Puppy Survival Thread - December

[Hellin301]

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

We have found the crate a god send. We do have it next to us though so could hear when he needed a wee. I totally get thats not for everyone but we found out really quickly we didn't need to wake him so often as he naturally went 4-5 hours at 8 weeks and now goes at least 7. He has occasionally wee'd in it but that is because I havent woken up quick enough.

We have 2 cats so we couldn't leave him to roam so had to use the crate. He settles in it really well though for day time naps too (we have one downstairs also).

She is adorable @blowinahoolie!!! Lovely markings too

Welcome @Orangesarenottheonlyfruit, which breed and sex are you getting?
I think the biggest tip I have is to have a puppy pen or an completely safe area blocked off with dog gates where you can put pup if you need to shower. make a phone call, clear up some puppy devastation, give pup some time to calm if they get extra bitey or anything where you need a place for pup to stay which is safe.

@HappyThursdays that is fantastic! Well done HappyPup and you

@blowinahoolie I remember the horror of clearing up floods of giant breed puppy pee - I pretty much needed an ark with PoleDog!

Welcome @Orangesarenottheonlyfruit what kind of dog are you getting?

Pup was at the vet today, I noticed little patches of dry skin/rash on her tummy a couple of nights ago. He doesn't know what it is so we've been given steroids, anti-fungal shampoo and we've not to give her anything other than kibble in case it's a food allergy. We've just started training classes on Zoom, how on earth will we train her without treats? And she can't go to daycare in case it's fungal so I'm frantically trying to arrange WFH some days next week which isn't always possible. It's just one thing after another. I'm so worried about her too, worried it's something worse.

Hello all!
I'm getting a flat coat retriever. It's the same dog as I had before. They're lovely but I dimly recall the puppy stage being hard work. Though at the timr I also had a 2 year old and a 4 year old.
This time at least the kids are teens and can be helpful!

@ashmts can you use kibble as treats? We do that with HappyPup as he also had food issues when he was v young. The only place we use high value treats are recall so if you're not at that stage, you might be ok with just kibble? I hope her skin improves. Have you been bathing her? I don't think this cold weather helps their skin

@Orangesarenottheonlyfruit how exciting! @PoleToPole's tip is really good re a safe place in the house

@PugInTheHouse he's such a clever dog isn't he! We saw happypup's pug friend yesterday and they had such a lovely time - he's also doing v well with his training. They seem a v smart and happy breed!

He is doing well, I think they are good at learning but very easily distracted so sometimes it can take a while, so far hes picked up things quickly but I think the outdoor work will be the hardest with him, he is constantly trying to run off to see people.

@HappyThursdays We tried that before cos I was worried about fat content but she gets wise to it. She'll do a couple of things and then realise we're giving her kibble and either ignore it or take it in her mouth then spit it out. I actually don't think she likes the kibble so we were thinking about changing her food but obviously can't do that now. Part of our homework from the Zoom training was to find out what treats she liked, a lot of the trainer's emphasis is on high value treats, so I just feel like we're beaten before we even start. Might have to get creative, she responds well to praise so we might get away with that. We haven't bathed her in a couple of weeks, I was under the impression that washing too much is bad for their skin, but the weather here has been below freezing so actually now I'm wondering if the ice and grit might got into her fur and irritated her. Maybe we should increase frequency. The anti-fungal shampoo needs to be used twice a week anyway so we'll be washing her more frequently for the next wee while.

Recall is a funny one, DP hasn't even needed treats, he can let her off-lead and she'll obey his every word. We've started working on it on the long lead but that'll have to take a back seat now. What a nightmare.

the other thing our trainer suggested is using a special toy they love (or in our case a ball) when you can't use food. If you'd told me that a few weeks ago, I would have laughed that that could work but now he is so in love with his ball, he would do almost anything to get to play with it

we have noticed that HappyPup was getting cracked paws so we've started putting some paw balm on them - it wasn't causing him issues but apparently the grit/salt on the pavements can cause them problems and you should wash it off when they've been walking

we also haven't been washing him much but this weather has meant he's much more muddy/dirty than usual - i think we just don't notice it because he's black

I have massive sympathies @ashmts because we had similar issues and I do think HappyPup was so much harder to train because of it. However, if it gives you any hope, now on 22 weeks, he's really motivated by his ball rather than food but it did take a few weeks to get to that point!

@PugInTheHouse

He is doing well, I think they are good at learning but very easily distracted so sometimes it can take a while, so far hes picked up things quickly but I think the outdoor work will be the hardest with him, he is constantly trying to run off to see people.

yes this has been our biggest problem - greeting every single dog and person on the street and at the same time pulling hard to get to them. He now walks better on the way back from a walk when he's calmer but is still a lunatic on the way out!

your dog is cute too so I bet people stop to say hello to him!

He definitely gets a lot of attention, he is so small too so people love him. He's super friendly so just wants to lick everyone haha. I spend loads of time checking his lead is attached correctly as he tries to run to everyone

@HappyThursdays Thank you. I'm just feeling sorry for myself. My request to WFH next week was denied too and I'm so angry because imo there's no reason to deny it. Literally a pandemic and my work still won't be flexible. We've been using the paw balm recently too, we try to avoid walking on pavements when it's been gritted and stick to grass as much as possible. Aww mine is black too, I bet they look really similar! She's actually been much less muddy in this weather since the ground is frozen, which is nice for our floors!

