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

@Frankincense88 we're at 20 weeks and haven't had any teeth fall out yet that I can tell

@WeeM Sparklepup won't either. We have to tire him out and then put him in with some sort of chew or kong and cover it completely with a blanket, and eventually he'll crash out. He tends to do 1-2 hours up (and when I say "up" I mean "on") followed by 1-2 hours in his crate "sleeping"

@Plantlover23 how did Plantpup get on today? And how was your day? Did you get to put your feet up and have a hot tea?!

Yeah it’s just the pulling. She’s just so excited to get anywhere.
I asked about the stopping every time she pulled but trainer said she wouldn’t understand what I wanted her to do and go to lots of practise at getting her to heel without the lead in house etc. I’ll try but not feeling confident!

@Sparkle79 she handled the day like a dream by the sounds of it! Got on well with all the other dogs, left the calmer ones alone when they didn’t want to play, crashed out and napped on the dining room floor of their house when the others napped which was my biggest worry as she won’t settle anywhere other than her crate here! He said literally the only negative was he had to ask her to shush when she was barking at him to play when he was eating lunch But aside from that, a resounding success! And I have had the most productive day - so much work done, so many peaceful cups of tea! I feel very refreshed and it seems like she’s had the best day

@Petalpup our trainer who runs the puppy class has this method for loose lead walking, it basically involves doing a mixture of these techniques:

1. When pup starts to pull, stop and say ‘sit’ but hold the s so it’s like ‘ssssit’. Eventually the dog will predict what you’re going to say and slow down to go into a sit, then you can keep walking. The holding of the ‘s’ is so you can change ‘sit’ to ‘settle’ once they’ve got the hang of slowing down.

1. Change direction when they start to pull, but walk around the dog and in front of them if that makes sense? So say you’re walking and the dog is on your right hand side, you turn to the right but by walking in front of the dog.

1. Just start walking backwards, don’t turn around just literally walk backwards (good luck with this one in the street ), the distance you create should make the dog come back to you.

Treat or praise as you normally would once they come back in any of these, and then continue with the walk. It’s really worked for us!

@petalpup we didn't start that till about 16ish weeks, we hadn't tried before that and that is what the trainer showed us when we were out. He definitely understood what we were doing, he would stop but with tension on the lead at first, then after a few seconds would look back at me which relaced the tension. At first we also used a wait cue if he was going to be able to go over and see whoever he was pulling towards or no touch if not allowed. Now he just stops and looks round when pavement walkin so we move on quickly with 'lets go'. I still use those cues though if there are lots of distractions around as otherwise he will just keep pulling as has no focus at all. I believe the idea behind the stopping is to get them to focus on you rather than what they are pulling towards. All trainers have different ways though so whatever works for you guys.

So much easier if you can get her to heel first though as she won't pull at all. We are nowhere close to getting him to heel yet but I am hoping a long walk with the trainer tomorrow may help her figure something out that will work with him.

@Sparkle79 yeah its a bit weird isn't it but its definitely helped us (eventually), for me the fact I can have some control over the situation makes me feel better about it all. I have started getting a bit more assertive with people when they want to say hi to him, I just ask them to not come over as I am trying to teach him not to pull and to wait to say hi. It's easier when it's people we know.

@C4itl yes I forgot about the change direction, we were also told to use that when he really wouldn't move his focus away from what he was pulling towards. Also move into a faster pace walk/jog which means he follows immediately.

@C4itl love the idea of extending the ‘ssss’!

Does walking backwards work when they’re already pulling? Does the pull not just get greater and greater until you’re basically dragging them back? or do they notice quite quickly and follow you?

@Sparkle79 doberwow's slow feeder and licky mat arrived! She very grateful for the recommendation.

@PugInTheHouse good for you being assertive with people. And yes it's weird but I'm feeling quite positive about it. I think if we can go for a stress free walk with him then it will make everything else seem better.

@Doberwow she's welcome!

@Plantlover23 that's great news, sounds like she had a great day. It must be quite nice to have someone else's input to reassure you and take the pressure off a bit.

@Petalpup fair enough. Good luck with the heel training. Sparklepup just doesn't seem to understand what we're asking him to do so I've put that one on the shelf for now. We really need to work on it though.

So Doberwow is 9 weeks, what chews do you all recommend?

