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

@SweetLathyrus gosh I just looked at that link and there are none even anywhere near me lol! I'm Greater London/Kent border if anyone knows any there??

@lifelongfrugaleer I agree working labs just look so smart and refined, here is Billy as few weeks ago sitting so smartly 🥰. He also has a very impressive pedigree full of abbreviations I don’t really understand 😂 I don’t think he’ll train as a fun dog but our trainer does do gun dog training and is currently training her lab puppy who must be turning 1 about now. She brought him to meet us before we got Billy and he was the best behaved dog I’ve ever met!

@Ilikewinter 9 weeks old was the worst week for us (so far) it gets better from there!

@DanisEndo The Facebook group Dog Training Advice and Support was the biggest help for me. I also had Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy (book) which was easy to read and helps you see things from the dog's point of view. Each to their own re training and you need to do what works for your family and your dog, but I will say crate training has been really worth it for us. After she was spayed she could rest in there (and after she had a wee accident recently we could pop her in and know she wasn't at risk of hurting herself), she isn't phased by crates at the vet/daycare/overnight boarding, etc. There are a lot of pros. We don't really have the space either, the crate is in our living room under the stairs. The place looks a shambles but needs must. It also doesn't need to be permanent, I was thinking we might ditch the crate at about a year old but actually now we're almost there I think we'll just keep it.

*Fazed

@Aria20, the ones on the site are specifically accredited to teach Pippa Mattinson's GunDog graded training scheme. You will find other non-aversive trainers who aren't acredited but who are equally good, but you will need to ask around - hence the Positive Gundog facebook suggestion.

@LadyCatStark he is fabulous - so focussed and distinguished!

@Jloco we have a cat too, she is almost seven, and totally runs the house. If anything you will have to protect the pup from the cat to begin with. SweetPuss stalked SweetDog for a week when we brought him how, and gives him the occasional slap when he gets out of line - or if she just fancies it . Make sure the cat has plenty of places they can get away to, especially up high. If you know the parents of the pup a cross is fine, just remember that you will have to take into account the foibles of two breeds. Poodles are really, really smart and were originally working dogs, a cross with lots of poodle traits will need their brain training as well as their behaviours. I know lots of poodle crosses, they are all very different and most are really lovely, you just need to be vigilant for which traits are dominant.

The Happy Puppy book is good if you're a newbe dog owner.

@Ilikewinter, your pup is programmed to stick to like glue at the moment - it's what keeps pups safe, and you'll be glad of it when you start working on recall! They start to get more independent around 16 weeks - although once a border collie chooses you, you are THEIR human, and you will be the centre of their world.

'how' = 'home' (I really want an edit button)

@SweetLathyrus yes! Distinguished, that’s the word I was looking for!

Definitely interested in the gun dog training as Wolfpup's father and 30ish ancestors are FTch. He's done more destroying of my garden today. He's lovely when he's asleep

@Wolfcub

Definitely interested in the gun dog training as Wolfpup's father and 30ish ancestors are FTch. He's done more destroying of my garden today. He's lovely when he's asleep

Yes, I have to get used to the idea that the back garden is going to look like a scene from All's Quiet on the Western Front again - Sweet dog had just about stopped the worst of the digging - I'll just have to re-focus on the front garden .

Ooh that relief when they finally flop - I'm beginning to remember, it's like having a baby isn't it? Your brain blocks the worst bits out so that you are prepared to do it all over again!

Jobs for this week will be booking in at the vets (our vet has had a really good covid system, but it does mean that it takes longer to get an appointment). And talk to the nutritionist at Millie's Wolfheart about transitioning a pup to their food.

Afternoon all, can I join?

This is BabyMothership. 13 week springer spaniel. He came home a week last Saturday and it's been manic ever since! He's been really good up until today when we went out to have a harness fitted.. came home with a new chew and the 4 year old went to greet him and he turned aggressive, then became aggressive with me when I tried to move him away. Luckily I'd already put a call in to a trainer and they happened to call me back about 15 mins after it happened. He is calling me back to talk properly tonight. BM has settled again now and it's acting normal again but it's put the wind up me a bit. I think it was bad timing but need to ensure that it was a one off  we are at the vets tomorrow for a Health check so I'm going to mention it to them also..

