Puppy Survival Thread - June/July

[MrsHerculePoirot]

Discussion of all things puppy...

Old thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/4234193-puppy-survival-thread-may?msgid=108567452

I haven’t actually shown them the ladder of aggression. I will do that

@Turquoisesol DS is also 12 but I think Billy would actually prefer it if we did stroke him all day long! 😂

Dd2 is 11 and she's pretty good at leaving AwesomePup alone when he starts looking as if he's had enough. We hadn't looked at the ladder of aggression, but we googled it tonight. Dh is apparently the person who needs the most schooling in when to leave him be. Dd2's friends also need firm rules, but they're getting better as he gets a bit bigger, and they're now trying to get him playing with toys rather than just stroking him and getting in his face.

@MsAwesomeDragon yes the boys' friends will allow pup to jump up on them and encourage over excitement and I'm like no don't let her jump up!

Last couple of days my pup wants lots of cuddles and strokes, she'll come over to me for a fuss and if I stop she'll put her paw on me or nudge me with her head to carry on and when she's had enough she'll walk away!

First night wasn't really what I expected, we crated pup who had been settled in there and left doors open so I could hear if he cried for toilet. Didn't hear a peep and when we got up he'd weed and pooped on the vet bedding so that's in the wash and he's cleaned up but his face smells of urine, do I try to shampoo it or leave him do you think? Not sure what to do tonight, breeder said it's not really fair for me to get him used to sleeping by me and to start as we mean to go on so I'm stumped.

He's been shaking again on and off today but has been exploring the kitchen and trying to eat shoes

@Turquoisesol
Re doggy smell, dh's step parent uses a doggy perfume spray that she sprays onto dry coat. No idea where she gets it but her dogs smell like baby powder.

@Turquoisesol How is pup with coats etc? We have a dressing gown for ashpup, she doesn't like getting washed or dried but will tolerate it. If she's soaking we can pop the dressing gown on and it absorbs most of the mess and smell, and then just shove it in the washing machine. Febreze, regular bed and sofa blanket washing, and fresh air is how I try to keep the house smelling reasonable. Not sure how successful I'm being.

@SaveTheUnicorns Your breeder's advice is outdated. He's just a baby, you wouldn't expect a baby to sleep alone from day 1 (and equally you wouldn't then expect them to still be in your room aged 15 or whatever) so there's no reason to force him to be alone straight away. Ours wouldn't go in her crate at first so we slept on the couch with her the first few nights. Gradually she then slept in her crate with us on the couch, and after a few weeks she'd sleep in her crate and we could go up to bed. She's now a great sleeper. It's absolutely not making a rod for your own back or whatever others might tell you. It's just making your puppy feel secure until they're used to their new home. Most 8 week old puppies won't be able to hold their bladders all night so I'd be setting an alarm to take him out a couple of times overnight even if he doesn't wake you.

Save - I'm only three weeks in myself but I suggest deliberately getting up for you letting twice per night and waking pup to do so. Three weeks in and we're down to once per night and working in stretching that towards normal wake up time

Thanks ashmts we haven’t tried her with any coats. I think maybe we need to persevere with towel drying

That should be toileting not you letting

Liking the sound of dog perfume, going to check that out!

@ashmts and @wolfcub thanks, I'd said exactly the same to Dh last night! He's seemed really happy to be in the crate last night so I'll stay down tonight and set an alarm for every three hours.

I'm struggling a bit with the toilet though, he's had one wee outside today after we played on the back (lots of enthusiasm and a treat immediately after) but he clearly doesn't know what to do and just sits by my feet and shivers, or follows me if I walk, how long do I wait? I'm saying 'Be quick' each time but don't know how long I should wait for him?

@SaveTheUnicorns Are you on Facebook? I say it to everyone but you can't beat the Dog Training Advice and Support group. It has modules to read through to help you get to grips with the basics. Take them out regularly, after they wake, eat, drink or play. If he won't go, take him back inside but tucked under your arm or on your lap, and then go back out 5 minutes later. He sounds like a nervous wee poppet bless him. We didn't have that problem with toileting, felt like mine peed more or less constantly for a month every time you turned your back for a second.

@ashmts I'm actually a member so I've just found the puppy guide thank you! I'll have a look over those with lunch. I've been devouring Stonnie Dennis videos on YouTube, he's amazing and exactly the type of training I want to do.

Looks like there's a guide for puppy confidence too. He was scared yesterday poor mite was shaking, he's perked up today and has been exploring and playing a little, loves the kids. Getting a little mouthy too!

@SaveTheUnicorns don’t say “be quick” when you want him to go, say it when he does go so that he starts to associate the command with the action. At the moment he has no idea what that means. This is going to sound ridiculous but when Billy won’t go, I walk around the garden sniffing (just the air not the ground 🙈) like he does when he’s trying to decide where to go and that sets him off doing the same. DH thinks I’ve lost the plot but I swear it works 😂.

