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 use a seatbelt lead in the boot because otherwise challenge pup would jump out the minute I open it (despite ongoing boundary training!). I used a double ended clip to attach it to one of the anchor spots in the boot and attach it to his harness. It's very short so he can't jump out but he still has plenty of mobility in there. Would it be worth trying something where you attach a lead? Then you could secure him and give him some treats and fuss before closing the boot, rather than holding him in, and he's very secure. I'm hoping to get rid of it eventually, as he's secure in the boot with a guard, but it's a useful tool now.

Breeder sent Sporting Alpha Puppy which he went off quickly, moved to this www.caspianpets.co.uk/collections/puppy-food/products/chicken-with-sweet-potato-carrots-peas-puppy-feed and regular, firm poos, far less stinky and far less farty! Having explored the dog food website linked above have a sample of Guru Pet Food to try as balance of nutrition and cost seem good for the future.

Spudpup and wolfpup could be twins. I also use a seatbelt clip and run it though to the boot from the rear seats

Argh thought our barking had improved but today has been a bad barky day! DH has really had enough and is threatening eviction!

@Aria20 it happens! If I have a bad barky morning I get a bad afternoon too- it's like once he starts he's on a hair trigger and it's a constant battle. Tomorrow will be better!

We are getting bad barking here too. It’s mostly at birds in garden (for which we bring her in) and then it’s at noises she hears (most often bird noises). We are struggling too with what to do about it.

@familychallenge yes and at least DH back at work tomorrow so even if it is another barky day I can just deal with it. I think she was attention seeking today as we were doing housework a lot this morning and then cooking etc so even though she'd had walk and been fed and some enriching activities and a goats ear, no one had actually properly played with her. My oldest has now taken her to the park for a run around with his friend and her puppy so hopefully she'll come back chilled and not barky....

@familychallenge yes and at least DH back at work tomorrow so even if it is another barky day I can just deal with it. I think she was attention seeking today as we were doing housework a lot this morning and then cooking etc so even though she'd had walk and been fed and some enriching activities and a goats ear, no one had actually properly played with her. My oldest has now taken her to the park for a run around with his friend and her puppy so hopefully she'll come back chilled and not barky....

AwesomePup is in the boot with a car seat lead thing. So he's secure in the boot and can't jump out when I open it, but he could still have a body part in the way when I close the boot which is a worry. He does seem to lie down to enjoy his lickimat in the car the past couple of days, which is a huge improvement and has reduced my stress levels markedly. We've had successful car journeys 3 days in a row now!!

@familychallenge @Wolfcub @MsAwesomeDragon I think that’s a very good idea about the harness, I will have to get one I can get him into and try it. I think Spuddog’s old seatbelt harness would probably be too big at the moment although I could try it on for size.

We have a kurgo car harness which I picked up cheaply second hand. It's a bit of an ordeal to get on though. Long term aim is boot for short local journeys and then back seat with harness for longer trips, e.g. holidays where we want the boot space so trying to get used to both. She's not keen on the boot as it's a long way from me and she's a bit little to easily see me from there at the moment.

We just use a cheap harness, size small, from pets at home at the minute. Mine is a lab, 17 weeks, I think yours is a lab too isn't he? He's already secure and safe in the boot with a guard, it's just too keep him in there while I close and open the boot to get him in and out, so I didn't feel the need to get an expensive harness. We almost need the next size up though, which we have got a better quality harness ready and waiting for him.

MsAwesome try and teach mind your nose so pup goes to the back of the boot when you shut the lid. We found this hard to teach as pup was too stressed in the boot for biscuits but luckily he just got it, although is being a bit of a git at the moment and is trying to hang a paw out of the boot which is unhelpful

My boot has tinted windows so main problem is with a black dog it's not easy to even see where she is as you're opening/closing the boot.

Hit the 'oh god what have I done?' panic stations tonight. Have convinced myself I'm going to end up with a mad spaniel who is menace because I'm totally incompetent!

