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

@GuyFawkesDay oh no sounds rubbish night! Could anything have spooked him at night outside? Would some kind of white noise/puppy sleep sounds hell at all? Hopefully just a one off 🤞

Guy that sounds like an awful night. Hopefully just a one off
Cheese yes totally normal
We had a slightly better training walk this morning he was more interested in his kibble so we managed to chill and watch a few cars and then a few steps of loose lead walking and two successful drop-it's although I'm pretty sure on the second one he set me up because he was looking at me waiting for a biscuit and then dropping the thing and looking again before I gave the command and treated him. We did unfortunately freak out on the way back (always the hardest bit of the walk) but baby steps

Guy fawkes poor you xx
Another poo outside. He was waiting by the door. That's really good isn't it!
He's not interested in his kibble as a reward or treat so just lots of praise.
I won't let him out on his own yet for the toilet but huge progress this weekend!

No idea, I think he got a bit overwhelmed yesterday and too hot (runny poo = overhot dog often, I think?!) and just wanted me. He's right mummy's boy. In the end I put his fleece on the bed and he slept there.

He's been getting so much better but last night was grim. The only bonus was he woke at 7:45 and I was woken with a licky facewash

Well AwesomePup finally decided he needed to go out at 8, we had a little walk where he played with another dog for a bit, but wasn't very good at separating once she had enough. He did some excellent lead walking, then when I let him off lead again he brought back a small, dead rodent. I'm not sure if it was dead before he got to it or if he killed it himself but he was very proud of bringing it to me. It took a few times for him to drop and leave it, but he did eventually. He quite fancied eating it really, but I distracted him with kibble and a feather to chase (he really loves feathers!!) He's gone back to sleep now so he was only awake for about 45 minutes in total.

Bigpaws is settling about 9pm and we often wake him for a last wee at 10.30-11. I'm still sleeping in the sofa next to his crate but reconsidering this as sleep isnt great. He doesn't like door shut and whines. Based on the DTAS facebook site I'm not shutting until he's ready. Can't leave him alone where his crate is because too much to wreck and chew and he will. So we are a bit stuck at this stage.

Plan was to eventually close crate door and then he'd be safe as would my furniture. Not sure when I give up on this.

He likes to wander in and out of crate and loudly flops next to you, over there, over here, back in crate etc etc. All of which wakes me. He goes out for toilet break about 5 but will then sleep (with previously mentioned roaming) until we get up at 7. This morning I broke the not on the sofa rule and he slept without budging for 2 hours wrapped over me, snout under my chin.

The sleep thing is a major worry as I'm not sure he's going to change and I want to sleep in my bed again

Opalpup seems to have peed in her crate overnight, which in a bit thrown by! She hasn't done this before. She weed and 💩 before bed, went in at 11pm. She then stirred at 5, and I took her out, but she didn't do a wee. I now realise it's probably because she already had! Is this a normal setback?

Walking. I'm still carrying 9-10kg of dog everywhere for socialising....

That back issue plus sofa is another stressor.

I won't take him for fast pavement prolonged walks until he is 6 months plus. But mooching, sniffing and anything off lead I'll be led by him in terms of time

How long has Bigpaws been with you now @MakeMeCleanTheHouse ?

It took us quite a few weeks before we made it back to the bedroom but we did make it. There was a point where I thought we'd have to give up on the crate

We found PoirotPup just was too big for the crate - we had a large size one but he likes to move about at night to different places on the floor, sofa etc… he would happily go in and we could shut the door no problem but around 3-4 am he would want to come out and sleep elsewhere.

We were sleeping on sofa at first then letting him out when he wanted to come out. Then we moved upstairs and when we hear him on baby monitor would come down and let him out and stay downstairs for rest of night. Eventually we just left door pushed too but not locked and left him and he was fine. We have two video cams and a baby monitor for sound and I think I watched him all night the first few nights 🤣 we ended up sleeping upstairs again when he was about 16 weeks ish.

@GuyFawkesDay that sounds tough. I’ve just watched a training video saying not to react when they’re whining/barking but praise when trying to self settle like lying down, being quiet or drinking. I think if you’re there next to him that should be enough to comfort him, he’ll know he's not alone. we’ve been sitting next to the crate too but I’ve started using ‘settle’ to get him to lie down and I’ve progressed through the door now. We’ve been doing the ignoring whinges in the day and praising quiet and it seems to have helped night time. We use the crate for all sleeps as he just won’t sleep not in his crate even if only I’m there.

@cheeseisthebest the slurping when licking their bits is awful! DH started slurping his drink last night and it made me want to vomit because it sounded like pup licking his bits.

We’ve had a good night. Pup likes to sleep early so he was asleep about 9, woke at 5.40 for a wee bit then he didn’t want to go back to sleep. I want him to wake later but by 9 he’s shattered! I’m going to write down sleeps etc today.

Also his crate stinks! He’s never wet or soiled in there but likes to lie in his water bowl then flop around the crate. I wash the vet bed every other day but somehow managed to buy a spot clean only dog bed, the only other thing in there is a toy and blanket with Mums scent on so I’m reluctant to wash them yet. But the dog smell is strong!

