Puppy Survival Thread - January - February

[C4itl]

Continuing on the thread from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/4105422-Puppy-Survival-Thread-December?pg=28 before we hit the message limit

@PugInTheHouse do you guys also notice how many hair bands are on the ground too?!

@LondonPupMum yes, always seems to be the small thin ones and also face masks!

Face masks and empty poo bags!! HummusPup is forever picking up poo bags! Our trainer advised us not to take stuff out of her mouth unless it was something very dangerous. Instead we now throw a bit of kibble for her to go find and she nearly always drops the litter straight away so I can pick it up! It seems to have helped - when I was panicking and fishing everything out of her mouth she definitely tried to swallow more rubbish!!
Not sure she was ever as much of a fiend for it as pugpup though- that must be a worry for you

@SpreadHummusNotHate we have had to steer him away from full poo bags also, there are always a few just dropped near the bins!

I leave him to it with moss, leaves and stones now as he will generally drop those if I tell him and offer a treat/pretend I have a treat. The things I have tried to get out his mouth are chewing gum, swizzels squashie, snails, caterpillars and cat poo (from the litter box!). My life has turned into something quite gross.

The trainer noticed that it seems to be an attention thing at times when out, when we were out this week we were chatting and out the corner of her eye she saw him pick up a leaf, look at me then drop it as I wasn't watching.

For anyone who’s been worried or struggling with leaving their pups alone, or their pups following them everywhere - I sent my trainer a long old email yesterday and she got back to me and I found her reply quite reassuring so thought I would share in case it reassures anyone else!

She started off by saying that their fear periods aren’t necessarily precisely when they are ‘supposed’ to be, so if something suddenly gets worse it may well be that and get better.

Then she talked about desensitisation to leaving cues but even just to leaving the room. So starting at whatever point I get a reaction from her, even if that’s just lifting up my leg repeatedly until she no longer reacts at all because it’s boring.

Now the bit that actually reassured me - she really emphasised letting her follow me if she wants to and trying to take her places with me as much as possible whilst she’s like this. Making her feel safe is the priority as the trauma from her not feeling safe is more detrimental than allowing her to be with me constantly!

So for the time being, no more Plantpup crying in her crate!

@PugInTheHouse definitely sounds like it could well be attention! I guess he is used to getting a reaction from you when it happens, so when he got nothing he lost interest!

@Plantlover23 quite a few trainers/experienced dog owners say similar. It makes total sense though as you would do the same with children and build up independence slowly. At the end of the day the pups at 8 weeks have come from their mums and litter mates so had constant company to a brand new home and being left alone. I am feeling pressure from friends, one person told me I was spoiling him and that I should be able to leave him for 4 hrs by 4 months. They have never had a pup in a lockdown, it is totally different and the trainer said even experienced dog owners she knows have had problems with this.

Not sure if @PoleToPole is still on the thread but they had some great advice about all this on the previous thread I believe.

Yesterday I flitted around lots and he followed me everywhere, he even follows me if i walk from lounge to kitchen (all one open plan room).

A couple of times I had to go upstairs and he just cried even though he was left with the others. DS1 took him into the garden and as soon as he saw me leaving the lounge he came running back in and cried at the door as I'd left. I also had a meeting on zoom so had to go upstairs, when I came back down it was like I'd been gone for days, until he saw DS preparing his lickimat, so at least we know there is one thing that ranks above me

Ugh, really struggling today and just feel like we are really failing at doggie life, I know most of you are on to a different stage with walking outside etc and that presents its own challenges. That’s still nearly three weeks away for us, we just let her out into the garden and she went completely wild, biting at plants, digging up soil, racing up and down the different levels, I know they say we shouldn’t but lack of options means the pen where she sleeps has also become like a place of punishment, if she bites she goes in there for two minutes on her own, when she is supposed to sleep I put treats in and sit with her but just feel I am giving mixed messages, there also seems no time to train as she is either completely hyper, needing to sleep or asleep, I really need to practise ‘look at me’, ‘leave it’ and ‘come’, have done and bit of stay/come with a treat and she is not too bad. She’s 10 weeks please tell me it gets easier and I haven’t just totally messed up my poor pup.

@Mediumred 10 weeks is still so young, please don’t worry about teaching tricks at the minute and just focus on getting a routine that works for you. C4pup is almost 6 months old and he still picks up tricks and changes for the better every day!

