Puppy Survival Thread - April

[Doje]

Starting a new thread....

Thanks for that @Happythursdays, I might give it a whirl. I think I need to make our walks where it's just me and him a bit more 'all about me'. He's great when we're with another dog, and will stay close, but zooms off far and wide when it's just me and him! And that's when he gets sidetracked by a bird. And then a squirrel. And then another bird.... and disappears over the horizon!

[quote Doje]@Turquoisesol we feed Dpup bit by bit through dinners. And they take aaaages because my 7 yr old eats so very sloooowly. We make him sit in his crate, and when he's quiet and calm, he gets a bit of kibble, and we feed him bit by bit throughout dinner time. It's not ideal, but he's learnt that that is the place to be at human meal times. [/quote]
This makes it sound like we put my 7 yr old in the crate! 🤣 I promise it's just the dog that goes in there. 😅

Brilliant 😂

@HappyThursdays that's great Happy is doing so well. What are the focused long sits you do?

I had my first walk on my own with Sparklepup today. I've been so nervous but I took him somewhere I know is generally quiet and practised heel walking with him and he was fantastic. He is always a bit more wary when he's on a lead but I didn't feel confident letting him off when I was alone. Just wish everyone knew the etiquette about not letting off lead dogs say hello to on lead dogs because I don't yet have the confidence to ask people to call their dog away because we're trying to train. Other than unwelcome greeters it went very well and he is now passed out in the garden and I'm drinking wine

@Turquoisesol we feed Sparklepup at the same time as we eat and I try to feed him in a way that takes a long time eg hid kibble in boxes within boxes within boxes. It does get easier as they get older and they learn to settle, as now we can tell him to go lie down and he will where when he was younger he'd have kept bothering us.

Thanks sparkle. I remember we our childhood dog was told to go into basket when we ate. It seemed normal ! Now I look back and wonder how my parents did it !

@Turquoisesol the way we taught Sparklepup was everytime he lay down of his own accord we said "good lie down" and sometimes put some kibble down (so that he could reach it without getting up lol)

@Turquoisesol

Thanks Doje that sounds quite good. Was it something you read about somewhere or did you come up with the plan yourselves? I can’t really find any advise on it anywhere

I think it was from the DTAS Facebook page? Although I'm not sure as I know that one also just suggests you eat separately for a while, with one person playing with the pup. We didn't want to do that as family dinners are important to me!

@Turquoisesol happy is a total maniac :). I feel I should point that out now before explaining anything we do with him as a lot of what we do is directing his behaviour :). So I don't think a calm or passive dog would need this training at all! Happy needs to learn how to focus. He can sit and he can wait but the wait was literally seconds or maybe early minutes but that's it. After we take him out on a walk but before he is fed, we get him to sit (doesn't matter if he lies down but as long as he stays still) and wait for a prolonged period. This is his prolonged sit. It's a bit like everyone's settle but he's never had a proper settle as he never stayed still that long! Just the discipline in sitting for a long period has made a difference to him. He is a working cocker spaniel so in the field would be expected to sit for a long period and he goes out with dp (rurally) so it's been important for us to teach him this!

@Sparkle79 well done for your solo walk!

@Doje yes it's all about making you the most important thing!

Yes @Turquoisesol it's worth seeing what motivates your dog. Happy has never been food motivated. This is really common with working spaniels so you need to find another trigger!

I'm really intrigued by the settle, when do you use this? I feel a bit crap with the whole training thing, I don't really think Georgiepup knows that many commands but then I struggle to think of what else he needs. I know we spoke before about maybe he just doesn't need to know more than he does already but I feel we don't really do training any more. We could probably tighten the ones he knows up but again I don't really know how. I'm rubbish

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat it's amazing your teenage kids coped with the seizure! That's brilliant and a relief for you I would think! I met our friend today who has a red setter with epilepsy - they said it really settled down after adolescence so I have my fingers crossed for you that once he's an adult it will be easier!

We never managed settle but it's a command to get them to settle somewhere (like their bed etc). Happy was always too much of a whirling dervish to master that!

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

I'm really intrigued by the settle, when do you use this? I feel a bit crap with the whole training thing, I don't really think Georgiepup knows that many commands but then I struggle to think of what else he needs. I know we spoke before about maybe he just doesn't need to know more than he does already but I feel we don't really do training any more. We could probably tighten the ones he knows up but again I don't really know how. I'm rubbish

Just popped on to say it's great to train young puppies lots of commands but really don't worry too much if you can't.

I didn't do much beyond sit, stay and recall because we had so many medical
injuries and illnesses that training had to take a back seat. It was when I think he was about 2 years of age his problems settled down and we then paid for 1-1 lessons and we taught him lots of commands and tricks really quickly which he loved. You really can teach and old dog new tricks.

