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....

poorlypuppy is also 10 weeks - he tends to start falling asleep at 830pm and lies on the couch with us sleeping till we go to bed around 10. Then we take him out for a wee and he goes to sleep in his bed. Sometimes he gets up at around 2am for a wee but sometimes he makes it through to around 530am but then he's properly up for the day! He will wee inside at night though, but normally not before waking us up to tell us he's going to!

if i turn the under floor heating on in the kitchen, he absolutely loves it and gets out of his bed and sleeps on the floor!

Hi @Bunglemom, yes we are getting puppy a present for Christmas. She is looking up at me now with her huge puppy dog eyes and playing with her last toy that I bought - so there will be treats and toys for her.

We are getting along really well although toilet training is hit and miss - we manage all the poo (I think) but some wee still happens indoors. We had a blip last week when we let her sleep upstairs one night but we realised it was a mistake and we moved her crate instead into her favourite part of the house downstairs and she now goes in and out of there during the day time too and has really settled in to the routine of sleeping there at night.

BUT, a huge BUT and I need help here - she will not stay in the house alone. I have not managed to leave her yet and I do not know when to start or how to start this training. I take each training in steps so week 1 was crate to sleep at night; up to now (6 weeks I think) has been toilet training and trying to stop biting; now I am worried we have left it too late to train her to stay here while we go out to do some jobs. She will never be left long as I work mostly form home and only work out of home when someone else is here. Any tips?

Grannypup will definitely have presents - she is not my first dog and I have always bought them something (usually food based). I did fail one year with a reindeer outfit for my late (much missed) jack russell. It involved antlers, a coat and very small pieces of very light fabric that attached to the front of her legs. She stood frozen to the spot as if wee had nailed her feet to the floor and refused to move at all. Before the days of camera/video on phones but it was extremely funny

@Annasgirl we left bunglepup alone for an hour last week for the first time.. we just shut the kitchen door (which is where he sleeps anyway) and hid lots of treats around to keep him occupied... when we came back he was in his basket quiet... plan to do the same this weekend otherwise we will never get out and about again.

@grannycake maybe thats one to get to keep my cocker still 🤣

She was like a statue - so funny

I am working from home but volunteered to do mask/bubble monitoring for four days a week. Means I am away for about 1.5 hours at midday. I leave her with a lickimat and apart from excited weeing on my return she has been absolutely fine. Doesn't even look up as I leave (too busy with lickimat)

@TriSkiRun99

Is there anyone on here still with slightly older puppies? Ours is 6mths at the weekend (I cannot believe we’ve survived 4mths already ), but she’s been demanding to play a lot this week brings toys to us and nudges until we play tug etc plus I really think she would benefit with some more interaction with other dogs in a secure play way. But not sure the best way to set that up, as the puppy classes with covid meant they all stayed on lead’s away from each other so we can’t decided if a 6mth+ class setting is worth it just for playing. I don’t feel comfortable letting her off lead in a busy park setting as her recall is good but not solid if over excited! Anyone else solved this? I’m trying to set her up with a puppy play date at the weekend with a friend whose puppy is similar age but she’s worried he’s too rough. We are going to try for a few minutes to see if they like each other .

To get her lead on we made her sit, treat, collar on treat then lead. If she jumped around we just stood calmly and didn’t interact until we got her calm again. It took quite a few goes at first but mostly it works now.

Pistachiopup is 5.5 months so just a bit behind yours.

Have to confess we've had her walking off the lead from very early on and she absolutely loves it if there's another dog willing to run around and play with her. It is her favourite thing. We're lucky that there's a park behind our house where everyone goes to take dogs off the lead so there's usually someone around who will play with her. But this week she has also started going to a dog walker twice a week for a group walking session. There are about 4 or 5 of them at a time and she's loved that too.

I also try to arrange walks with friends with dogs when we can. Just makes it more interesting for her, even when the dog isn't massively interested in her. Although obviously its much better when they are!

Thanks pistachioicecream we have had her off lead from early on but as she had a scary encounter with a big aggressive dog& shot off on we’ve mostly put her back on lead when we meet other dogs. But interestingly after I mentioned it to DH this week he’s let her meet several dogs off lead this week and she’s been ok. We don’t really need doggy daycare as such, as working from home or we can leave her upto 2hrs at home & she’s been ok. I think we will keep encouraging short meet ups on walks, and keep an eye for a agility class or something later on.

We had a couple of small wins that made me smile this morning I left my slippers on the floor by accident and pup ignored them along with a washing basket sitting by the machine ready to go in. She sniffed and walked away she’s 6mths today.