How long is she playing for inbetween naps? Even now we only get around 1 hour at most of playtime before he goes into crazy mode and needs to settle down, so we usually try to stick to around 30 minutes of us actively playing with him (throwing a toy or doing some training, although he never focuses for the full 30 mins for training) and then we ignore him to encourage him to settle himself back down. He then naps for around 1-2 hours and repeat

@Mediumred hugs. We got our pup late so never had to do the no walking bit, but I can imagine it must be so hard. We use the crate for time outs too because it's the only place he'll settle when he gets to that point. We try to do it in a way that's not a punishment as such, but just come on now you need to have a bit of time alone so we put him in with a few bits of kibble and make sure he had toys etc. Not sure if that's the right way to do it.

I know what you mean with finding time for training. We're at 20 weeks and still find it hard because he just gets overexcited and frustrated so I also feel like I'm failing at the training sometimes. Maybe try to incorporate all those things into routine rather than a training session. So eg anytime you give him food or chews etc put it in front and tell him to leave it and make him wait and gradually increase the length of time. Have some kibble or treats always in your pocket and any time she makes eye contact when you're playing etc say good, look at me, whatever words you're using.

It's so overwhelming (still is) but it does get easier as you get to know them

Oh thanks so much @C4itl and @Sparkle79, this does make me feel better. Yes, she is definitely not sleeping enough and finds it hard to settle, the pen is in the office and my DP is usually in there working so it’s not very interesting or distracting for her but noise elsewhere in the house can disturb her. When she first came she would just flop down and sleep in our main room but seems to find that hard and distracting now. She is so tired now but won’t sleep and is chewing her lead in the corner, don’t even know if that is the right message but she is quite calm I suppose.

I’m not really bothered about “tricks” as such but I thought if we had some basic commands it would help our bond/communication and her behaviour esp about ‘come’, so helping with recall and ‘leave it’ when she’s biting something she shouldn’t!

But you really have made me feel more optimistic and hopeful.

@Mediumred it is so normal at that stage, I found it so tiring as like you say they are either hectic, really tired or asleep.

The one thing with tricks is that I found (and still do) it useful if i am trying to teach something more tricky or quite important that if he is not getting it then we always add in something he can do easily, like a hi five or paw or even just sit and then he is successful and has a treat, the trainer also said to always end on a success if he hadn't managed what I wanted him to.

The other thing is when he gets really hectic in the garden and won't stop running up and down the levels, trying to eat stones/leaves etc then I distract him by getting him to do some 'tricks' for a treat. It seems to stop the craziness. Its also fun for us/the DCs and wears the pup out.

We taught leave it by doing the standard thing of having a treat in one hand then holding another treat in the other hand then holding that one towards him between our fingers, if he goes for it pull it away and say 'uh oh' and just keep repeating. Once he is successful in leaving it, then treat from the other hand. Progress to having it in your hand flat, then on the floor away from him, then right under his nose (you need very quick reflexes) Always treat from the other hand, never the treat he is leaving. Pugpup seems to have very little impulse control when let loose but he actually picked it up in minutes. He does a cute little jump backwards to show he's not going near it.

@Mediumred, you really are at the hardest part right now. Around then I had so many 'wtf have I done to my nice peaceful family?!' moments. We're now at 17 weeks and DPup is a joy to have around (most of the time) and a lovely part of the family. Hang in there.

I think around 10-12 weeks DPup started getting the hang of toilet training and then it just gets better each week. I'm now at the point where I say to DH 'can you believe it was only last week he was doing xyz and now he's awesome?!'. He surprises me every week with how quickly he improves. Expexlct things to be tough for another week or so, and then things will start clicking for him and for you.

@Mediumred 10 weeks was definitely the point I found the most difficult! We are at 13 weeks now and even though it’s still a challenge it is so much better. You will find commands getting more and more secure and your bond will grow Try not to worry too much about the pen time outs/settling, I still have to put Plantpup in her crate when she gets overtired and bitey as it is the only place she will settle in that mood. So you’re by no means alone!

Hang in there, like everyone has said it gets better day by day and week by week!

@PugInTheHouse 4 hours feels like such a long time! I can’t imagine leaving for that long, she’d be so distressed I definitely think lockdown has had its blessings and it’s downsides...I think it helps with building the bond so much but then obviously they aren’t used to being alone at all

Always some drawbacks...Plantpup weed on my parents sofa and rug today Think she is still suffering a little from her cystitis, but hope it isn’t a sign her housetraining has gone out the window!

@Plantlover23 I think it sounds a really long time, I know I should be able to leave him for longer than I am but there is no way I am leaving him braking and crying so much he is having to catch his breath after 2 minutes, he has a real look of panic on his face and its really upsetting. The trainer said she is going to save a couple of our sessions for when she is allowed to work indoors and said we will work on it.

Toileting has been awful this weekend, he has been the extremes of sitting at back door and barking/ringing the bell to go out for a wee to literally just weeing anywhere he fancies.