We are doing one step forward, one back at the moment

Unfortunately people have started going 'oh cute puppy' and making cooing noises at him when we bump into anyone out on a walk off lead and HappyPup, who has not been jumping up at people, has suddenly started. He's only done it once but once is too much in my eyes! I'm very worried at him jumping up at children particularly as they often bend down to try and say hello to him. On lead obviously he can be persuaded not to but harder off lead.

Problem is he looks really cute but he's actually a complete handful and really strong and energetic fgs. We went to a big park today and whistled him back when he looked like he was going to approach anyone and it worked though one woman gave me a right earful because we didn't stop to say hello and she wanted to stroke him.

On the way out of the park a family ran up to him because their 3 yr old wanted to stroke him (without asking me) and HappyPup started a sprint towards them - I managed to call him back and put him on lead.

I know people on Mumsnet are always complaining about dogs jumping up at them or their kids but if they knew how many people actually encourage completely unknown dogs to do this, I think they might start to realise how difficult it is to train them out of it!

HappyThursdays I used to call out and say we are trying to train him not to jump/approach/focus on me. People tended to be more understanding then and wouldn't fuss him.

@HappyThursdays I get you on that score! The number of people who actively encourage Pup to jump up at them is crazy. Even if I say 'I'm training her not to jump up, can you tell her sit before stroking' they just say 'oh I don't mind' and keep cooing at her. She went to get checked at the vet today after her random vomiting and diarrhoea the other night and literally everyone in the queue plus the nurses were letting her jump all over them no matter how many times I'd said it (she is fine by the way, but if she'd been contagious that would be spread to everyone!)

There’s nothing worse than people ignoring you when you’re trying to train. I must say, lockdown has been a blessing with the no visitors. C4pup gets quite excited when we get a visitor which can cause him to bite, to which I tell people to stand up and ignore him and he’ll calm down. Alas, they don’t listen and say ‘oh he’s just a puppy’ and let him bite them

Yep he’s a puppy, but you get to go home after this, I have to stay here and risk losing a toe!

I’m really struggling this weekend. I’m quite an anxious person anyway and it all just feels too much and overwhelming. Nothing in particular but I’m starting to dread taking him out. We had our first training session and it feels like there’s so much to do. I thought we were doing well (and she said we are) but she’s changed quite a lot of what we were doing and now it feels like square again. Also he’s off lead on walks and obviously still learning (15 weeks) and so we put him on lead when needed but yesterday he saw a family with a frisbee through a gap before I did and ran to join them. I called him and he started to come but then went back because they threw it and the woman sarcastically said ‘there goes the voice of authority’. He wasn’t jumping or anything he was just following them. Ds was already running over to get him, it lasted about 15 seconds.

I don’t know, I know I sound pathetic. He’s doing really well but I can’t help but feel it’s too much.

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat have some unmumsnetty hugs. But I have to say at 15 weeks, most pups would do that. Happypup had to still be on a long lead at 15 weeks.

Did I tell you the story of the lady who trains the helping dogs who lives near us? She said she expects 'pretty good' recall at 6 months. Before that it's all a learning experience. We are 23 weeks and his recall has improved massively but in the last few weeks. Before that it was 50/50 really. And yesterday we sat in the park and tried to get him to sit and wait (off lead) when dogs walked past and he failed every time although he will be called back once he sets off.

I understand why it feels overwhelming as it's slow progress and you know it's on you to get it right or have a badly behaved dog but it always sounds like your pup is doing really well!

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat I understand completely! I had a trainer round to help me yesterday and I did find it helpful and reassuring- one of the best things he did was to reassure me that he's just a puppy still! So please remember that, it sounds like you are doing brilliantly. And the fact that you are worrying about him and trying to understand him and teach him means that you will get there. Try not to worry and enjoy him and guide him, but I'm sure you will get there. And ignore the dickheads!

Yes particularly frisbee dickhead! It's like a dangling sausage for a puppy a frisbee!

Can’t believe our pup is almost 7 months old. I’m currently working on the barking at runners, bikes and other dogs. Had two improved days!

I think you sound like you are doing amazing for 15 weeks georgie, pugpup is the same but we are no where close on lead work, partly due to the fact he was later with jabs so therefor 14 weeks before allowed off the pavements, partly because of his size he isn't able to walk for long and partly because we have no idea where to start. He gets cold very quickly also. The trainer is doing lead work with us on Tuesday so it will be good to start properly with her I guess so we get it right from the beginning.

I feel your pain about the people not listening, its bad enough getting DH and DCs to not let him bite them.

His clingyness is awful, its obviously sweet but I had to work Friday night out of the lounge as it was important calls but he wouldn't settle down at all, he always sleeps that time of the afternoon/evening and he outright refused until I got back which meant he was unbearably bitey and all over the place.

I just wondered what your evening/night time routines are? Do your pups still wee in the night at all?

Thank you all so much! I think the stresses of life in general are just getting to me (childminder, still working and homeschooling 3dc now plus puppy training...) and the puppy seems a bit self inflicted and why did we do this to ourselves. He’s lovely and I’m sure it will be fine. You guys are the ones who can appreciate that when you love them but still wonder if you did the right thing.

I just wondered what your evening/night time routines are? Do your pups still wee in the night at all?

He crashes in the sitting room between 8-9pm and then we do a last wee (he has to be carried out ) and crate him at 10pm. He then sleeps until around 6am on average. He will not entertain going back in the crate then but will snooze and be lazy for a bit longer so we can chill on the sofa.

Same here, last wee at 10pm goes until about 6am. Our alarm goes off then anyway so not a problem for us.

She normally is a bit Zoomy between 7 and 8 then crashes.

I know what you mean about self inflicted. I've definitely had moments when I have thought why did we do this.