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!

Thanks @Brazilianut

yes I would try that @PugInTheHouse. Where does he sleep during the day?

Also this is something we noticed, as GeorgiePup for older, he wanted to spread out more instead of curling up like he did as a baby. In hindsight his crate wasn’t big enough to lay out as much as he wanted after he’d grown so much. I think mainly because he gets quite hot and likes to move to cooler places on the room. If you feel the floor after he gets to it’s always so warm.

Would a bigger crate work to give him space to fidget?

@HappyThursdays he sleeps wherever really, usually on the floor, sofa or back of the sofa. If he's hot he sleeps on the tiles at the edge of the kitchen that the underfloor heating doesn't reach lol.

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat we could possibly get one a bit bigger, its so hard to know if it is the crate that's the issue generally or that he just wants more space.

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat although saying that it is a 24" crate so its a size bigger than for fully grown pugs in general, he can lay out completely on his back in there

Dpup1 has had the poops and vomited up the entirety of her breakfast, ds (nearly 15) was watching them but didn't see her do this til I stepped in the room I've hand fed her slowly and she's now cuddled in with dd so hopefully she's ok. They give us such worry don't they!

@GooodMythicalMorning yep, it's constant. I think pugpup may have a cold or some sort of allergy, he has had a bit of a runny nose and has been a bit sneezy. He's still fast alseep right now, cuddling a pair of swimming goggles

@PugInTheHouse sorry to hear about your ruff night (pun intended)

Sparklepup was similar that we never did crate training, he just went in it from day 1 and then fairly early on we realised we needed to put him in for forced naps and he was always fine about going in. But the last week or so he has looked at us with sad puppy eyes whenever we tried to put him in so we've given him a chance to settle on his own and to our surprise he's been doing it. Think I've already said on a previous post so sorry if I'm repeating myself but he's been having all his daytime naps out of the crate and just going in from 10pm-6am.

What I've noticed is how much he moves about. He does like us all to be together and if we're in different rooms hell occasionally go from room to room to check in. He'll lay on the couch, then go lie down under the table, then curl up in hallway.

It's a bit of a chicken/egg situation but he is also much more chilled. Whether he's settling outside the crate better because he's chilled out or he's chilled out because he's getting better rest because he can see what we're all doing and can move about, have a stretch, get comfy etc.

Anyway the last few nights he hasn't wanted to go in overnight so we are thinking of leaving him out all night. We don't have the cat issue but is there maybe a room he could have to himself or like you said you could pen off an area of your room maybe.

Could be the age as they are both 6 months this weekend aren't they? In fact is it pugpup who is 6 months today?

@GooodMythicalMorning hope pup is okay. Yes the worry is constant

thanks, she seems to be. cuddled up with her big dog brother and I now.

@Sparkle79 yes exactly the same re daytime naps out and 1030-630 in, all no problem till now. He definitely likes to move about, during the day he will sleep on the floor in various positions, then move up to the back of the sofa, all in the same nap.

We do have a separate room he can have but I am worried about him chewing stuff, and the fact he doesn't like being on his own (our other nightmare). I may be able to block some of it off though. It has DS expensive guitars in otherwise it wouldn't matter

@Sparkle79 6 months old yesterday he was, it could well be. I have sent DH to pets at home to get a bed

When the conservatory done and we can use our backdoor hallway/cloakroom (currently has all the tiles for conservatory in, another source if stress as builder is never free) I will make that a doggy bedroom with the crate if they want but beds if they dont as ddog1 has the lounge and no crate which he's happy with but I dont want them intruding on his private space.

Hi guys thought I'd get in on the good bad and ugly chat! We're only 16 weeks so a bit behind but it's nice to read the 6 month and older pups to get an idea on what to expect

The good:
Pup is starting to walk a lot better on lead, and toilet training also the there. He goes to the back door although hasn't quite figured out the bells yet. He's taking to crate well and doesn't whine going in now for naps or bed at all. This has made working from home so much easier, the crate really has been a life saver. We've been practising separation and have built it up to 1.5 hours now and next week will try and do 2 hours (I genuinely think he sleeps better when we aren't there anyway!). He loves people and is a lovely puppy

The bad:
He really cannot chill outside the crate, although I know this is an age thing and will get better but I really would just love him to know when he's tired and be able to rest. He is also alert and wanting to do something all the time. We've done some training methods from our trainer but it's not really working, he's just an excitable puppy so I just need to be patient

The ugly:
Other dogs, he is so excited by other dogs and will genuinely hurt himself pulling when he sees one. This means the long line is so so important. I really hope it gets better, in the meantime we've been advised not to let him meet loads of dogs (unless we control the play and it's on lead) and use the longline to remind him to come back when we see another dog in the park if he doesn't recall.

Tips and advice on either things would be appreciated!

Maybe he's feeling poorly with his cold @PugInTheHouse ? It's hard to know isn't it. Some of them become more of a Kevin the teenager than others! It was an obvious change with Happy from around 6.5 months.

Btw even though Happy sleeps downstairs, he rarely sleeps in his bed (he prefers a blanket on the couch!) so if Pugpup likes the floor, maybe a blanket on the floor might work

@HappyThursdays maybe, like you say tricky to know. DH has bought a bed for him, gonna set up a little pen with the crate open and the bed and see what happens, will put blankets on the floor too. Poor little thing keeps sneezing this morning.

Poor poppet!

Set up the bed upstairs with the crate at opposite end with door open, set up looks perfect. I took him upstairs with me whilst I was putting some clothes away and put him down there, he went straight onto the new bed and sat there . . . then promptly jumped onto my bed

Fingers crossed for you tonight @PugInTheHouse

@Brazilianut thanks, it looks like he will just be jumping onto my head all night though, for a short stumpy dog he can jump really high!! DH is more optomistic and said when it's night time he'll be sleepy and won't do that.

@PugInTheHouse I wouldn’t be surprised if your Dpup did this, basing it on what my Dpup would do hopefully he’ll love his new set up and adapt well to the independence.

@Brazilianut we'll see, I really need some proper sleep!

fingers crossed for you

Hi everyone, I'd like to join this thread, I've been lurking for a while in preparation.

We brought home an 8 week old Shih Tzu today, he's absolutely gorgeous but wasn't keen on going to bed! We have him in a pen with a puppy pad in the corner as that's what the breeder recommended. I'm sleeping on the floor next to him and he's just gone quiet, but I daren't turn over to look at him!

@PugInTheHouse hope you're having a better night. It's howling here, so I'm up with with Dpup who's barking at the wind. 😫 It's looking to stay really windy all night, so I don't think this'll be my last wake up...