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The doghouse

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Puppy Survival Thread - January - February

999 replies

C4itl · 20/01/2021 16:00

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

OP posts:
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42
Plantlover23 · 22/02/2021 15:04

@WeeM this is also another issue! Particularly when I put her in her crate. If she did a wee beforehand but then cries I just find myself thinking ‘oh well maybe you need a poo?’ Then just go in cycles!! She mostly does them at separate times so it’s a nightmare

WeeM · 22/02/2021 16:10

@Plantlover23 at least we’re not alone!

I just tried standing still and saying ‘no biting’ when she was nibbling my feet. When she stopped I gave her a click and a treat and I think it might be working. I think I will just need to carry about the clicker on my wrist and treats in my pocket at all times and see how that goes.

Plantlover23 · 22/02/2021 16:23

@WeeM think I might need to try this too!

Just took Plantpup to the park for the first time. Had to carry her most of the time and we sat on a bench for a while as she was so scared. Probably my fault for heading there as soon as the sun came out for the first time in weeks! But she only walked for about 1/6 of the time and had a really runny poo while we were there, I think because she was so scared Sad

Sparkle79 · 22/02/2021 17:33

@Plantlover23 me too! I remember being like that when the children were babies too, constantly trying to run through what they might want.

@WeeM with the biting we just kept replacing our body parts / furniture with a toy and saying "toy" and if he still bit us we'd get up and walk away. He got the idea eventually although he does still bite us but not as often.

Feel a bit deflated today. Do you ever feel like you're being judged as "one of those awful people who got a lockdown puppy without thinking it through"? For us it was a case of now or never because of lockdown circumstances and although we're 100% committed to him, there are things about dog ownership that neither of us really knew about (eg nervousness, socialisation) so I do sometimes feel like we were foolish Blush but it definitely wasn't on a whim or to fill the time as some people seem to think.

Plantlover23 · 22/02/2021 17:37

@Sparkle79 I definitely feel like this! My timing fell in that I’ve just bought my own house and had the opportunity and circumstances to have a puppy for the first time, but I do feel judged out and about with her often at the moment. I think no matter how well researched you are, there’s always things in reality that catch you by surprise, so try not to beat yourself up about it

PugInTheHouse · 22/02/2021 17:39

@Sparkle79 I feel that people think that also, DH and DS2 have always wanted a dog but DH was in a corporate job with no flexibility and I was in the office 2 days a week so in the early days we wouldn't have had the time to give him early on. DH is now in a job where he can take the dog with him and I am unlikely to go back into the office at all so it was good timing. We assumed that we would be out of lockdown around Xmas which was when he was allowed out walking.

PugInTheHouse · 22/02/2021 17:45

The thing that caught me by surprise is the separation issues. I assumed it would be really easy as all dogs get left at home, I just assumed they would just get on with it. I read about it but the way it was worded in any of the info was that it was rare to have a problem. I guess I didn't think they got so attached to one person.

Sparkle79 · 22/02/2021 17:52

@PugInTheHouse yeah that surprises me too, but I also don't think that will be specific to lockdown puppies, I think a lot of older dogs will suffer having been used to being left alone for hours and then having people home all the time, to then have everyone go back to work and school will be a shock for them too. SparklePup is going to be beside himself when the kids go back to school in 2 weeks. He doesn't even like it when they pop upstairs to get something from their room!

@Plantlover23 thanks x

Alonglongway · 22/02/2021 18:02

Anyone tried the canine lullaby heartbeat music on spotify ? works wonders on my dogs. Just put it on now as little one was yapping and he immediately lay down. Said to DD1 it reminds me of her nursery days

Posiemam · 22/02/2021 22:19

@Sparkle79, yes definitely and it is true to some extent with us. We wouldn’t have got a puppy with the pandemic as neither workplace would consider wfh but now its the new norm since they can see the advantages.Sometimes, I feel a bit cross as its implied only experienced people should get dogs but you know, they were first time owners once upon a time.

Plantlover23 · 23/02/2021 06:54

@PugInTheHouse @Sparkle79 I think it’ll be a big issue for dogs of all ages honestly! They’re so used to having everyone around for such long periods of time, it will definitely impact. Not sure it’s any of our faults that our puppies are experiencing the same.

I’m not sure Plantpup would’ve been that different though honestly. If me going into another room is an issue for her and has been since she was 9 weeks, then it was going to be an issue for her lockdown or not! To some extent I think they must grow and mature out of it.

Doboopedoo · 23/02/2021 07:49

Absolutely with you on that @Sparkle79, and it feels like you can’t say to people the issues you’re having for fear of judgement! I’m having many deflated days but hopefully it will all get better soon.

Sparkle79 · 23/02/2021 07:54

@Posiemam exactly Hmm

@Alonglongway thanks for the recommendation, might try that in the car as he's suddenly decided he doesn't like the car so now we have the option of stressful pavement car chasing walks or stressful drives to the park Confused

Putyourdamnshoeson · 23/02/2021 08:05

Same here as all above. I feel judged, but our circumstances are right now and they weren't before.
I grew up with a dog, but if course, I now realise how little I was involved. Also how naughty our dog was!
My pup is 12 weeks now. Puppy blues, having crushed me are starting to ease. But my huge fear is leaving her. Children back at school in two weeks, so perhaps the peace will help?
DH and I will be wfh for the foreseeable. Even when we do go back in, it's likely we can stagger our days, it is unlikely to be full time in the office.
But at the moment I can barely move!

