Puppy survival thread September and the pups just want to eat all the leaves!

[cheeseisthebest]

Omg I never start ongoing threads like this!
Back to school for my lot tomorrow. Taken pup for an evening walk tonight, desperately trying to tire him out! He's struggled to nap today as felt too hot.

LadyCatStark Your Billy sounds fab!
I really can't wait to get out and about with Newboy.

MrsHerculePoirot that sounds like great approach.

Newboy will be going to Puppy Training classes early November.

Should I hang fire in case their strategy is completely different?

@BaconAndAvocado he’s certainly a character! I had thought that he’d sleep all afternoon after his walk while I got some work done but he had other ideas… at least he left me just enough to tell me to go and pick up the Booths Christmas book on 15th October!

[quote LadyCatStark]@BaconAndAvocado he’s certainly a character! I had thought that he’d sleep all afternoon after his walk while I got some work done but he had other ideas… at least he left me just enough to tell me to go and pick up the Booths Christmas book on 15th October![/quote]
😂😂
Well I guess you did need that quick reminder!

He’ll be wanting to make sure I order a big enough turkey 😂.

@LadyCatStark

He’ll be wanting to make sure I order a big enough turkey 😂.

And lots of pigs in blankets 😂

He’ll have to fight DH and DS for those!

It would be the same here.
Thinking of Christmas, how the hell is Newboy going to keep away from the tree, baubles, presents ?!?!?!

It's beginning to look a lot like a very different Christmas!

I am pooped here… DS came home from school white as a sheet yesterday and started throwing up a couple of hours later. He is much better today but of course off school for the rest of the week at least, and still a bit pasty and off colour. So I have been looking after him and wrangling Spudpup, who has been moderately well behaved… but has been jumping on and off the sofa, offering DS toys, pulling his blanket and generally being into it all, which is of course totally normal but also a bit much with a poorly child. On the plus side, DS has been fairly happy with it all, although we did just have some tears - DS had just kicked me by accident so I was quite cross, he went to kiss my sore leg better at the same time that Spudpup jumped up to investigate and they basically nutted each other 🙈 All fine now, but good grief…!

Oh no @Spudlet that is not what you need!

@BaconAndAvocado I think all versions of teaching loose lead walking involve treating when they are in position so if you want them walking on your left treat from left hand by your knee (or their nose) so your hand is slightly behind you if that makes sense. We did it before classes and it was good and trainer then tweaked our positioning when needed etc… I think it’s such a long work in progress I’d start now tbh!!! It also gave me something to do when he was bitey in the garden… one bit of kibble at a time 🤣🤣🤣

@ashmts I’ve been meaning to ask - how is your pup now? Fully recovered? Hope you and your DH have recovered too!

@BaconAndAvocado I've always used a harness even when little and used to hold the lead vertically so it was out of sight. He's fine now and it just hangs next to him

The lawn has a big hole as do two flower beds. DH was minding him.

Hole not big enough for a body so will let DH live another day.

The lawn has a big hole as do two flowerbeds. DH was minding him
😂😂

DH is currently minding Newboy whilst I've escaped to Asda, ah this is the high life!

MakeMeCleanTheHouse
Thanks for that.
I've just texted the breeder re harness v lead and he was very anti harness. He said that they can damage the dog's ribs 😳
Newboy is a Lab.

Really? I thought harnesses were better than collars?

@opalescent I'm sorry to hear you're not doing so good. I hope things get better soon.

On the harness or collar, I tried both and found the harness better. Pup doesn't get as tangled in the lead and it doesn't pull on her neck. I got her used to a lead initially by putting the lead on her and walking up and down the kitchen, feeding her treats along the way. It took a week but she mostly doesn't bite the lead now. And even less if she has something else to smell.

Been a busy day but just wanted to say thank you for the advice yesterday. I had a bit of a meltdown worrying about pup biting and the advice helped. I checked out pup, running my hands over her, and she seems fine. She was happy to be picked up this morning. I spoke to doggy daycare and they enforced some naps today. Pup still doesn't like leaving the car but she did let me lift her down tonight with only a small growl. I've ordered a ramp online so hopefully that will arrive tomorrow.

It's a roller coaster isn't it @MightyMeerkat

I thought harnesses were recommended as well. I am pondering whether to buy one. If we crack lead walking why would I need one?

First puppy class tonight and I have mixed feelings. I felt a bit disappointed by easy exercises. This is a dog who will recall across a beach with other dogs present and I was expected to do it holding his lead at two foot distance. I hope it gets more challenging.

We did learn settle which we don't do and must work on. Makes me realise how easily trained goofy is. I am very lucky

What time do your puppies settle to properly rest in the evening?
Until about a week ago, opalpup would pretty much start snoozing around 8, and barely wake from then on.
This week she's having a nap at 8, and then waking to be a barky, nippy pain between 9-10. I feel like she might be overtired.

What do your evenings look like?

@MrsHerculePoirot Pup is totally fine, thank you so much for asking! No lasting damage. We're all fine, it gave us a real fright and I still struggle with the anxiety but things are getting better. I let her off-lead for the first time since the accident recently (alone, DP lets her off-lead all the time) so I feel like that was a breakthrough for me. Hope your pup is doing well

@MakeMeCleanTheHouse - sounds like a success if your training has carried through into a new environment where there are other people and dogs around. It might not get any more challenging though if it's puppy classes. Ours was very basic but useful for us as Ada is very easily distracted so practicing everything with other stuff going on around was useful.

@opalescent a couple of weeks ago he was settling so early I was worried about the night...now he settles later. It varies tbh

@tizwozliz I think he was very tired..... 😄

@TerrierOrTerror @tizwozliz pup started off really good always sitting and watching me when she saw another dog and waited for me to say if she could sniff or not.... but now if she's offlead she's started legging it the full length of the field if she spots another dog and doesn't always come straight back - I only test this when I know the other dog and she does come back when she's had her sniff/play but she's getting a bit too brave/defiant! If I don't know the other dog or it's on lead I get her on lead before she spots them if possible as I can't trust her at the moment and she's on the long line in woods.

@MakeMeCleanTheHouse I found puppy school the same and felt like it was a waste as it was too easy and we could already do it. We then changed classes and did the kennel club good citizen bronze award and it was much better and worth the money. We are on silver now and hopefully will go on to gold. It's much more focused.

From day one pup has wanted to greet every single dog and every single person she sees. She's never shown even the slightest bit of caution/hesitation. Along with not being as food motivated as I'd like it makes me wary about what the future holds.