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

Hello all
Took our pup into town today to the park as trying to find new things to socialise him to while we are in lockdown and no face to face puppy class going on. He did well - was only freaked by someone putting an umbrella up !
Bought a cows ear from the pet shop on the way home - best quid we’ve ever spent !! Very happy puppy for 30 mins while we were having tea.
One thing - anyone else got cats ? Ours are 2.5 years old and we’ve had the pup for a month and they are still hissing and spitting at him. We manage the space well so that they all have separate places and spend limited time in the same room but they don’t seem to be any further towards being friends. Any ideas of how to help this or is it just time ?

Dpup went to puppy socialisation class again and she got in well! She’s absolutely knackered afterwards and is off her food a bit but she’s really coming on! If you can do puppy socialisation the do it!

We have met lots of dogs out on walks and she is super happy. We are working on the jumping up. Sit is great and we have also learned “High five” which means paw! Dh did it all day!!

Have got some one to one training sessions starting next week.

Our only problem is that she’s being a bit growly with Dd which is upsetting her! So we have done lots of gentle training with Dpup and Dd to help the bond.

@Sazlock Sorry, I can't give any suggestions, apart from to join the 'Dog training advice and support' group on Facebook? They have information units to study - one about introducing pup to existing pets, I think, and if that's not useful you can post specific questions. (Once a member, I think you can only see link to units on a laptop or desktop - not phone). Hope you can sort it out.

@Puppypuppypuppy we use butternut box, let me know if you want a code.

Had an interesting few days here. I've seen a couple of friends who've had dogs for many years and they've given me confidence to be stricter with pup. Basically not allowing her to pull on the lead at all, use a slip lead to correct biting, set expectations much higher basically! I've been very much of the "rewarding the good behaviour & trying to Ignore the bad" school of thought but their advice was to ensure she knows when she's behaving badly. Otherwise you end up on a situation like an overindulged child who's never been told no and only responds to bribery 🤷‍♀️

Hello, I've been reading this thread with excitement and fear! We collect pup in two weeks....been to the pet shop today and spent a small fortune!

Any tips for lab puppies?!

Thank you @DoubleTweenQueen - will check that out 🙂

@wineandsunshine Look at Lez Graham - The Pet Gundog' Puppy? Good grounding for gundog breeds, not necessarily to work them but to use their focus as they grow up? Also - awww!

Thanks so much for all suggestions. Coco has been so much better today with the kids. Still biting the littlest one but things were calmer than they had been during the week. Maybe because she got more used to them being around all day?

We can take her for a walk tomorrow, just 15 mins, but we are all so excited. The harness that I bought her is too big so she will have to just go on a normal lead.

Question regarding recall. When did you start taking your pup off the lead?
Our neighbour told us yesterday to go in to their garden next week let her off the lead and see if she comes back to me when I call her which I thought is a great idea just to test the recall in a different place that she’s not used to.

@Sazlock we have 2 cats, but older than yours, 1 is pretty bombproof and he has happily put up with kids grabbing at him as toddlers and now wanting to curl up with him in bed, touching him and fussing him. His sister is much more timid, she dislikes the kids and only loves strokes from me. So their personalities are the same with the dog. Boy cat gives no shits and ignores Pup bouncing trying to play and sniffing his bum, walks everywhere, while girl cat either runs away frantically or else hisses at Pup madly from wherever she is perched. My trainer said to just give it time and eventually they'll all either get on or ignore each other. I've done a few sessions where I try to give Pup treats for sitting calmly when faced with a cat but she'll generally ignore the treats in favour of sniffing the cat.

@wineandsunshine such a cutie! I have a Lab pup, no top tips as such really, we started with the Happy Puppy handbook and easy squeezy. There is a specific gundog book and a Lab website by the Happy puppy author. I notice she likes to carry things around which is common for retriever breeds, so have plenty of puppy safe and light enough toys she could pick up. Kongs and heavier/harder chews might take a while - my Pup had no clue, wanted to carry them but also eat them. She's getting it now! Also she likes to work for her food, so if yours doesn't seem interested in her meals don't worry, try hiding little bits or using a puzzle feeder. I tend to throw ours around the garden and she loves sniffing it out. Everyone warned me Labs are greedy but she honestly won't eat her food unless she's genuinely hungry.

Thanks @puppygalore - lab pup here too 🙂
It’s similar here, a girl cat who hates everything, including the puppy, and a boy cat who is quite chilled.
I think we will just carry on letting them be for now with short times when they are in the same space with us.

Lab pup here too. Day 3 home for us and going well though cat issues here too. We have just the one - 16 and has always been grumpy so we didn't expect instant friendship - or maybe never at all. Co-existence is best hope really. We've made sure that she knows upstairs is 'safe' and have made sure she has lots of attention. She's done a fair bit of watching the pup from afar but we have held them closer a few times. She did have a hearty hiss at him this morning and managed to bop him lightly (though if closer it would have been harder ). Just trying to give the cat time. Pup has been amazing so far.

