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!

Hi everyone! This thread was a bit of a life-saving support group for me a couple months ago, so lovely it keeps going!
Soup is 5.5 months now and really settled down. Working line ESS girl. Can I ask for recommendations for good cameras, that I can view and move angle via my phone? Would like to start to work on gently building up leaving her on her own, a few minutes at a time and building up, so she gets used to when it can't be avoided.

Lovely seeing the pics of your pup's!

Autocorrect getting a bit above its paygrade. Soup = Dpup, and pup's = pups

@DoubleTweenQueen

Autocorrect getting a bit above its paygrade. Soup = Dpup, and pup's = pups

That's a shame @DoubleTweenQueen, I was hoping you had called your dog Soup I bought a camera on Amazon, it's Littlelf brand. Haven't actually set it up yet so can't vouch for how well it works but like you we're wanting to start work on leaving her so it's coming out this week. Will report back.

@HappyThursdays That's terrifying about the recall disappearing, I've always known it's going to happen but that first time will be horrendous. 6 months now so can't be far behind you.

Pup was at the vet to be weighed today and they've advised we book her in to be spayed ASAP and don't wait for her first season (which was what I thought we needed to do). What have others been told? I think it depends on size tbf, our girl is 9.2kg so quite small for a cocker? I think?

@ashmts my vet leave it down to owner preference provided when they assess on the day they think the pup is mature enough.

Plantpup is booked in to have her spay in June when she’ll be 6 months before her first season. From what I’ve researched there seems to be a lot of conflicting advice. Many sources seem to say that things like cancer risk are reduced the most the sooner you spay. However, there are some downsides like there’s some evidence they don’t mature as quickly from lacking those hormones and some other risks. Weirdly they also apparently can grow taller!

So it seems to be very varied depending on where you look and who you ask. In the end I went for what I felt was best for me and her which I feel is that she doesn’t have a season and there’s 0 risk of pregnancy. As she won’t be able to attend daycare in season she’d be spending weeks on her own at home, plus the fact I have no capability to care for a pregnant dog I’d rather the risk was 0. So that’s what I’ve concluded but I think everyone comes to different conclusions and nothing is wrong as such!

@WeeM I think a collar would be fine just for that purpose, I have read on a few sites that people with pugs use a collar just for stuff like that.

@HappyThursdays oh dear, I think pugpup will be the same, he doesn't pick anything up on walks but in the garden or indoors he's terrible still. If I see it first I can get him to leave it but if he spots it before me there's no chance.

Hello, can I join! Prestonpup is 4 months old today, and we're also facing the end-of-lockdown, back to the real world anxieties about leaving her home alone. DD goes back to college on Monday so will no longer be around to 'mind' her during the day in the kitchen, while DP and I WFH elsewhere in the house.

We've had a dry run today as DD went into college for a covid test. Pup has had two walks, but when left in the kitchen is barking and protesting at the door. Tried to have her sat with me but she didn't want that - she scratched at the door and wanted to run around the house! So she's back in the kitchen now, barking like mad. She's already had two Kongs and a chewy bone today, and barely a nap. So it's not going well so far!

I got weepup a Kong Quest star pod today, put sausages and cheese in it and it kept her entertained for ages!!

Hi all. Mehpup is 10 weeks now and largely a delight, but I get so frustrated feeling like we go backwards. The first week and a half he slept through the night til 7am in his crate happily, went down for naps with minimal crying and had hardly any accidents. The last 4 days he's up 3 times in the night just to run round the garden, weeing everywhere and crying constantly. All normal puppy stuff but I think we got complacent during his first week

Lovely to read that it does eventually get easier. We'll hold on to hope and our wine glasses for the time being

Welcome to all the new posters, loving the pup pics!

I just wondered if anyone can help, pugpup has monthly Advocate from the vets but I am confused as to whether he needs additional worming treatment at all?

Marking my place on the new thread.

Pup was a horror with his biting last night so feel like we're not really making progress there however he has cracked toilet training and sleeping through from 11 to 7 so that's something.

He's recovered from his concussion as well and is back to his old self :)

Ré spaying, there was a thread about it recently and someone posted a link with a list of breeds and recommended dates to neuter. It seems to be very breed dependent. Risks are not just cancer but also incontinence in later life if spayed too early in some breeds. Having spent the last 3 years living with an incontinent dog I am keen to avoid it so Frenchpup will be spayed later. It is surprising how different the recommended dates are.

I found the thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/4171779-I-had-no-idea-how-contentious-when-to-spay-a-dog-was

@MyRabbit79 we finally seem to be there with toilet training too, he either rings the bell or barks at the door to be let out, day 3 with no wees indoors so not long enough to be comfortable but definitely better. It may be a coincidence but it has been since we have given cheese when he wees outside

Thing that has gone downhill is afternoon sleeping which is a nightmare for WFH, now looking into daycare or at least walks.

we've been thinking about when to spay too. asked the vet and they say they recommend after 1st season and and 12-18 months old for bulldogs.

it can affect cocker boys coats when they get neutered and can sometimes make them more fearful. Not that Happypup has any fear at the moment, but I do worry about changing his personality. Because of that reason, and the fact that he's not a humper or marker as yet, we're not going to neuter him in the short term

we'll review when he's age 2-3 and a bit more mature

@PugInTheHouse Advocate is the flea one I think? Happy also get a worming tablet monthly on top of that

I’m feeling that same at the moment @HappyThursdays One of GeorgiePup’s medications side affects is anxiety (not displaying it so far but you never know) so I’m cautious to neuter him too soon if at all so that we don’t trigger stack all this possible anxiety.

@HappyThursdays yes advocate is fleas but also some types of worms but I can't figure out what one he needs on top, I asked the vet when I was there but he didn't really answer me. I think I will call them again as don't want to overdose him lol.

@MyRabbit79 I’m glad he’s feeling better

@Mehmaid it is especially hard at about 10 weeks! It does get better slowly but surely over the coming weeks though. Feels like a lifetime but we’re at 15 weeks and already she is so different, reliably sleeps through the night, pretty reliably toilet trained, generally less of a bitey monster.

Yes that makes sense @GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat . He has a lovely temperament from memory hasn't he!

we use advocate and bravecto

thanks @GooodMythicalMorning

@DoubleTweenQueen we have the little elf camera and it’s great, it’s got a motion sensor that alerts your phone when pup moves, and you can set different sensitivity levels on the motion (our first night we had it set to high and it didn’t stop beeping - now we have it on medium and it only heels when she gets up in the morning)

@HappyThursdays He does! He’s really good at adjusting his energy levels to the person he’s with so he feels perfect for all of us. He’s a sod at bedtime at the moment but I’m confident it’s just a phase 🤞

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat he’s absolutely gorgeous!

Mine is being a sod at bedtime too so solidarity

@Plantlover23 thanks, it's good to know it's normal to struggle at this stage. Can't wait to be able to take him on walks

Loving everyone else's delicious puppy pictures!