Hope everyone doing ok. My puppy is 18 weeks now and things are getting much easier. Hardly any biting now and sleeping through. Still pulls a bit on the lead but walks are enjoyable at last. He is super cuddly and affectionate but also very clingy. Doesn't like being left home alone (its only 2 hrs max once a week) but we are persevering with it (no choice unless I quit my job !) Not sure I would ever consider getting a puppy again but who knows.

Hi, may I join? I got a border collie puppy a couple of weeks ago and she’s now 10 weeks. The first pic is day 1 at 8 weeks and the 2nd pic is yesterday.

She’s being reasonably good - toilet training isn’t too bad (I’d say 85% of wees are outside and almost all poos), and although she has bitey moments frequently we’re getting better at deflecting them/her. Best of all is that the three cats have adjusted to her pretty well - oldest cat is firmly at the top of the pecking order! She’s learned that the younger two will play in the garden but that the older one never wants to play!

Hi, can I join too, we have a 15 week old miniature schnauzer. After a huge amount of puppy regret on my part (everyone else was besotted with her), I'm warming to her much more now lol. She still has the DC ankles tortured but I have withdrawn all sympathy for small people who don't wear slippers around her and dance around wiggling their toes near the pup. She's mostly housetrained and sleeps all night so I really shouldn't complain.

Any tips for how to stop her barking at every single person or animal she meets when out walking would be greatfully received, she's a terror, people can be on the other side of the street minding their own business and she barks like mad. It's only started recently, she has been on the school run since she arrived with us at 9 weeks (carried at first) so well used to kids and traffic, she goes to doggy day car once a week, just need to work out how to stop her going nuts on walks.

@Nyancat with the barking and walking - there's quite a lot of stuff on line about making you the most interesting thing on a walk. It mostly involves treats! So she gets treats when she looks up at you - teach a 'watch me'. Treating for being near you etc. it also helps with lead walking. The idea is that her focus is on you not anyone else. Playing games with her when you are out walking helps too - so letting her off somewhere safe and calling her name, using a toy, if there's two of you calling her between you.

We'd also hide sometimes - just behind a tree if she got too cocky and distracted on a walk and then call her name. Big fuss when she finds you!

Thanks @GiraffeNecked I've been trying the last couple of days to distract with treats when I think she's going to kick off but it's early days. Not helped by trying to stop DC from running into roads/chase each other/chase the dog. It can all get a bit hectic. I might start trying to take her out just myself more often to try and train her better but DH isn't home much before 8 most evenings and she is not keen on being taken out at that time

My 9 week pups toilet training has gone backwards over the last two days after starting really well. He’s getting massively distracted outside, particularly by our two cats who’ve gone from disappearing at the sight of him to bring pretty curious and interested. He gets distracted, parr’s about and then wees almost as soon as I get him inside regardless of how long he’s been out!

The toilet training is maddening!

Dpuppy got his first proper outside walk today. Good lord have I got work to do. He spent the whole time yanking around on the lead trying to escape and say hello to every person, car, bike, bus, lorry . Every small child was fair game (he loves small children but of course, they don't all love small dogs). Thank goodness I had him in a harness! Every time a runner ran past, he wanted to join them. Argh!

He did sit on the pavement when we crossed the road but that's probably the only positive. Lead walking works ok in the garden where there are no distractions but on a busy street, it is a bit of a mare! I need to go back to the 'watch me' training with a pack of ham in my pocket I think!

And here we go again no sleep cus of this knob head dog
Anyone else having major regrets?!

Ours is 10 weeks, I had to get out of the house last evening as it has been exhausting. Went back on house training yesterday. She is due for her second vaccination tomorrow and we can take her out after that. We have never owned a dog and is somewhat overwhelming at times.

Mummypup can go out tomorrow for walks.. I mean I say walks, but obvs I mean sniffing around and dawdling.
Supposed to start puppy class on Monday, we will see what the next week brings re lockdown.

bunglemom I do get puppy regret every now and then, when she dicks around at night, doesn’t give us 5mins peace and I’m not getting into bed until after 11pm every night when I’m normally in for 10.

@Mummyme87. Find a safe space and let her off as soon as possible, ideally on that first walk. We took ours to the local park where dogs are allowed off lead to the quieter less doggy bit.

Have a pocket of cut up tiny sausages and treat every time she looks at you, call her name and treat if she responds. She’ll stick with you at this age and it’s best for you and her to start with this early.

