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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Puppy survival thread October/November!

999 replies

HappyThursdays · 23/10/2020 09:07

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

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62
XiCi · 01/12/2020 09:49

Thanks Redandblue11 and Puppypuppypuppy. I dont think we're disturbing him but I think him knowing we're right there is stopping him sleeping. He wants to get out and on the bed to play! I think I'll keep him downstairs tonight and make sure he gets some play time before bed so hes tired. I'll do some crate work with him as well to try and make it more appealing to him. We dont use it during the day at the moment, just for sleeping

Redandblue11 · 01/12/2020 11:08

Xici if you are only using it for sleeping then I would say that is the problem. A few days of crate work should quickly entice him to it. Give him a few treats and food inside too. Good luck!
This takes me back to baby times, get an achievement then back two steps 😂 trial and error, loads of patience.
I am working from now in a few min on his own, I need him to be able to be happy for 4 hs a day on his own eventually. So even now working from home I intend to have some of my walks on my own, or pop to say hello to a friend or something. It will be unfair for him to not to be used without me in the future.

PugInTheHouse · 01/12/2020 11:25

I am a bit worried re the crate issue for longer periods. My pup is more than happy to go in it, he goes in it on his own when he feels tired, he also plays and hides his toys in there.

Should I be putting him in there for a few minutes hear and there just while I do dinner or have a shower etc? Hes only been with us a week

newpup123 · 01/12/2020 13:12

@PugInTheHouse

I am a bit worried re the crate issue for longer periods. My pup is more than happy to go in it, he goes in it on his own when he feels tired, he also plays and hides his toys in there.

Should I be putting him in there for a few minutes hear and there just while I do dinner or have a shower etc? Hes only been with us a week

Look crate games on YouTube or Boundary Games by absolute dogs. Basically you need to make the crate/bed/blanket a positive place to be. Lots of treats in there etc. Then build up how long the door is closed for slowly. Absolutely 10 mins while you're making dinner & pup has a chew is fine. Try to let them out before they're distressed then build up from there
Redandblue11 · 01/12/2020 14:59

puginthehouse, I don’t agree with the crate for the day or to leave him, only at night while he is a pup and as newpup said for 10-15 min while shower/etc should be fine.
Your pug looks adorable 😍

Redandblue11 · 01/12/2020 15:00

But of course some people use the crate during the day and is each person’s choice.

Original poster
HappyThursdays · 01/12/2020 16:45

how did it go at the vet @newpup123

we've had a challenging day. Pup was ok out on his walk this morning but this afternoon was a challenge. He has so much energy and I don't want him to get bad joints later on in life but tbh 2x 20mins walks just don't seem enough for him, even with mind games in between. He's also getting marginally better on walks but it's so marginal though all his other commands are great now other than 'drop it' and 'leave it' though he will do both if we swap a toy so that's ok for this age I think.

I need to get him concentrating on me when we are out on walks - and we're not quite there yet - but he will stop now mid walk to listen which is a step forward from where we were a few weeks ago! Small progress.

But I know that adolescence will hit at 6 months + and the one bit I do remember is that it's at that point that it gets so much harder so I want to try and make sure he's doing as well as he can before we hit that point!

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PugInTheHouse · 01/12/2020 20:58

Thanks newpup, will try that.

Redandblue - I am not sure if we would leave him for a few hours in the crate to he honest, I guess it depends on how he is with the cats, (or how they are with him) also for now as he is so tiny it will be good when I'm cooking or hoovering etc, he appears under your feet often. At the moment he has day time naps in there, we weren't necessarily expecting him to as it was for night time really but on the 1st day he just kept going in when he was tired. We have a separate crate upstairs which he goes in at night. He slept from 11-630 last night with no wee breaks, it was lush Grin

He is a little monkey though, he definitely knows where he needs to wee but doesn't always remember of course as he is only 9 weeks, however yesterday I said go for a wee, he ran over to the mat, squatted then sat down ready for his treat. He hadn't actually gone at all, he had just pretended. He did the same about 5 mins later but had a wee that time, he asked for another treat Grin

Redandblue11 · 02/12/2020 08:34

@HappyThursdays what breed do you have?
I took pup to the vets and was all good, I there were these two big labs and pointers that became a bit noisy and he started shaking like a leaf.
The vet asked me what food I have got him on, which is the one that the breeder had him on and he said next visit (2 weeks for the half of his second jab) we will talk about food and nutrition to help him develop strong bones. He said the food I have him now is not great.
What food do you use?

Yesterday was so much better though, we seem to be getting into a routine and knowing better how to motivate him to go into the garden. Last night he went from 11.30-5.20 without needing toilet and this am he dashed to the back door as soon as crate was open and run to his toilet spot Grin, but DH stayed longer playing with him there as normally a poo follows and yes he did it all there.

