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 I wish I had that problem, the food is gone in 20 seconds here, then sometimes he throws it back up whole so he’s definitely not swallowing it properly

@Puginthehouse, just joining in with the virtual hug. I cried the other day because Dpup had "ruined the joy of cooking". 😭🤣 Basically being a dickhead every time I was trying to cook. It's all so overwhelming and so very frustrating. Plus I don't know about you, but I get super emotional without sleep, and sounds like you had a rough night.

I always find Dpup is worse in the evenings at everything. I think the tiredness they feel makes them forget their training. You may have already tried this, but for a couple of days I gave Dpup a bit of chicken every time he weed outside. It was literally the only time he got chicken and I think it was then that it started to click for him.

@Doje Sparklepup can be a pain in the kitchen. Because it's where I prep his food I think everytime I go in he thinks I'm making him food and jumps up on the counters. Someone suggested having a mat and training him to lie on his mat with a chew when I'm in the kitchen. It didn't work for him as anytime we put any kind of cushion or mat down anywhere he just attacks it, so I kept telling him to sit when he was jumping up on the counters, but not giving him any food, just making him realise it was boring. Then gradually over time he's realised it's boring so sometimes he'll just lie by my feet or in the doorway if I'm cooking so anytime he does that I just chuck a couple of his kibble down so he can reach it without moving. Sometimes I say "good" other times I don't say anything. He's still a dickhead 50% of the time in the kitchen but the other 50% it's quite nice having some company while I cook.

@C4itl that's interesting about making a fuss of them as we do and I'm sure this doesn't help. Also Sparklepup loves being chased so because we do play chase as a game (we chase him) I think he probably can't distinguish then when we're serious about wanting him to drop something.

Thanks @doje

He is just generally being a dickhead today. Keeps ringing the bell to go outside and runs over to chew the decking. He has never done this before. He is behaving really strangely this last couple of days.

He is actually lovely is the kitchen bizarrely, he sits and watches me the whole time. He only gets excited when I plate up as he knows he gets his lickimat then.

As I have had enough today when he was trying to eat my hair band I just went to leave the room. He soon dropped it and followed me.

@Sparkle79 Dpup actually has a 'cooking corner'. I've trained him (too well) that that's the place to be if I'm cooking. Unfortunately, he now expects to be constantly thrown stuff when he's there, and woofs at me if it's not coming fast enough! It's stressful trying to cook whilst chopping up green beans to meet his demands!

But the most annoying bit is when he's bored and wants to go outside. But his place to sit for 'I want to go outside and play' is the same place for 'I need a wee', so I can't call his bluff! And I need to monitor him outside otherwise he chews and digs and chews and digs.... 🙄

Bless you @PugInTheHouse I think we have all had days like that. I hope you’re feeling a little better this afternoon Days seem to be so hit and miss: we go from a great day one day to a terrible one the next but this thread is very reassuring in proving it happens to all of us!

@Doje Exactly the same problem with Plantpup and her sitting spot! And same as you I’m not confident enough to call her bluff 🤦🏻‍♀️

Interesting about everyone’s pups and their kitchens! It is Plantpup’s calmest place and pretty much the only place in the house she will play nicely consistently and eventually settle to sleep. Not sure if it’s because it’s more boring than the other rooms maybe. She does stare at me constantly when I make food however!

@PugInTheHouse hugs to you, i fantasise about a life without puppy. Literally, am with her 24 hours a day as of course there is nowhere to go to escape and wfh. Really didn’t think that one through and will be investigating doggy day care.

Also wondered how people were tackling tear stains? Posiemanpup is a red cockerpoo but in reality is blonde so tear stains are quite prominent. We’ve done cotton wool n water but obviously holding her still is difficult. A friend suggested saltwater but i though that sounded harsh. Is this something a groomer could help with? If she would keep still and they are open(not sure they are)

@Plantlover23 and @Posiemam thank you! Been for a walk at the beach, got a dreadful headache from crying earlier but he has slept since the walk so feeling a bit better. He was really hectic walking but did a bit of heel so thats an improvement. I walked with a friend he hasn't met before and he struggles to contain his excitement which is tricky.

Maybe out of lockdown things will improve when we all have to get out and about more.

@Posieman, I've never heard of tear stains so just had a Google!

Dpup has an entirely brown face, so I don't think I'd notice if he had them, so I'm afraid I am of no use to you.

For anyone who hasn’t tried yak chews yet...Plantpup has been lying in the living room (normally her crazy zoomies room!) on her settle mat chewing it for AN HOUR The most long lasting, not smelly chew Ive come across!

