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

Yay, can finally pay my puppy tax!

@Retrievemysanity that photo is so cute! Is that a normal buggy or an actual dog buggy?

Good day here. Took pup out to meet my friends dog and ended up on a pretty long walk. She's been calm and tired all day since 👍

Indoor lead is working well. I had a movie on the sofa with the kids with her safely asleep at my feet.

@TooExtraImmatureCheddar toiletting is going pretty well. She can hold it for a while and timeouts are not that long. No accidents for last 2 days and not had a poo accident since her first day at home.

@newpup123 an actual dog buggy! She’s just so heavy I can’t carry her any distance so the buggy has been a godsend! Breeder recommended we get one and I’m so glad she did.

The chronic diarrhoea seems to have improved a lot also. Vet tests showed she has giardia and so have some medication for that but the probiotics and different food seem to have helped already.

@Fluckityfluckfluck that looks flucking sore. Poor you.

@fluckityfluckfluck That looks sore ☹️ I think I've missed what you've said about pup though, has it always been an issue?

What advice did you get @Fluckityfuckfuck ? That seems more aggressive than a overwrought pup. Is there an underlying issue you can put your finger on?

Ouch, fluckity! Your poor hand. Hope the trainer can help.

Shhh worries and desperatehousewife, walking is going to solve aaaaaaaaall my problems and ImmaturePup will turn back into an angel.

We’ve gone backwards again on toilet training with most wees inside yesterday, also started the day with a massive poo that poor pup couldn’t get out! Could have done without that at 630 in the am. Puppypup v attached to me and whines when I leave the room and he can hear me in the house, even when DH and DD are in the room. Do I need to worry? Really don’t want whiny clingy dog!

He's always been very bitey - have been doing the redirect with toys etc and yelping/removing him from room if very bad. Then he started getting aggressive - growling and snarling when shooing him downstairs or away from the bin etc. The trainer was very old school and quite rough and when I did as he said and forced him to sit after the session when he bit me he really went feral - leading to the photo.

I am so so so angry with myself. Every part of my gut screamed not to listen to the trainer and to leave but he convinced me that it was the only way to change his behaviour, now I fear I've made everything worse. I'm absolutely gutted and am afraid we won't be able to keep him.

Oh @fluckityfluckfluck - I’m sorry to hear that - heartbreaking. Hopefully it’s retrievable. Is there an option to get another opinion from a different trainer ? Just aware that lots of trainers are doing some online stuff so possible to access people in a way that wouldn’t be possible without travelling miles normally.
We’ve got our first training tonight - can’t come too soon. Feel like I’ve got no clue what I’m doing, and my partner and I have different approaches to the dog barking etc - we really need to get on the same page !!

@fluckityfluckfluck

He's always been very bitey - have been doing the redirect with toys etc and yelping/removing him from room if very bad. Then he started getting aggressive - growling and snarling when shooing him downstairs or away from the bin etc. The trainer was very old school and quite rough and when I did as he said and forced him to sit after the session when he bit me he really went feral - leading to the photo.

I am so so so angry with myself. Every part of my gut screamed not to listen to the trainer and to leave but he convinced me that it was the only way to change his behaviour, now I fear I've made everything worse. I'm absolutely gutted and am afraid we won't be able to keep him.

Don't worry. It's still early days. Find another trainer or better still get one that is a behaviourist as well. Perhaps your vet could recommend one.

I have seen other posters point to somewhere you can look up qualified behaviourists but I don't know where that is offhand.

Ouch @fluckityfluckfluck ! Hope you are ok. You were following what you thought was good guidance. Its a minefield isn't it. Our pup no longer sleeps in the crate so we use it for time outs if he is in a snappy mood. It does get better though. We mostly using swapping for a chew toy (my house is now littered with them) Can't remember how old you puppy is, we have reached 20 weeks and there is light at the end if the tunnel !

Thanks everyone. I have a behaviouralist coming at 11 today. Fingers and toes crossed. I am honestly broken.

I'm sorry to hear that Fluckity. I suggest that today you leave him and go and do something else.

It's exhausting and draining and so demoralizing when it goes wrong.

Tomorrow is a new day. New behaviourist who.you feel better with and now you know you can walk away if its not right.

Pickle pup was a bitey little twat on our walk today.

She's been so.good and last night was snuggly with us watching a film, ignoring us playing cards and delightful off lead on our walk and I had such a feeling of joy about having her.

Pils meeting her today so she's probably picked up tension as dh runs round shrieking at everyone!!

@fluckityfluckfluck how did you get on with the behaviourist? I’m new to the thread so don’t know how old or what breed your pup is but all the biting etc has been a massive shock to me. Hoping you can get things to improve.

He's a 21 week old cocker spaniel. I feel much better, he was here nearly 4 hours and I feel like I have a firm plan now. Thanks all

My MN name is in honour of BiteyDog as a young cocker puppy. They don't call them cockerdiles for nothing .

Glad you feel like you have a plan.

@fluckityfluckfluck that sounds positive. Look forward to hearing how it goes over the coming weeks. I did think of your post this morning when Retrieverpup bit a hole in the arm of my coat!!

As an aside, don’t know if this has been mentioned previously but has anyone signed up for the guide dogs £10 a month training? Just wondering if it’s worth it.

Good @fluckityfluckfluck that sounds very encouraging.

@ZombiePara oh my. What breed is your pup?

@fluckityfluckfluck so pleased you have a plan and you feel more confident about it

I've been really busy at work today and pup normally whines if he wants to go out for a wee but didn't do that at all today so we've had more wees inside than out! it's so difficult when you're on long calls - normally I'd try and take him out every hour but there are times when I just can't do that. Back to square one again tomorrow!

he's also developed dog guilty face when he's chewing something he knows he shouldn't argh

they are little monkeys aren't they!

Thanks everyone - Sid trained you use the doorbells really well and quickly. He's 100% reliable to use the bell for a poo but not as good for wee, will still have the occasional mishap. I've just had a dog flap fitted so am working on that now...

For anyone who is interested the behaviourist has me using a slip lead for him in the house and it would never have occurred to me but makes him so much easier to manage! Genius!

Hope I can join in, we have a 10 week old golden retriever boy had him 2 weeks he’s very bitey and it’s fricking sore sometimes I really hope that settles down. Honestly though I’m knackered up at 6 boyfriend does bedtime because I’m zonked but he’s so cute and clever I’m just worried as vets won’t do vaccs till next week that he’s going to be frightened of his own shadow I’ve carried him about and he’s visited sons girlfriends dog in garden carried on pick up to school. Hates the car hates being left if I go out so those are things I’m going to work on gently. He can sit, and get down if jumping up and toileting is almost there.

We lost our amazing boy in May so this is a bit of a shock as our old boy was v well trained but am sure we’ll be fine. Hello to all you other puppy owners. Sorry bit waffly and just re joined so no idea how to put a pic of pup up yet