Puppy Survival Thread - August

[MrsHerculePoirot]

Discussion of things puppy!

Old thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/4281840-Puppy-Survival-Thread-June-July?pg=1

I'm having a better day with AwesomePup. He's had a good night's sleep, and so have I, and we've done some fantastic engagement training, then he managed some loose lead walking in his new bigger, harder to escape from, harness. Followed by some off lead fun and a nice long nap.

Awesome it's somewhere between the two. Mostly bile - this morning the horrid bright yellow stuff which I'm certain has permanently stained the carpet- but containing the biscuits and bits of toy he's eaten. On both mornings I've put his breakfast down and he's not touched it. He's a bit slow with his food anyway there are too many other interesting things going on. Will try earlier breakfast tomorrow before he gets involved with his toys and see what happens. This on top of kennel cough, decorating in a rush and new windows going in on Tuesday is all a bit bloody much. This is where another adult would come in really handy, even ds home at the moment might help

Pup is just shy of 10kg. Vet thought it would pass through without issue and said she would take a watch and wait approach if it was her own but the ultra cautious approach would be to visit out of hours vet to induce vomiting. So I think we're just going to keep fingers crossed and keep a close eye on her.

@Jigsawtrain

Joining in. Excited to be picking up our golden retriever puppy tomorrow at 8 weeks old. We have a 4 hour drive which I’m not looking forward to but think otherwise we’re all prepared.

We have a crate to crate train, is a crate cover worthwhile? I could get one today if so.

@Jigsawtrain yes definitely get a crate cover or just a large blanket to make it cozy.

@Wolfcub

Little at that age she needs to go at least every two hours. I set an alarm and woke pup up every two hours to take him out. Unless you've really sensitive hearing or a baby monitor you may not hear her when she first starts to witter to go out

I think I will do that, we are night three tonight

@littlebilliie if you can sleep right by pup you will hear when they wake and you can take them outside. I was of them school of thought I’d let sleeping pups lie, they won’t wee when asleep and so we just whipped him out as soon as he woke.

@Wolfcub I’d maybe ring vets to check? Especially with the kennel cough.

@Jigsawtrain a blanket or old blackout curtain might work too if you've got one.

@littlebilliie FawkesPup is 9 weeks today. He got me up 4 times first night but now it's less. 11:30, 2:30 and up at 5 ish seems to be where we are. We had an open crate but last night tried to little ferplast one we've borrowed and he slept all night. He had a new floofy fleece blanket and his squishy bed and was fine. I settled him to sleep sitting next to him then he woke me for a wee.

It's very like having a baby...just hoping it passes faster through the night get ups!!!

Feeling much more positive about the little pup recently. Both the vet and the groomer commented on how confident and chilled she is. Apparently she couldn’t have cared less about her injections or when the groomer ran the clippers over (to practice not cut). She’s been on her first few walks and she’s been brilliant and happily trotted along next to me. She also sleeps to about 7, goes out to the loo and then goes off again until about 9! Which did make we wonder if she was broken the first few times .

It’s not all perfect and we still haven’t cracked toilet training or leaving the cat alone (and a little bit of play biting), but I hope we’re getting there. I know we’ll probably regress in adolescence but trying to take the wins where I can because I’ve been so stressed.

I also just wanted to give a bit of encouragement to anyone with a new pup. I’ve followed the positive reinforcement from the DTAS Facebook group about crate training. It felt like we’d never get there and had so many people saying to just lock her in there and she’ll get used to it. But we persevered, she’s never once been shut in there against her will, just did the treats in there and now she takes herself off to her crate every nap time and sleeps in there very happily.

I really, really hope this doesn’t sound smug - We still have lots of challenges and I’m sure things will go backwards, but I’ve posted on here so many times at my wits end so just wanted to give some encouragement to anyone who is stressed and thinking there’s no progress!

Ah cross posted with a few - hope the poorly pups are better soon!

Pup has been sick twice today, but still seems full of beans.

I tried putting him in the garden on his own so I could clear it up...he howled

@Namechangesagain H is a nightmare about going out in the rain. I have to hold a big golf umbrella over him (while getting soaked myself!!).

@Wolfcub try bedtime biscuits. They stopped H from having the morning pukes. He liked the Lily's Kitchen ones.

