Puppy Survival Thread - April

[Doje]

Starting a new thread....

Ours had his first vax before we collected him sorry so I don’t know... he had one of his follow up ones yesterday and was fine though although he is now 10 weeks. Maybe ring vet if at all concerned - I’m sure they’d quickly reassure you.

Thanks, I have googled and it says they can be really sleepy: lethargic after so it’s probably in range of normal. I’ve put his food our but he has not got up for it. Also not sure whether to leave him in his bed or to keep trying to get him to go out for a wee every so often!

@celestebellman I tend not to wake mine for a wee except for the last one at night. I just take her out as soon as she wakes up and start the timer again from then.

Remember as well as the actual vaccination... a trip to the vet is a big deal at that age too.

Hi everyone. Hard to keep up but sorry to hear about your pup @XelaM it sounds so tough! Hope they recover ok in the end.

Hightidepup doesn’t like the crate in the day. I’ve had to put her in there a couple of times to get things done and been lucky I can time it to when she’s sleepy so she settled ok after a little complain. Not sure how she’ll cope if I have to do it when she’s wide awake, so need to start some crate training.

I’m feeling really down at the though her second vaccinations are not for another two weeks due to the type she was given by the breeders vet. Being mostly confined to the house and try to entertain her is exhausting and boring to a certain extent on the weekends. I know it’s only two weeks but we’ve already done two and it’s making me question what the hell I’ve got myself into

@Hightideattheseaside I've only done one week at home with pup and I am losing my mind and wondering what I've got myself into you are definitely not alone! What pup have you got? Can you take her out in your arms/a sling? I know it's not always that simple but it would do both of you good!

@Hightideattheseaside I was exactly the same! We had to wait 4 weeks between jabs and it was hell. Especially because it's another week after that... If I had to do that again I think I might practice lead training around the garden because we got to the first day he could go out and suddenly realised we hadn't started any lead training at all!

I’ve a Labrador. We’ve taken Her out for walks but she’s quite heavy and not keen on being carried so they don’t last long really. She hates bags and desperately tries to escape so Its not safe. I also try to take her on car trips and sit in the boot to watch the world go by. But the days still seem to stretch out! I guess I need to not focus on her vax date and just live day to day. Trying to do training but so hard when the kids are around as they just want to play with her or “help”, which basically involves giving her treats for looking cute!

Thanks all - yes I guess the trip to the vet in itself was pretty stressful, though so far he’s seemed quite unfazed by other things, such as being taken to school pick up and having loads of noisy kids peering into his carrier... but he is definitely off it, he is listless, just dozing and making the odd whimpering noise. I’ve been a bit stressed about the toilet thing as I don’t want to get him out if he’s more comfy there, but don’t want him to have an accident. He did go through night without weeing though.

I am also having intermittent feelings of wondering what I’ve done - interspersed with really enjoying him and seeing my kids with him. It feels really intense at the moment, but hoping this stage will pass quickly. I’m off work now, but need to be able to work when he is around!

@celestebellman I'm the opposite, I have moments of enjoying her but mainly I'm thinking what have I done?! I hope it passes quickly... I've wanted a dog for so long so I think part of it is that build up excitement coming crashing down and things not living up to expectations.

I was just watching a puppy dvd and it recommended getting young pups used to head collars in case they are necessary for keeping dogs attention and stop pulling when older. Is this a standard thing to do does anyone know?

@MrsRandallFraser, I think I am about 50:50 on enjoyment vs ‘what have I done,’ but I keep thinking of all the people I know with dogs who seem to be able to get on with life fairly normally once they are past the puppy stage...

@celestebellman @MrsRandallFraser I’m clinging to the lovely family pets I see out and about as the end goal! I knew a puppy would be hard but just like kids nothing preps for the reality! I also wanted one for so long and persuaded my other half so I almost feel pressured to enjoy her and get it right.

@celestebellman @Hightideattheseaside I could've written that word for word! I'm actually feeling vaguely relaxed right now for the first time in a week. Ive smoothly transitioned pup from my knee into her bed and she's asleep next to the sofa now rather than on me. Finally!

