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

@MsAwesomeDragon I’ve balanced a kibble in it in the photo. I’m just wondering if it’s too challenging for a first step.

FawkesPup so far is happy to nap in his bed in the lounge, or at my feet. He really wants me near though. We just ignore him and as long as he's tired out he seems to be ok just to chew and settle. He has had mega silly zoomies in the windy garden after his lunch, toileted and now has crashed out on the floor and is farting. He stinks.

I've managed to bake with DD whilst he's zonked.

Anyone used a snugglepup heartbeat/warmer thing? It's been recommended to me as H basically likes to sleep on me at night. I'm assuming it's because of the warmth and my heartbeat? Could do with getting him to sleep in the crate at some point though!!!

We do the plastic bottle things too, it's good for burning some energy but it makes her a bit hyper, definitely not a calming activity. She'll sit and work nicely with the Kong with occasional pick up and drops

We've got a treat ball I put some of His kibble in cos he's a gannet and bolts his food. He has a good 20 minutes rolling it round the floor chasing food out of it

@boxcar the description of that one suggests it might be too difficult until pup understands the concept.

Boxcar, I think the spikes holding the kibble in must make it really difficult for a young puppy. Maybe cut one/all the spikes out to make the kibble come out much easier.

Thanks all, I’ve ordered a Kong branded one.

@GuyFawkesDay we have this:
www.hyperdrug.co.uk/all-for-paws-little-buddy-heart-beat-sheep/productinfo/AFPLBHBS

We take it off her once she’s fallen asleep because I worry about the battery. It’s screwed into the little heart inside & the Velcro fastening is strong though - I’m probably just over cautious. I’m not sure if it’s helped or not. She’s very good overnight but has been since the very first night. She doesn’t have it every night as she’s happily taking herself off to her crate when it’s bedtime! I’m feeling very lucky!

@GuyFawkesDay - I started looking into the heartbeat soft toys after 2 weeks in - the reviews were so mixed and I was worried about chewing I never got round to ordering but we've just about got there on the overnight sleeping anyway. It took a fair bit longer than what I've seen others say - 3 weeks until we were back in our own bed, another week to get to 10pm - 5.30am - but we lucked out on the toilet training (2 wees indoors in the first 4 days and no accidents since) and she's great at napping in the daytime so it all balances out.

We have a Kong, we put kibble or a couple of treats in, they fall out pretty easily. Sometimes we put a bit of peanut butter in the top so she can lick that to get to the treats.

Banditpup had a dream sheep thing, generally she wrestled with it near bedtime, she sometimes took it to bed! It helped when she first came home to us. She’s not so bothered by it now. She does have a teddy that stays in her crate she loves.

[quote Spudlet]@Returnoftheowl When Spudpup needs a nap I take him into the kitchen, shut the baby gate, sit down in the armchair with a book and ignore him. He tends to give in and fall asleep quite quickly as he knows I’m very boring when I’m in my chair with a book or my phone.

If he gets bitey trying to get me to play, I get up and walk out, leaving him there. Then I come back after ten seconds and sit down again. So it doesn’t gain him anything.

DS was an appalling napper so I am battle-hardened when it comes to small creatures who don’t want to sleep [/quote]
Unfortunately he howls and howls if put in his crate with the door shut, or left in another room from us.
I'm sure he would puff himself out eventually but probably not before the neighbours complained!

www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/kong-gyro-dog-toy-large

We have this. MakePup isn't totally struck on it yet but MakeDog loves it.

Pup has had a busy day and now flopped. I intend to keep him busy all evening and hope for some sleep

Hello all please can I join - had my mn name for a long time but now it really fits more hairy pup joined our house on Tuesday, she's a little bit older at 14 weeks so I'm trying to catch up on socialisation etc but not overwhelm her ( or me) !

Spent the first night with her downstairs ( put classic fm and a nightlight on), then last night she was so tired I thought I would chance going to bed. She was really quiet but not sure she slept as she was really sleepy this morning ( and we had a poo on the mat). Have been out for our first trip to the beach this afternoon so hoping the sea air will help her sleep tonight!