Gah, DS and Spudpup have taken a bit of a backwards step 🙈 We were walking down a lane and DS (despite being told not to several times) was dancing about in front of Spudpup winding him up - so of course when DS had to hold my hand to cross the road Spudpup leapt all over him, was barking at him and swinging off his coat sleeve And of course DS was most upset by this. Kids! Of all species! 😬

Can I join please? This is Willow. 8 week old sprocker. I got her today. She's happily gone into her crate but doesn't like to be too far away from me and, so far, doesn't appear to sleep!

Aww @MightyMeerkat she’s very cute!

We had lamb Henry’s for tea and they’ve driven poor Billy wild 😂 he did get his fair share on a likimat but after tea, he could still smell it and was desperate to get to the empty plates/ into the bin 😂. He’s been such a superstar today, walking nicely on his lead, recalling perfectly when off it and settling when not in his crate which is something we’ve been struggling with. I’m still having ‘D’H issues though (yes he’s getting inverted commas today!) as he only ever sees the negatives and never noticed the positives. He’s like this in general life though so I’ve no idea why I’m surprised…

@Wolfcub we give a Lily's kitchen bedtime biscuit after last wee and it stopped the morning hunger sick!

@MightyMeerkat ahhh cute, love the name too was one I considered for our pup!

@LadyCatStark that sounds like a positive day... what was the H moaning about? Mine moans pup keeps mouthing him...she doesn't do it to anyone else and I said it's cos he plays rough play with her and she gets over excited (as he doesn't often play at all!) but he still doesn't play normally with her so she will carry on! But at least he's engaging with her I suppose...

Bigpaws also sick today!

He is in his crate overnight and I've just started closing the door. Never restraining him and always letting him out when he asks. He seems very chilled about it because we have never put him in there or shut it until he was super chilled.

The crate is covered in a towel

We did loose lead walking today and for all of 5 minutes he was fab. He has mastered sit, down and stay really consistently. But I am 100% sure this is not going to be the case outside or with anything at all interesting going on.

DD is excellent at revving him up to full biting mode. I feel like I'm training her not the dog

@Aria20 he was yapping after he’d had his likimat in his crate but before we’d finished our tea. It is a bit annoying as we give him plenty to eat but he eats so quickly! We just need to ignore him though. DH is the same as yours though, he winds him up then just expects him to settle or if he’s not settling, he says that it’s because I’m not stimulating him enough when really he just needs ignoring! Billy also gets over excited when he does get some attention from DH and doesn’t really listen to him but that’s because I’m the one always doing the training and practising!

Willow is a cutie

[quote Aria20]@MightyMeerkat ahhh cute, love the name too was one I considered for our pup!

@LadyCatStark that sounds like a positive day... what was the H moaning about? Mine moans pup keeps mouthing him...she doesn't do it to anyone else and I said it's cos he plays rough play with her and she gets over excited (as he doesn't often play at all!) but he still doesn't play normally with her so she will carry on! But at least he's engaging with her I suppose...[/quote]
Aria my dad is like this, plays tough and tumble with pup and then gets annoyed when pup gets overexcited and bitey

Evening all. It's really reassuring reading how everyone is getting on (good and bad) and knowing you're not alone!

I'm having a real down on it all day today. It's been a hard week for non pup related reasons. Nordpup is recovered and has frankly been a bitey arsehole. She did have a really exciting first woodland walk which was lovely to see...but I'm just feeling like a return to puppy blues right now. Overwhelmed by the responsibility of having her, the mess the general chaos (and I'm used to chaos with 4 dc!) The thought that dh and I can't just easily take a much needed break and leave the grandparents in charge...I guess I'm just exhausted really.

Is it normal to feel so up and down at this stage? She's 16 weeks.

@Nordstrom Billy is 20 weeks and I do feel like this quite a lot, especially with it being the school holidays as we can only really go to outdoor places and the weather is now due to be crap forever more 😂. We can leave him for up to 3 hours quite happily but we live very rurally, so by the time we’ve got anywhere that’s indoors it’s nearly time to come home!

I just looked at Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy on Amazon and Amazon thinks I might also like Karl Marx’ Communist Manifesto!

Can I ask for your advice please? Pup has gone in the crate without being prompted but I haven't shut the door yet. She's been napping on my feet or next to me. I've put the crate next to my temporary bed. I presume it's better to shut the door when we go to bed?