Also big dogs are Programmed to be nice to puppies until about 6 months, so, she’ll be fine if one comes up. Don’t pick her up if a dog comes up.

Things are gradually improving here... Have definitely had major regrets on occasions - just like having a newborn, when you feel totally trapped in the house. I have had several major meltdowns, but finally, we are at least getting out of the house a bit for a few walks, which is lovely. House training is a bit hit and miss still - fine so long as I am on a state of constant vigilance. A bit nervous about letting VeryGrumpyPup off the lead - when we are on a walk, he shows zero interest in me. However, in the garden, he actually doesn't want to go far from me (but the garden is a whole separate challenge, as we still have to make sure the cats are indoors - the rest of the family are paranoid about whippets being cat killers). I can almost get a decent day's work done now - pup either chilling in his crate listening to me on calls in the dining room, or jumping round the garden office like a mad thing, while I constantly mute calls to hide the noise of squeaky toys.

there's absolutely no way we could let puppythursday off the lead outside in the park, he's so bloody quick and he's not scared of anything (apart from other dogs it seems) and he'll chase anything that moves, particularly joggers who he is still totally fascinated with

we did another walk this morning - he did 2 poos outside which was great! - he walked fairly slowly on the way there but on the way back, he could obviously pick up his own scent and he started bolting because he recognised his way home. I honestly could have stood in front of him covered in sausage paste and he would have run past me.

Gradual improvement here too I think - pup is now 17 weeks. But still quite a lot of puppy regret for me Bunglemom. We have teeth falling out and an increase in bitiness, but it's easily redirected onto a toy. I don't want to jinx anything but I think he's just got the hang of toilet training as well - 4 days with no accidents and asking to go outside. It's progress anyway even if it might regress again.

Lead walking here has been a challenge too as pup is super enthusiastic and loves to greet every person, child, dog, flower, bit of grass..... But we're pushing hard on getting his attention, including feeding his whole breakfast plus treats on a walk (usually sitting somewhere and doing training with the breakfast and treats for nicer walking and looking up). Off lead is not happening though. With no distractions he'd be fine, but there is no way on god's earth he'd come back if there was a dog or even another person in view. He's also seemingly fearless and not at all sticking by us in a young puppy way. We've tried all the best snacks - sausage, sprats, chicken, cheese etc etc. His head just explodes in the company of other dogs and we could leave the field altogether without him even noticing. We've been doing a puppy play session every week and he's the least responsive dog there (!). All the others can be called and put back on their leads and we have to go and fetch ours.... So it's a long line at best for him.

First time with a dog walker today so we get an hour of freedom. It'll be interesting to see how he gets on. She's going to take him on his own today to get to know him but hopefully then she'll take him out with older, calmer dogs.

Yes @Bunglemom, I still get puppy regret!!! Even though I also adore her!

But oh dear God, the toilet training. Annaspuppy is 16 weeks now and still not properly trained. I got through all those weeks thinking it would be all over by now - well it is not!!!! She is just after peeing at the top of the stairs (the only place in our house with carpet is the stairs). Now it is partially my fault as I had her outside to pee but something stung her paw so there was major trauma and a trip inside for cuddles. Then I forgot about the loo and found her at the top of the stairs in a puddle of pee. DH has only one rule - DPup cannot come upstairs until she is fully toilet trained - and now we have failed on this too.

Add in a new lockdown (I am in Dublin) and really awful rain, and I feel a little despair. But yesterday was great and I got to meet a friend who I had not seen in a couple of years, while walking our dogs in the park. I have to keep remembering the good parts and my friend has an 18 month old and said it gets so much easier (when though, when??????).

Oh and welcome to all the newbies - this place will keep you sane (or semi-sane!!).

I still have major puppy regret @Bunglemom.

She's 25 weeks now and whilst some things are better (she's toilet trained and far less bitey (although still has her moments)), other things are a challenge and I wonder daily why we did it to ourselves.

Have been feeling pretty low about it all over the last couple of days to be honest. Feeling in a permanent state of low level anxiety and just can't see how life will be good again. She's just so needy and I feel trapped by her. Have had broken sleep every night for the last week too which doesn't help. No idea what that is all about.

Had a trainer in last week for a 1-1 session and have been doing the training she left us with which is supposed to help with her independence but it doesn't seem to be having an impact yet.

That's my question too @Annasgirl - when will it get better?

I keep looking at other dog owners out on walks and they all seem happy and talk about how much joy their dogs bring them. Am just not feeling that at all. Keep thinking there's something wrong with me that I don't feel that. Sorry. Very bleak today.