[quote Sparkle79]@HappyThursdays that's great Happy is doing so well. What are the focused long sits you do?

I had my first walk on my own with Sparklepup today. I've been so nervous but I took him somewhere I know is generally quiet and practised heel walking with him and he was fantastic. He is always a bit more wary when he's on a lead but I didn't feel confident letting him off when I was alone. Just wish everyone knew the etiquette about not letting off lead dogs say hello to on lead dogs because I don't yet have the confidence to ask people to call their dog away because we're trying to train. Other than unwelcome greeters it went very well and he is now passed out in the garden and I'm drinking wine [/quote]
I've just done my first solo walks too! Done two now and he was really good. I let him meet one lady but didn't let him say hello to any dogs (he wants to say hello to everyone).

Thank you that's encouraging to hear from you both. He's 7 months on Monday so adolescence is approaching. It would be awesome to get things more settled. Our vets have been great but I will say, very risk averse when it comes to adjusting his medication. The increments we have been moving up in are so tiny it's taking ages. He's also still growing so we are constantly playing catch up I feel.

Not sure if I mentioned on the thread, the vet has been doing some further reading and there is some evidence to support the theory that some puppies have seizures as a side effect to taking Nexgard Spectra which is what Georgiepup is on. How amazing would it be if this is what's causing it!! I've even seen a few threads in here mentioning it.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat I think focusing on getting him through his medical issues is the priority over training commands because I know how draining it is to be constantly at the vets for all of you and how it seems to be several steps backwards. Don't worry about feeling 'behind'. I did initially but you can easily catch up if you want/need when he is an adult. And most of the commands I taught mine as an adult are for fun as we still don't need them but it's a bit of a bonding session

Wel done sparkle on your first solo walk. Turquoisepup is really bitey tonight. I am on kids climbing frame to get a break !

Thanks @BiteyShark it's nice to hear from those who've had the experience to look back on.
@HappyThursdays is your friend's dog stable now? This is something I can't wait for. I can deal with the seizures but when he's having a bad patch it feels all consuming. It would be lovely to get to a stage when it's just a background thought.

I'm loving all the solo walks, I'm also not fond of them and need to build some confidence. If DH is at work I make one if the kids come with me Well done all

For me I am a bit afraid to go on solo walks in our local area as we will bump in to people we know and I feel I would be judged if pup misbehaves. Silly really. I try to go to quieter places out of the way

Thanks for all the praise I knew you would all get it. Feels like a crazy thing thing to be nervous of / proud of doing but it does feel like a big deal. And yes @Turquoisesol about feeling judged. I hate bumping into other dogs. I'd rather just go somewhere we won't bump into anyone in case Sparklepup is naughty.

Yes I need to get out and let her experience walks in the real world or she will never learn. But I feel like such a novice I don’t know how to do it all !

@Turquoisesol

Wel done sparkle on your first solo walk. Turquoisepup is really bitey tonight. I am on kids climbing frame to get a break !

Lots of nipping and biting here today too. No where near enough sleep. The routine is so much better in the week and he gets so much more rest. He was totally whipped up by the DCs being here.

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat I would agree with @BiteyShark . The trainer even said to us that up to 2 years, it's really easy to train them. After that she reckons it takes a little longer but it can always be done!

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat on the epilepsy, their red setter just takes medication and it's managed ok now. He recently had a v bad patch of illness and they were v worried - they sought a second opinion as they weren't happy with the first diagnosis and ended up going to the Royal Vet college place where they diagnosed him with a rare thyroid problem (also completely sorted with medication). That's v interesting about the Nexguard. Can you swap from it if it's possible it's linked? There are loads of other treatments if necessary.

@Turquoisesol people are v forgiving of puppies, what are you worried will happen?

and also, if you want to ever let the dog off the lead, you need to start doing our now. They stick with you and the treats, and you can start doing recall. Lots of excitement and treats whenever they come back ...from the 6 inches they’ve gone.

Older dogs are vv tolerant of puppies till about 6 months.

There’s a dog trainer where i am who’ll go out with you and her terribly well behaved dogs who teach puppies manners on walks.

I totally get it @Turquoisesol . One of Happy's first walks he darted all over the pavement, ran up and down completely over excited and was impossible! I was almost in tears - got stopped by 2 people commenting on lockdown puppies and how they needed to be trained! You can only do your best :). I'm not sure how confident your puppy is but most puppies are not like that the first time they go on walks as they are naturally hesitant. Practice in the garden now and start with really short walks if you are worried. Going to quieter streets first is a good idea to build up your confidence. Don't forget that dogs are quite good at picking up your anxiety so it's a good idea to try and feel a bit more confident too! I know that's hard when they are unpredictable!

I think I just need to do it don’t I ? Will try to start getting out more. I worry she could have a bad experience with an older dog that will instill fear in her