Plantlover23 · 23/02/2021 08:50

@PugInTheHouse starting to experience your (and others!) scavenger issues...every time we go out to the toilet Plantpup picks up something. Don’t even know where she finds some of it?! She has also definitely learnt that picking things up leads to me following her trying to work out what it is and getting it out. Problem is sometimes it’s things that aren’t THAT bad, like a stick, but other times it’s been a bit of garden twine! Her drop command is currently terrible so all I can really do is either watch like a hawk and then grab it as soon as she does drop it or take it off her.

@Putyourdamnshoeson I relate to you with the puppy blues, mine started to ease around 12 weeks too although I still get days where I definitely feel it. So solidarity!

LondonPupMum · 23/02/2021 08:55

@Plantlover23 @Putyourdamnshoeson puppy blues are so real and I hadn’t even heard of them before getting our boy. I wasn’t ready for the overwhelming feeling of crushing responsibility!. It definitely helped getting in a routine and understanding his behaviour and how to deal with it. Mines almost 12 weeks and has eased considerably now but I still feel anxious sometimes.

Plantlover23 · 23/02/2021 09:21

@LondonPupMum absolutely! I think also the feeling of not being able to do my normal life things got me down a bit (especially in the beginning) and still does a little bit. Little things like really wanting to watch something on Tv but she won’t settle in the lounge / is trying to bite a sofa cushions / needs a wee etc. I long for the days she’ll calmly curl up on the sofa by me!

PugInTheHouse · 23/02/2021 09:50

@Plantlover23 yes it's stressful isn't it. Re drop it, if pugpup thinks I have a treat then he will usually drop it (leaves,stones,twigs etc), I can just hold my hand out and he will open his mouth to lick it so the item drops. If we panic and chase his he thinks its a game, it's so hard not to when we know it's something dangerous. We practice with toys too, so drop it and take this etc. We were treating every time he dropped stuff but within minutes he'd realised this so pretended to pick stuff up, or pick it up drop it immeditately then sit down and wave his paw, so now we treat randomly, sometimes every 3rd time, sometimes twice in a row etc.

On walks he now drops everything (mostly doesn't even pick up stuff) but in the garden he's still a pain (and indoors). The worst things have been the caterpillar, snail, worm, glass, chewing gum, cat poo and various bits of sharp plastic.

WeeM · 23/02/2021 10:08

@Plantlover23 the picking up stones etc is stressful in the garden! However my trainer has advised its attention seeking behaviour and taking it from them will reinforce it and make them do it more. She said chances are they will not want to actually eat the stone. So just ignore and they will lose interest. Only remove it if they’ve got something harmful/dangerous and swap it out with a treat. Easier said than done though I know!

grannycake · 23/02/2021 10:31

Solidarity for those who are struggling. It may help to know that at nearly 9 months Grannypup does (mostly) curl up next to me on the sofa in the evenings. She's not perfect but a million times better than before Christmas

Plantlover23 · 23/02/2021 11:03

Thank you for your advice @WeeM and @PugInTheHouse it’s so hard not to just immediately panic and try to remove it! But you’re right it does just give them attention and make it into a game which is absolutely not what I’m trying to achieve ha!

@grannycake this is good to know! Only 6 more months to go Grin

PugInTheHouse · 23/02/2021 11:09

Yeah pugpup doesn't really eat the stones but they would probably be better for him that prickly caterpillars Grin

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 23/02/2021 11:32

So we’re really lucky that we seem to be able to leave GeorgiePup with no problem, Dh gives him breakfast and leaves for work. He stays downstairs by himself for about 40 minutes until I get up. He just snoozes on his bed. The ironic thing being we haven’t really progressed from that due to lockdown and his health issues mean this might be as far as we get.

Posiemam · 23/02/2021 12:36

@LondonPupMum @Plantlover23, its really affecting me. Plus i was promoted and am now training so I cant just break off for her. She is 14 weeks -online training starts next week so really late. I didn’t sleep last night as she was a really pain yesterday. She been better today but I just dont feel comfortable with her at all...not scared of her as such but just something can’t put finger on
@grannycake good to know but seems so far away

grannycake · 23/02/2021 13:46

@Posiemam and @Plantlover23 I feel your pain as I am also working at home and she can be very attention seeking in the day. I now walk her for about 40 mins at 7:30 and again for an hour somewhere between 12 and 1. I still dread meetings that start at 4 as that's when her worst period starts. But I would say she started to get a lot better after 20 weeks and now most days she settles down about 6:30/7:00. She is an early riser (5:30 ish) but some am I so I don't mind this.

Another thing that helps when I'm working is to put the Puppy TV on You Tube on the TV (when I have meetings/calls) as sometimes it fascinates her and she will watch it (I mute it as I can't stand the ones with music) - doesn't always work but does 75% of the time

I don't have children at home though and my DH works away Mon to Fri and I think that helps in some ways