She is fed raw

Thank you

@Sparkle79 100% it has been such a nice day not stressing and worrying about her constantly. I’ve found something new to worry about too though of course! Like when I’m going to manage to fit in training whilst she’s there as we leave so early and get back for dinner. But I suppose she’s learning plenty whilst she’s there which will be beneficial too!

@Doberwow I’ve tried quite a few things with Plantpup so far! A mixture of edible chews and then non-edible things too.

I bought a mixed box of natural chews from The Dog Chew Company which Plantpup absolutely loves. They keep her occupied for ages but I can’t stand the smell (as soon as she starts chewing them and they get wet they smell LOADS...of all the things they are like gullets and skin and ears!) so won’t be buying anymore She loves Denzel’s and they’re pretty heathy as treat chews go but don’t keep her occupied for as long. I have ordered some Yak chews and an olive wood chew to see if those are slightly less offensive to my nose but still keep her busy!

Non-edible ones, she also has a few nylabones (the flavoured ones) which she loves and keep her occupied for a while.

Thanks @Plantlover23

@WeeM our puppies sound very similar with the crate - if mine is sleepy she will settle, and she will (sometimes, especially early in the morning) play quietly in there provided I’m in the room. But as soon as I leave, or as soon as she wakes up and I’m not there it’s barking, crying, digging, scratching, everything you describe. Makes it very difficult to leave as she often wakes up as soon as I go to move/make any noise elsewhere in the house! So I am in complete sympathy and empathy for you!

@Petalpup

Can you focus on the pen instead of the crate? I think it’s quite a lot to ask of them to be awake and happy in crate. Take it you’ve tried chews and things?

sometimes the pen is upstairs for when when we are both wfh so that leaves us without it downstairs in the mornings/evenings. If I put her in crate it’s usually because she needs a sleep or for 10 mins or so to let me make breakfast/empty dishwasher etc without her eating my feet the entire time. So I will try to stick a kong/lickimat/chew in but once she’s devoured that/lost interest she will usually bark/whine/dig but to be honest she often does the same in the playpen too, she moves the whole sides with her teeth and she’s tiny !

@Plantlover23 same-I came home from the supermarket today and didn’t even go in kitchen with the shopping

@Plantlover23 weepup loves a yak chew and they smell of nothing , however she does struggle to sit and hold it herself to have a good go at it. We bought a natural treat box and she is mad for them but I am also struggling with the smell...the pig’s snout 🤢

Hi guys!
Just had a really reassuring read in this thread (across pretty much all subjects discussed....) looking forward to more reading!
Currently home with Scandipup, a Gordon Setter who’s 10 weeks old this Friday!

@PugInTheHouse oh yeah that was another one we were taught, vary your pace on a walk so it’s unpredictable and pups focus has to remain on you

@Plantlover23 I think the first few times involved a bit of dragging but they soon learn to come back to you ☺️

Glad she had a good day @Plantlover23-sounds like it was a mini holiday for you both!
Thanks for the lead walking tips. It makes me smile when the advice begins ‘when they start to pull’ as she pulls from the second she’s out of the house!
I did have a go with some of the heel work without the lead and it wasn’t the total disaster I was expecting but it’s going to take a lot of work.
I’ll try the sssssit as she has a pretty good sit but it’s tricky to get her attention on me at all when she’s in full pulling mode

@Scandicc Scandipup looks gorgeous! I have a soft spot for Gordons as we lost ours last summer after 14years. Beautiful dogs.

@Plantlover23 that's great the the heel walking was positive. What has your trainer taught you to do for heel? Because the method our trainer taught us isn't working so I think we need to try something new!

It was really great! I would definitely highly recommend daycare for anyone who’s been considering from my experience yesterday (which is know is minimal!) especially in that kind of home environment, doesn’t seem quite so overwhelming as the massive ones.

On a different note - has anyone had any luck stopping barking in the crate? It is the only time Plantpup barks (other than a little play bark every now and again) and she only barks when I’m not in the room. I think it is partly alert barking as if she is half asleep and I go and turn the shower on or similar she will start barking, I presume from the noise. When I go back in she doesn’t seem especially distressed? Just lying down looking out the crate having a good old bark there have been times she’s definitely distressed but generally it just seems to be more attention/alert barking? I can’t let her just crack on at 6:30 in the morning frustratingly because of my poor neighbours! So letting her just bark it out and seeing if she’ll stop isn’t really an option

@C4itl fab I’m definitely going to try your suggestions thank you! She isn’t too too bad at the moment but she is still so tiny and I can tell she has huge puller potential