I've not had my own dog before and neither has dh so a massive learning curve atm. But she is gorgeous

@Morehairythanscary - she's lovely!

We had our first trip to the beach today too. It's a half hour car ride to get there, so DD had to rain treats down on AwesomePup whenever he was quiet and settled. Then he had a fab time running in and out of the waves, investigated lots of stones, dug in the sand, etc. We sat at a picnic bench for our lunch and pup settled on his settle mat (posh name for a bath mat) for a good half hour which was brilliant for him. Then the car journey home, with more treats raining from dds hand. He did so well!!! The only times he was sad were when I went away. Once for a wee, and once to buy ice cream. He was left with dd1 who is an adult and quite capable of keeping him safe, but she's no substitute for me apparently. He's definitely MY dog rather than a family dog just yet.

We had a long trip from Wales to get more hairy pup ( with many stops along the way to settle her) and whilst she wee'd when she first got into the car crate she was quite settled once we got going. I don't think it's ever going to be her favourite place but she wasn't sick and she didn't cry so I'm taking that as a win ....and she loved the beach!

Those with girl pups are you letting them have a season before spaying? There is so much conflicting advice and I don't know what to do for the best

@Aria20 one vet we spoke to at our practice said to do it at six months, another said do it after the first season and we’ve decided to wait till she’s had one. She’s always been on the small side so thought it would be best till she was fully mature. 10 months now and no signs yet. To be honest I think if we’d got it done at 6 months I have no idea how we’d have kept her calm enough for stitches to heal! I’m hoping the older she is she might be slightly easier to manage post surgery but being a crazy spaniel probably not - although not being able to really let her off lead during the season also doesn’t sound like much fun

Will be glad when it’s all done and dusted tbh!!

I've made every attempt to exhaust pup tonight hoping to actually sleep.

We went to the beach tonight as well. Pup quaked a bit at loud cars but loved the sand. He ate seaweed despite my best efforts. I think eating everything is going to be a feature.

I've done slug patrol tonight hoping to stop the lungworm risk

Anyone recommend a good site for how much to feed a pup?

@SpreadHummusNotHate yes we are approaching 6 months and

Oops posted too soon! @SpreadHummusNotHate I was also planning to let her have a season and then get her spayed 3 months after that but all the day cares are saying get her done at 6 months or she can't go! At puppy class tonight there was a spot of blood on the floor and so I panicked checking her but no signs at all so wasn't us but it made me think it could happen any time and then it's going to be hard to manage as you say no offlead and of course being aware of bedding and carpet getting stained!

@MoreHairyThanScary she's lovely!
So close to 100% toilet success then he started to poo on floor just now so I chucked him out the door and then he got lots of praise. Darn it, so close!!

Well I'm glad pup doesn't mind going out in the rain. Absolutely lashing it down here but just been out for bedtime wees no bother.

We'll let pup have a season, possibly two if she's less than 10 months with her first season.

@Aria20 I’m not too worried about the mess, she only has vetbed in her crate anyway so easy to clean and our floors are mostly karndean so hopefully it’ll be ok. More worried about other dogs - hoping it doesn’t send any intact males loopy who may live nearby

@MakeMeCleanTheHouse check out www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/ - we tried a couple of different foods but settled on Millies Wolfheart

@GuyFawkesDay - you will get there with the toilet stuff. It is frustrating though, they are being so good and you think they’ve “got it” then you turn round and see them squatting on the kitchen floor sigh - rainy days definitely equalled more accidents for our pup, but I think by about 14 weeks we were accident free

We arrived home from our bedtime walk just as the heavens opened. So we escaped getting soaked by just a few seconds. AwesomePup ran straight into the back door on our way home though. It was quite funny as he obviously just thought the door was open (clear glass) as it was dark outside but light inside. Not something I want him to do very often though.