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

The vet trip was a success. While we waited for the cat check up I stood outside with Pele-pup and we watched traffic. He was in my arms - heavy! - but he was only mildly interested, not concerned even when a bis braked loudly. Vet commented that he was from a well-adjusted and confident litter.

However, when we asked when pup could go out, he said that as we live right on a major dog walking footpath to the beach we should wait till six months to walk him along it. "You don't know the health status of any of those dogs"

I can't think how we can do this. Our house opens onto a T-junction of two footpaths, so our drive gets lots of dog visits as well.

Six months. That's bonkers. I live right on a major dog walking footpath and we've been out from 12 weeks. You could go anywhere and not know the health status of dogs that have been there

I wonder if DH misheard, but he seemed very sure that was what the vet said. DH quoted him saying drive to the beach and only take him below the tide line.
There is no car access to our local beach, so we'd have to go to the next town, and that will be busier than our footpath only beach.

That sounds bonkers! Double check when you get his jabs done I’d say.

That was at his second jab appointment. DH was asking about puppy class. Apparently that will be fine, it's just the sheer number of assorted dogs that pass here. Which is one f the reasons we moved to this house.

Sorry 🤦‍♀️ I’m not a vet but that sounds really extreme to me…

@Aria20 I treated myself to Hunter wellies during the snow last winter cos my Amazon ones had no grip. The insole rubbed away within a week so not worth the money.

@pelagra 6 months sounds insane, I'm struggling to understand the logic behind that. Surely once your pup is fully vaccinated it's fine. Assuming you're in the UK and it's a normal risk. Presumably other families take their puppies to the beach along that footpath so I can't see why yours is different just cos it lives there. Could be maybe have said wait another 6 weeks?

@ashmts your hunters wore away? I've had mine for a couple of years with no issues they are perfect and going strong!

Can't believe you are all tempting me to shop for winter boots in the middle of summer!

@Aria20 Yup! Bought them on the recommendation of a few people I know who have had no issues, I must just have been unlucky. Maybe it's the way I walk or something? Unfortunately it was right in the middle of lockdown so I never took them back. £80 down the drain.

6 months sounds bonkers! I’d ring the practice and ask for a second opinion, tbh.

We have had our first trip to the woods today! We only did a very short meander, with lots of stops, but Spudpup met some dogs and children, and saw bikes and pushchairs. Then we had a coffee at the coffee shop (it’s a Forest Holidays place) and watched the world go by.

He has come home, eaten lunch, and collapsed in a heap behind the kitchen chair

This afternoon we are going to meet up with my friend so he can see horses, cows and farm machinery! He’s going to be comatose this evening (I hope)

Hello, can I join you, we are getting a puppy next week. I had felt terribly organised, but now have gone into full panic mode due to having asked too many people for advice/read too many books with different opinions....

Slightly worried im going to fuck this all up and be that dog owner everyone else tuts about.

@MargosKaftan ours arrives next week too, we can be paranoid dog mums together 😂 love the username btw!!!

I've got a crate (yet to be constructed), a car carrier thing, a bed, some toys, food bowls, puppy pads, about a months worth of the food she's been weaned on, and a room divider thing to keep her to half the kitchen when we want to be able to limit it a bit. Bought insurance.

On the face of it, we are organised but don't feel it now. (Only been planning this for over a year...)

@pelagra that's bonkers and absolutely not advice to listen to! We literally live INSIDE a park which is heaving with dogs and vet said one week after jabs.

@MargosKaftan I was exactly the same in the lead up to getting H. My anxiety went through the roof and I considered not getting him after months of excitement. In the end we had a pre-puppy session with a behaviourist; cost £130 but did me the world of good having someone to question! In hindsight it was overkill but it really settled my anxiety.

Anyway, once pup arrives you'll get over the worry and just be too busy and falling in love! This thread is here for any issues you encounter.

@MargosKaftan sounds like you’ve got it under control. First few days/week(s) just about bonding and making puppy feel safe and secure I reckon! I’d ditch the puppy pads and just focus on going out to toilet regularly (after food/water/playing and every 30 mins when awake).

I’d read so much before but needed to then re-read specific things again as I was ready for them so. Still do now as we want to work on something or remember something!

Can anyone offer any tips on how to get Pupster to stop latching onto clothes (and sometimes fingers)? We have tried ignoring (not easy when it's a finger), shrieking, teaching 'leave it' with a toy. For some reason he is the worst with one particular daughter which is breaking my heart.

I would probably keep him separate from dc as much as possible while you teach him as it’s hard on children. And I would go zero tolerance to any mouthing of people. The second that mouth goes onto you, everything stops - no fuss, no eye contact, no fun. If that isn’t enough, walk out of the room and shut the door behind you, leaving him alone. Then go back in after a short time and carry on as if nothing happened, but if he does it again, repeat. Every time. Don’t let it get to the stage of being a nip, don’t even allow gentle mouthing. No mouths on people, ever. Any mouths on people equates to no more company, fuss or play.

Well, I’d say that Spudpup is broken He has met horses (very exciting, but refused to play even when he woofed at them), cows (ditto), a baby (no woofing there, but highly sniffable toes), been around a stable yard and smelt everything at least three times, and best of all met my mate’s fox terrier bitch, then went to her house for a cuppa and played with said fox t with great enthusiasm, and a few thoroughly well earned tellings off from her for bouncing on her a bit too hard! It’s full circle as Spuddog gave her a few lessons in dog etiquette when she was a pup, and now it’s her turn to pass those lessons on 😊 He has had a wonderful time and was even too knackered to yodel too much in the car on the way home. He’s now flaked out in bed, I suspect we won’t have too much trouble from him tonight 👍💤

Also, he needs a bigger bed… he’s already slightly bigger than my friend’s dog 😳🙈

@spudlet - you have a very cute doggo!

I just went and spent yet more at pets at home - this time additional bedding, treats and chew toys.

I'm going to have to ask stupid questions. Can I apologise in advance?

First stupid question, do I need an additional bin for poo bags?

I really love my pup and feel like she’s doing really well in so many things, but she just will not leave the cat alone and it’s causing major stress. We try to keep them apart as much as possible but it’s not always possible like when we take her out to the toilet. It also means she can’t just follow me through the house (in case she encounters the cat) so I get absolutely nothing done because I have sit in one room with her all the time, because she won’t be alone. It also feels so mean on the poor cat who is really people focused and affectionate but now has to be shut out all of the time and gets hardly any time with us but sits outside of the lounge door crying. I knew it would be tricky but I didn’t know it would be this hard and thought the excitement would have worn off by now. Worried I’ve made a huge mistake and ruined the poor cat’s life

I’ve contacted some local trainers for some help (for me really rather than the pup) but they’re all so busy, hopefully I hear back soon.

Nice to hear everyone’s progress though and @Spudlet Spudpup sounds absolutely lovely

@Jloco that sounds tricky. Loads of people have cats too so hopefully someone with something helpful to say will be able to suggest things for you.

@MargosKaftan ask away - no stupid questions, if you’re thinking then others will have too! Re poo bin, no you don’t need a different one, but just be aware your outside bin will hum 🤣 it’s best when they do it on a walk near a public bin 🤣

We have a separate bin for poo bags and I then transfer the contents on collection day. It means I can still get in the bin and trample it down if required.

Another full day and tired puppy. So good to be able to get out the house. Just need to find somewhere that isn't the garden but not quite as many distractions for some more training. Way too overwhelmed today to listen to a word we said - too many new sights and sounds.