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

@Spudlet I resolved that problem by buying a julius K9 seatbelt clip and then running it between the middle seat and the boot so I can clip him on his harness and he can't get out of the boot while I shut the door.

Thanks @ashmts I'll look into going back to 4. He's nearly 12 weeks now.

I was in two minds about the en suite but that's what the breeder did. He's going back there on Friday for two weeks while we go on holiday for two weeks (I didn't really think this through) so I need to keep things consistent.

I'll be honest, I'm willing to trade off longer toilet training for uninterrupted sleep. From a mental health perspective I really need my sleep.

He's been fine with accidents in the house.

This afternoon I caught him about to have a poo inside and intercepted him and took him out, but apart from that there have been no accidents anywhere else.

The nipping seems to be worse when my son is around. He's 12 and spends a lot of time upstairs. When he comes down and we all sit on the sofa the puppy seems to go hyper and constantly nips at my feet. It's almost as if he wants my undivided attention

@Wolfcub I might have to try that. We’ve just managed two short calm stints on the drive with the cheesy Kong thing. I sat on the back seat and waggled it. The second time I let the engine idle for a moment, then we got out again. About to offer him dinner in the boot as well - anything to build some happy associations with the car as we’re going back to the vets for wormer next week!

Hello my first ever puppy arrives home to us at the weekend. Do I need to buy any of the puppy cooking toys that I've seen in pet shops? He is already spoilt rotten but I'll get them if they will help him be a chilled happy boy!!

What sort of cooking toys?

[quote Wolfcub]@MorningInspiration pup has slept in my room from the outset and will stay there for life. He's no trouble at night [/quote]
Well I cursed myself by saying this. Wolfpup has been a pain in the arse all night for the first time

@Wolfcub aww I am sorry for jinxing your night time routine! Guessing he was fussy with the heat? Or just being a pain in the bum.

Morning pup is an OK sleeper, however he usually wakes at 5am for a wee (which is too early for us so we take him out no fuss); we put back after said wee and then bring on the barks until we get up.

I think we will start training to sleep downstairs. I originally had no preference but feel sorry for my neighbours who sleep in the room adjacent to us in the semi.

He is barking at my from his playpen as I type but I am ignoring with the knowledge that breakkie is 6.30am, not on morningpup's dictation

Morning all, after reading for a few weeks prior to getting our pup, and then being reassured in whose first few (painful) weeks of him being here that everything was totally normal, I’ve decided to join you.

Ynyshirpup is a 14 week old Springerdoodle and is both an absolute joy and an absolute terror

I can’t thank you all enough for sharing your experience as they’ve really helped me, so here I am to join in and hopefully provide help to others.

Welcome @YnyshirGal ! Congratz on your new family member. Never heard of a springer doodle so very curious to see (will google). Definitely a painful and also great first few weeks

14 weeks to me sounds like a lifetime away for us (currently 10 weeks, brought home at 8 weeks). I am sure there is a lot we can learn from your experiences too

Welcome @YnyshirGal . We are at 14 weeks here too.

I'm really enjoying these early morning just us walks we are having before it gets warm. I'm hoping I will have the willpower to keep it up even when the weather cools down.

I can't wait until we can actually get out for walks - 1 more week to go.

@tizwozliz yay 1 week is nothing! Turns out we are 2 weeks away. Apparently we can pavement walk after 1 week post 2nd vaccine but no water/forests until 2 weeks. To be extra careful, the vet said ideally not until 2 weeks + final injection.

@Nordstrom those walks sound like the dream!

I just did some lead training with Spudpup, pushed it just a tiny bit too long, and he jumped up and managed to draw blood nipping at my hand. He’s now asleep in the kitchen and I’m sitting in the living room having a break. I must admit I did growl at him when he did it, the little bugger. My fault for pushing it too far though. I didn’t realise quite how knackered he was.

Hey ho, onwards and upwards 🤕🙄

@Spudlet can you put pup on your front seat?

MaePup haaaates the car and howls the whole time. I feel so bad for her but know she needs to get used to it. She's either on the front seat if it's just us in the car, or in the back seat if MaeDog is also with us. Either makes her cry and cry. She's been on DWs lap a few times too and was just as bad. Poor baby.

