Puppy Survival Thread August part 2

[Aria20]

New puppy thread as August has been a busy month! Not sure how to link the other thread?! @MrsHerculePoirot @SweetLathyrus @Spudlet @MsAwesomeDragon @GuyFawkesDay @opalescent @ashmts

Thank you very much @spudlet the snuffle mat looks amazing and gives me something else to focus on as well! So glad you are having a good morning, everyone is asleep here too - old dog, new dog, husband with dislocated shoulder (it’s been a rough weekend!) I’m off to clean the bathroom! Thanks too @sweetlathyrus I’ll check the Blue Cross out. Hope you all have good days with your fur babies.

Billy didn’t get up til 10:15 today. Have I got the laziest dog on the planet??

Sorry, not been overly active. Struggling to find the time to sit down and read the thread. Dpup is 10 weeks tomorrow so he’ll have been here 2 weeks. Things are mainly good, he sleeps in his crate anywhere from 7.30/9pm and might wake for a wee around 5 but then goes back to sleep until 6/7am.
Training wise we have a sit, stay (until I get a metre away then he sits at my feet again) and come. We keep trying him with his lead but he just walks around with it in his mouth even if I’m walking him.

Feeding wise he inhales his food really quickly, we have a slow feeder but he can’t get it all out so that ends up a messy transfer to get the last bit of food into a normal bowl. He’s on kibble that we soak.

Toilet training is good, maybe 1-2 wee accidents a day only if we don’t open the door in time.

He’s not too bitey with me but is with the husband and kids. My youngest is reluctant to walk around if he’s awake so I really need to work on that if anyone has any advice??

Another question but how many treats are you giving in a day? I don’t think we’re giving anywhere near enough and only when doing training so maybe 2 lots of 5 minutes a day plus bedtime biscuits. He’s nearly 10 weeks

Probably too many. I reduce his food portions and try to use the JR Pate or kibble and some chicken and cut up cocktail sausage (into slices and quarters) and mix them all up in my treat pouch.

@Jigsawtrain

Another question but how many treats are you giving in a day? I don’t think we’re giving anywhere near enough and only when doing training so maybe 2 lots of 5 minutes a day plus bedtime biscuits. He’s nearly 10 weeks

I don’t think you can not give enough but in our case the answer is loads and loads 😂. We don’t really do training sessions as life is one big training session right now!

I think I need to start keeping some of his kibble to use as treats but we’ve been soaking it after seeing how much it swells. But he always has water available so if it’s only 10% of each meal that should be ok?

Oh and sadly (but also optimistically I guess) the best thing with biting is time. They really do just stop doing it over time especially once they can go for walks and have long lasting chews. I’m not gonna lie, I let Billy have a pizzle stick from 10 weeks even though I think it’s meant to be 12.

Billy has all of his dry, he doesn’t like it soaked 😂.

My lab pup isn't that interested in food. I often lift his uneaten meal.

@3isthemagicestnumber that sounds really difficult

We had a funny moment with our 6 yr old today (dog). She can be a little sensitive so I'm not sure if this was emotional or physical but she has ataxia for

@3isthemagicestnumber poor pup, that's going to be tough. Etsy have small good snuffle toys that are shaped like cans etc, so a bit more compact - might be worth a look.

@Spudlet love that picture and Spudpup's natty all in one!

Elmpup went to meet the rest of her obedience class today. Six puppies of varying ages out in a field in the rain - they loved it! Elmpup being so much younger, she likes to sit back and watch the older pups playing before she decides whether to join in. She's having a snooze now, thank goodness.

@MakeMeCleanTheHouse

Are you sure it's a lab 😂😂😂?

Does anyone else have a puppy that sticks to them like glue? I have provided opalpup with so many lovely comfy options for napping around the house....but this is a typical set up- in the middle of the kitchen floor while I'm cooking! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Hope everyone has survived the weekend. Our camping test run was a great success. I only hope she's not going to be too disappointed she's downstairs on her own again tonight. Shattered mind, there's no real chance to switch off when there's a puppy about. Reminding myself that hopefully she'll settle more easily and need less management as she gets older. Great to see her running off lead on the beach.