Otherwise pup has settled well I think. V few accidents on the house but now need to start looking his signs as we're in and out constantly. Any tips?

Nights have been better than feared. Crate c 10.30, quick trip out c 1/2 and up at 6.30. Minimal whimpering both nights and dry crate. Long may that continue...

DDs have been great, though DD1(14) managed to drop only tub of treats in the dark garden first night home and DD2 (12) determined that he is the little brother I never provided and carrying him on his back like a newborn at all available opportunities. He is being very accommodating so far...

Surprises so far has been how much he sleeps (I did know but somehow didn't expect it - perhaps scarred by non-sleeping newborn children!) and how cuddly he is.

Hope all other new pups this weekend are settling well and thanks much for all the experiences and tips from those weeks and months ahead.

Awww welcome all new pups!

There is a neighbouring cat that owned this garden before the puppy came and it sits outside the window and taunts him knowing he can't get out lol

We are on week 16

Have had a hysterical morning as pup has suddenly realised he can't fit on my lap anymore and is v confused! He has doubled in size and weight I think.

He is in teething central - thank goodness for antlers and various ears.

We are now seeing (small lol) progress with sit instead of jumping up but tbh until lockdown is finished and we can have visitors, I'm not sure we will be able to practice it. We are trying to teach him that he won't get stroked if he jumps up but gets loads of praise if he sits in front of someone.

Lead walking still an issue but that is typical cocker for his age and also our fault for not being more persistent with the walking training

At not quite 10 weeks, I can see hint of teenager already :D Think she's settled in!

Puppypup is 14 weeks and I am not feeling great about how things are going. I know he’s still little and maybe it’s puppy blues. He’s very nervous out and about which makes the already short walks sometimes shorter. He gets spooked if I can’t calm him and we need to abort. He’s v attached to me and doesn’t like it when I’m not around. I can’t imagine being able to leave him alone at this point!. DH and DD have been helpful but I am shouldering must of it and feel really weighed down with the responsibility! Also 3 wees on the floor today, just to make things more tricky

Maybe my expectations are way too high but reading this thread everyone seems to be out and about with no problems! Whereas our walks are a slow shuffle with lots of treats and often having to come back early

@Puppypuppypuppy, don’t stress - we have the same problem. Our puppy refuses to budge and I end up carrying her!!! Then she gets home and goes off like a bullet in the garden. So it is not for lack of energy, I think she sometimes just can’t be bothered with a walk, maybe because she is not in control on the lead? I just do a short walk now.

Awww thank you for the tips/messages. I am reading every one and making notes!

Has anyone booked training yet? I have had a couple of companies recommended to me, but not really sure what age to start?

@Sazlock we have a 7 year old rescue cat who hates everything and is very fearful of other cats and dogs but we’ve used a Feliway plug and she’s so calm! Tentative but not too aggressive or fearful with pup.

@DoubleTweenQueen we used a pet buggy to take our pup places before we could walk her. Thoroughly recommend them.

I finally got Pup to accept the harness after a few crazy weeks with her acting like Buckaroo when it on, and went for a big walk today in it and oh my god, what a difference! My trainer said he prefers collars as then they can be more responsive, but it was so nice not getting pulled everywhere. Those of you with larger breeds, I'd definitely recommend getting them used to a harness sooner rather than later, if yours pulls like mine then your arms and shoulders will thank you!

@HappyThursdays how is the lead walking? Does pup pull or is it something else? My biggest issue (aside from the random ankle attacks) is the weaving all over the path - definitely a problem with the kids also as they make it worse and get everyone tangled up 🤨

@newpup123 yes ours does that too. They are scent dogs so walk with their nose. Pup walks into loads of things on his walk as he's so busy smelling he doesn't look up and zig zags everywhere. I think @BiteyShark cocker was much the same from memory! Apparently that part does get better with age (cross your fingers!).

Trainer showed us how to walk with a treat in our hand, not on the lead, so he always walks at your legs but pup is not massively food obsessed and stops after a few seconds. And tbh even if he does it in the garden, once he's on a walk everything is too exciting to care about food.

We are persevering but it's no better as yet. He is responding a lot more on his walks now to sit commands at times where he's really difficult so that is helping. I keep him v close on the pavement though which he hates but I don't give him much of a chance to do what he wants which does feel like a battle.

And once he knows he's going back, he's like a sled dog pulling a 2 tonne sled!

Further up the thread @newpup there is a desperate post from me about pup's walking! @BiteyShark replied and I must admit since then I have been more relaxed about it and it's partly my attitude and expectations changing that have made it a bit easier!

I am following all your experiences with great interest :) My ESS is like a cross between a kangaroo and a crocodile. She is lovely though. 10 weeks today!
Have tried to get her into a soft harness so I can take her in the car for the school run - I am learning that perseverance and treats are the way to do it! She's not bad at accepting a collar. Have been looking at a Mekuti harness. Anyone seen or have experience of these?