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Puppy Survival Thread - June/July

985 replies

MrsHerculePoirot · 27/06/2021 13:34

Discussion of all things puppy...

Old thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/4234193-puppy-survival-thread-may?msgid=108567452

OP posts:
Thread gallery
36
mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 29/06/2021 21:29

Lol @LadyCatStark - I felt the same!

ChubbyLittleManInACampervan · 30/06/2021 08:02

Hello, can I join? Am reading through the thread and recognise lots of stuff Grin

We got our pup 2 weeks ago, he’s 10 weeks old now

Turquoisesol · 30/06/2021 09:33

When we are out for walks pup (5months) seems to really enjoy when we go to walks in forest outside the town as a family. She is happy and relaxed. But if I try to take her myself to the local woodlands she is all nervy and constantly looking around and stopping like she just isn’t enjoying herself. Not sure what to make of it. There are more town noises and a few more people, although to be honest it is fairly quiet there really

ashmts · 30/06/2021 10:15

@Turquoisesol Could be a smell? We haven't experienced anything like that but if she doesn't like walking there I probably wouldn't go there, if you can avoid it.

LadyCatStark · 30/06/2021 10:20

@Turquoisesol is she looking for the rest of the family? Billy will not walk from our house if there are family members left behind 🙈 so it’s really difficult to take him for a walk if DH is WFH!

Aria20 · 30/06/2021 10:34

@Turquoisesol I was going to say is it because he's worried it's just you? I find it easier to walk pup just me as she walks nicely to heel but if kids are with us she's excitable!

Turquoisesol · 30/06/2021 10:47

Yes she does seem to be better when we go as a group. The walk in the local woodlands I tend to do on my own so it’s difficult to tell if it’s the location or the lack of family members. Maybe we need to test going there as a group.

Turquoisesol · 30/06/2021 10:58

Difficult as I can’t always take the family with me every time for a walk !

LadyCatStark · 30/06/2021 12:44

I’ve had the same problem today. DH is WFH and I’ve tried to take Billy for his morning and lunch time walks. In the morning we didn’t even make it to the end of the drive and at lunch time I ended up carrying him to the end of the street and he pulled his way back, practically strangling himself. It’s getting really embarrassing as neighbours try to help but nothing works and they eventually need to get on their way, which I’d rather they did anyway. An older lady came out of the shop opposite our road and proceeded to give me a lecture about him only being a baby and of course he was looking in the opposite direction because that’s where our house is etc. I know what the problem is, I just have no idea how to deal with it other than the whole family coming on every walk which isn’t possible. Treats don’t work, encouragement doesn’t work, ignoring him until he starts walking doesn’t work, sometimes dropping the lead and running away from works as it makes him follow me but I worry he won’t be safe. I just don’t know, I can’t use positive reinforcement as there’s nothing to praise and if he does walk 2/3 steps, I give him loads of praise which seems to make him sit down again 🙈. The only thing I can think of is driving him to somewhere away from the street which is ridiculous as we live next to a perfect field. At the moment though, whatever I do is just reinforcing bad habits, either sitting in the street, pulling on his lead or giving up and going home which means he’s won.

Aria20 · 30/06/2021 12:49

@LadyCatStark I'd drive somewhere else then as annoying as it is at least you aren't reinforcing the bad habit then!

@Turquoisesol try going to the walk he likes with the family on your own and see if he still likes it or if he likes the group... then try going as a group to the place he doesn't like lol!

Turquoisesol · 30/06/2021 13:46

Oh sounds like a common problem then. Ladycatstark maybe a favourite toy? Have you tried that? I wondered about bringing a ball next time

Turquoisesol · 30/06/2021 13:51

I do find it embarrassing when she misbehaves in front of neighbours !

ChubbyLittleManInACampervan · 30/06/2021 15:28

@LadyCatStark how old is he? What breed?

I am sure you have tried this, but has he learned “come” as a command yet? Can you make him come over on the lead, even if just 2 or 3 steps, and give him a tiny treat and praise?

YanTanTethera123 · 30/06/2021 15:34

Thank you.
No, not Cumbrian @MsAwesomeDragon (wonderful name!), definitely West Country.
@lifelongfrugaleer I am definitely going to literally start from scratch, the poor sausage gets so worried she wees in fright 😢. Taking it very, very slowly is the answer.
She’s an absolute poppet 😍

SpreadHummusNotHate · 30/06/2021 15:50

@LadyCatStark I would perhaps drive him to those walks where you aren’t all going for now and work on the other issue separately?
For encouraging him to walk with just you I would probably start out trying to get calm behaviour on the driveway, just drop treats on the ground without saying anything/looking at them. Your pup will be sniffing out the treats and sniffing is calming. If you don’t get further than the end of the drive the first few times then no pressure because he’s had his exercise separately!

We do this with our puppy and it does calm her - our problem is more over excitement (still nuts at 9 months) but I think it could help with anxiety too

SpreadHummusNotHate · 30/06/2021 15:56

I break up these soft treats we get from Millies Wolfheart into tiny pieces, or break dried sprats up into tiny pieces, so they aren’t getting heaps of treats if we have to do it for 5 mins or so. Or you can use his dinner if you are feeding kibble, raw might not work so well Grin

LadyCatStark · 30/06/2021 16:35

Thanks everyone, he’s 14 weeks and he’s a Labrador. He does know here (rather than come) and he’s 100% on that in the garden or when he’s away from our street but absolutely nothing works when we’re near the house. I have tried a few times dropping the lead and running backwards excitedly and tapping my thighs and shouting here which worked but he gets wise to my tricks quickly enough! 😂

Our trainer came and said I was using too many treats and there was an element of him sitting as he knew he’d get a treat but she didn’t really offer an alternative other than rewarding good walking, but he won’t do any!

The only things I can think of are using more exciting treats like cheese or driving away from the house which I think I’ll have to do but it’s a massive pain!

ChubbyLittleManInACampervan · 30/06/2021 16:43

Maybe drive away from your house for a week or two, to break the reflex

Once he discovers how lovely walkies are, he may get over it

LadyCatStark · 30/06/2021 16:54

@ChubbyLittleManInACampervan I think I’ll have to as it’s just turning into a battle of wills that I can’t win 😭.

Aria20 · 30/06/2021 18:22

@LadyCatStark yes def use a different treat eg cheese or tiny piece of hotdog that's only for walks.

ashmts · 30/06/2021 18:48

@LadyCatStark he's still really little. Ours used to pull like mad to get home but it wasn't long before she'd sell her soul for a walk. I think driving somewhere to break the habit is a good plan.

MrsHerculePoirot · 30/06/2021 19:39

A trainer suggested once to drive even if two mins down the road, or drive for five mins and park really near then get out and do walk as it stops the predictability of leaving or coming back to your house and prevents them bolting somewhere especially if you cross a road usually to or from your house. Might be worth and try until he’s happier going out with just you?

OP posts:
Aria20 · 30/06/2021 19:51

Latest problem here barking at her reflection in the glass shed doors! When we first brought her home she used to do a little whimper at her reflection in the glass on oven door or fireplace but that stopped after couple days... now for the last 2 days whenever she's in the garden she's barking at her reflection constantly so I have to bring her in so neighbours don't get fed up! What can I do to stop this? It's a large home office type shed with big glass doors and our garden isn't massive so it's not like we can avoid that area of the garden.Sad

Turquoisesol · 30/06/2021 20:14

Aria20 get frosted glass cover. We had to do this for our kitchen door. You can buy on Amazon and it just goes on using a water spray and can be removed when no longer needed

Turquoisesol · 30/06/2021 20:19

We got rabbitgoo frosted window film