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

Wouldn't worry too much about pups being asleep at training. Obviously better if they're up for it, but the trainer trains the humans one hour a week, and the real progress comes from the homework!

Woo hoo, we slept in our own bed last night. Pup downstairs in crate, up once for a wee, once for a bit of reassurance but slept otherwise from 11 - 7am. Considering she normally has breakfast at 6am it was a surprise.

Any advice on whether we should do anything different to reduce the need for the reassurance? Literally just have to show our face and she'll settle back down to sleep. Ignoring just leads to her getting more worked up and then she won't settle down again. I'm hoping it will just come with time and once we're out and about with exploring a bit more now she's fully vaccinated. I've tried puppy music previously and that didn't seem to make a difference.

Can I join you? This is Pele-pup, who is 10 weeks.

He has been at home for two nights, and I'm already feeling sleep deprived. We've only had adult rescues, so a pup is a whole new challenge. Mostly he is a dream dog, apart from this morning when he was swinging from the hem of my nightie in the garden. He's come from a family home and grown up with both his parents around, so he is quite doggy socialised.

Second jabs today - how soon after that can they go out? We'd like to go to a puppy class next Tuesday, but that might be a bit soon?

We had jabs on Weds and vet said fine to go to puppy class today, but ask whilst your there.

What is pele-pup? Looks like he's going to be a big boy

We are about to go to an outdoor puppy class. Its absolutely pissing it down!

Outdoor puppy classes are great though, much better for learning to work around distractions! It is an all weather game though. I always knew which bits of my big dog coat I’d missed with the wax after I’d taught a couple of classes in the rain

Spudpup slept until 6 again this morning, and took himself back to bed (in a huff) until 7 because I was Mrs Boring again. Hoping he’ll cotton onto us not being chirpy morning types soon

AwesomePup sleeps til 6 every morning now, and I sometimes think he'd sleep longer if he didn't hear people getting up. Our puppy classes are outside too, ours is tomorrow morning and the forecast is for heavy rain🌧️🌧️🌧️. Never mind, I'll take a waterproof for me, and a towel for him in the car.

Hi all,

FawkesPup is now registered at vet with his healthcare plan set up and I'm now looking at insurance.

Where do I start??!! Any recommendations?

Bought by Many is what I think we’ve got - it was recommended on here and by friends in ‘real life’. I will check but I’ve got a feeling the recommendation is the lifetime cover as otherwise anything wrong then is not covered in subsequent years… or something like that! DH works in an insurance related field so that was his job, but I will check! You should get I think 4 weeks cover from your breeder anyway so you will have time.

Yes I've got 4 weeks cover. Definitely want lifetime cover. I'm insurance qualified from years back before I was a teacher....but houses and cars aren't quite the same 🤣

@GuyFawkesDay You should get 4 weeks free from your breeder as PP says. Personally we had to claim within that 4 weeks as pup ate a stone (I overreacted and got her x-rayed, when in reality she was fine) so we had to stick with Petplan as any gastro conditions or any ingestion of a foreign object then would have counted as pre-existing and wouldn't be covered if we switched So be aware of that. Even if you don't claim, any vet visit can count as pre-existing. Also be aware that if you read the T&Cs having two insurance policies can void both so if the breeder has Petplan and you want Bought by Many you can't just get both. Personally I can't complain about Petplan, we've claimed twice and they've paid out really quickly. Although we've not had to renew yet so not sure what premiums will be going forward. Bought by Many also get a good name, I would have gone for their lifetime cover given the choice. Just make sure you get good annual cover amount, as bills add up quickly. We were £400 for observation and a painkiller...

Yes, I will make sure we get cover with decent annual limit/none and excess as I can guarantee I will be a paranoid dog mum and....it's a spaniel puppy so basically everything is going in his mouth for about 2 years isn't it?!!?

I'm eyeing up some country boots to do the long walks in once he's old enough to do more than titchy walks, talk about going over the top i just like shopping!!!

@GuyFawkesDay I would deffo get the boots! Especially if you’re got a bit park/wood type area with soft ground - we start out for quite a while, barely moving but lots of sniffing in those early walks and warm waterproof boots with much appreciated! Looking forward to being able to do longer walks next year when he’s a bit older!

We've gone with Insure your Paws, as they offered a higher annual limit. An orthopaedic problem with the cat taught us just how expensive treatments can be.

Pele-pup is a Cesky Fousek, the cutest breed you've never heard of. We had to insure him as "Pointer" as none of the insurance companies know about them either.

@GuyFawkesDay I can totally recommend Tuffa Suffolks as warm boots! I had a pair for years and covered goodness knows how many miles in them, I was so sad when they finally gave up the ghost 😭 And now I can’t afford any new ones

Or I have neoprene wellies from Gumleaf, also excellent and warm 👍

Thanks @Spudlet I was looking at Dublin river boots or muckboots so those are on the list! It's muddy fields and towpaths and woods out here so needed!!

Well, avoid Rydales, that’s my advice. I had a pair and they lasted no time at all. I had wet feet the whole time, it was so annoying.

You definitely need some good boots for winter with a dog! Wonder if I can sneak another pair of Suffolks past DH on those grounds… probably not

Bought by Many are great. I claimed £500 for H last year, and my premium went DOWN by £4 this year!

Highly recommend Grubs wellies. At the moment I'm surviving in waterproof hiking boots and I'm very glad of my waterproof trousers

@Spudlet my ancient pair of mountain horse yard boots are on their last legs (after 10+ years!!) so will definitely buy some decent quality. Good boots are am essential.

I already have a dog walking coat (apparently!) I just bought it for playground duty but it's got a treat pocket 🤣

Christmas presents easy for me this year!!!! FawkesPup coming home on Tuesday!!

Survived our first puppy class. She wasn't the one to pee on the hall floor so that's always a bonus :-) A lot of repeating of work we've already done, but the distraction element of 5 other puppies is well worth it. Hopefully should sleep well tonight, she's already snoozing alongside me.

Can recommend muck boots - even now in the summer, we take pup out early and it's so dewy on the grass, they are great to and have decent grip.

I have my hunters wellies and their thick welly socks for the winter and my sketchers for when it's not to wet/muddy. I forgot about dew on the fields the other money, took the pup out early due to the heat and was wearing a dress and sandals and my feet got all wet and grassy!

Morning not money! And too not to! Think my phone is still half asleep like me!

Pup slept til we came down at 7.45 today as my youngest was up in the night so we weren't up as early. Poor thing normally has breakfast at 7 so she wolfed it down!