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

I sympathise. I was chasing my pup around the kitchen at 3am because she'd gone out for a wee and came in munching a snail 🤢 Not pleasant!

Re chewing, we haven’t had any furniture chewing other than the first week or so. We used a LOT of long lasting chews or various animal parts when DH was working from home. Now at just over 6 months he just sleeps if no-one is downstairs with him for large parts of the day.

We didn’t worry too much about giving too much extra initially and now he doesn’t have something every day even. We had a coffee wood chew that has just splintered but after 3 months. He has a split antler and had yaks chews. He has those big ostrich bones from JR that last forever. He’s also had some of the braids, and various ears and beef tails which last longer.

Interestingly I’d say he went right off chewing yaks and the coffee wood for a bit and about about 5 months then quite liked them again. We tend to collect up and try to rotate a bit so they are exciting again.

Also now he’s older we can tire him out more with combo of walks/sniffing/games/enrichment stuff so that when he does then sleep he will sleep longer so it probably will just get easier!

@MightyMeerkat don’t know if helpful but we haven’t chased PoirotPup to get stuff. I shake his little pot of kibble and scatter some and he usually drops whatever he has quickly to get it. For things he really doesn’t want to give up I count out treats onto the floor - loudly counting and adding to the pile and usually he’ll drop and come and see what I’m doing. I was advised not to chase else they think it’s a game and so the pretending not to care and counting was our alternative and seems to work for us (and seemed quicker than the chase and wrestle out of mouth)!

@MrsHerculePoirot Thank you. I'll try that. I try not to chase but when it's a snail or a slug or a stone I'm worried she's going to swallow it before I can get it off her.

He's, FawkesPup has rapidly caught onto the fact he shouldn't have contraband, and legs it.

However the sound of the fridge and some chicken and he drops the plant/sock/plastic so fast so I just got to the fridge and wait for him to choose between his "treasure" or chicken. Chicken always wins!!!

@MightyMeerkat I know! I think one slug or snail probably ok now and again especially after being vaxxed. Good plan @GuyFawkesDay opening the stair gate to the kitchen works well for us too when at home 🤣 he can hear that a mile off…

It's all felt a bit relentless today, can't envisage myself ever doing anything but sleeping, working and dog duties

How old is your pup now @tizwozliz? Hang in there. Eat some chocolate or have a large glass of wine or whatever works for you. It will get easier and calmer.

Had a good day after 2 poos and a smashed bowl this morning before I'd even made a cuppa. One poo inside!
What's happened tizwozliz?

15 weeks now, she's really quite well behaved as puppies go, so I can't really complain there. We're not normally a tidy household so having to keep on top of everything and making sure everything is out of reach is hard work. I'm more of a live in a mess then blitz clean sort of person which just isn't an option now.

I think it's partly the weather too, been so cold and grey the last few days.

@GuyFawkesDay what is this ear cleaner?! Mac pup dips his ears in his water dish and I’m sure we’ll walk near water so need to be careful, they are very cute and floppy

Eat some chocolate Funny you should say that, my current favourite is peanut butter snickers but pup goes crazy if I eat those in front of her!

Walk #1 went well! 'Walking' consisted of running from one exciting thing that HAD to be sniffed to the next, in the general direction of where I wanted to go. We went to a lovely bit of grass space as we have no grass garden at home so I wanted him to be able to play. Unfortunately he discovered that grass tastes good (see pic)!

We made slow progress what with the sniffing and the fact that he wanted to make friends with every human and dog he met. Before I knew what was happening a boy (about 9 or so) picked him up. I'll have to be much more aware in the future.

@tizwozliz similar here re tidy. My work PC and 2nd screen are on the table as is everything else he might nibble. You know those pics of flooded houses where everything is lifted and piled up..that's us

I agree with not chasing. But he's young and foolish. At some point he'll suss my ploy

@hilseey blimey that's a bit odd

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07T5768HC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_507PGT10FXD8DC74XKD4?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
Ear cleaner.

Cleaning spaniels ears regularly is necessary as they can get grim.

@tizwozliz still a baby - definitely relentless at that age…. Reckon in four weeks time life will be getting much easier in general!

Just started a separate thread about him absolutely racing to the door if I go upstairs or outside and barking like crazy. I really don't know what to do. I keep doing it to get him used to it but itsgetting worse.

Can anyone tell me about long lines? When would I use one with opalpup? Is it for walks in more open spaces, until we know her recall is good? I'd like to venture out to a park soon, but I know our normal short lead will be crap for her- she'll want to go and investigate!!

I'm just using a normal lead and I hold it quite short to help guide him, lots of sniffing breaks which is fine! Not sure when to introduce a long lead think want recall to be better first!

But they are all different and mine is quite lazy!

@opalescent We picked up a 6m training lead (long line) the other day when we went on a day trip and I wanted our pup to be able to roam freely but have some control if needed. In the end we didn't even get it out the wrapper. We left her regular short lead on and let it trail after her in case we needed to grab her at any point. I think I'll hold on to it as she is starting at doggy daycare soon and thought recall is good with us, I haven't a clue how she will be with a stranger!

@cheeseisthebest that sounds hard - the barking when you leave the room. It does sound like if you keep repeating it the exact same way it will just engrain the behaviour. Sure you already have lots of good advice on this, but what about leaving him with a really nice chew or something to create a positive association when you leave? Or better get a trainer in for an expert opinion?

We used the long line for exactly that park, moors beaches
Normal walking it’s a fit faffy imo to keep it wound up while giving treats and picking up poop

I haven’t used mine yet as Spudpup is pretty good with recall at the moment. It’s in reserve though for the inevitable teenage phase…

Top tips are to attach it to a harness, and wear gloves. Mine is a thin tracking line so even more vital for me to have my gloves on, but even a normal thicker one can give you a nasty friction burn, not to mention the grim things they can drag through on the floor

We use ours in puppy class to practice recall with other dogs around and in areas where there are other dogs/ people. She's fine off lead in areas where there aren't too many distractions and we can keep an eye on anyone approaching. I use ours as a 3m ish leash for some walks too, with the rest of the wound up part in my bag.