Page 38 | Puppy Survival Thread August part 2

Aria20 · 2021-08-19T13:00:44+00:00

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*

Original poster

Aria20 · 04/09/2021 15:50

@Wolfcub thanks for that. Do you think they are worth the money if they figure them out so quickly? I've had 2 diff puzzle toys so far that she's figured out easily and then not that interested in.

OP posts:

GuyFawkesDay · 04/09/2021 16:30

I'm having the same mental debate as to whether it's worth it. FawkesPup is currently napping on his snuffle mat so I'm not sure if they'll get used!

tizwozliz · 04/09/2021 16:36

I think it probably depends on the dog. Ada has always preferred to work for her food so will do the puzzle game for kibble even if there's kibble in the bowl next to it. She still gets excited if I get it out despite being able to solve it fairly quickly

GuyFawkesDay · 04/09/2021 16:52

Finding FawkesPup being typically spaniel loves snuffling out treats etc so might get the Wilko £5 one a see how we go!

Elmrosie · 04/09/2021 17:00

@GuyFawkesDay - Elmpup's 15 weeks old.

Wolfcub · 04/09/2021 17:51

So recall with primula was a mixed bag this evening. Managed to make it work to the whistle but the dog crack clearly is dog crack as Wolfpup went into mania mode and was jumping at me teeth first, swinging off both my jumper hem and my coat which is now ripped! So I didn't let go of the longline at all.

opalescent · 04/09/2021 17:55

@Elmrosie that's great news! Has she been sleeping in your room since first coming home? How old was she then?

hilseey · 04/09/2021 18:04

I'm finding the talk about puzzles interesting as I need something to keep hilseeypup entertained in his crate for longer. I'd be interested in hearing how people are doing with crate training. Mine is fine overnight and doesn't mind the door being shut (although he's still in my room for now). During the day is a different story. He's happy in there for a few minutes but still leaps out to come and find me if I go into another room.

tizwozliz · 04/09/2021 18:11

The puzzles are for supervised use only really

Returnoftheowl · 04/09/2021 18:43

@hilseey

I'm finding the talk about puzzles interesting as I need something to keep hilseeypup entertained in his crate for longer. I'd be interested in hearing how people are doing with crate training. Mine is fine overnight and doesn't mind the door being shut (although he's still in my room for now). During the day is a different story. He's happy in there for a few minutes but still leaps out to come and find me if I go into another room.

Crate training hasn't been a success here if I'm honest. He's fine being left in the kitchen overnight (doesn't chew etc). We want to crate train mainly for during the day (putting him in there while we're eating etc). He still whine and howls to be let out and struggles to settle.

MrsHerculePoirot · 04/09/2021 19:42

We followed the DTAS crate training, where you don’t get to the point of distress ever basically. For us though we only did it in case of him needing a crate for vets etc rather than because we needed to use it at home. We have now got rid of it at home but he is happy to go in the crates for lunch/rest at daycare so achieved our aim.

We’ve taught a place/mat for when we eat although now he tends to just lie quietly under the table which we are happy with!

Returnoftheowl · 04/09/2021 20:05

@MrsHerculePoirot

We followed the DTAS crate training, where you don’t get to the point of distress ever basically. For us though we only did it in case of him needing a crate for vets etc rather than because we needed to use it at home. We have now got rid of it at home but he is happy to go in the crates for lunch/rest at daycare so achieved our aim.

We’ve taught a place/mat for when we eat although now he tends to just lie quietly under the table which we are happy with!

I think our issue is that he whine and howls from the second he goes in it. We always give him his treats in there, try and make it a positive place. But he just knows that if he whine he'll be let out...

opalescent · 04/09/2021 20:44

@hilseey I'm in exactly the same boat. Pup sleeps happily in a close crate at night, upstairs. We have a crate downstairs too, which she chooses to use for naps here and there, but she goes barmy if I close the door.

I really really want to use it for enforced naps (she really struggles to settle sometimes), and also for things like mealtimes, as you've said.

I don't know how to move from where we are, to there,

MakeMeCleanTheHouse · 04/09/2021 21:24

He was always happy to go in there (treats planted from Day 1). After a couple of weeks we closed the door every time he fell asleep so he woke with it shut...would whine and we let him out immediately which I think reassured him. Repeat repeat.

Then I moved to encouraging him back to his crate every time he flopped sleepy on the floor having just come out. He'd look a bit fed up but I think it was being woken more than anything.