On the upside we went out walking along the seafront and he didn't pick up ANYTHING. He met loads of people/dogs and after the 1st couple of minutes of crazy excitement he was controllable when passing dogs, prams and scooters so it was really good fun.

Last night was funny, we were outside during the evening and there were 2 or 3 dogs in various other gardens and they were all barking, it seemed like one after another. Pugpup joined in and it was like 101 Dalmatians where they were all talking to each other I got a very cute video.

@PugInTheHouse, thanks so much for the ‘leave it’ tips, I will try that, and the ‘Ending on a high’ and the way to calm things down in garden, that will be so useful!

And thanks so much @Plantlover23 and @Doje, it is so reassuring to hear it should soon be improving and i haven’t traumatised her by putting her in the pen for time outs.

She us currently out cold at the bottom of the stairs, we went for a walk with her in her sling and she was super good, feeling more positive already!

@PugInTheHouse I completely agree with you! I couldn’t do it either. I don’t think there’s necessarily a ‘right’ way, and it’s definitely not worth causing them any trauma or anything over. No one would ever leave their crying toddler for 4 hours in the house on their own and as much as they are obviously different I think the principle still applies!

Your beach walk sounds lovely, envy anyone near a beach so much!

@C4itl @Sparkle79 @Doje you are all making me look forward to 17-20 weeks greatly

@Mediumred it will definitely get better, be kind to yourself and don’t beat yourself up over any of it, it is really hard! In arms walks are lovely and they still get to sniff absolutely everything!

So, doberwow has been here 48 hours

Good

Sleeping is amazing, two nights in crate with one waking

Bad

Lots of indoor pos and wees 😂 but sone outdoors

Ugly

We know when she's tired, very bitey and fighty

Overall ...... she's brilliant!

@Plantlover23 it is lovely living by the sea but it is ridiculously busy and has been all lockdown so we are avoiding it as much as possible right now which is a shame. Pugpup wandered onto the pebbles once and jumped straight back on the prom as he was so shocked that they moved under his feet

Pugpup is 21 weeks now and other than the eating stuff/separation/weeing indoors he is so much easier generally to have around. He sleeps all evening/night, can play on his own, sits around if we're watching TV. Rarely any biting and he's great when we're eating, he either has a lickimat or he'll sit on the floor watching (desperate to jump up but mostly doesn't haha). His training has gone so well also. It feels like 90% of it has clicked and I definitely don't feel as on edge now. At a guess, things improved about 15 weeks.

I think I make him sound awful on here but I guess on these threads it the issues/advice we discuss mainly.

Doberwow, she sounds fab!! If they sleep well it makes it all a million times easier!!

@PugInTheHouse it's early days but 🤞! X

Guys, londonpup is great in the park in an emptier field, but he cannot walk on the lead without wanting to say hi to EVERYONE! Please tell me this gets old for him quickly lol

Hi, I’m new to this thread, our pug is 14 weeks and life is up and down lol. We’ve come to know that the manic bitey behaviour means she’s tired and now we know she should get 18 hours a day, we have become better and making sure she gets that. Makes a big difference.
Toilet training on the whole is going well but still sometimes having a few accidents. There are very little warning signs that she needs.
Sleeps great at night in crate but during day if she’s crated will try to rip up vetbed, chew bars etc unless she’s super tired. Not sure how to rectify this.
A lot of mucking about at times in garden with stones/weeds etc but trainer has said this is attention seeking so now trying to ignore. Difficult when it’s bed time though and pissing wet!
The constant nibbling at our shoes and ankles is very annoying. Really hard to do anything at all in house as she just walks about grabbing my trousers leg...any advice welcome! Does this phase just pass? We can’t eat a meal if she’s awake as she won’t leave us alone, but if we crate her she whines/chews bars etc.
We have got a few commands in the bag from training which is good so I can really see her improving with that. She’s def very food driven which helps
@PugInTheHouse any pearls of wisdom gratefully received!

@WeeM all sounds very normal and sounds like you're doing a great job. With the ankle nipping we were told to just stand still until he stopped (very difficult though when it hurts!) I read about "ditch the bowl" so we now try to think of different ways of feeding Sparklepup and I try to feed him while we're eating. Most things we do take him about 10 mins. If he's too hungry to wait for our meal time I try to keep a bit of his food back and then while we're eating I give him a water bottle or milk bottle with some of his food in so we can eat in peace. Or do you have a Kong or something you could put some peanut butter or soft cheese on? The other thing I tried is freeing whole raw carrots and freezing a muffin tray with water and bit of kibble, chicken and carrot in, and then pop one out and give him one of those while we're eating.

@WeeM do you need to crate train in the day? we put ours to sleep in her bed. And had a baby gate to keep her in one room.