Got to use her new drying coat - worth it for the photo alone!

@tizwozliz It’s Little Red Riding Hood!

@opalescent Spaniels can be a bit Velcro dogs (until there’s a good smell of course)… mind you Spudpup would be the same given half a chance.

@Elmrosie He has graduated from being Lord Buckethead to Lord Fancypants - seems to be keeping him away from his sore tummy though.

Spudpup is bored and a bit naughty, but DS has managed more cheerful and calm interaction today - I’m really proud of him. And Spudpup who has been a model of restraint and has not jumped on DS or nibbled his toes. Perhaps this is the start of a friendship? I hope so!

@tizwozliz that drying robe is toooo cute!

Billy has lost 6 teeth in the last 3 days, bud ones too including one of his bottom fangs. Bless him, I’m surprised they’re not bothering him more!

*big not bud 🙈

I'd read on here someone mixing yoghurt into their pup's food so I added a bit of low fat greek yoghurt into older dogs kibble. Now wondering if that was cause of her funny spell. Googling suggests some yoghurt have xylitol in them. She's back to normal but definitely wasn't well for a short time

That drying coat is cute. I keep forgetting to take a towel out and end of carrying a wet and sandy pup once they've had a dip

@opalescent FawkesPup is exactly the same. I have to move him off my feet whilst I cook. If he's asleep and I leave the room he wakes and follows. Velcro dog is exactly how I describe him. He's scrumptious but I am exhausted. Proper puppy blues today. Tears and all. Dog has locked my face dry.

Kids have been PITA and DH put all day. Dog has runny poo again (I'm pretty sure it's just hot and eating half the ruddy garden) so ordered some pro-kolin in case it goes on or his jabs upset it on Tuesday.

Licked. Not locked!

I sometimes top Wolfpup's food with yogurt or Greek yogurt but the only ingredient in it is milk.

Wolfpup has been hard work again today and a pizzle actually worked against us as he stayed awake to chew it, got way past himself and then went batshit crazy and bitey.

On the plus side we did lots (comparatively for him) of loose lead walking

@GuyFawkesDay sorry you've had a crap day 😟. My puppy also wakes and follows me if I leave the room, which I find very frustrating! I really want her to feel happy to nap on the lovely calming bed I bought her.

@Wolfcub thank you for that reassurance.

I'm considering giving up on night-time crating. Crate is too large to move and is in sitting room next to patio doors. If I leave him there alone he will howl and I'm not willing to go there (following DTAS crating advice). I reckon we can slowly get there but looking at another 2-3 weeks of me on the sofa before he will stay in the crate alone locked in without yowling.

I can put a bed in the hallway outside my bedroom and he could sleep there but would mean me trotting out to the garden in the night and he's currently getting up at 2am and 5am. My room is ground level so it's just a trott down the corridor.

Risks are he won't settle because it's different and he's not actually used to even going in the hallway as previously out of bounds ...or he craps and wees all over the place. What do you reckon?

@MakeMeCleanTheHouse how old is your pup? Is your hall carpeted if pup might have accidents? Are the other rooms going to be open incase pup gets out of bed and wanders around and has accidents elsewhere or chews stuff? Im not sure id risk not crating at night as if you are out for the count and pup goes for a wander into another room and chews a wire or something....is letting pup whine for say 5 mins then shush them and repeat an option?

He is 11.5 weeks. Yes carpeted but so is rest of the house. No cables in the hallway. It is literally walls and doors. My door would be open with 'gate' (laundry airer) and another laundry airer across the bit of hallway leading to front door. The airers have been used successfully so far elsewhere.

Last night I locked crate door and he woke and whined. I shushed but let him out when he didn't settle. As soon as he looks sleepy on the floor I send him to bed (crate) and shut him in which he accepts and settles. I lie down and he starts whining. I shush (repeat for a few times and then he settled). I don't mind doing this. But I have to repeat at 1.30am and then at 5am.

I just can't imagine getting him to the point where he sleeps all night, stays locked in and I'm not in same room. It seems so far away. So I'm just considering other options.

I think you're right but I can't face more weeks of sofa crap sleep