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

@MyRabbit79. Don’t worry too much socialisation isn’t really about playing with other dogs. It’s more about keeping them calm around new stuff, sound and environments.

So heavy traffic, the shops, the car, the doorbell, different looking people. So sitting in the supermarket car park with them or on a park bench, so they can see bicycles, joggers, kids, wheelchairs prams etc.

@BlackDogBlues thank you, that's reassuring. He's meeting people and getting used to traffic, bikes etc. We don't have a car so are limited at the moment but I'm hoping I can get a friendly taxi to drive us around the block so he gets to try that out too.

@Poletopole we've been out using your method of loose lead walking (I used frozen liver paste in the end of a Kong) today! Had a very productive session at lunchtime, then when we went out later I could tell Dpup was looking for the frozen yumminess. We'll definitely keep doing it daily. Thanks for the tip!

we have hit teenager years here :)

he's absolutely hysterical because he knows exactly what he should be doing but sometimes gives us a look as if to say 'not a bloody chance mate'

his recall, which was excellent before, is wavering a bit - but I did expect that and his puppy friends who are a similar age are going through the same thing. At least he isn't humping everything which his cockerpoo best mate has started doing

I seem to learn something new or something changes daily with plantpup at the moment! She just woke up from a nap and I went to take her out to go to the toilet. She wouldn’t come out and started barking/growling at me She’s never ever done that before! Very confused and slightly worried.

We graduated from Zoom puppy class last night. Very proud! I can't believe how much she's come on in three weeks, we've cracked the basics of hand targeting, eye contact, impulse control, sit/down/stand, and beginning walking to heel.

@Plantlover23 what do you mean she wouldn't come out? Of her crate, of the room, of the house? And when you say you went to take her out, how did you do that? Did you call her over or lift her up or? Was she definitely awake?

Pugpup has jsut eaten a tiny snail in the garden, I wasn't quick enough to retrieve it, I just assumed it was a leaf as he usually eats those and I had done a 'snail sweep' as he had a massive one in his mouth earlier. I am a bit worried as online half the info says not to worry and the rest says its really bad.

Not sure what to do now

@PugInTheHouse Does your worming treatment cover lungworm? Our pup is a snail and slug fanatic and has eaten many (thankfully not recently!). He's wormed monthly with Advocate which protects against lungworm and is fine.

@snackz Yes he has advocate. Actually had a dose today, it was a couple of days under 4 weeks but I did him today as I did the cats so wanted to get them done at same time.

@PugInTheHouse I'd try not to worry then Many times ours would be chomping on a leaf one minute and then crunching a snail shell next

@Snackz he is an absolute nightmare for eating stuff of the floor, drives me insane.

@PugInTheHouse Ours is! Nothing is safe! We've found that playing 'Hide and Seek' with his toys is a good way to encourage him to learn to drop things. We hide his toys, he brings them back and gets a treat for dropping them when he's told. This only works on his terms though

@Snackz yep same problem, he's brilliant at everything he's taught, picks it up really quickly unless he doesnt fancy doing it.

He has driven me crazy tonight, kept asking to go out then just running round the garden like a loon picking things up. After about the 4th time I didnt let him out so he wee'd by the back door

@ashmts sorry, out of her crate! Definitely awake as had been whining to be let out 2mins prior. Followed her usual routine of getting her to wait whilst I open the door before she hops out to me so I can carry her outside (temporarily still has to be a thing as she can’t walk down my stairs yet!) but as soon as I opened the door and said to her to come out she started with the growling/barking

@ashmts congratulations! Which classes did you use? I’d like to try one with Petal.
@PugInTheHouse -why do they do this?! Petal’s done the same. Is it raining where you are? She’s more than happy to go out multiple times and chew the fencing but then comes in and wees on the rug! She does pretty well with her toileting generally though so I’m sure it’s just a blip.
She had an evening of being awake yesterday. So far she’s done a lot of napping so it was a bit of a shock to the system! She was so tired by 9 o clock she was like a toddler who doesn’t know what to do with themselves. Eventually crashed out on the sofa which she has now learned to get onto by herself. Hmm!

Not sure if anyone remembers me having a nightmare with toileting during the night, well I’ve been getting up at 4AM and then 7AM to let C4pup out, now he goes back to bed after and wakes up for breakfast at 8:45!!

Definitely worth losing the 5-10 mins of sleep at 4 and 7 if it means not having to mop the kitchen floor every single morning.

Hi everyone. I introduced myself a while ago when I put our deposit down. But our Puppy has been with us just over a week now. She's 9 and a bit weeks old and a Newfoundland cross.

I'm wondering how long the overwhelmed feeling lasts for? I researched for so long, but now she's here I feel clueless. Googling every tiny worry and doubting myself!

We're first time dog owners so are totally new to it. I feel like I researched breed specific stuff so much, yet somehow neglected the general puppy stuff.

@NotQuiteUsual I’m sure everyone on here will tell you they felt the exact same at the start, or else they wouldn’t be here! I found once we were in a proper routine it was a lot easier, maybe 3 weeks or so? And then once he could go for a walk it was a lot easier again

I’m sure everyone here can offer advice on anything you’re having trouble with, feel free to ask!

I would say it took me longer than 3 weeks! Maybe 5 weeks? Although we did get him at 7.5 weeks, so maybe that puts me in line. I think it helps when you see things starting to click, like toileting and other simple training. There was some dark days though, when I really wondered what we'd let ourselves in for....

Thank you both! Standing here by the door again while she refuses to come in. She actually tricked me into letting her back out. The minx has learnt sniffing the carpet means the door opens. Hoping we can get a good routine going soon. I feel like we spend most of the day taking her out. Which is fine on the whole, until she bypasses the toileting and just decides to have a nao in thw minus 1 outside temps. Our garden is on a main road and walking route too so she can't be out there unattended which is a pain.

Hoping once we can walk her

Oops. She saw some teens walk past and got a bit giddy so had to be taken in and hit post somehow

We spent aaaages outside in the first weeks. It's so refreshing now that Dpup goes out, wees and we're back in within 3 minutes. Get used to it for a while OP!

@NotQuiteUsual my puppy is 22 weeks old and I have had him for 11 weeks. Feels like a lot longer! I still have wobbles over the responsibility I have taken on for him, but the improvements are enormous- he's toilet trained, sleeps well and our bond is good although more work to be done! It is a bit overwhelming and I worry about the impact of lockdown on him but also grateful I have this time when he is little to really focus on some training things. For me the big milestones have been toileting, letting him off lead and just building the joy and love into our relationship . It does get easier (although it is still tough) and the pleasure you will get from him will grow very fast. The best advice I had in the early days was not to sweat the small stuff- focus on a few things like your bond, toileting and so on, and then to use advice online or directly to help you teach him what you want him to do. I don't want a perfect dog- I want a happy dog who lives his best life in a way that is compatible with me living my life! So go easy on yourself and him in the early days and know it will improve!

@C4itl plantpup’s Butternut Box arrived yesterday, never seen her look so excited about her food! Genuine tail wagging excitement 😂

Not quite so keen on me putting her into her crate to nap after she falls asleep on me but we’re working on that...

Grannypup has mixed reaction to Butternut Box - refused to try any on Thurs/Fri but did eat some yesterday. Jury is still out for us