though, as I assume she might then wake up even earlier the next morning for breakfast!

We're just trying to go from 4 to 3 a day and we're trying 7.30ish, 2pm ish and 8pm ish. He's spent the last hour pestering everyone so I've just given him a lickimat and a Kong as a between meal snack. He usually eats in the evening then naps then gets up 9/9.30 ish for some play, wee and poo then back in bed for the night. And we take out a bit of each meal plus chicken, cheese and/or barkers little training treats for the treat pouch.

@puppygalore we feed at 7, 12.30 and 5.30 (
(give or take) Pup is 17 weeks

Breakfast is often later, especially at the weekend as he / we often sleep past 8 and evening meal is flexible depending on what we are doing and after school activities. It doesn’t seem to make any difference to wake up time though.

Hello all
Riverpup has breakfast no earlier than 7am and by 8am. Lunch is around 12.30/1 and dinner about 5.30/6. I measure out her food for the day and use some as treats for house training then have high value treats for going out training. She does have loads of stuff to chew on throughout the day though, the floor is normally littered with pizzles, hooves and lots of foul things she likes.
Finally she is eating properly and poos are much better.
Have had a nice day with her today but she did wake twice in the night for poos but didnt wake til 6.50 so really hoping her phase of sleeping better continues

@pupstersdream sleeping past 8 sounds amazing!!!! I hope we get to that point. The 5-6am starts are slowly killing me. It doesn't seem to matter if she has her last toilet break at 10 or 11.30, it's still always an early wake up.

Thanks all. I don't know if to stick to our current timings or try a later tea/supper or introduce a snack. I have read that meals after 5/6pm can result in night poos which (touch wood) we aren't having, so don't want it to be too late for a dinner. However I noticed the last couple of mornings when she's whining to get up at 6am she actually doesn't immediately want a wee/poo but she does seem hungry. I make her wait til 6.45-7 though as I don't want to reinforce morning whine = food.

That sounds positive @Riverhousepuppy fingers crossed for good sleep!

I've just given pup 4 little Kong biscuits and shoved her in the crate, it's way too early for bedtime but she was going bonkers and more bitey than ever when I tried to play or stroke her. She's fallen asleep without a single murmur so clearly was overtired and ready for bed. Why do I never learn?! My hands and feet are shredded!

@LittlePoot if you're feeding around 8pm do you find that night poos are a thing?

Hello, happy to report a great day. We met with a friend from work who took us to a hidden gem of a woodland very near to hers. She has 2 grown adult frenchies so all 4 happily bounded about saying hello to everyone and everything.

As you all know, a puppy brings everyone out for hellos so I really feel like I ticked lots of boxes for the boys today and I had a very smug moment when a squirrel crossed our paths and friends dogs chased it up a tree but somehow, don’t ask me how, it was a fluke but looked impressive - I clicked, called and the little pickles sat and waited for dried liver crumble.

Note to self, not only will my boys drop everything from a liver crumble most dogs will also recall to someone they have never met before for them

Feeding routine:

Up 6.30am for a play and a wee and zoomies, breakfast just before 7am
11am feed (not now they are 14 weeks it’s 3 times a day now)
3pm lunch
6pm dinner

Treats, lickimat, kings, pizzles, hooves etc for during the day when needed by me not them. I haven’t found a decent item of the above that they don’t destroy or eat in seconds I think I might swop companies - any recommendations please?

In regards to bedtime biscuit etc. I don’t give mine anything at all past their dinner at 6pm and maybe a chew before 7pm. They sleep all night, no nighttime poo’s wee’s waking’s in their crate from 11pm till they wake me at 6.30am ish. We have had this routine since 10 weeks old.

I don’t know if that’s because I have 2 so they have each other for sleeping time or because we have always stuck to a strict schedule and limited evening food and I know they are well exercised and have been to toilet time by 10.30pm

Also, I’m finding my anxiety disappears when I’m out with the boys. It’s so horrible normally and I worry about everything and the worst case scenario but not with them out and about which makes me worry that something is going to go wrong and then I’ll worry... so annoying, fingers crossed things carry on the way they are.

@puppygalore - we've been super lucky so far with no night wakings since the first night. He poos either just before or after dinner and then is always desperate for a wee and a poo when he wakes up at 6 ish.