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!

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat I was thinking the lighter mornings too, I guess when the clocks go forward this weekend he'll be back to his normal wake up time at the expense of my sleep

Morning guys
Pup is coming along but feeling a bit deflated this morning. Pup has no chill at 15 week, I thought by now he might chill out and sit on the sofa with us in the evening but he constantly needs to be moving. When did this start happening for you guys?

@LondonPupMum, Dpup starting chilling out in the evenings at around that time, but we had to work on it! I prep the room first, lights low, bed ready with a yak chew on it. Then I take him in on the lead. Every time he got 'silly' we go back in the kitchen. In the early days we'd play for five minutes, then try again. Sometimes we'd be back in the kitchen 4 / 5 times before he'd chill out in the lounge and flop.

He's now almost 5 months and I still take him in on the lead! 9 times out of 10 he'll flop straight onto his bed thoug now.

I'd like to know when they start chilling out in the day!

I'm working today and DPup has had a walk, a mini training session with the kids before school, a Kong and a couple of boxes/ toilet rolls with kibble stuffed inside and still isn't chilling!!

Doje-ours is def better at chilling in the day than in the evening! I’ll try your method of teaching it rather than hoping for the best!

She’s pretty funny though-she can’t settle for ages then eventually takes herself off to bed in a huff at about 9 and then has to be coaxed/dragged out for her last wee an hour or so later.

We have managed a few minutes of loose lead walking this morning which feels like an achievement but definitely still a long way to go.

My friends ‘pre trained’ puppy arrives today. I’ll keep you updated.

@Doje I'm having the same problem during the day, from 5pm onwards he's asleep, but until then he won't settle very well anymore. It's a nightmare with working from home!

@Petalpup Ooh I'm so intrigued! Can't wait to hear how she gets on.

Pup's away to the vet to be spayed That was horrible dropping her off, I had a wee cry in the car after. Can't wait for her to get home safely. I know the next week or two are going to be a full nightmare though, how do you keep a spaniel on crate rest?!

First wee indoors for a couple of weeks, he did ring the bell but I was on a call with work, I just assumed he'd wait for a couple of mins, I think my expectations are too high bless him. I know I need to not worry but it's frustrating, I guess I thought he'd be more persistant with letting me know if he really needed to go rather than weeing at the back door. He has been brilliant with toileting considering the regression he had.

@ashmts ah I would be the same, I have no idea how you can keep them calm, presumably for first couple of days they won't feel like doing much anyway?

@PugInTheHouse The vet said she'll be drowsy for up to 48 hours so that should be okay. They've told us 5 days crate rest if possible which just seems so long. I've not heard anything and they said I'd have an update before 2pm, starting to get really worried.

I took DPup out for a run around the field and he's finally conked out, so I'm finally getting some work done. I'm currently doing a couple of hours on a Sunday so I can take a longer lunch / play with pup if I need to on my working days. Thank goodness I have a flexible job. If I get called back to the office DH will have to manage him!!

Definitely let is know how the pre-trained pup works out! And @ashmts I'm sure you'll have news soon. I do no envy the bed rest order! I have no idea how that'll work when it's Dpup's time.

same with mine when its their turn. Dpup 1 is bouncy as anything, I could see her ripping any stitches out. They've not had a season yet though and my vet wants us to wait til then.

She's home! All went well, she's got a surgical suit on instead of a cone and she's snoozing in her crate. Think tonight will be plain sailing hopefully, she's definitely drowsy. Her wee tail is still wagging when you talk to her though, bless her. Sounds like she charmed everyone at the vets.

Ah what a relief. Just glad to be through the anaesthetic.

How much socialising did you all do with your pups before they were vaccinated? We've taken him out (carried) around 7 or 8 times and he's met at least 15 different people for play and cuddles.

We sometimes hang out on the driveway at peak dog walking times so he can watch them go by and have a sniff if they've had their jabs.

Mehpups last jabs are tomorrow and now I've got the fear we haven't done enough with him He's a happy, confident little guy but he hasn't (obviously) been able to play with any other dogs and he'll be 13 weeks by the time he's able to. Does this sound ok?

