Puppy Survival Thread - March - April

[PugInTheHouse]

Just starting a new thread before we run out on www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/4141698-Puppy-Survival-Thread-January-February

Welcome to everyone trying to survive the puppy days!

@morethanacondiment Step 1 - wait till your puppy is older 11 weeks is chaos. Things started improving for us about 14 weeks and by 4 months she was a lot more manageable. What breed have you got?

Ré teeth brushing. We don't, and we didn't for our old Ddog either. She always has a bone of some sort on the go and apparently that helps with dental hygiene.

Ddog never had a problem with her teeth in 14 years.

Welcome on board @morethanacondiment.

@ashmts I'm counting down the next three weeks then!
Morning, all, and thanks for the welcome. Mother's' Day treat here - pup slept til 6.45. He's a German Shorthaired Pointer, and is going to be massive (for his breed), which is why I'm feeling so panicky about the mouthing and jumping... it's manageable for now, but our downstairs is completely open plan so I smell disaster ahead.
Picture to show that he isn't as savage as all my posts will sound

@morethanacondiment aw he's a cutie. A bit like my girl. She's a Braque d'Auvergne which are very similar to GSPs. She's 6 months now and we still have moments of jumping up and biting but it is much better than it was. Exercise is the key.

Morning everyone!

Happy Mother's Day to all you lovely dog mums

I have been following this thread pre Christmas when we got our lab pup. He's been a challenge but to those who are struggling it DOES get better!

I was wondering if any of you have some advice on crying? He cries from around 6am every day until we get up, of course we always get up (around 7am) so feel we are just reinforcing the bad behaviour? Anyone have any suggestions on how to break the habit?

He used to do it in the middle of the night and a couple of nights ignoring him and not going down he stopped and never done it since so guessing he can learn!!

Here's a pick of him when he was a little pup

Hmm pic didn't work for some reason!

If he's crying at 6am then get up at 6am. It will get later as he gets older but don't leave him crying for an hour.

@morethanacondiment He is absolutely GORGeOuS and will be so handsome when go grows up! He will settle down - need to be firm and consistent. Praise him lots when he's being good/quiet.
I'm convinced that all puppies are a bit of a nightmare for the first few months, following this thread, but they mostly come good with your parenting.
Kikopup on YT is good for picking up tips for training - there are lots of gundog breed training books too. I have Lez Graham's books and there are some brief training videos you get access to with it also.

@Frenchfancy that's good to know. I did a pet shop order yesterday and added toothpaste and thought I might just smear some on his kong. He does have a dental chew every day. Hopefully that's enough.

@Allthehotchocolate if he's crying at 6am he might need to go to the toilet. Ours wakes at 6 on the dot but we all have to get up that time anyway so it works well for us. I don't like leaving him crying in his crate for long because I don't want him to associate it as a place where he feels sad, so I tend to get him up within 5 mins of waking / crying. If I've just put him in and he's crying I tend to give him a kong or chew to calm him down but he stays in there. But if he's had a sleep and is crying I get him up. If you're confident he doesn't need the toilet at 6am you could always try giving him a chew or kong and see if he'll last with that until 7.

@Allthehotchocolate My Springer is probably a month older than your lab? 6mnths now).
She can cry/growl/bark at bedtime, and after I've made sure she's toileted, I hang around to sometimes give her a cuddle and gentle strokes to settle her, or if she settles and then realised I'm trying to sneak off to bed, I hang around and gently 'shh' to let her know I'm there, and I know when she's ready to sleep as she lets out a deep sigh.

In the morning - or previously during the night - if she's making noises, or barking, I take her out to the garden to wee then bring her back in again with minimal calm interaction, into her crate, and she will settle quite well - even around 6am. A gentle reassuring cuddle or stroke of the neck and chest may be needed. She will then have her breakfast when we're good and ready! Usually about 7:30-8.
So I think make sure they don't need the loo, be calm and quite strict, reassure; no fun, food or fuss until you're ready. Hopefully he will get the idea as you show him the morning routine he needs to adjust to.
I wouldn't leave him to cry though - they are still growing up and I think need reassurance that you're around and will come if needed.
My pup has not taken advantage of this approach!

@morethanacondiment my Doberman is also 11 weeks, I feel your pain.

We got a lie in this morning until 7am!

Hold fast, Doberwow, three more weeks of this nonsense and then it's going to start being fun

So Puppypup got freaked out by another dog, slipped out of his harness (how?!) and then was chased all round the park by said dog. Really stressful as I know his recall is not good when scared and this was the scenario I was worried about (and why I am so careful re letting him off the lead).

Was all Ok in the end - managed to get him back safely but bloody hell it scared me. Chasing dog also young and had zero recall but somehow just off the lead in a really busy area. We've had a v quiet day today making sure he has had the chance to calm right down.

@Allthehotchocolate puppypup used to wake at 8, then 7 and now more around 6. It's changed a lot during the time we have had him (he is just 7 months now). I am just going with it for now as I figure they are like sped-up human babies and have the same phases of development and changing behaviour. The mornings are very light at the moment and I am thinking once the clocks change it might change again.

Oh heck @Puppypuppypuppy, that sounds terrifying! I can't believe he slipped his harness, that's such a massive fear of mine. Hope you've all recovered soon.

welcome @morethanacondiment - 11 weeks was the moment i started thinking what on earth have I done - why have I exploded a bomb in my lovely life. Hold tight - it does get better!

Thanks @Doje it was awful but I managed to stay calm and did get him back! So it was all ok and I feel a bit more confident weirdly knowing I coped.

Am just a bit staggered if I am honest by the number of off lead dogs that owners are unable to control. Obviously if a dog is young and learning/ adolescent that's a different thing.

@Puppypuppypuppy we're not even allowed out for another week, so slipping the harness sounds TERRIFYING. Well done for getting through it unscathed

@Puppypuppypuppy I’m glad you said that if the dog is young, it’s ok! I always have at least one total disaster per walk but I am hopeless with a longline lead (although if you want to see someone wrapped up like an Egyptian mummy in a lead with a whining puppy lashed to them.....) People are actually really understanding. I try to take her places where there are too many other people/dogs during the week. But on the weekends we go out with the children which makes that much harder! Dpup is cute and I am very apologetic so I think we are getting away with it at the moment...

When I say total disaster, she has never chased another dog like that... her down fall is approaching other dog walkers and jumping up... usually when her feet are filthy...

Oh gosh @Puppypuppypuppy that sounds very scary. Glad you survived it.

What does everyone feed their pup? We've just been doing dry but the last couple of days have been introducing wet (same brand & flavour) and he has been extra bitey. Could be that he's started losing his teeth and just a coincidence but wondering if it's related to the wet food.

Super bitey kibble boy here!

what harness are you using puppy? When ddog2 had a julius k9 harness she could slip it easily, but weve now swapped to a perfect fit brand one and so far not been able to slip even though scared a few times. It looks super secure.