Here he is.. like butter wouldn't melt...

[quote ashmts]@DanisEndo The Facebook group Dog Training Advice and Support was the biggest help for me. I also had Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy (book) which was easy to read and helps you see things from the dog's point of view. Each to their own re training and you need to do what works for your family and your dog, but I will say crate training has been really worth it for us. After she was spayed she could rest in there (and after she had a wee accident recently we could pop her in and know she wasn't at risk of hurting herself), she isn't phased by crates at the vet/daycare/overnight boarding, etc. There are a lot of pros. We don't really have the space either, the crate is in our living room under the stairs. The place looks a shambles but needs must. It also doesn't need to be permanent, I was thinking we might ditch the crate at about a year old but actually now we're almost there I think we'll just keep it.[/quote]
Thanks so much for your reply @ashmts I'll defo check that group and book out! Heard a lot of great reviews of both of those now.

We've not ruled out having the crate completely to be honest.... Its more I worried that starting training with a crate to remove it later down the line could cause more issues than just training without one.

But we have plenty of time before we welcome a bundle of fluff to get reading, make a decision and find a home for it if we do decide to use a crate :)

Thebrokenmothership I am no expert but he would just have been protective of his new chew? You would have had your guard down as he is just a little cute thing just now. But I guess a reminder for you to be careful and watch out for any resource guarding. Always leave pup alone when with a chew or eating. I am sure the trainer will be able to give you some good advice. It is unsettling I would be the same as you, but I am sure it can be managed/sorted easily

Ilikewinter i have a border collie pup age 5 months now so I have recently been through all this. Is it your first puppy/dog? The bitey phase is pretty intense. She would go crazy in the evenings especially and I would take her in the garden and let her charge around while I sat on the kids climbing frame, just to get a break for my ankles !

Ah he is gorgeous @LadyCatStark very like life pup

@SweetLathyrus I've been trying to swap my pup onto millies wolf heart country mix and although she seems to love it, she keeps choking on the kibble as it's big kibble and she's been sick 3 days with whole bits of undigested kibble! Not sure what to do as it's a better quality than wainwright's/James well beloved she came to us on but perhaps she's not ready? Is your older dog on millies?

This was our pup at 3 months old

@shaniashania he's a puggle. He just loves to chew!

Wolfpup has had his second jabs. He's put on 1.5kg in two weeks! He loved the vet and the vet thought he was lovely and calm and gorgeous. I did say to the vet well you didn't see him 30 mins ago when he was going totally mental for the fourth time today. Any top tips to stop biting welcomed. Frankly nothing I've read has any impact on him

Wolfcub have you tried saying no firmly then everyone leave the room for 30 seconds? This worked best for us. Initially we were doing the person who was being bitten was leaving the room but that wasn’t working as pup wasn’t left alone which is what she doesn’t want

Turquoise yes I'm trying that which is great if I'm in the kitchen which I don't mind if he destroys but doesn't work when we're in the living room if he starts. If I left him in there I would have no sofa to return to I think

I'm watching puppy school. Puppy classes booked and start in three weeks but it's only a four week course

Hi all, I fell off the last thread but still here

DoodlePup is now 10.5 weeks and doing really well. He’s very bouncy around strangers and jumping up a lot which we will need to work on, but is a delight otherwise. Sleeping well, not too mouthy or biting, very affectionate

I am struggling with not leaving the house much though. I can’t wait until we can get him out of the house to play properly

@Wolfcub can your puppy go for walks yet? Billy’s biting greatly reduced when he could go out for walks and now that he can have chews like pizzle sticks. He only bite now when tired or hungry so we either put him in his crate for a nap or feed him if it’s a meal time.

@Aria20, Sweet dog has been on Millie's since he was about 10 months, before that he was on Canagan which is similar quality but they do a separate puppy kibble. I changed because he got bored with Canagan, with Millie's as long as we stay with the same protein % we change to something different each month. I would talk to Millie's they have a really good helpline, have you tried moistening the kibble?