@BridgeFarmKefir what a CUTIE!

We finally cracked crate training this weekend thanks to our guests staying over and I can say it has changed the game for us.

@GuyFawkesDay you will be fine. You may not feel that way on the first week, but you will get there! Good luck

Can anyone talk to me about lick mats, recommendations for a good brand and what to put on them

@GuyFawkesDay 9 months in and I feel that way, mine was an absolute git today. We went to visit my parents and she spent the whole time pinging about their living room and climbing on people. Then we went a walk with her on the long line and she was just a nightmare. Yesterday we had a really good day as well, she was so settled in the house and we had a great off-lead walk and I even got a video of her doing some great loose lead walking! Good days and bad days.

@HappyThursdays Happy birthday Happy! (Lots of happies in that sentence!). 4 more weeks for us, can't believe it.

Collect my pup in 3 days time. Reading through and am terrified
Will I be able to work again?
Will my family be consistent in training ?
Will I ever sleep in bed again?

Fuck - picking up puppy this morning. Had an allergic reaction to something yesterday and whole not too bad, im not fit to drive. Left side of my face is a mess, can barely open that eye and my ear isn't right, balance off.

Dh can drive but that means have to being dcs with me, so puppy travel thing will have to go in the boot. Was planning to just take dc1 with me to sit in the back with carrier with him.

This will be fine. Its just an hours drive.

Omg, I have just tried Spuddog’s seatbelt harness on Spudpup and, with a bit of adjustment… it just about fits I mean there’s a little growing room, but not a lot….

Help me, I went shopping for a dog and I’ve purchased a baby elephant

@MargosKaftan Noooo, I hope you feel a lot better soon! Pup will be just fine though. 👍

@GuyFawkesDay All spaniels are slightly mad little menaces… it’s part of their charm though And they make up for it in many, many ways! Embrace the madness, it’s good for the soul 👍

thanks @ashmts

I agree about mad spaniels @GuyFawkesDay. Happy was actually a great puppy and then he hit teenagerdom and basically one day out on a lovely walk, I recalled him (as he had brilliant recall up to that point) and he turned around, I could see the look on his face and basically did the dog version of 2 fingers up at me and did a runner. I'm just so glad no one else was there that day as I ran round the field like a lunatic trying to catch him. I even pretended to leave at one point and he didn't give a shit. It wasn't a secure field and by the time I got him, he had gone so far!

Since then he's been, how shall I put it, wilful! We have some really good days but we also have some truly awful days. I tried to have coffee with my friend the other day and he would not stop barking at another dog on the other side of the coffee shop who he wanted to play with and then insisted on trying to sit on my lap (even though he's too big). I had to leave! then on other days, he's an absolute sweety and sits very calmly, not distracted by anything!

his trainer said spaniels are a life time of work and I can see that now but they do make up for it in other ways!

so don't fear if you look like the owner who is not in control of your spaniel as we've all been there and most people will understand!

I once got into the car and started the engine, and Spuddog STILL wouldn’t come back 🙈🙈🙈

He also jumped off two - two! - small but sheer cliffs during his lifetime (sustaining no injury whatsoever). And he once unzipped my tent and broke into my neighbour’s tent and ate their bread 🙈 And he stole someone’s walking stick and ran around them waving it, with me chasing him And of course he got stuck up a tree that time…

He was an absolute character and I loved him dearly. And you will love your mad little reprobate too And many years from now, when they’re not there any more, your life will feel so diminished. Embrace the spaniel life ❤️ Its good for the soul!

@littlebilliie

Can anyone talk to me about lick mats, recommendations for a good brand and what to put on them

We have this one because our dog is a chewer and the rubberier ones don’t last

www.viovet.co.uk/LickiMat-Tuff-Soother-Mat-for-Dogs/c72555/

As for what goes on them, you can use some of their wet food, cream cheese, yoghurt, mashed fruit or veg. But for ease we tend to use those small jars of sandwich paste that cost about 30p and just about cover a mat. Also use them to stuff kongs