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

We haven't really had to do any toilet training, she just takes herself out if the door is open or waits by the door if not. Definitely the easiest part of the whole puppy thing so far.

@GuyFawkesDay I’d second losing the puppy pads. We followed the advice on the DTAS group to take out every half hour when awake, after eating and drinking and more/after playing. We haven’t had a single accident, although think a lot was down to our breeder too. If you take them out and they don’t go, bring in but keep paws off floor so carry or hold on lap then go out again 10 mins later and repeat. We never woke him up when asleep but slept right next to him initially and if he woke took him out. It was probably the thing I was most worried about and actually was totally fine! He very quickly would go to back door if he wanted to go out and I’d say we watched him like a hawk for at least three weeks because of my paranoia in a beige carpeted rented house 🤣🤣🤣

Pls can some one link to the boot divider for cars pls

I think these were the ones mentioned - I was having a look the other day! www.travall.co.uk/dog-guard?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0emHBhC1ARIsAL1QGNc59CmXOBdwMlY2o6Xt2xvqndnAs-yvLGFvoc08BBxoQjbFPfx9IecaAqkCEALw_wcB

Sorry that takes you to the guards these are the dividers I think www.travall.co.uk/divider

@MrsHerculePoirot that's great thank you. I know the breeder was using pads as the pups were using them when I visited.

I've got laminate downstairs so nothing absorbent and appealing so I'll try the frequent trips to the garden pen and not setting alarms.

My friend got a puppy at 12 weeks and is struggling to toilet train. I am back at work in September (FH is home but won't be able to watch like a hawk as he WFH) so really want some progress by then 🙈

You’ll deffo see progress by then I’m sure. I do think we were lucky and our breeder had started the process thought tbf. I went back to work after we’d had him a week and DH had taken two weeks off before going back to WFH but he actually went back the second week and just worked downstairs… the toileting was fine, it was more the dive bombing attacks when puppy was awake and wanted to play with his wired headset 🤣🤣🤣 I’ve got a brilliant video 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ It did settle and when they can have longer chewy things at 12 weeks and go out for walks it definitely got easier so reckon you’ll be good by then.

@GuyFawkesDay you’ll have long cracked it by September! We still have an almost full pack of puppy pads in the cupboard under the sink so I agree they’re not needed.

Billy had another super achievement today when we went to the beach and he decided to chase a flock of seagulls 😂. I called him back from some distance and he came running straight back! I was impressed with that level of recall when there was something far more interesting going on!

@GuyFawkesDay Cocker spaniel here too. Mine was toilet trained for poos in 5 weeks and pees in 8 weeks, and I think that was slow for a spaniel. It was November/December though so we were probably all a bit reluctant to go out as much as we should have. And that's completely toilet trained, as in no accidents since then (well, one I think when she got too excited).

Ours didn't like the bowl at first, have you got a snuffle mat? That kept her busy for 10 mins or so when she was little.

In my experience of a spaniel pup, the best laid plans... Roll with the punches You can get stuff on Amazon or at Pets at Home when you work out what you need, I honestly don't think anyone can be fully prepared.

Spuddog was a cocker! Here is one of my favourite old pictures of him. That squirrel went up here Dad, so I thought I’d go too…

The future holds many fun times for all you spangle owners 👍

Thanks for the linky

Life pup first trip to the beach to night and he loved it. Not over keen on getting in the car as he’s had more vets trips than nice trips. Good as good once he is in

Awww thanks everyone! @Spudlet I love how they do mad stuff. Part of the spaniel fun is the fact they're hilarious!

I only got puppy pads for free so I haven't purchased any so I've not lost anything 👍

Hopefully will have cracked a fair bit. I am following easy peasy puppy and also seen couple of other things which is basically every 30 minutes plus after eat/drink/sleep/play and then at night wait to be woken don't wake the puppy and go from there. My friend has a puppy done in 3 weeks totally and no accidents since so we might get lucky. I'll see how we go.

I am SO excited its ridiculous.

How long until puppy day @GuyFawkesDay?

A week/10 days!!!

