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Puppy Survival Thread - December

702 replies

Hellin301 · 13/12/2020 13:11

Day 5 of new puppy and I’m wondering what possessed me to go through all this Hmm he’s a little devil at times, most of the time actually with odd moments of cuteness

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19
Doje · 28/12/2020 19:24

Good day today! Managed to catch all wees so far outside, and the biting has definitely got better in the last couple of days. I've ordered a long line too (love Amazon!) so can work on controlled wees outside rather than the current chaos....

My stress levels have come down with the Christmas tree!!

PugInTheHouse · 28/12/2020 21:11

We are having the worst couple of days for biting, its mainly in the evening after his last meal, hes jumping up at us when we are eating and biting us so much. He finally crashed at 9pm, took himself into his crate.

We start walking him tomorrow so I am thinking after his last meal about 730ish when his biting is awful is a good time for a 2nd walk or is that not a good idea?

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 28/12/2020 21:51

I think as long as it’s suits you all, it probably doesn’t matter what time you have your walks.

GeorgiePup won’t really walk in the dark, he seems a bit unsure and they end up being really poor quality walks. We’ve also been using the chance to socialise him and practise recall which we couldn’t really do in the dark. We walk him around 4pm (and 10am) and then he comes back, eats and then sleeps. No time for any biting as he can’t stay awake.

We’ve also found he’s much more receptive to treats and therefore training when he’s hungry! Grin

A lot of it’s trial and error, we’ve certainly changed things as we’ve gone along and you’ll find your own way too.

2catsand2kids · 28/12/2020 22:01

Hello all, we have had a good couple of days after a slightly disastrous 24 hours. On Boxing Day we decided to go out for half an hour leaving the puppy at home (as we had done a few times before). When we got back we found he had managed to shift his pen and get out and was not happy about being home alone. That night he just wouldn’t settle in his pen and didn’t get to sleep properly until 1am and was then up again at 5.40, I was exhausted! Luckily since then he has been back to being as good as gold. Yesterday and today we didn’t have any wee or poos in the house and he’s slept from 9-6 each night, fingers crossed that will last. We can take him out for his first walk on Wednesday when he’s11 weeks which I’m really looking forward to. I need to order a long line, I’m really paranoid about letting him off lead before his recall is excellent!

PugInTheHouse · 28/12/2020 22:02

Yes that was my concern re later walks, hes such a sociable little thing too. Hopefully just the fact we are out walking will wear him out.

HappyThursdays · 29/12/2020 06:35

Our pup loves pugs because they are always willing to play! And he's quicker than them which means he runs circles around them while they look at him with disdain Grin

Winter walking is pretty grim if you aren't doing it in daylight - though I must admit we sometimes do a late walk round pavements (which are at least lit!) if we feel he needs a poo before bed. There's something about going for a walk that shifts their insides and seems to make them more likely to go!

First walks are really exciting - I hope you all have fun on them!

PugInTheHouse · 29/12/2020 07:49

Thanks happythursdays, I dont think pugs have any concept of bigger dogs etc haha, a couple of days after we got him so he was just over 8 weeks we were with friend who has a much bigger dog who is about 1 yo, he chased her around and barked at her to play with him, he had so much fun. At first when we met other people we thought he was maybe cold or scared as used to shake so much but we soon realised he was just so excited and wanted to lick them to death Grin I know pugs aren't everyone's cup of tea but they are really affectionate, loving and playful. As soon as the biting stops I will like him even more haha.

Our cats are huge and he is desperately trying to get them to play with him but they still won't go near him unless he's calm/asleep. I am really hoping things improve on that front. They will be in the same room with him though and will sleep near him when he's in the crate.

Frankincense88 · 29/12/2020 13:37

I can't remember who it was but thank you to the person who recommended a bull pizzle to stop the biting! Frankinpup has been silent for 30 minutes in his crate and does not care one jot that we aren't in the same room! My kitchen stinks but it's a price I'm willing to pay 😂

How long should I let him chew it for? He's not had one before and I don't want him getting an upset stomach. He's 11.5 weeks.

Redandblue11 · 29/12/2020 15:32

Hello again, we had a good xmas and Boxing Day with pup. He was very good, although got really exited with the presents but managed to calm him down with a walk followed by a chew. He is allowed to walk now that he is 13 weeks .
A question, I read some posts here saying, pup has managed a wee on the walk or a poo ... sorry for being so naive ... why do pups need to wee or poo while on walks? Why not on your garden?
Pup is 100 toilet trained now, whines next to door to go to garden , is that ok or why I want him to wee while out in a walk?
Sometimes he does though.

Onvacation · 29/12/2020 15:59

Sounds like things are going pretty well for everyone, with a good Christmas, which is great. Aside from our concern on Christmas eve that vomitting VacationPup was really unwell (he was sleepy and of course the internet suggested Parvio as an option), which disrupted our family traditions and upset the children (more about the traditions because they were convinced vacationpup was fine...which he was), Christmas was good. I do think that VacationPup helped with positive disruption to what would have been quite different without him.