Oh and MaePup can join us on walks from Friday! I'm really looking forward to it as having her in the sling and often fighting to get down is a pain. However I'm also really nervous about coping with two on two leads!

Thanks for the welcome!

The main things I've learned in the 6 weeks he's been home is that toes and arms should never be uncovered as puppy teeth are sharp, puppy training involves way more treats than I ever though you should feed a dog and much like newborn babies, he is cutest when he's asleep

I'll add a photo for tax soon but as I've only recently signed up it won't let me at the moment

puppy training involves way more treats than I ever though you should feed a dog

So true!

We're still experimenting with higher value treats alongside regular kibble. Chicken is a big hit, we also have some nature's menu treats which are good (and easy to split). We start puppy classes at the end of next week so need to make sure we have something super attractive.

@MeredithMae TBH I think he’d jump into my lap or nip at my hands on the gearstick - it just wouldn’t be safe. However, we did some car practice this morning, and he settled in the car for a short time with his cheesy treat toy thing. He got a bit whingey when I started the car, but he calmed down again, and then I turned it off, opened the boot, gave him a cuddle, then got him interested in the cheese again and shut the boot once more, and he was fine. Then I called it quits. It’s just a question of baby steps, I think, and building his confidence so the car becomes a good place. I hope that once we go on some exciting walks that will help too, although we still have a week and a half before his jabs are in full effect.

He’s still asleep! That pup must have been shattered.

Tizwoz try herta chicken frankfurters they hit the smelly tasty dog criteria and are 91% chicken. You can freeze them individually so you are only cooking one at once

I got a tin of Aldi’s finest Ye Olde Oake hotdog sausages. I’ve diced them up and frozen them in little portion bags. Spudpup luuuurves them, and they were really cheap. I don’t even want to know what’s in them 😬

I bought dog hot dogs from the pet aisle in Morrisons. AwesomePup LOVES them. I chop them up really small and take about a quarter of a sausage out on each walk for recall rewards.

AwesomePup doesn't like the car either. I'm doing very short journeys with a cheese/peanut butter Kong in the boot with him to get to exciting walks. He still cries unless dd2 is feeding him a constant supply of treats, which is fine until I want/need to take him out on my own, at which point he just has to cry for the 5 minute(or less) journey.

Sharky Spudpup woke up, so we went for a wee then back to the car with the hot dog sausages. I scattered a few bits in the boot, waited until he reeeeally wanted to get in, lifted him up, let him find them, put him back down, then repeated a few times. Didn’t shut the lid as it was getting warm, even though the car was in the shade. He seemed pretty happy to be there though.

Then lunch, which he was reluctant to eat again - I put some water on it but he didn’t want to know until I went to take it away again, at which point he wanted a few bites, then repeat. Such a little weirdo. He ate lost of it, quite a lot off the floor after I spilt some putting it into the bin! Then he’s been to the loo again and rustled around the garden a bit, and now he’s asleep on the kitchen floor once more.

@MarleneDietrichsSmile

What sort of cooking toys?

Oops sorry puppy cooling toys I mean 🤣

@MorningInspiration I remember counting down the days until we could take sushipup on her first walk! Our vet was appalled that we hadn't taken her on little walks before her second jab. He seemed to think the local risk was very low and that socialisation/ exploring the environment on her own four paws was more important. I wished we had known the risk level locally earlier as those first weeks stuck at home were HARD and finally getting out two to three times a day for mini adventures was so brilliant for her and us.

@ilovesushi thank you so much for sharing your experiences! I think we will start little pavement walks too. I am worried about the lack of socialisation and my trainer was under the impression after 1 week its ok. I have to admit staying inside with a highly energetic dog is starting to drive me a bit crazy!

For anyone struggling with staying in with a tuggy monster I found a flirt pole (think really big cat toy) that is his favourite thing ever. Also gives your hands and arms a nice distance from the mouth Also proving VERY durable. Albeit looks a bit weird in the box with no context! Name is: YILAKO Flirt Pole Dogs Handmade Dog Toys Outdoor Funny Interactive Dog Toys Durable Indestructible Chasing Tail Teaser and Training Toy Chewing Rope for Dog

As for hotdogs, I've found some delicious cheap jar ones which I will ration. Like @Spudlet no idea what's in them but if I can find those dog ones I will make a swap. For now it's questionable hot dog meats!