Sounds good to me. I don't know how much socialising my girls did when little as they were 13 weeks already when we got them and then only had a week before lockdown, they've seen dsis dog a few times when we could and mils who is in our bubble so im hoping our girls are ok. The breeder did have 7 dogs and that not including the puppies. (They love the breed)

@Mehmaid socialising isn't too much about playing with other dogs, it's about you dog seeing other dogs and knowing it's normal and they don't have to react. The more your pup plays with other dogs now might actually be detrimental if they start to think they're more fun than you! So keep any play sessions short, sweet and controlled

what a day star pup has been beautiful all day only one wee accident then as soon as 5pm hits he turns savage chomping on whatever bit of you he can reach fighting with the cat who has retreated to my bed room in a massive huff. Every evening i could set my watch by him. I tried putting in his crate for a time out/enforced nap but he cries and chews the bars. Hes happy in the crate any other time. I will add that the cat is not entirely blameless in all this he likes to sleep on the roof of the crate and give star the odd poke.

The cats are never entirely blameless! Ours like to knock things off the table so Frenchpup can get into trouble for chewing them. Pens are a favourite, but chequebook come a close second.

@LondonPupMum

Morning guys Pup is coming along but feeling a bit deflated this morning. Pup has no chill at 15 week, I thought by now he might chill out and sit on the sofa with us in the evening but he constantly needs to be moving. When did this start happening for you guys?

Ours is 15 weeks too and today it's like he's possessed. He's been pretty good most of the day and we've just been for his second walk, and he lunged at every bit of rubbish or person, had to have two things removed from his mouth, and is now zooming around the house shouting. He is calm occasionally but we still have a way to go!

@imovethestarsforno1

what a day star pup has been beautiful all day only one wee accident then as soon as 5pm hits he turns savage chomping on whatever bit of you he can reach fighting with the cat who has retreated to my bed room in a massive huff. Every evening i could set my watch by him. I tried putting in his crate for a time out/enforced nap but he cries and chews the bars. Hes happy in the crate any other time. I will add that the cat is not entirely blameless in all this he likes to sleep on the roof of the crate and give star the odd poke.

Haha! It's exactly the same in our house! We just keep removing stillpup to the kitchen everytime he gets too boisterous. The cat is a nightmare though!! Staring at him through the baby gate, letting him get really close then jumping onto the table, snaking around then pegging it if he tries to play. She's old though so I'll let her off. We also have a kitten and her and stillpup are best mates!

@stillAliveish hes finally started to calm down i ended up taking him upstairs so i could be out of reach on the bed. Arsehole cats sat on the bed looking horrified at the little hooligans behaviour.

So I have been sleeping in the living room with puppypup since Saturday as he has been poorly and he's been out of his crate. I have seen that he is pretty well behaved and basically just goes to sleep. And he has been getting more and more unhappy going in his crate to sleep and never goes in there during the day. So tonight I am going to give him the option of crate with door open so he can more or less sleep where he likes. Bear in mind this is a puppy who still doesn't like being alone downstairs.... what could possibly go wrong.

We woke up with a different puppy today...I swear she’s grown overnight and yest and today has wolfed all plates of food in one go which she never does. She’s also been a lot calmer. Played lovely in her playpen and just slept for a lot of the time when I was working beside her. It’s a bit disconcerting ...I’m sure tomorrow she’ll be back in crazy mode, after I think we’ve turned a corner!

That said she was rubbish on her walk, just kept stopping and I ended up having to carry her

All those people asking when (if) they will ever chill out... We have had a different puppy the last few days. He's been so chill. We've even stopped using the crate for daytime naps and he just takes himself off and falls asleep somewhere. Even a week ago I didn't think we'd ever get to that point. It literally happened overnight. I kept wanting to write on here to give everyone hope, but then got scared I'd jinx things!

BUT...

The biting!!! He had gotten so good with biting, he got to the point where he'd only really bite us during playing accidentally. But the last few days he's been awful. Biting our feet / knees to greet us, get our attention, snapping at us when we won't let him chew the sofa etc. It's different biting because he's not really trying to hurt us, but still... We've had to go right back to basics telling him to get a toy and walking away etc but even then sometimes he'll follow us still nipping at our feet.

Is this him entering the teenager phase?