Puppy survival thread October/November!

[HappyThursdays]

hello all - will hopefully link from the old one!

just realised we'll all have fireworks night to get through shortly. Went out for a walk with dpuppy who is getting much better at walking though we met a big dog which scared him a lot! We can only get him into puppy classes in November which is a shame but at least it's something

Has anyone tried cows ears? I ordered one and it's scaring me. My husband says it's vile and I can't give it to him. I'm a non meat eater so totally grossed out but they're supposed to be less smelly than pigs ears and good for the gut - brushing the insides as they go! Any views?

No idea about the cows ears but they sound like a good idea... report back!

Rosie had her second lot of injections and the vet was very pleased with her! I felt very proud. She’s all tired out now though. She’s asleep in a little swirl on my tummy.

Photo. Witt ridiculous new collar that DH got her. Her nice tasteful leather one is massive in her!

Loving the pictures. I think I'll give him the ear when DH not looking. I need to get past the fact it's so HAIRY. I cope with DH beard after all...

Can I join in anticipation! We are on a waiting list, but the breeder thinks someone ahead of us might have to delay so it might be happening before Christmas! We have a 12 year old dog, so it seems forever ago that we last did the puppy stage and I’ve forgotten it all. What were a) your essential purchase and b) what do you wish someone told you before you brought your pup home?!

Loving all the pictures!

We haven't tried cows ears (bleurgh) but saw someone linked on another thread (or was it here?) to Frescos and I have been browsing in fascination all evening  www.frescodog.co.uk/products/rabbit-ears

We had our first puppy class over Zoom. @polkadotpjs I did think of you as I can't believe this woman would have kicked anyone out - she was very patient with me and dp! What was amazing was how tired the training made dpuppy. Makes me realise we haven't really been doing enough!

She warned us that in a few weeks time dpuppy is going to get a boost of testosterone and we should try and get our training in over the next few weeks before he becomes bolshy! Argh!

@GetAMoveOnTroodon

Can I join in anticipation! We are on a waiting list, but the breeder thinks someone ahead of us might have to delay so it might be happening before Christmas! We have a 12 year old dog, so it seems forever ago that we last did the puppy stage and I’ve forgotten it all. What were a) your essential purchase and b) what do you wish someone told you before you brought your pup home?!

I think for me it's

1. be prepared to regret it if you have an older dog this will be easier I think to realise where you will get to eventually

2. keep it on a lead in the house. So much easier to manage!

I don't think I've posted a pic on newpup so here she is on an autumn walk earlier today.

She's been good overall the last few days. Definitely all normal behaviour from her and some positive signs she's calming down around the kids.

Aww lovely @newpup123

Things we needed

1. Puppy baby monitor for when he started sleeping on his own
2. More than one dog blanket (the puppy actually sleeps on the floor on one now)
3. I'm glad we got the car seat protector thing before he came and it's stayed in place
4. Don't spend a lot on a bed as the puppy might not like it anyway! Ours doesn't even sleep in his!
5. Spray for when they wee in the house (that puts them off going in the same place)
6. A load of kitchen roll to mop up!
7. More toys than you think and rotate them

What do I wish someone had told me? Is that it is really like having a baby. Sleepless nights, constant watching and the worry!

@polkadotpjs did you hear back from the trainer yet?

Hello all. Lovely to see all the updates. Riverpup is 19 weeks today and biting is virtually gone, she was absolutely awful and when she started losing teeth it started to change. She still will occasionally grab a slipper top but will also respond to leave it or drop it too. The jumping up at people when we are out is our biggest problem and I dont know how to change that.And also a bit of a fear of traffic. We live very rurally but I took riverpup near a busy road and she was terrified. Do I need to go and spend some time with her watching cars go by? It made me very sad that she was so unhappy.
She loves hairy cows ears, hairy goats ears, rabbits ears and the infamous pizzles. The more vile and stinky the better. Her box of chews is like a hideous mortuary. But she loves them so I just have to pick them up with tissues whilst shuddering.

A variety of chew toys.
Don’t bother with training pads
Antler chew toy

Lovely puppy@newpup123. What is she?

@Atalune

Lovely puppy@newpup123. What is she?

Cocker spaniel

@Riverhousepuppy that's so reassuring to know. I think we are getting a bit better here also, my daughter was walking her round on the lead with bare feet earlier and she wasn't going for her (although she did have treats to drop on the floor!)
It's definitely worse when over excited. Getting back from a walk is a flash point - she'll be totally fine then we walk in the door and she starts attacking my legs! It's weird. Not sure how to deal with it without copious amounts of food - I end up scattering food around and letting her sniff and calm down.

On that topic.... how much food is too much? I worry about over feeding with all the extra calories on lickimat etc. Does anyone know how to calculate the calories puppies need?

@Riverhousepuppy yes I think is about desensitisation with things that they're scared of. So sit far away from the road and treat for being calm. Then slowly get closer & keep treating. If he gets distressed then back off.