Please may I join in? I have a 9 week old border pup, been with us since Friday! We love her to bits and after a very tough few nights, she slept though until 5am this morning!!! She is currently biting our feet, socks, trouser legs, ankles whenever we move though. Trying not to react, especially when you have little sharp teeth sinking into your skin, is pretty tough, especially when the toys to distract her with are out of reach!

@louloulemons fellow BC puppy, winter pup is 10 weeks and i feel your pain!.
Im currently walking round with a pocket of treats and everytime he attacks i stop and let him see/ smell the treat, when he releases me i say 'off' wait for him to sit and reward him. Its not 100% fool proof but its working so far 🤞🤞

@SaveTheUnicorns just checked out Stonnie Dennis. He is ace!

@ladycatstark thanks, makes much more sense that way!!

@louloulemons we're starting to have teeth here too, today I'm going to start this tip about 3 mins in.

@ilovesushi the common sense puppy training series he did is definitely worth a watch. I just think he's hilarious!

Second night here was completely different. Not sure where he was hiding that cry but it was loud!! I slept downstairs by the crate this time. Up and out toileting at 1.30am and 5 where he thought it was playtime. Needed strokes to fall back asleep the first time and currently whimpering, moaning and clawing to get out, loudly, after his 5am wake up so I'm really hoping he doesn't wake the kids or dh. With the first night barely a peep I'm sure Dh will be thinking I've broken the pup by staying downstairs. Why is he so loud I'm so, so tired!! Please tell me he's not broken 😴

Hi everyone, been a while since Plantpup and I checked in! Lovely to see all the new pups.

Plantpup is 8 months old now and very much a teenager. Nighttime has become our new challenge…Since 8 weeks she has slept in her crate in my bedroom no problem, through the night from about 12 weeks. Recently she has started getting quite annoyed about her crate. When I tell her to go on our bed, she will go in and lie down but as soon as I shut the door then make ANY noise, she’s up crying and barking and pawing at the door. I would ignore her (she doesn’t actually need anything) but 1. It feels mean and 2. It’s not really fair on my neighbours at 1am! I’ve tried leaving the door open but then as soon as I walk away she’ll just get up and walk out. Has anyone else experienced pups rebelling against their crate when they’ve got a little older? I don’t have any worries about her having toilet accidents or anything during the night if she’s not in there but she sleeps so soundly in there and always looks so comfortable so it seems a shame !

@SaveTheUnicorns @Plantlover23 do you cover the crate with a sheet? I do this so pup then knows it's sleep time and can't see any distractions.

@Plantlover23 mine only sleeps in crate at night and goes in fine as associates it with us going up to bed and it's her routine go out for last wee, bedtime biscuit and into bed. BUT she strongly protests if we attempt to put her in there at any other time. She barks loudly like I know it's not bedtime why are you putting me in here?!

@Plantlover23 I’d say persist for a few nights see if it settles down again. If not would you be happy with just a bed there? we’ve found our dog likes her crate it’s her space and no one bugs her there so she’s happy we’ve kept it for now. My sil said they just phased it out at about two years old when it wasn’t needed anymore. Our dog is now 14mths and we use a crate at night and for a 2hr nap most days. She did rebel over several things over the months 8-12mths old, but like with a young puppy we kept persisting she was just pushing boundaries. Some things though we have changed as she calms more with she she has the run of the ground floor now, plus I gave in on sitting on sofa with blankets she also leaves the kids toys alone if they forget to pick up etc. She randomly kept taking socks for a few days having never shown interest as a young puppy but it was a ‘play with me’ game so I ignored the socks but switched out for a tennis ball she soon stopped taking them

Morning! I’d like to join in! Banditdog is 11 weeks old, been with us almost 3 weeks. She’s a full border terrier. So far, pretty good! We’ve been sleeping downstairs with her in her crate, she’s woken us for toileting in the night but this is getting less often. Toilet training going fairly well. Only sticking point is she doesn’t like going on the grass when it’s raining! One night last week we stood under the garden umbrella in the rain for 15 minutes, she stubbornly refused to move then peed and pooed on the living room carpet! She was quite nippy but that’s improving, she loves her chew toys so we distract with those. She had her second vaccines last week so she’s started doing short walks.

I’ll admit it took me a long time to be persuaded to get a dog but I have no regrets, lots of work but totally gorgeous!

Plantlover have you tried her in a bed? Banditdog has a doughnut bed (inside her crate for now) which she loves. It’s like a snuggle, she hunkers right down in it. We have one like this.

Welcome @ThePontiacBandit . Brilliant username btw!

Pup has an upset tummy today, she ate half a chip shop chip that she found on floor last night. Anyone know how long she'll have an upset tummy for? She's had 3 runny poos so far today! Do I need to do anything in particular for her? She had breakfast as normal.