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!

Sorry might be a stupid question... but if the issue is that she can’t be left yet... do you have to?

@BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum sorry to hear you’re feeling so sad, I think you’ll struggle to find anyone on here who hasn’t ended up in tears at some point! So you’re not alone.

I’d be inclined to think on the lines of @tabulahrasa though - does she really need to be left alone? It sounds like she is terrified and it means neither of you are getting any real rest. Could her crate go in your room until she is more comfortable in her new home? Or you sleep on the sofa with her/have a mattress downstairs?

In the early days with Plantpup I got to the point where I just did whatever made life easier and that kept me sane during the times where she was really hard work and I was feeling a bit ‘what the hell have I done’. It really does get better but those early weeks are very much about survival!

Everywhere I’ve read or everyone I’ve spoken to says to get them crate trained as soon as, to get them used to it. But you’re right. I ended up lifting her wee bed up into my room last night just to get some sleep and she didn’t make a sound from there. For sanity purposes, that’s what will be happening until she’s a wee bit bigger. Not every dog suits a crate do they.

Thanks, and I apologise to everyone for freaking out last night. Seems much better in the almost day light!

There is no point in breaking yourself because of the crate. We don't crate (gave up on day 2 for similar reasons) and we don't regret it. Hopefully you got some sleep.

Thank you @Frenchfancy I did eventually. Now I know that’s what she needs hopefully it will be better going forward.

Aw @BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum that's so hard! We've had (not so) stillpup for just over a week now and I'm firmly in the "do what's easiest camp!" No one can survive without sleep and she's still settling in. Good luck!

@BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum

Everywhere I’ve read or everyone I’ve spoken to says to get them crate trained as soon as, to get them used to it. But you’re right. I ended up lifting her wee bed up into my room last night just to get some sleep and she didn’t make a sound from there. For sanity purposes, that’s what will be happening until she’s a wee bit bigger. Not every dog suits a crate do they.

Thanks, and I apologise to everyone for freaking out last night. Seems much better in the almost day light!

I’m crate training - because I’ve landed myself a wee reactive puppy and I really think he could use a safe space.... it’s been 2 and a bit weeks and I’m only just now at the point I can shut the door and leave the room for a few minutes.

So at night he’s on a bed next to mine.

I mentioned before, he’s currently so clingy that I can’t pee without him coming, lol.

He’s 5 months rather than tiny, but the principle is the same in that, he’s only wee, this is all strange so if he needs to be with me just now to feel safe then he needs to be with me just now.

I don’t expect to have him still coming to the toilet with me in a year’s time... he may or may not still be in my room, my DP has stronger opinions on that, rofl

But leaving them alone isn’t one of the things you need to start straight away so they get used to it, it’s better to pander to them, make them feel secure and then build it up.

@BumDiggy sorry to hear you've had such a rubbish night. @Plantlover23 is right though, we've all reached breaking point (a few times in my case!)

I'd agree with the others, don't rush it. We slept downstairs with Dpup for a week or so. We also made it his happy place during the day. His food and water went in there and his toys. We also dropped treats in there throughout the day for him to find.

And of course, if the crate doesn't work for you guys, that's fine too.

Goodness yes I always liken it to having a newborn baby, so what you have to do to survive! Sleep was actually one of the things I hadn’t anticipated being an issue, all the books say how much puppies sleep! I’ve suffered the bulk of the load in our house, but that’s due to 6am medication he needs now rather than being unsettled. Definitely echo the ‘we’ve all cried tears of regret’ 100%. Puppy blues is a real thing and we’re here to support you through it.

@BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum so sorry to hear that you're having a tough time. We have always had the crate next to our bed. If he was unsettled I put my fingers in and sshh him. He hates being left alone at nearly 6 months which is a bit of a nightmare though.

We are losing teeth at an alarming rate at the moment! Several every day

@BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum we've never crate trained any of ours. It really is not something you have to do if it doesn't suit you or pup.

If you choose not to, a cheap bed is fine to start with (petsathome do some nice ones). I would also get some dog blankets, the thick fluffy ones. Sleep downstairs with pup for a while (if you don't want him in your room). Happy has a bed but he also likes sleeping on one of his blankets on the floor. We moved further and further away till after about 2 weeks we were able to go back to bed upstairs. He now has the run of the kitchen and lounge at night and moves between his bed, the couch and his blanket on the floor.

What I will say though is do now as you mean to go on. If you don't want the puppy sleeping in your bed or room then I wouldn't start there. Once you let them do something 'nice', it is far harder to undo it later on. For example I once gave Happy a leftover crust from my plate, now every time I eat he sits next to me looking for food whereas he has never done it to dp because dp never did that. Just once and he's never forgotten lol!

Every pup is different though - some need a lot more reassurance in the early days and that is fine. You'll soon find a routine that works for you - but yes the early days are like having a baby, possibly worse in fact!

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat I have only ever found 1, and that was when I was kicking a bottle round in the garden for him, I accidentally hit him under the chin with it and a tooth feel out

Does anyone else’s pup bury their things? Just this week Plantpup has started burying chews mostly down the sides of the sofa. She keeps burying them in places she then can’t get them out and I have to do it for her

“What I will say though is do now as you mean to go on. If you don't want the puppy sleeping in your bed or room then I wouldn't start there. Once you let them do something 'nice', it is far harder to undo it later on.”

Honestly, it’s no harder to move them out of your room than it is to start on the couch and then you move.

You can gradually move their bed, or you can just wait till they’re older and they’re used to being left in different rooms anyway and just sort of start doing it.

Some things are different, but when they’re secure about not having to be with you 24/7 a room is a room.

@BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum I could’ve wrote this exact post a few months ago. I didn’t crate train, he sleeps in the kitchen downstairs and it took about a week of crying at night for him to get used to it.

Another technique I’ve seen that has worked is having the crate in your room next to your bed, then moving it to the end of the bed, to the doorway, hallway and down the stairs etc over a month or so

The first few weeks are the hardest, now at 6 months old C4pup sleeps from 10-7:30-8 every night, he even puts himself into his bed it gets better!

Thank you all. I’ve had dogs all my life and never had a dog as clingy as bumpup. She’s fine through the day, it’s just at night she can’t seem to be alone at all.

I’ll keep her in my room for now, then she’s older and a bit more secure I’ll just leave her sleeping downstairs I think. She has 2 beds just now, one in her crate and one I can move around. I’ll just leave her crate open and see if she goes to it herself but I’m not forcing it.

Thanks again, that was a wobble and a half. My face is bright red this morning, probably from all the crying

Do those of you with little puppies use a pen in the daytime? we had one in the lounge so we could pop them in if going t9 the toilet or they could have a play whilst you wash up but they have more freedom and space than a crate. I found it a lifesaver when they were small. weve attached it to the crate and we only use it for their meals now.

If you can get one with a base to it they're better so they dont slide if you have a shiny floor.

@BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum Oh you poor thing. Is there another adult in the house or do you have anyone you could call on for a favour? Our pup was very clingy at first and I wouldn't have got through that first month without my fab SIL, she came round and sat with the puppy a few times while I got a shower or had a nap or just did the dishes. It was my first dog and at the time I thought I was failing and not cut out for it, but looking back she was just a difficult puppy! Me or DP slept on the couch near her for the first three weeks. For at least the first three nights she slept on us, and we gradually moved her to her crate. It was two weeks before we could close the door on her. I found that even the resources that said crate training would take a while suggested that pup would go in overnight quite the thing but that wasn't my experience. Saying that, don't give up on crate training if you think it would be useful. We persevered and after a couple of months she was putting herself to bed in her crate once she got tired. She'll go in now in daytime if we need to leave her for short periods and it is very useful to know she's safe. We also pop her in with a chew while we eat dinner, I'm so glad we did persevere with it.

@GooodMythicalMorning We tried a playpen and she hated it, training some puppies to like a playpen can take as long as crate training and I just couldn't face it on top of everything else. It would have been so useful to have. Although saying that, we did use a room divider and she started climbing over it so not sure a playpen would have worked for long.

@BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum Londonpup was in our bedroom for the first couple of weeks and he settled quickly at night. We gradually moved him to the living room after which is where he happily sleeps now. Speaking to various trainers, it might be months before they'll wander in on their own (as pups usually don't know they need to rest!), so crate training is also you enforcing sleep and naps throughout the day - eventually the whimpering will get less and less each time.. obviously make sure they're toiletted first!!

She has come to us already pretty much toilet trained so that’s not an issue thankfully. I’m taking her up with me tonight and the next few nights, will gradually move her downstairs over time.

I’m on my own with dd most of the time as dp works away. Having a shower etc isn’t a problem it’s only at night she’s not happy.

We’ll get there :)

“Having a shower etc isn’t a problem it’s only at night she’s not happy.”

You’re one up on me then... I get to shower with a little worried looking face up against the glass.... rofl.

Same here @tabulahrasa Like having a small, fluffy shadow

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat we are losing teeth daily too - hoping this will mean an end to the nibbling of skirting boards etc