@PugInTheHouse how was PugPup's first walk? VacationPup had is first jabs today. 8 1/2 kilos at 9 weeks - he is a bit boy. But the vet told us that in three weeks he can go out for a walk, but we need to avoid dogs for a week after that because he won't have had his third jab. I didn't realise he would need to have three. I'm really keen to hear how the walking went :)

@Puppypuppypuppy I loved your good/bad/ugly and am going to borrow that :)

For us, the good is:
No wee accidents in the house for a few days (and when they had happened it was because we weren't paying attention), and he scratches at the door if he needs to do a poo, so we have had none of those indoors at all!

He isn't too nippy (yet?); a bit of biting but we are swapping the human body part with a toy quite quickly. Although I did laugh a lot when he bit DH's bum the other night.

He will sit and come really well inside, although not so good outside (when he is digging a hole, or jumping around in my flower beds). He is also managing a little bit of 'wait'.

The bad:
We are still sleeping in with him, and although he will sleep in his crate, and is going back to bed quite easily (or at least he did last night and three nights ago - he was terrified of the storm so that was not a great night, and something gave him a huge fright in his cage the night before - again, no idea what it was but he did a puppy scream, had a small terror accident, and wouldn't go in again...my husband suggested it might have been a spider), he is still waking up 3 times, so we are tired. He has not really had accidents at night, but he doesn't have puppy pads so needs to be let out.

His kibble is, as far VacationPup is concerned, no fair replacement for a tissue, and he will play a fun game of chase if we try to remove it form his jaws.

The ugly:
The cats are not doing very well with him. One will sniff him if he is still or sleeping, but then will change his mind and bat him (claw out) and hiss. The other just hisses if he is within 2 feet of him. Herbie is a bit scared of them now, although for the one who is less unfriendly, he still wags his tail so enthusiastically because he really does want to be friends.

puppygalore · 29/12/2020 16:00

@Redandblue11 speaking for us, Pup went through a phase of being shy and only toileted in our garden for many weeks. Recently she's become more confident and will wee and occasionally poo on longer walks. Generally she prefers to wait til we are home though. Others may not have gardens or grass?

Warning for anyone with strong dogs - our Julius harness buckle failed today. Pup is nearly 6 months and at least 15kg and has developed a horrible pulling habit when she wants to say hello to another dog. But the harness is correct for her size and weight and was correctly fastened so should have been fine. Today she barged away from my husband, buckle came undone and she was gone in a flash. Luckily he managed to grab her but her recall is shaky (and non existent with other dogs around). We are shaken up about it and now googling for other harness options. I'm so grateful it happened on a park rather than her bolting across a road.

puppygalore · 29/12/2020 16:01

@Frankincense88 I just let Pup have it as long as she wanted. When she was younger she managed half a pizzle then was tired, nowadays a full one is gone within an hour!

Onvacation · 29/12/2020 16:24

@puppygalore how terrifying about the harness! We aren't close to free running (or even out of the garden) yet, but the recall issue really worries me. The idea that VacationPup (who is going to be a big boy) wouldn't be held by a harness is scary. I hope you find good advice for a stronger harness that will keep GalorePup safe (and will be interested to know what make it is!).

HappyThursdays · 29/12/2020 16:31

@puppygalore how awful about the harness! Poor you. Ours is 12kg (5 months nearly) now and a fierce puller if not told to walk on heel and we're using a combination of Ruffwear and Rabbitgoo harnesses (we alternate as he gets them so wet and muddy).

@Redandblue11 some dogs like pooing on their walks and it means it's done and out of the way. At dp's place we have a big garden but at mine, we've only got a yard out back so it's better for us that he poos on walks. Also means when you get back from walks, if they've pooed, you're not hovering about waiting for the poo signs!

Frankincense88 · 29/12/2020 16:37

@puppygalore lovely thanks - he had it for half an hour earlier and it doesn't look much different so hopefully it'll last him! I've got another one for when it runs out but I'll stock up for when I go back to work on the 5th and DH is with him WFH so that if he gets a bit bitey he can have it in his crate to calm down.

newpup123 · 29/12/2020 16:54

Hi everyone. Good to hear from some of you with older pups. Newpup is 22 weeks now (I think!)

She's doing really well overall

The good:
Toilets outside no problem, either garden or on walks.
Sleeps all night - over Xmas this has been crashing out in the lounge about 9pm. Out for wee when I go to bed about 10pm. Then into crate until 8.30/9am ish without a sound! Very happy with that.
Biting is almost gone. Still goes for my slippers sometimes when she wants to play but is easily distracted.