Thats @Plantlover23 I have ordered some, I think it may help in the mornings as that is when he can be quite bitey. They sound pretty safe, I have been really nervous about buying any of the hard chews TBH.

This was pugpup on our trip to the way to and after our walk at the beach today

Gah, that hardly makes sense, on the way to and after our trip to the beach!

@Plantlover23 I'm so jealous. We've spent a fortune on yak chews, smoked bones, antlers, wood chews. You name it. The only one he will chew for ages is a Pizzle stick and they smell so bad I can't stand it.

@PugInTheHouse aw look at him! He is so gorgeous. Bless him. Yes they definitely seem quite safe, she was chomping away for about an hour and a quarter in the end and barely made a dent in it! She is more interested in it than her antler which intrigued me as the antler definitely smells more and is probably tastier too

That’s rubbish @Sparkle79 , I couldn’t stand the smell of the meaty ones either even though she loved them, just made the whole house stink so I really feel for you!

@Plantlover23 he's very cute. DS2 has set up an instagram page for him

I think he'll like the chews, he quite likes the antler but it'll be nice to mix it up a bit for him so he's not bored. The antlers seem to vary so much in texture that he prefers some types to others.

Hello, can I join you...Lego pup is 20 weeks today & we are struggling with going backwards with toilet training. He is a Cavapoo, & is weeing indoors intermittently- often are being let outside for a wee! It is so frustrating...feels almost like attention- seeking. Any tips to reverse this would be appreciated!

@legosnowqueen welcome to the thread. We have been going through the same thing. We have just gone back to basics but its been slow. Not sure what to suggest, we are just putting him out regularly, after food, sleep, play etc and lots of praise when he does go. We thought we'd had a perfect day with no accidents and I've just noticed hes wee'd in the crate, possibly when I left him earlier but not sure as he had only just been. Its so frustrating as he was so good from very little.

Others have said it just clicks arundel the 5 month mark, we are pretty much there and he definitely knows where to go and how to tell us but he chooses not to at times. My hope is that we will keep doing what we're doing and in a month or so he will be bigger and won't need to wee so often so will always just go outside. He never poos indoors.

Thanks @PugInTheHouse there's some comfort in knowing that others are going through similar. Unfairly (on him), I really resent this regression as it effectively binds me to spending most of every day in the kitchen diner, as I daren't risk sitting with him in a room with carpet...I feel like a prisoner in my own home!

@legosnowqueen a few others on this thread have been through similar. I have found it all a bit overwhelming this last day or so. Its very disheartening when you work so hard to train them properly but most of the info online says it can often take till around 6 months. I hear so many people say their pups were house trained from day 1, in reality this isn't true, they were just taking them out so regularly that they always wee'd outside.

We are getting there, pugpup has asked for several wees today so I know he knows what to do. We are going to try a higher value treat from tomorrow for him for wees and see if that helps.

Oh God yes, to the feeling trapped! We've spent many an evening sat in the kitchen because Dpup can't be trusted in any other room! He's getting better all the time, but we still tend to be in and out until about 8 or 9pm when he finally settles.

@Posiemam our groomer has cleaned the tear stains on our Cavapoo but mentioned we should be tackling them more robustly, picking them off daily if necessary. We are giving legopup a few blueberries with meals as they are meant to help (?).

Hello everyone can I join the chat? Jibpup is 19 weeks - she's a massive staffy. I say massive cause she's all legs and seems to be growing on steroids (she eats like a horse so that's probably why). She's our second dog but it feels like I've never had one before. Jibdog must have been so easy that to raise or I've forgotten the horror! Jibpup is a sweetheart but like many pups on here she's a biter and a jumper. She is particularly good at jumping up and biting on the back of the leg or bum - and of course ripping clothes. None of us now have a single pair of trackies without a hole! Her toilet training I'd also going so so. If we take her out every hour we're good - we miss one and there's an accident. She knows to wee outside but just doesn't ask. Oh and loves weeing on the couch!! On the plus side jibpup and jibdog love playing together so at least he helps tire her out. But I can't wait for this biting, jumping and weeing to stop!!

Also I've noticed her breath smells quite badly in the evenings - no idea why. It's a bit fishy. Any thoughts?

@PugInTheHouse our pug loves a yak chew too, and she especially likes them once they’re nearly done and you stick them in microwave and they puff up. Only thing is she struggles to sit and hold it herself, we tend to hold it when she’s on our knee-it’s like feeding a baby a bottle

We had a rough few days a few days ago too, everything just gets a bit overwhelming sometimes, especially when we’re all stuck at home. I can’t even make a cup of tea if she’s not contained somewhere, she just chews my toes as I walk 🤦🏽‍♀️