@Hightideattheseaside @celestebellman @MrsRandallFraser yes to all the above! Ours is a lab and 10 weeks so getting quit heavy. DH has taken out in a soft bag/carrier thing to school run but it’s too heavy for me especially when he gets wriggly in way back!

I’ve been to two friends houses with dogs for short visits and we’ve had a few people here but I just want to go out and not carry him!!!! He had the split jabs so our vet has given him one booster yesterday so we can go out next week (11 weeks) as long as not near water and on lead. Then the second one at 12 weeks and then wait after that for going out near water and off lead. I was so grateful he suggested doing it that way tbh!

@MrsHerculePoirot that sounds like such a better way to do it! Not long to go now.

@MrsHerculePoirot I didn't know you could do that! That's great! Stillpup had his second daycare session today. Apparently he was "a completely different dog" and had a whale of a time. The staff were completely shocked. He's wiped out now though!

@Hightideattheseaside is it the L4 Leptospirosis that means you have a longer wait?

We have been advised to have all the other vaccinations two weeks after the first (meaning he can go for a walk a week after that) and then have the lepto vaccine two weeks after that. We would need to be cautious to keep him away from water etc in the intervening period but we are so much happier knowing we've reduced the staying in period by two weeks.

@LemonCake79 yes the L4 so we don’t have to avoid anywhere after she’s at full immunity. But I think the staggered way is much better as it’s easier to ease into walking and doing lead training with distractions outside of the garden. I wish we’d of had the choice. It’s going to be hard to start off slow after such a long wait. I worry I’ll be in danger of over loading her as we will be desperate to get out and about.

We are still having the L4 @Hightideattheseaside, we are just not waiting the four weeks for all the other vaccines if that makes sense. We totally accepted the advice that he needed the L4 (we live rurally so he will go in fields with livestock regularly) but weren't keen on waiting the full five weeks before he could have a walk so this seemed like a really good suggestion from the vet.

Our beeeders had started the girls on L2 so our vets gave them the L4 as well as we live fairly rural.

Haven't been on for a while, just going to catch up on the last few pages with my coffee!

Sparklepup has started becoming really possessive with his food, I don't know why. If he comes away from his food area and anyone walks towards it he chases them, barking, trying to get there first. Or if you go remotely near him when he's eating he barks at you. Today he needed a wee mid-breakfast but when I went to let him out he snapped at me cos he thought I was trying to steel his food.

Is this a "normal" thing for 7 months or should I worry?

Off to do some reading now!

Also feeling the pain of being housebound with a not yet vaccinated pup! She is too big and wriggly to carry for long. Realising the best thing for us is to take her in the car somewhere close by, then sit holding on to her and then go home again - short and sweet with a new experience thrown in - traffic, cyclists, cows etc. All our trips have been short enough that she doesn't need a wee, but what do you do if you want to go a bit further? Was hoping to pop down to the beach briefly this weekend. There is no way she is going to stand neatly on a piece of newspaper to wee!

@Sparkle79

Haven't been on for a while, just going to catch up on the last few pages with my coffee!

Sparklepup has started becoming really possessive with his food, I don't know why. If he comes away from his food area and anyone walks towards it he chases them, barking, trying to get there first. Or if you go remotely near him when he's eating he barks at you. Today he needed a wee mid-breakfast but when I went to let him out he snapped at me cos he thought I was trying to steel his food.

Is this a "normal" thing for 7 months or should I worry?

Off to do some reading now!

That’s something you want to do something about quickly...

I’d take away his bowl for a few weeks and start hand feeding him, then put it back but feed him tiny amounts at a time for a while and then when you’re ready to try a full meal at once add exciting stuff part way through...

But, you might want professional help to make sure he’s not going to start guarding other stuff as resource guarding can be a git to deal with.

Hello!

Just wanted to introduce myself. I have a 9 week old working cocker spaniel puppy. I teach part time and have two teens and a seven year old. DH was not over keen on getting a dog but he was eventually outvoted. He supervises her in the day while he works from home on my working days. It's going ok so far - I feel quite anxious about not making any mistakes - in some ways it's been very similar to having another baby, but without maternity leave!

I have never owned a dog before. I've looked after my friend's two cockapoos but I have now realised that puppies are really very different from well trained adult dogs 🤣

Looking forward to getting to know you all.