Original poster
HappyThursdays · 02/12/2020 08:47

hurrah @Redandblue11 sounds like he's getting the hang of it!

what food do you use? there is a very good website called allaboutdogfood.co.uk where you can research food

pup used to be very fussy and is not that food obsessed (though is now hungry a lot!). He's on one of the lowest rated dry kibbles on that site (royal canin cocker puppy) but he will eat it. He turns his nose up at all other higher rated dry food (and we tried a few but the royal canin stuff is the only stuff he will eat). He also has some wet food - Harringtons wet trays (which he loves) and is pretty highly rated and Butchers (which he likes but not as much as Harringtons). I would say though he has 75% dry food still. He has the most beautiful coat and his poos are solid so we're going to stick with what we're doing. He had an awful tummy before we swapped from the dry food he came to us on so I'm hesitant to swap away again.

he's a cocker, a working one so we knew he would be high energy and it's what we wanted :) but I'm still surprised by how over excitable he is (compared to other dogs we've had!)

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puppygalore · 02/12/2020 09:31

If anyone would like a copy of The Happy Puppy Handbook and/or Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezey let me know. I'm finished with them (and not planning to ever raise a puppy again! Grin) and am happy to post it out to others who might be in need!

Redandblue11 · 02/12/2020 09:59

@puppygalore I would love to read the Happy Puppy Handbook if that is ok, shall I pm you? Smile

puppygalore · 02/12/2020 10:04

@Redandblue11 yeah go for it :)

newpup123 · 02/12/2020 12:17

@HappyThursdays 7.8kg at 18.5 weeks. But she's a girl & show not working so bound to be a bit smalller?

Original poster
HappyThursdays · 02/12/2020 12:28

ah yes, I think they are a bit smaller the show cockers. I bet her coat must be beautiful, I seem to recall she's that lovely tan colour! I must admit, I do love the longer coat on the cockers! pup has a lovely coat but it won't be as long and feathery :) .

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Crayfishforyou · 02/12/2020 17:07

Hello everyone, can I join this thread?
On Sunday I became the owner of an 8 week old Biewer terrier and I have no idea what I’m doing!

Puppypuppypuppy · 02/12/2020 18:24

Hi puppy people
@Redandblue11 we have changed Puppypup onto butternut boxes - forzen food which is really good quality and he loves. We are supplementing with kibble and chicken as high value treat.

I am having real biting problems with Puppypup. He only does it with me - he hangs on to my legs, trousers, bites my hands and arms. Have tried the sharp 'no' but it doesn't have an effect at all - just makes him more excited. It' s not related to tiredness at all. It's more that I am the most exciting person in his life!

lyraa · 02/12/2020 18:39

Gosh, so many gorgeous new puppies! Smile
I've not actually posted since my first post on this thread - just getting settled in with our puppy and all is going as well as can be expected at this stage! I don't really feel like I've got much advice to offer others yet, with DPup only being 12 weeks just now, so I've not had much to add...

I do have a question though... I've read lots about antlers and pizzle sticks on here, and was planning to get some in for over Christmas to keep the puppy occuupied and give us a bit of time to scoff down Christmas dinner / open presents. Any that I look as say they aren't suitable for

Redandblue11 · 02/12/2020 18:46

puppypuppy thanks I need to read more about their nutrition, I will look into that.

lyraa I didn’t realise antlers are not suitable for young pups! Gosh ... i gave him one a couple of days ago, just put it away. I should have checked...

lyraa · 02/12/2020 19:07

@Redandblue11

puppypuppy thanks I need to read more about their nutrition, I will look into that.

lyraa I didn’t realise antlers are not suitable for young pups! Gosh ... i gave him one a couple of days ago, just put it away. I should have checked...

It might just be the ones I've looked at though Smile. The Antos ones on the pets at home website says "Suitable for all dogs including puppies older than 6 months." I'm wondering if there's a particular kind that are more suitable to younger pups...
Retrievemysanity · 02/12/2020 19:16

@lyraa I get my pizzles from dragonfly and they include them in the puppy pack which I’m sure they say are ok for 8 weeks plus, pretty sure they said those for antlers too. My pup prefers the yak attack bars to the antlers.

Retrievemysanity · 02/12/2020 19:33

@Crayfishforyou welcome! I don’t know what I’m doing either Smile

Frenchfancy · 02/12/2020 19:58

My puppy tax for the week.

Puppy survival thread October/November!
Original poster
HappyThursdays · 02/12/2020 20:27

We got these suitable from 12 weeks The Regal Mutt – Antler Puppy Chews (Pack of 3) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MAV2AVP/ref=cmswwrcppapifabcc_mC.XFbD46X5PA

There was also a pack of bones (nylabone ones) from pets at home that were good www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/dog/puppy-triple-bone-starter-kit - think one suitable from 8 weeks (the smallest one)

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lyraa · 02/12/2020 20:29

Thanks @Retrievemysanity and @HappyThursdays that's brilliant! Smile