Within a few days he would go back to bed on request. Started shutting the door whilst he was awake.....whined....let out. Back to bed, repeat....repeat.

Now we shut the door with him awake and he settles easily. Not crating him at daytime however

Weatherwax13 · 04/09/2021 21:50

So we have a date, (lockdown again here) and are bringing this handsome fella (obligatory photo) home on Saturday. I've suddenly had an attack of the terrors, wondering wtf am doing this for!?
My current two were brilliant pups, so easy - not because of my wonderful training but their characters. But the dog I had before them nearly broke me as a puppy. Even the best recommended behaviourist couldn't help.
It was absolutes hell for 18 months - I still have a couple of faint scars many yrs later.
I'm sure new pup will be a joy, and I've been waiting with such excitement but now I'm really nervous.
I shall be a regular here. Hope that's ok everyone.

MrsHerculePoirot · 04/09/2021 23:10

We didn’t shut the door fully until he was taking himself in there to nap sometimes if his own accord. We started from step 1 with the putting treat in and he’d go and get it etc then moving through the stages until he would go in himself, can’t fully remember the order but there was pushing the door to, but not locking it bit then it was closed and we’d move further away and for longer etc and then we locked it at night when we slept elsewhere eventually… following their steps I don’t think there is a point where he’d have the opportunity to whine in it particularly. Might be worth looking at their guides on it if struggling and you really need it to work for you? I’d do training for 5 mins maybe 3 times a day depending on what we were doing?

We had a big moment today where we left him for two hours after lunch and he was totally fine and slept (moving about the room as he likes to!). We were nearby and knew we could get back in 5 mins so kept checking cameras. I actually think he would have been fine a bit longer in hindsight but I got the fear and sent DH home after two hours 🤣

MrsHerculePoirot · 04/09/2021 23:11

Welcome @Weatherwax13 gorgeous pup!

Weatherwax13 · 05/09/2021 00:00

@MrsHerculePoirot thanks so much. I'll update once we have Weatherpup at home. Been reading about how to introduce him to the two girls. When we brought our second girl home, we just had one of us in the garden with her while the other brought The First Lady outside and they hit it off from the word go.
Now I've read that I shouldn't have done that and you're supposed to let them meet on neutral territory just for a few minutes, one at a time. So it seems I was gung ho last time.
We deliberately asked the breeder for a boy as I read about possible really serious fighting between females...but then our two girls have never so much as growled at each other, and I think my husband is disappointed as he really wanted another girl. So I hope I've made the right call.
Plus the breeder just said "oh you would've been fine with a girl. Mine all get along brilliantly.
I just would've matched you with this one or this one, but not that one". Wish she'd suggested that earlier so we could've discussed it more with her!

tizwozliz · 05/09/2021 07:25

Door open crate policy was a partial success. Pup still woke us up to let her out for the toilet but she wouldn't settle again afterwards.

sandwiches77 · 05/09/2021 07:51

Ideas for stuffing kongs suitable for puppies...

Sandwichpup is loving frozen dog peanut butter with some kong biscuits inside too

Some more (reasonably priced) ideas please (DH complaining that I'm spending too much money on sandwichpup)

MrsHerculePoirot · 05/09/2021 07:55

@sandwiches77 baby food - the e one ingredient veg ones are good apparently! We also soak kibble in water we’ve boiled veg or chicken in and put that in. Or just some of his wet food!

tizwozliz · 05/09/2021 07:58

I use cooked sweet potato quite often. Grated JR pate too although not sure that fits your reasonably priced option but I tend to only use a small amount to stuff the opening. A slice of carrot is good for plugging the opening too. Most of the time mine are 50% kibble.

MakeMeCleanTheHouse · 05/09/2021 08:06

@MrsHerculePoirot "I got the fear" 😁 I can't bring myself to go out of the house yet. I've just been to the loo and came back to him dismantling the fire. 5 minutes!!!

@Weatherwax13 lovely ball of fluff

MrsHerculePoirot · 05/09/2021 08:16

@MakeMeCleanTheHouse remember PoirotPup is now 6.5 months old though! We didn’t leave him alone in the house until her was over 5 months at all!

MrsHerculePoirot · 05/09/2021 08:17

Worst bit was we were rushing and didn’t shut the front room windows, and left the baby gate into the kitchen open and the sleep music i had put on I did wrong so it played one song then went onto some crazy random playlist 😱🤣🤦‍♀️