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

Another 6am riser here but it fits with our routine so I'm afraid I have no advice. Bit of a pain at the weekend though.

Does anyone have a totally different puppy parenting style to OH? It's really wearing me down. I have read so much more and joined on here, I basically spend all my free time online looking at puppy training tips whereas he has only read the odd thing that I've suggested (if that!) He seems to expect so much from Sparklepup and gets annoyed when he acts like a puppy. I try to be positive but I feel like I'm doing everything as well as having to train DH. We just about got through the baby stage but sometimes I'm not sure we will make it through the puppy stage.

We have had various stages with the sleeping in, up till a few weeks ago pugpup was sleeping through till 7 with no wake ups, he would have a wee and poo at 1030/11pm, he now won't go to toilet that late so last poo around 7, sometimes earlier and is now waking early (can be 4am can be 530am). He then goes back till 630ish however he is definitely still tired.

For instance this morning he had a poo at 415, went straight back till 625 but I got him up rather than trying to settle him back to sleep as he hadn't had a wee since 8pm last night but he didn't actually want one. I laid on the sofa with him and I woke up at 845, he was still asleep. He had his breakfast just before 9, still hasnt had a wee but is back fast asleep on the sofa. I think the 4am waking is partly due to DH getting up for work that early on the weekends, usually its after 5 so he does go 10/11 hrs, its just the wrong 10/11 hrs.

There is no logic to it all but I feel there is hope as once he is bigger I guess he won't need the toilet and he is clearly a lazy little thing so will happily sleep in, even if its in my bed. I also wonder if a yak chew or something would help at 6am as it possibly would settle him but I am wary of getting him into that habit, he seems to pick up on habits really quickly so we try to vary things where possible from that respect (but stick to things that we really want him to do).

@Sparkle79 I pretty much posted the same thing last week. I dont think it is as much as different style but just that DH just doesn't take it all in. He is very similar to my DS2 (autism and ADHD) and can sometimes lack focus in what he does. DH is not diagnosed but very much think his behaviours are identical to DS bless him. I went for a walk with him once and he was not getting pup to drop stuff, not pulling him away from stuff and so much more. He forgets to take him outside or is slow with him which is frustrating when we have had the weeing issues, for instance last night I was cooking (always when I am cooking) pup went to back door, DH looked at him and said 'what are you up to?', pup just looked at him and wee'd. If he had got up when he had gone to the back door or even said 'outside then he wouldn't have done that.

He can't see what he's done either, he said he just went straight away, but he didn't at all. He can't see that he isn't 'on it' like he should be.

It was him who wanted a dog but I did all the research etc and all the training. I am meant to be away on June for 5 days (covid permitting) and I am so worried that I can't trust him with pugpup. He just can't multi task so I worry he'll let him eat something he shouldn't, chase the cats etc.

@PugInTheHouse yes I remember your post. DH is the same with not seeing the dangers etc too which he is with the kids too and I think it's just that as mum's we're genetically wired to see the dangers.

Literally as I'm writing this I have just been watching Sparklepup digging a flowerbed and DH just standing over him saying "no, leave, off, etc etc" Sparklepup is just occasionally looking up then continuing to dig, DH is getting crosser and crosser, and what tends to happen then is DH will push him away and Sparklepup will go to snap at DH and DH will get crosser and shout again and Sparklepup learns nothing.

Now in that situation I wouldn't have drawn attention to the fact that Sparklepup was digging, I would have grabbed the ball that was 3 feet away, called his name and chucked it across the lawn. He would have bolted after it and I would have stayed calm and Sparklepup would have learnt that playing ball gets attention, and digging doesn't.

I'm just so tired of trying to teach him this stuff.

@Sparkle79 yes my husbands lack of help with pup is really getting to me too. He wanted the pup so much after losing our older dog, but since we got him in December, I've got up with him every morning, I'm the one reading all the books, doing the training etc. I'm working from
Home and home Schooling whilst he's still going into work. Then this morning he's just taken himself for a 2 hour bike ride, must be nice!!

@Sparkle79 exactly that! And yep my DH was exactly the same with the kids, just doesn't see the dangers or thinks ahead.

@EmzBPupMum since pugpup has been waking again for the toilet I just wake DH up now. I have told him this afternoon I need an hour or so as I need to do some clearing up and can't have pup following me everywhere as ill be up and down the stairs. To be fair he is having to work most of the day as has some deadlines at the moment but I still need to be able to get stuff done and all the time the dog is so clingy it's impossible.

PicPup (nearly 11 weeks) has been with us two weeks tomorrow and it’s been a mix of fantastically good mixed with a bit hard. I’d forgotten how much pups sleep and that It is like having a baby again!

The good has been the sleeping at night - she went in her crate first night with door closed in kitchen on her own, and woke once during the night for about the first 4 nights, and since then sleeps all night, from about 10pm (by which time she can barely put one foot in front of the other) until usually about 630-715. The puppy cuddles first thing when she sees you are amazing! She literally wants cuddles for ages, in between about 3 trips outside for about 2 wees and poos!

She’s also prob 90% there on toilet training - we had 3 days this week of no accidents, but then one yesterday and one this morning as DD couldn’t get the back door open quick enough!

The things I’m finding harder are the nipping when she’s in full on zoomie mode (as we call it) - literally everything and everything gets the teeth treatment, including my rugs, house plants, feet (I keep telling DC not to have bare feet!) and she’s now taken a special liking to dressing gowns. She’s quite easily distracted, if you can get her to grab the toy and not the hand.

The garden is so fun too, but she’s constantly wanting something in her mouth (spaniel!) - usually twigs leaves, moss - so I feel like I’m constantly trying to remove things which means it’s become a chasing game. Yesterday she was full on zoomies in the garden and managed to rip one of her hind dew claws off. Non blood, not bothering her, and the vet said not to worry when I spoke to them; she’s there this Thursday anyway for her second jab. Can’t wait to be able to take her out!

