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The doghouse

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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
PugInTheHouse · 02/01/2021 15:04

@PoleToPole I touched it earlier as I thought it was dirt or something on his skin and it didn't seem to bother him at all. I will try and get a photo but he is hectic right now so its a bit tricky.

ashmts · 02/01/2021 17:06

@MyRabbit79 we thought we had puppy-proofed our garden but once she arrived she found hazards we hadn't even considered! Stones were the big problem, she ate them so we had to dig them all up (I say we, I didn't do anything). I'd be prepared to remove or fence off anything that could be dangerous. It'll save you scary (but probably unnecessary) trips to the vet at 11pm on a Sunday like we had...

@Onvacation Our pup loves doggy daycare. She has great fun and comes home tired from all the playing and exercise. It's been good for socialising her with other dogs. The owner does a bit of training with them too but he checks in and tries to go at our pace and reinforce our training. Her behaviour has improved massively since she started but whether that's just cos she got older I can't really say. The owner is brilliant though, he asks for copies of their vaccinations and you sign a contract to say you'll flea/worm them, neuter them and not send them in if unwell. He only takes 6 dogs per day and chooses them carefully to ensure they get on, he refuses dogs if they'd upset the rhythm of the group. He's a friend of a friend so we knew he'd be good, I'd have shopped around very carefully if we had to send her to a stranger but there are good daycares out there.

MyRabbit79 · 02/01/2021 17:27

@ashmts stones do worry me as he eats everything! Our front path is gravelled with medium stones and we have stony soil. Argh.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 02/01/2021 18:37

Big day today! We let GeorgiePup off lead on both his walks- he was so good! We worried that he can get a bit distracted when around other families/dogs but we took beef and a ball with us and he was great!

We have puppy training 1-1 on Friday which I’m looking forward to. I’ve also just booked GeorgiePup in with the groomers for the following Friday, they do a puppy introduction course to get them used to it before building up to a full groom. Starting to get expensive!

m0therofdragons · 02/01/2021 19:12

Haven’t been on here for ages but I wanted to pop back to give hope. Dragonpup is 6 months and we can having him in the living room while we watch a film! He’s fab and so much better than the bitey landshark he was. Keep going, be consistent and you’ll get a lovely family dog (who will be a prick occasionally)

aimslou · 02/01/2021 20:17

Hello all
I'm new to this thread, my puppy is nearly 5 months old and training seems to be going well except when out on walks she barks at other dogs. I've ordered a clicker to see if this helps but does anybody else have any other tips, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks

PugInTheHouse · 02/01/2021 21:25

Wow I am so impressed @GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat pugpup is 14 weeks tomorrow and there is no chance he'd be off a lead, he would just bolt. We are on day 5 of walks and its like a sprint round the block for 10 mins or it takes 25 mins to go the same distance as we have to say hello to every person and every dog Grin He walks in a wiggly line constantly but absolutely loves it. As he is so small he can't really pull but I can feel that he would if he could.

I am desperate to book training sessions, I feel we have been rubbish as whilst he learns tricks quickly I am not sure he is learning anything else.

alwaysstressed · 02/01/2021 21:27

I am a dog groomer and for everyone getting a poodle mix please for the love of god brush them I beg you.
Brush all dogs obviously but please brush your labradoodles and your cockspoos 🙏🙏🙏

alwaysstressed · 02/01/2021 21:28

*cockapoos

PoleToPole · 02/01/2021 21:33

@alwaysstressed - genuine question, do some people not? I groom my own dogs and always have, but I`ve always brushed every dog and foster I have ever had daily, if nothing else to get the mud off, check them for ticks, scrapes, injuries etc.

alwaysstressed · 02/01/2021 21:41

[quote PoleToPole]@alwaysstressed - genuine question, do some people not? I groom my own dogs and always have, but I`ve always brushed every dog and foster I have ever had daily, if nothing else to get the mud off, check them for ticks, scrapes, injuries etc.[/quote]
It's unbelievable the amount of dogs that come in with matts because their owners don't keep on top of brushing or they just skim the top layer of the coat and don't get right down to the skin.
All dogs can matt obviously but the doodle breeds have such high maintenance coats that require daily brushing and people don't realise this when they get one.

PoleToPole · 02/01/2021 21:50

@PugInTheHouse perhaps it is chaffing then? I think if it were me I would monitor it over the next 24 hrs and go from there.

@aimslou I train my dogs and fosters to ignore other dogs, unless they are naturally aloof in which case no training needed. It isnt actually that hard to train to ignore, and that would solve the barking but that would be whether thats something you wanted to do.
You can still let them approach other dogs once you`ve checked with the owner, but it certainly helps to stop a lot of incidents.

PoleToPole · 02/01/2021 21:52

It's unbelievable the amount of dogs that come in with matts

Thats very sad, plus very very hard to check for ticks if fur isnt spiffy. I always make sure my dogs have the Lyme vaccination, and flea meds which cover tick too, but still.

PugInTheHouse · 02/01/2021 21:53

It could be as it has only been since hes been out walking. It isn't where the harness though. I will keep an eye on him. Its very faint but definitely something there.

PoleToPole · 02/01/2021 21:56

@PugInTheHouse Is it in an area which would get hot/sweaty if its since he`s been out walking? And just skin rubbing on skin?

PoleToPole · 02/01/2021 21:57

Well, not sweaty, bad turn of phrase, but hot and trap wet/mud/grime from walking?

PugInTheHouse · 02/01/2021 21:59

@PoleToPole it is definitely a place that could rub or get sweaty. It is in the crease of his leg/tummy.