General confidence is good - not spooked by xmas visitors, traffic, other dogs etc.
Loves her walks (see below!)
Calm in the house - lies on her bed watching me in the kitchen etc. Not a problem with the kids at all.
Happy in the car - journeys up to 1.5 hours no problem.
Even DH likes her now!

The (maybe) bad:

Recall outdoors not great. I've still got her on a long line for walks which I would eventually like to be off lead (woods, river etc). I don't think she'd run off but if we came across another dog she would want to play and I don't think she would recall away. Not sure how much of an issue that is?!

Has started to whine a little when she gets left alone. Only for 5 mins or so but it never used to happen at all so I'm not sure if that's an issue or not?

I'm not sticking to the "5 mins per month of age" rule for walks. For example today we were out for 2 hours Confused But it was by the river, she was happily mooching about on the long line and then she did get a rest while we drank coffee on a bench. Not sure if that's a problem or not (can you see there's a theme here!)

Frenchfancy · 29/12/2020 17:47

I'm not sure I really understand the 5 mins/month rule for walks. I'm largely sticking to it, but we went to the beach the other day and she went for 40 minutes (and did not want to leave).

When we go in the garden she will spend 30 minutes running round like a mad thing, but on a walk she has to go at my pace. Is that what is bad? Walking slowly is worse for them than tearing round like a loon?

BiteyShark · 29/12/2020 17:50

I took the 5 min rule as to make you think about the type of exercise.

If walking on a lead on the pavement then they will feel they have to keep up with you and it's quite hard on the joints. This is when I observed the 5 min rule.

However, in the garden or outside m off lead on soft surfaces, when they can wander about at their own pace and stop when they need to, I was much more relaxed about it and we did longer.

PugInTheHouse · 29/12/2020 17:55

@Onvacation he seemed to enjoy it thanks, was wet and cold but he didn't care at all. He is only supposed to be out for 15 mins each time but he appeared to want to keep going. I carried him in the end as was conscious of the fact it is not good for him. He was good on the lead, he seems to just go at full speed all the time occasionally stopping to sniff. I tried to walk really slowly so we could go at his pace, he just walked right next to me the whole time.

We managed to get him to sit at every crossing. He wasn't so keen on puddles, he walked into a big one and just stopped, rather than getting out of it sideways he reversed back out Grin

He didn't wee at all when we were out but did as soon as we got home. I think going from the pads to outside will be tricky but I am not going to worry about it as I think it will happen eventually. He did poo in the garden this morning but just wants to zoom around and eat/sniff everything.

So funny that your pup is so big already, pugpup is 3.3kg and may be around 7kg fully grown bless him.

Onvacation · 29/12/2020 17:59

My understanding is that the walking rule is about growing hips and joints, and something to do with walking on the lead, although also about over using the growing joints.

I am so far from being an expert, but my understanding @Frenchfancy is exactly that - walking at your pace on a lead is worse for them than tearing around like a loon at their own pace. Although maybe I'm confusing what I have read about running with a lead and without.

Onvacation · 29/12/2020 18:04

@PugInTheHouse I LOVE the image of PugPup stopping in the puddle and then reversing out. I can just imagine the thought process. There is something quite wise about going out the way you came in (after all, you never know if it will suddenly get deeper and colder at any point!).

I'm impressed at how well he walked. Have you guys practiced with the lead in the garden? VacationPup isn't totally sure about the lead. We would prefer to get a harness for him, but I am not sure if that is the right idea.

PugInTheHouse · 29/12/2020 18:12

@Onvacation it was funny but at that point we were a bit worried that may be it and he wouldn't walk anymore but he was fine. We were really surprised at how well he did, he is used to his harness/coat as he has been out in the car and in the papoose a fair bit. We put a lead on him once when he first met the cats and once outside on Xmas eve as we took him out briefly to say hi to the neighbours, other than that he hasn't.

I think with pugs they are people pleasers and just want to be near you so I guess that makes walking with them easy. I know he has absolutely no recall yet, if he wants to do something he just does it, he does understand no and will stop (biting a cable
or something) unless he's on a completely mad one and nothing stops him.

PugInTheHouse · 29/12/2020 18:13

Oh and the vet didn't mention 3rd jabs, maybe it varies on which one they have?

SpreadHummusNotHate · 29/12/2020 18:48

I am a bit confused about the 5 minute rule too. What we’ve been doing is only going on walks that would take us about 15 minutes if we were going at our normal pace. In reality with HummusPup they take twice as long because we stop a lot - either to let her have a sniff or we stop because she is pulling and we’re trying to train a loose lead.

Does that sound ok or too much Confused

No problem pooing on walks though - just need to train her to do it a bit closer to the bin so I’m not carrying her poo around for ages - she finds it very distracting Grin

Frenchfancy · 29/12/2020 19:00

@SpreadHummusNotHate that is pretty much what we are doing, but twice a day. She is getting better at not putting so the walks are actually getting shorter in time, but are the same distance.

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