The thing I’m finding most difficult is pretty much being housebound if the DC aren’t here (they are 50/50 with me and their dad) - however this morning DD and I went for a walk and DS was outside cleaning his car, so PicPup was in the kitchen in her own, albeit DS was outside, and settled within 5 mins and went to sleep for the whole 45 mins we were out. He was able to see her through the window, and so that was a result that she was ok for a bit.

This is such a helpful thread, I posted a while ago in despair at Mediumpup’s biting but that seems much better now (11 weeks), am afraid some stuff I just ignore, if she’s in the garden and is digging in the soil or eating some stuff the guinea pigs have thrown from their hutch I just ignore it. It’s still nearly two weeks until her second jab and like @PicpoulDeMeNay I am fed up of being stuck in, DD is almost 13 but I’m not confident at leaving her with pup for long. I have a little bag that she goes in but she is getting quite big and heavy to carry for very long. I can go to the corner shop but of course you can’t go into the supermarket etc, I would recommend it, but maybe it’s not worth it as you are so close to being able to go for walks.

@Jibberoo we raw feed. We had to replace our fridge freezer coincidentally and made sure we got one with an extra freezer drawer as you do need it.

He is obsessed with his meals, by far the most high value food he has! He has kibble for treats occasionally but he isn’t a huge fan of them and the crunching looks like it hurts him!

@Sparkle79, yes definitely and its so similar to his take on child rearing. Apparently I worry too much about things and it will all slot into place and should stop looking on the internet.

Again, we’ve had a minimal biting day and a lovely family walk. I don’t know if we’ve been lucky but all the dogs we’ve met so far have lovely although I do tend to tense up abit on approach.
@Mediumred @PicpoulDeMeNay I feel your pain, and think lockdown just adds to it. If you’re not already, practice putting the lead or harness on. Posiemampup is so hyper that she just bites and bites when we’re putting it on, making the whole thing slightly traumatic although we are tackling it but needs both of us.

Thanks so much @Posiemam, yes, she has her lead on every time she goes out to the loo as we have guinea pigs who are often running about the garden, she is good with the lead, getting her into the bag is a struggle but she is getting so big. A friend says I should get a harness, can anyone recommend a good one for a collie pup?

I'm so worried. Partner is off to emergency vet as pup started tremorjng and being strange and lethargic. He'd previously leapt at me and fallen on his back/head. He's gone in taxi to out of hours vet which isn't our usual one.

Oh no, I hope he’s ok @MyRabbit79, I hope the vets can sort him out/check him over and it’s nothing to worry about x

@Mediumred I have recently bought Plantpup a Perfect Fit harness (she’s not a collie, she’s a spaniel cross but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work for a collie too!) They are made up of 3 separate parts and you choose their size for each part so it is tailored exactly to them and there’s loads of colours to choose from. And the perk is if they grow out of one bit you don’t have to replace the whole thing - just that part! It wasn’t cheap but it fits really well and she seems comfy in it

Thank you @Plantlover23 I am just sat here not knowing what to do. I feel sick with worry.

@plantlover23 , my trainer recommended perfect fit harness, I will get one for redpup, he is 22 week working lab. How do you put it in them? Through head or paws?
@myrabbit79 I hope all good with your pup

@Mediumred I’m sure they will take good care of him no matter what’s wrong, and hopefully you will get a reassuring update soon

@Redandblue11 there are 4 clips - 2 on the neck section and then 2 on the waist/chest section so you could technically do either! I do it step in with Plantpup though as she wasn’t a great fan of things over her head with a previous harness!

@MyRabbit79 hope all is ok with your pup. They cause us so much worry.

@Plantlover23 thinking of you all. Hope plantpup is back home soon, safe and sound.

@Jiberoo I considered raw as Dpup was on it (mixed with kibble) at the breeders. I asked the vet about it, she said there was no research that said it was any better, but also none that said it was detrimental. The only thing was the extra risk associated with raw meat. I've got little kids at home and just though it wasn't worth it. He bloody loved it though!

@Caplin at 11 weeks Dpup was up any time between 5.30am and 6.30am. If he was up at 5.30am he would often go back to sleep within the hour. At 17 weeks now, he's much more reasonable! Nine times out of ten it's between 7 and 7.15am, with the odd 6.45am wake up.

Sorry @plantlover23, that was meant for @myrabbit79.

Any news @myrabbit79? I totally know how you are feeling, we’ve had some awful waits for vet and hospital visits and we’ve even left him overnight. So I get the worry of a sick dog but I hope it turns out to be nothing for you. Please feel free to message me if it would help x

@Doje @LondonPupMum thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm still undecided but thought I might give it a go mixed with kibble. I just need to find time to get to the butcher to buy some meat off cuts!

Thanks everyone @Doje @GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat @PugInTheHouse @Plantlover23 he's back home now. The vet thinks he gave himself a concussion (not sure if I said but he leapt at me to say hello, twisted in the air and landed on his back/head). She gave him an anti inflammatory and said to keep him quiet for a few days. Just walk to the end of the road to go to the loo. Not sure how we'll keep him calm but will see! He's still wobbly and not himself so I've set an alarm for 2 and 5am to check on him. Relieved to have him back and thankful to partner for doing the emergency vet run - second time this week as he ate chewing gum on his walk a few days ago. Phew.

@MyRabbit79 hope pup is feeling better soon

@Jibberoo I considered feeding raw, but the thought of raw meat potentially being spread around the house put me off so I just went with fresh instead. I know there's pre made raw food too that you just weigh out and serve and it has all the correct nutrition etc for the dog such as Natures Menu and Bella and Duke.