Thanks everyone for the tips!

Urgh I can't do ears anymore since pup swallowed one whole! Spent several days fretting it was going to get stuck somewhere...He does love a pizzle or a paddywhack though.

I strongly recommend lots of warm clothes, good dressing gown, an umbrella and wellies for all the time you will be spending in the garden waiting for pup to pee...

@Riverhousepuppy ours are so similar! Which teeth is she losing? I think chocpup has most of his adult front teeth now but I'm not sure when the others will start to go.

@chocolateandamaretto she has lost and gained all the little teeth at the front but still seems to have her fangs. When I looked the other day I thought they seemed bigger but dont know if she has lost and regrown them overnight as I feel I am always looking in her mouth. What ones has chocpup lost? How did she swallow a whole ear? I also think riverpup knows the things she is allowed to chew and the sneaky things she goes under the table with if she finds them, like the top of the garden hose. Even with a full range of chews available she will, on occasion, still try a quick chew on a table leg but responds to leave it.
Will try that with the traffic, thanks for tips.
I would also suggest if possible condoning off some of your garden for toiletting. We built a fence near our back door when the area is concentrated and lit. Then you can see really easily that she has been and reward. It has made it easier to clean to as we have hose to sluice it down. If possible it's worth considering.
I try to give food as per packet instructions and not worry about treat calories as I figure riverpup is moving so much anyway. As she gas got older indoor training treats are some of the days worth of kibble. Outdoor treats are much more exciting like cheese and ham and sausage or stuff like that. It isnt much so I dont worry too much.
Any tips on stopping them jumping up at people when out?

we had an awful morning as poor puppy was attacked on his walk today. Properly pinned down by an aggressive labrador dog and nipped (didn't break the skin). He went absolutely hysterical and I had to pick him up (I know they say you shouldn't) but he was literally howling at the top of his voice!

took about 10 mins to calm him down then when we bumped into 3-4 dogs on the way home he screamed and wouldn't walk and eventually got so distressed he escaped his harness and luckily I managed to catch him and had to carry him home :(

I really worry now about his socialisation because there are no puppy classes and now we will need to try and arrange a date with a friendly dog to show it is ok otherwise we are going to have issues with him

Happy - that sounds awful, I’m so sorry for you and pup. Our dog was attacked (had to have surgery to repair the wounds) when she was a puppy and it left her with a lifelong fear of that particular breed. In hindsight we should have done more positive socialising with friendly versions afterwards, so I’d totally recommend finding some nice dogs you can meet and interact with normally

that's awful @GetAMoveOnTroodon :( your poor puppy! how did she recover? were you ok? i must admit, I feel awful. I feel really guilty as I bumped into someone on my way to the field who asked if we had met the aggressive labrador before but I didn't realise he meant he was out in the field. If I had realised, I would have turned back. The labrador just pounced out of nowhere and I didn't really see it coming. I feel so guilty that I didn't realise he was there :(. Luckily I had kept pup on the leash so I at least managed to hold onto him otherwise I'm not sure how easy it would have been to find him if he'd done a runner :(!

She was fine physically thanks Happy (and she’s almost 12 now so it was a long time ago!) - the vets did a great job of patching her back up and she’s a very fluffy doodle so her fur covered up the scars. I was pretty shaken but more cross in retrospect that I didn’t get the other owner’s details to give to the police - was more concerned about getting her to a vet!

You shouldn’t feel guilty, it’s not your fault it’s the fault of the other owner. Our local council are very good about dealing with aggressive dogs now, so might be worth a chat with your local dog unit to see if they already know about it?

I'm glad she was ok and you too! Having stitches etc must have been horrendous, you poor thing! 12 is some age :)

What annoys me is that it's obviously a well known issue with this dog. The owner described his dog as a bully so surely muzzle him at least or keep him on a lead?!

We are at dp's place in a v small village so I'm sure it will be the talk of the town as we bumped into some other dog owners on the way back and I told them what happened as puppy was screaming in fear at the sight of their dogs. . I do feel guilty :( though he is a boisterous puppy so I'm half hoping he recovers quickly mentally but we are going to need to work on it :(

Oh poor you @HappyThursdays That sounds awful. Having been charged by a boisterous lab this morning and almost knocked over (no apology from the owner, just vacant smiles) I can imagine pip was terrified. I hope it's ok going forward. If you know someone with a v chilled dog perhaps do some quiet meets whilst shovelling treats in?
As for jumping up I need to sort that myself as polka pup can be v jumpy and excitable and caught DS's school friend with his teeth - didn't bite just was jumping around at school gate with mouth open but I was horrified. He was fine and the kid wasn't bothered at all but I was really unsettled so we need to train him to sit nicely
Trainer said she's issued a refund and will be in touch but that's all. No yay or nay to Zoom so I guess I'm barred !