@LadyCatStark I think you said Billy likes sardines? Do you give him a whole tin? Do you give on their own or mix with kibble? Do they give an upset tummy? Pup off her food at mo so looking to entice her to eat as she's lost weight and is skinny!

H tipped his water bowl over in his crate so I've bought a travel one for it wondering if actually he was a bit hot last night? His bed has floofy fleece blankets in but I'm wondering whether to reduce them down to just one and then he's got more bare plastic if he wants a cooler spot too.

Determined to crack it but oh lordy I'm at the same point as you @MakeMeCleanTheHouse and I am so close to just cracking and putting a bed on the floor instead but then he will just terrorise the house. If I leave the crate open he runs round to DH and tries to get up to him, tail wagging etc. It's all just daft puppy but so bloody tiring.

He's probably in the fear regression bit too so maybe I just keep plodding on and maybe do a couple more nights downstairs with the crate again and see how he gets on

Hi everyone, have been reading with interest. We picked up our new puppy (10 weeks) yesterday and all going well so far. Have joined Facebook Dog Training Advice and Support Group and read some of the guides which are very good.
Any suggestions of good videos on YouTube etc for the very early days of training?
Ta in advance!

How upset are they if you shut the crate? Mine was a bit but I stroked him through the door first 2 nights and now he's totally fine. Loves it and goes there now for naps.

I'm embarrassed to say it's only been a fortnight of sofa sleeping. My resilience is low @tizwozliz your post gives me hope

@GuyFawkesDay like you, I don't really care where he sleeps but I need to know the house is safe

Welcome @NoCureForLove I've mainly used the stuff on DTAS

We have failed badly with the word 'no'. DTAS dont like it but actually pup responds to it. I dont feel he'd have any idea what we don't want without telling him. They suggest an interrupter word. Ours is no. we do mostly say it firmly but quietly...apart from dangerous activity or teeth embedded in flesh or ripping clothes

I use a sharp ah! And then then no. So I've failed too!! It's so easy just to fall into it when you're being used as a chew toy.

Only a fortnight here too. Will persevere and once he's been to the loo I'm going to try ignoring and praising the quiet. It does work be sure I've tried it a bit, but then he starts again.

@opalescent

Opalpup seems to have peed in her crate overnight, which in a bit thrown by! She hasn't done this before. She weed and 💩 before bed, went in at 11pm. She then stirred at 5, and I took her out, but she didn't do a wee. I now realise it's probably because she already had! Is this a normal setback?

It happens - wash the bedding well and use plenty of enzyme spray so she doesn't get in the habit.

I'm in awe of all the sofa sleepers. Elfpup is in a crate in our bedroom. It's horribly in the way but I don't do well on no sleep and I like my own bed! She settles pretty much straight away but is a noisy dreamer!

Our real improvements started with second vaccinations and being able to explore further afield. I'm not sure how far off that you are, but it could just be that it coincided with just getting that bit older (11.5 weeks). Lots of reports of pups sleeping through the night from day 1/2 didn't help either but we got there in our own time. We lucked out on the toilet training so you can't win them all.

I think I need to join the Facebook group. Ada is totally deaf if there is something of more interest to her, it's not that she ignores, it doesn't even register that you're speaking to her, can wave all sorts of tasty food under her nose and nothing works. Yesterday she spent a lot of the day pulling pond weed out of our wildlife pond (pretty sure it now contains no wildlife). There didn't appear to be anything we could do/say/give that was more interesting than this.

@aria20 Grannypup was extremely fussy until recently. She would eat scrambled egg and chicken. I gradually just used these as toppers for her wet food and phased them out. She will still only eat kibble from a Kong or an empty toilet roll tube or from my hand as treat when out for long walks. Weird but now eats the correct portion for her size - she still grazes though so we don't have set mealtimes. FYI she is now 14 months

I think, with regard to the word no, there are some people who take a concept to extremes… I’m a positive trainer generally, love my clicker and all that, but I do certainly use the word no. 🤷‍♀️ And plan to continue doing so if Spudpup is chewing on electrical cables or similar. I suppose alternatively I could lock him into the garden when I want to hoover to do his worst and perhaps get nicked over the fence, or let the house turn into a two bedroom kennel…

Agreed. I'm going to keep an eye on him and maybe it was just "one of those nights" and tonight will be better. I also think he's quite smart and has twigged if he whines he gets company. I take him to pee in the dark and only say "toilet" and "good boy" once he's done to try and ensure he gets the night message.

Am also going to get DH and DS to do a feed each every day so he stops associating me with all food. I think partly his pining and worry is that if I go, the food goes too. Which is totally understandable.

Have orders the JR products puppy pack. Thanks for the recommendation. It's got 2 small pates and some treats so I think it'll be a good way of trying a few things. I was given some treats in his puppy bag and they're just full of tat.

Does anyone make their own treats? I was horrified at the price of them ( not to mention the ingredients) when we got elfdog.

I've looked at recipes....a lot have rice flour in and use coconut oil. I might try it, because I agree!