Puppy Survival Thread - April

[Doje]

Starting a new thread....

I have a puppy who is 5 months months and I posted a thread about struggling to leave him on his own, as he would bark when I walked out the door.

I know its something that a lot of people are struggling with, so wanted to feedback that I've had some success with this, and can now leave him for an hour. (I haven't tried longer than this yet and don't really need to at the mo).

He isn't crate trained, and sleeps on a bed on the floor in our bedroom, so I was leaving him in the kitchen with the door shut when I went out. He didn't like this and barked a lot. I experimented and he seemed to be happier with access to more space, now he has the hall and 2 other rooms and just sleeps when I go out. (He has been to the loo/had food/exercise etc first). He doesn't bark.
I have a camera so can see what he is up to, and I leave the radio on.

He isn't much of a chewer (yet!) and so I can imagine this set up wouldn't work for every dog, although I've tried to make the environment as chew proof as possible.

I just wanted to reassure people who haven't tried it yet, that I was really despairing about ever leaving him, but by tweaking things I seem to have found a set-up that he finds relaxing. I also wonder if he was a bit more mature and settled when I started to leave him, who knows, other people's puppy's have been fine from day one!

@LondonPupMum This sounds silly but I've found that whenever C4pup has something in his mouth that he shouldn't (usually a tissue or a stray poo bag ) if I start running with him he drops whatever is in his mouth, maybe it's the distraction of the sudden change in pace for a few seconds, or maybe he's just making me look dumb

@C4itl anything is worth a try!!

@Dinesen78 I haven't had this issue myself (yet!) but I would recommend having a look at Julie Naismith's book and you tube videos. She also has a Facebook group specifically for puppy separation anxiety.

She breaks the training down into really small steps so you can work on little things without getting your dog stressed or taking up loads of your time at once (a little every day). If it looks like too much information initially, then "the door is a bore" seems to be a good place to start. Good luck!

@Dinesen78 Sorry! I should have read your post properly before I posted 🤦‍♀️. Well done on your success

Hello all just checking back in to say I have completely broken one of my puppy red lines and Puppypup is now sleeping in our room. I think he's definately in secondary fear phase and was barking during the night - running up and down to the french doors and basically getting himself into a lather. He has been a totally settled upstairs with us. I've basically decided not to worry too much - I have seen now how much things change and evolve and will just go with it for now.

We have also had our first running away and not coming back incidents so we're truly in the thick of teenagerhood.

What age is your pup puppypuppypuppy? It must be difficult when you think things are sorted and then everything changes again. I suspect I will find it harder than you to go with the flow

We had kennel club papers in the post today to register pup in our name instead of breeders. Does anyone know if this is a good idea or not. I am kind of sceptical that it is even necessary if I just intend to keep her as a pet.

Well Archer pup has been lovely and great on walks in the morning where we park, walk down quiet road, round an estate to let her off in fields. Lovely experience. However, evening walks are a different matter as we go more locally, down the main road (deep verges and set back from road so not right next to it). Sniff sniff sniff then manic sniffing, then poos on someone's verge. I think, I'll walk up x road and to the other open grass area by a new estate with a play area - there are poo bins. She was a complete pain walking up x road and had to be coaxed at various points. Then happy on grass. I didnlet her off because I wasn't sure of her recall. Got on the pavement to come home and she wouldn't budge. Waited. Thankfully had the harness on because I had to heave her to get her to even look at a treat. Got her going by bribing with treats leaping about, lots of praise, but it was touch and go whether I was going to get her going. Okish back down x road and fine on way home along main road. I think there is too much traffic around combined with me being tired from work. Wondering if one solid walk a day is sufficient with playtime in garden (large) when I get home. I really don't want to be pulling her round like this. Was utterly frustrating and not pleasant.

Secondary fear phase makes so much sense. We seem to be in the middle of it too. Snooppup seems terrified of everything recently and barking so much!

No worries..! I forgot that part of my reason for posting was that flitting in and out of the door for short increments of time seemed to wind my puppy up whereas when we gave him more space, he didn't seem to mind me being out for 20/30 mins straightaway (I could see on the camera).

Lostarcher do you think maybe she is better on grass than pavements ? I notice this and sometimes wonder if their feet hurt as being puppies the pads haven’t hardened yet. I often find turquoisepup refuses to move too and it is very frustrating

@Turquoisesol

We had kennel club papers in the post today to register pup in our name instead of breeders. Does anyone know if this is a good idea or not. I am kind of sceptical that it is even necessary if I just intend to keep her as a pet.

Do it - if she’s ever, lost, stolen or anything like that... it’s part of your proof of ownership.

Ah ok thanks 👍

@PugInTheHouse, here is Si today

@Greenleave totally gorgeous, what a cutie!!

@Puppypuppypuppy pugpup has always slept in our room but in the crate, when he moved out of the crate a few weeks ago he is on the floor next to me. He is so cheeky though, every night I put him to bed then get in bed myself. DH comes up a few mins later so I nip to the loo, when I come back he is always on the bed. He never does it when I'm in the room though This pic was last night!

@Greenleave- how gorgeous!
Raining here this evening and It’s been so long since it it last rained that petal had forgotten what it was was barking at it at bedtime! Settled quickly but I imagine if it gets any heavier she’ll let us know!

How long do people leave their older puppies between wees in the day time? She seems to be able to wait for hours now! No accidents for over a month touch wood!
Realised today that she’s never really been in a carpeted room except when she sneaks into the living room or upstairs so think we need to start letting her try a bit more freedom.

@Petalpup he goes a good couple of hours between wees now. First thing, maybe one about 11am, then 3ish, 6-7ish then a bedtime wee. He'll always go when we have a walk if they're outside those times too.

Anyone having trouble settling their pup? It's driving me crazy. He's in a crate downstairs and won't settle in his own. I'm sat on the stairs at the moment whilst he attacks his coffee wood stick. If I leave he cries. 🙄 How do you all put your older pups to bed? This is worse than I put up with than my kids!! DH is no use because he gets grumpy and wants to just let pup cry. Everything I've read says don't do that, but I'm starting to lose it. I'm a 10pm bedtime kinda person!! I'm starting to wonder if we put the crate it our room, but that wasn't really part of the plan!

@Doje HummusPup will not settle down tonight, no idea what is going on she is usually so good at night. It hasn’t rained in ages so not sure if that is the problem. She’ll sleep for about 20mins in her crate then wakes up barking her head off. Not really sure what to do as this has never happened before!! I am hoping it’s a one off

@Doje we had to ditch the crate, he suddenly wouldn't settle at all and that was next me in our room. He has blankets, a soft bed and open crate now down the side of my bed and settles straight away.

Oh hope you for some sleep eventually.

We got to this stage and also ditched the crate. Back to sleeping all night again now with free range of the lounge and kitchen.

He did poop in the kitchen last night though, must have been desperate bless him.

Just catching up with this thread. Sushi pup has her second set of vaccinations this morning, so we will be able to take her out and about properly very soon. It has felt a little bit like a fourth lockdown this early puppy period!

@Doje does he have a bedtime snack? We give petal a biscuit in her crate and she usually settles down after she’s eaten it. You could try a lick mat or something that would take him a bit longer to calm him down?