Another stress, the vets couldn’t fit the pup in until next week when she’ll be 11 weeks so with the 2 week wait afterwards, she’ll be 13 weeks, will I have massively missed the boat for socialisation?

She’s had quite a few (human) visitors and is great with them but not met any dogs yet. I’ve taken her on a few carried walks but not done too much over the past few days in the heat. I have quite a lot planned for her this weekend if it cools down! Just meeting other dogs that’s we’ll struggle with.

Jloco has she had any vaccinations at all yet? I know some experts think socialisation is more important than waiting for second vaccines

@Turquoisesol

Jloco has she had any vaccinations at all yet? I know some experts think socialisation is more important than waiting for second vaccines

Yes, she’s had her first ones at 8 weeks. That’s interesting, thank you! I think I’m right in saying that they can meet up with other vaccinated dogs too so maybe I’ll see if I can arrange a play date before then. I don’t know too many dogs but might see if I can find a willing neighbour!

Thank you

In good news, little pup took herself (and a few toys) off to bed in her crate tonight! We’ve been following the steps on the DTAS Facebook group and had only just got to the stage of laying down in there for treats so it’s a bit unexpected and probably won’t happen consistently yet, but I’m pleased that she at least seems to have some positive associations with it!

@Jloco I believe the socialisation window goes to 16 weeks. Our vet said after 2nd jab she could go on pavement walks straight away and wait a week for field walks, 2 weeks for near rivers/lakes etc crazy how all vets are different.

Can you carry pup to local park and just people watch on a bench? Or outside a supermarket as all sorts of different people coming and going, wheelchairs, walking sticks, push chairs etc and different noises and smells from cars and from the shop x

I thought socialisation was about getting used to lots of different sights and sounds and experiences, it's not about meeting other dogs? I'm hoping to have a trip to a coffee shop and the high street this week. So hot last week we didn't go anywhere that needed a car journey, we only watched the world from the end of the driveway. Our road is reasonably busy so we often have cars, cyclists, motorbikes, sirens, tractors etc.

We had a BBQ yesterday evening and tizwozpup was so very well behaved then zonked. Had to make sure no one took her home with them as everyone was very taken with her, they only saw her good side ;-)

Thanks for the reminder, I've registered FawkesPup at the vets, and once I know his first Vax date I will book in ASAP for second one as I believe they've got a bit of a wait.

Pup is nearly 6 months, the longest she's been left home alone is 2.5 hours and she was fine. Tomorrow we are going over to the in-laws for lunch, originally the plan was for pup to come too but only in their garden as FIL doesn't really like dogs and won't have them in the house. Forecast now is heavy rain and thunder so the garden is not an option anymore. DH suggested putting her in her crate in their garage - I said no that will distress her as she won't be used to that and will be alone, can't see us etc so she'll be better off at home on her own. Trouble is I'm not sure how long we'll be... MIL says lunch at X time and it's inevitably later than planned and then we can't just be rude and go straight after lunch they are a 20 min drive away as well so I'd imagine we'll be 3-3.5 hours will pup be ok?? I'll walk her before so she's tired and leave her in kitchen so she can roam and have access to water, her bed, toys etc and I'll leave a stuffed kong and some kibble in her snuffle mat. I'm not sure what else I can do really?

Thanks everyone, that’s really reassuring!

We’ve done a fair amount of watching the world go by but will definitely focus on that this weekend now it’s cooler too. We live on a busy new build estate near a train line so she’s getting used to loud noises, lorries going past and dogs barking etc. but a trip to outside a supermarket sounds like a good idea! There’s also a pet food shop nearby I’m going to take her to today

@Jloco bet she'll love the pet shop as usually you'll see other dogs in there and the staff always stroke them and fuss over them. My pup loves watching the rabbits in our pet shop but she jumps back if they move closer to her wimp

We did our first puppy class this morning. AwesomePup is absolutely zonked!!! He's also very, very full of all the delicious treats her was given. We had a 15 min car journey to get there, so dd2 was giving him a steady stream of treats to keep him happy in the car, then an hour's class where he was given treats for every little thing, then the 15 min car ride home again with more treats. I don't think he needs lunch today.