Puppy Survival Thread - May

[Doje]

Starting May off! If someone could link I'd appreciate it....

PoirotPup always pops in the morning before his breakfast usually so just about 12 hours after his dinner… we give a kong/bone/chew/lickimat if all eating together. Current fave is his massive ostrich bone - expensive but seems be lasting forever!

*poos not pops

That makes sense as that would be approx 12 hours since dinner but she has usually done a poo at some point in the evening after her dinner already. Such a minefield!

Setting off to see puppy in ten mins. Hope I've remembered everything

Aria20 it’s called therapy dogs by Kathy Diamond Davis. I only just started readin it but looks quite good. Has a section on conditioning dog to handling, games to play, basic control required, social skills, hand signals, handlers job etc
I think it is a pipe dream for me that turquoisepup could be a therapy dog. But I figured it could help me with taking her places where the children’s friends are etc

Good luck wolfcub

Another one with a trashed garden! Yellow wee patches everywhere and as many holes. One was very impressive and even started to fill with water like a mini pond.

Interesting hearing about how your dogs greet other dogs and people. I am never sure what the etiquette is. Our puppy classes have been actively encouraging interaction with dogs when out and about so haven't been getting her to sit.

The jumping up at strangers is an issue. She'll be great initially but any level of fuss from them she sees as a signal to lose the plot and leap about all over them!

Sushi, your puppy class encourages interactions with other dogs out and about? I thought dog trainers generally discouraged this so dogs do t end up insisting they greet every dog they pass? Although in reality it seems to be something everyone does

@ilovesushi we get her to sit and then if the other owner or dog approach and ask if it's ok I'll say yes and let the dogs say hi. But obviously some dogs/people don't like other dogs so I prefer her to sit so she knows she can't say hi to everyone x

Our aim is for PoirotPup to either have no interest or to come and sit and essentially wait for ‘permission’ to meet/great people.

We’re making progress to not just running up to people now as long as they keep moving by but think it’s a long way off yet!

Well day 3 and going well. Frank sleeps a lot, seems like 30 minutes awake then an hour sleeping, does this seem normal? Also when do you start training? Is 8 weeks too young?
And thanks for the advice about keeping him on my knee then letting him out again. That's working well.

I let mine greet dogs.... but, that’s because I got him older and I know he’s not been socialised properly, so off lead I let him do what he wants but keep a close eye for him getting too full on and then recall him. But I’m aiming for dogs aren’t scary so different aim than just passing them.

People, well he doesn’t like other people... so... lol

@thewalkers

Yep they sleep like babies, lol.

And never too early to start training - his make, come, sit are all easy to get started.

Name not make

@tabulahrasa now I just have to fit it in in the minute he's awake 🤣

@thewalkers our puppy tends to be up for exactly an hour before needing to sleep again but yeah puppies do need a lot of sleep!

It’s never too early for training, we started the day we got him. Mind you, it’s all training at first isn’t it?!

[quote thewalkers]@tabulahrasa now I just have to fit it in in the minute he's awake 🤣[/quote]
We train ours while we feed him. No mealtime is complete without having to make eye contact, sit, down, paw and spin several times to earn the first half of his meal. Then he has to sit and wait patiently to be given permission to eat what's put into his bowl. He's getting good at what we've trained, but only when he knows there's food on offer. He'll occasionally sit without food, but not consistently yet.

Another 4:30 wake up this morning, but it was dh's turn to get up with him and I had a lie in (til 9!)

@Turquoisesol yes! We have to say how many dogs they've met each week. The aim is a minimum of 20. We get told off if they haven't had any dog interactions! She got us worried that our pup is frustrated because she isn't having a regular romp about off lead with other dogs.

Oh that’s interesting. So maybe there is some good to letting them meet other dogs then. Yes our trainer did once ask me if she had played off lead with any other puppies. But she doesn’t allow free play in her class, which I thought was strange and frustrating. I havent got a steady stream of friends with puppies who I can invite round for puppy play dates so not sure really how to socialise her if the class doesn’t facilitate it for us.

Wolfpup is home. We are having a chilled day so far. Lots of nervousness but we are working on not being scared of the garden or living room

@Wolfcub how exciting! Welcome to the mad world of puppies!

We’re having the same problem @Turquoisesol. We’ve only met a couple of puppies that she’s had a play with. Otherwise the dogs we’ve met are older and not interested. She’s just desperate to play but I do t know anyone else with puppies.

I’ve been having some success with keeping her attention when people without dogs walk by. But if another dog is around I’ve no hope. She is not interested in treats at all just desperate to get to them. She also jumps up at people so am putting her back on as soon as I see people.

DH slacked in his long line duties on the beach today while I sorted the kids. She ran over to a group of people lying down and kicked sand in their faces while running around licking them. I was mortified! Luckily they had two dogs so were very understanding. I was so annoyed at him!

Congratulations @Wolfcub hope you have a settled first night.

Congratulations wolfcub, hope the first night goes well.
Hightideattheseaside if only we could have a virtual puppy play date for them all online! Yes I often find myself wondering if I should try and stop numbers with random puppy owners at the park, but haven’t been brave enough to do it yet !

Congratulations wolfcub. I hope he settles in quickly for you.

I used Kikopup's method to stop MonaPup jumping up... It's been really effective. I'll try adding a link: