Puppy Survival Thread - April

[Doje]

Starting a new thread....

Another question from me! Sorry I have so many questions and not much help to anyone else as I am so new to all this. Do others clip puppy’s nails at all ?

Done 2 baths and 1 nail clip and pup is 6.5 months.

Is anyone terrified of walking pup alone? We always have family walks or DH goes alone. I've never been on my own and as he's terrible on a lead (pulls like mad) and so used to being off lead, the idea of taking him somewhere and his recall going out the window terrifies me.

@Sparkle79 we rarely go together so DH and I mostly go alone, he only pulls to see other dogs or bikes but he is small so it isn't an issue, totally different with bigger pups. I haven't allowed the DCs to take him alone yet but I think they would be fine with him on the lead. DH has never let him off the lead though, it's different for me as I have taken him with the trainer to get used to it.

Our main worry is there are lots of attempted thefts reported round here. We have an alarm on his lead and I have one on my wrist.

I think I am going to have to get used to being on my own when I walk her. But I am a bit terrified of it to be honest. She is only 12 weeks so far only had tentative walks around the street. So I am yet to experience parks forests etc

We have a one to one trainer soon so hoping that will give me some confidence

I dont particularly like walking them by myself as they can be stubborn. Also yes, Thefts around here have risen.

I have another question for you all! So we have only been out a few short walks so far including school pick up. Other people we know who have dogs have twice now allowed their dog to come over to say hello - both my dog and theirs on lead. But it is clearly their dog doing the coming over while mine freezes to the spot terrified and sometimes actually tries to back away.

I would prefer as she is a puppy to let her make the decision to come over to see older dogs. Friends say “how is she with other dogs?” While allowing theirs over to say hello. Then tell me it’s ok they won’t hurt her or anything. But I feel uncomfortable with my pup being forced into the situation .

I guess it’s just the start of dealing with interactions with other dog owners, which will be an ongoing thing from now on. It’s awkward as they are the kids friends parents so I am trying to be polite. If it was stranger I would probably insist not allowing them over.

Is there is something I am missing? Is it actually to be encouraged to let older friendly dogs over on lead? To meet new puppy?

@Turquoisesol we only walked pugpup round streets for quite a while to be honest, I think he was probably about 15 weeks before we went to the park, we just didnt feel confident enough. Personally I was happy for dogs to come over as pugpup was so friendly he just wanted to meet all dogs and people but I am not sure what to do with a more nervous dog. I think if they are nervous it is even more important to get them used to other dogs?

Yes important to get more used to other dogs but I would have thought better if on her terms.
We stand in a specified spot away from the crowds at school pick up but still seem to get ambushed by well meaning children and other dog owners !

Personally I always ask before letting pugpup approach a dog on a lead, I thought that was the etiquette TBH so I can understand that being frustrating, I never worry about children at all though.

We went to a dog park yesterday (it isn't officially but it's turned into that), I have avoided till now as it has a bad reputation for irresponsible owners with dogs off lead when they shouldn't be but it's much closer than the park and we needed a short walk. Literally as soon as we got in a staffie came straight over and was growling and snapping with his teeth in pugpups face, it made me really nervous as the owner was at the other side of the park calling him and he wouldn't go back. It's awful as I know mosts staffies are lovely but he seemed very aggressive towards him. Pugpup was on the lead so it irritates me that dogs go straight up to him without the owners in sight.

Pugpup did meet another lovely dog, a little rescue age 6, terrier mix. He kepts humping pugpup which was hilarious, pugpup starting marking loads, including up the terriers owner's leg

Oh the joys of dog ownership - I will
Have all this to come no doubt

It makes me quite stressed TBH, I then wasn't sure whether to let him off the lead as he doesn't read other dogs signals that well (nor do I yet as am just learning) so I thought he may go straight after the staffie. I am not massively confident with it all.

With so many dogs everywhere it will be something to deal with daily. Hopefully we and our dogs get better as time goes on

I do walk Dpup alone a fair amount, but am much less confident! I tend to do walks with other older dogs where I can. Dpup behaves much better! For walks without other dogs I go to familiar places.

We don't approach any dog who is on lead, unless I specifically ask, but tbh DPup is the nervous one, so tends to stay away naturally. We've had plenty come up to is when we're on lead though! Thankfully he's just nervous rather than reactive.

@Turquoisesol Dpups nails tend to take care of themselves now we do walks. We don't do much on pavements, but what we do do has kept them trim so far.

I'm feeling very stressed as a new puppy owner. Is that normal?? My son was holding him earlier, and he leapt from his arms and landed on the stone patio. He seems ok, and has been running around since, but I'm still feeling worried sick .

@17CherryTreeLane

I'm feeling very stressed as a new puppy owner. Is that normal?? My son was holding him earlier, and he leapt from his arms and landed on the stone patio. He seems ok, and has been running around since, but I'm still feeling worried sick .

Absolutely normal. Dpup had a dodgy tummy for about a week and I was convinced he could die from it.

I think its normal to feel nervous and stressed with new puppy ownership. It's all new, it's all a learning curve. A bit like parenthood.

Gum on the ground is one think that irrationally makes me anxious. Dpup 2 ate something off the ground but I didn't see what it was and I was so paranoid it was gum I didn't let her out of sight all night in case she started to react to anything.

God, I think I'm going to need gin! There are so many dangers out there!!

Honestly 8/9 months in and I still have those moments. I saw Happy eat something on the pavement outside a chocolate shop last week and was convinced he had eaten a pure dark chocolate and was going to die (it was probably a lump of poo!)

Can I join please? I have a nearly 9 week old Springer. He's my first puppy since I was a child although I had a rescue before. So far he's been a superstar but it's very early days. He's such a dear little thing.

@17CherryTreeLane, I feel the same. There is a new worry everyday. First day it was whether he'd drank enough, second day it was whether he liked his food as he hadn't finished it all. I then graduated to worrying about post vaccination tiredness. I'll be back to my mainstay of 'am I socialising him enough' soon. Fortunately DH is completely relaxed and just laughs at me and tells me to enjoy him.

Worrying here too! Our puppy is def getting in lots of quality daytime sleeps, but she has some hyper moments when she is awake racing about like a maniac and jumping in the air. The breeder was really clear about protecting ligaments and I know that once she is fully vaccinated walks remain short and small increments for a while. Panicking that we should be keeping her more low key but not sure how. Mad moments this evening. I gave her a stuffed Kong (she loved it), then kibble wrapped in some twisted brown paper (improvising desperately), then a raw carrot to chew on. She has finished them off now racing about like a mad thing in a dark garden. Doesn't seem to want to settle. Using sit command to bring her down from her mad high. She obeys right off but expects a treat each time. She is probably overtired but I don't know how as she slept most the day.

Omg yes the worry has aged me about 10 years 😆

I'm worrying more about the puppy than my actual children. Mind you, they've aged me enough and I know they haven't finished yet.