Doje · 03/01/2021 07:34

Update: we fed Dpup (11 weeks) four times yesterday after noticing the day before when we fed him late (he'd slept through dinner) that he slept through till 7am. Gave him breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper yesterday and he slept again till 7am!!

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 03/01/2021 08:47

@PugInTheHouse To be fair on day 5 we wouldn’t have been ready either, I just counted and GeorgiePup has had 17 days x 2 walks before we’ve felt ready. And even in the house he has good recall as I’m a childminder so it was the first thing we taught so if he’s bothering someone I can stop him. Lots of treats help!

PugInTheHouse · 03/01/2021 08:55

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat there is still hope then haha! We have managed to sort 1:1 puppy training from Tuesday. I am really looking forward to it. It will be nice to get some tips and to know exactly what we should be teaching him on walks. I will do a bit more work on recall indoors for sure. He does it now and then but I think we need to up our game.

He was quite bitey yesterday, really frustrating as since we've been walking he's been better but we are getting better at moving away and ignoring so it passes quickly.

I am loving getting more sleep as well, impure the walking has helped. He is having last meal at 8pm and he's sleeping from 830, having a wee before we go to bed and then sleeping till 7am. It is perfect timing for us going back to work tomorrow.

aimslou · 03/01/2021 10:20

@PoleToPole could you give me some tips on how best to do that please. Thanks so much

PoleToPole · 03/01/2021 13:51

Yes of course @aimslou. I always start with teaching "eyes on me", I do it in the house starting with no distractions, and I do not use food rewards for this one, very important that they need to be focusing on you not because they think they will get a snack, but because they are looking for guidance and the next instruction. The idea is that you hold their focus as they know more instructions are coming, so they need to keep paying attention to see what they need to do next.

Start by clicking your tongue or fingers, and saying "eyes on me" as soon as they look at you "Yes! Eyes on me! Thats it! Eyes on me! Well done!" Very enthusiastically, lots of fuss and praise. Then immediately whilst they are still looking at you ("eyes on me" again if you need to get their focus again) get them to do a command or trick youve already taught them that theyre good at. It doesnt matter what it is, sit, down, spin around, anything. As soon as they`ve done that too, loads of praise again.

Keep doing it, and vary the second command each time so that they dont know whats coming next - it reinforces that their attention needs to be on you.

Next, use something mildly distracting in the background, I use YouTube recordings of dogs barking played faintly, and keep doing the same, "eyes on me" and then the trick, over and over until they are completely ignoring the background noise. It might take a while, be patient and just keep at it. When they`ve cracked that, turn the volume up a bit, and then gradually start varying the sounds.

Next, move it to the garden, have pup on a lead and do the same until you`ve got their focus as soon as you ask for it. Then the lead can come off, and work on it again.

Next, somewhere a step more distracting, but not pups favourite place, so if theres a less preferred walk with a quiet area, try it there, on lead and keep working at it, it might take a bit, and its best to do it in the middle of a walk so pups blasted off the initial energy and excitement surge, but isnt too tired to concentrate. Keep the lead on where doing this out and about until you are sure pups cracked it. So, off lead run if thats what you do, then lead back on and training.

Once youve cracked that, you can gradually work up to more and more distracting areas, and with that as soon as you see another dog or person, straight away "eyes on me" and the the trick. At this stage, you can use "wait" or "stay" in between "eyes on me" and the trick to hold their focus for longer if need me. Eventually you wont need an interim command, but pups can be a bit impatient and sometimes need a reminder in the middle.

Then all you need to do it keep gradually upping the distraction level, and it won`t be long before pup will ignore everything else when you ask for focus. You can also then use it as a roaming command, so as you keep walking past a distraction.

If pup starts to lose focus at any point in the training, a gentle "no, eyes on me" in a firm but kind voice works well. The idea is not to use "no" as any kind of scolding or punishment, but as a guide, the way you would if you were teaching a toddler something, sort of "no, not like that, like this, see?"

A huge proviso - do not do it anywhere there may be unruly hooligan dogs - the last thing you want is another dog to come and bowl yours over whilst poor pup is focusing on you.
It is best to do it in a wide open area, where you can see any potential hooligans before they approach, or any other distractions for that matter, not always easy, but try and find somewhere as good as possible.

It takes a bit of time to teach, but I`ve taught it to all of my dogs and fosters easily - even the stubborn ones and even the bounciest of people loving labradors I fostered once Grin

PoleToPole · 03/01/2021 13:56

Oh yes @aimslou and once pup has cracked it once and for all, you can drop the finger or tongue clicking and just use the voice command. There are ultra distracting times you may have to revert to the noise as well, but very, very rarely.

Do not use a clicker for the noise either - pup`s attention needs to be on you, not a clicker you are holding, not a snack, but direct eye contact with you. Clickers and snacks just serve as distractions, and in this case you are teaching pup to ignore distractions and keep their eyes locked on yours.

Using "yes" as a prompt whenever they do it right works in exactly the same way as a clicker anyway, its a marker for the correct behaviour, but "yes" keeps their attention fully and absolutely on you, not the piece of plastic in your hand.

PoleToPole · 03/01/2021 13:58

Sorry that was a bit epic! Blush

newpup123 · 03/01/2021 22:38

That's really helpful @PoleToPole I have been training "look at me" but there are some nuances in what you've written I think I can apply to improve the result.

@Onvacation I use daycare once a week - as a break from the kids/pup/WFH combo and for socialising & ensuring pup is comfortable in another environment if needed. It's a family farmhouse, the dogs are inside with their own 2 dogs and exercised in their paddock. Never more than 2 or 3 guest dogs per day. They also do grooming & holiday care. I'm very happy with it and it takes a weight off my mind knowing it's there as an option.

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