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.

Sorry to keep pestering you about perfectfit @MrsHerculePoirot - but did you go sequentially up the sizes?

We're now in a small top, xs front and medium girth. Wondering about whether to get the next size top and front pieces so we're ready.

@BaconAndAvocado - i also now have a lightly used small girth piece going spare if you are interested

@Equimum - the only thing I'd caution about pushing back the time is we found that if puppy went out for a wee at 3ish, she settled back down quite nicely. If that was pushed back to 4:30/5 she'd then decide to be up for the day (although this was the middle of summer when it was getting light out)

Hi all. We got a lie in this morning then came down to the kitchen to find 5 very runny poos on the floor and doggo sitting patiently by the door waiting for us. Usually she gives a little woof first thing to say "i'm up" but not a peep this morning. The good news is the kitchen floor has never looked cleaner as I gave it a very thorough deep clean. Bad news is I am exhausted! Pup seems ok but a bit off her food. We think she possibly ate a pigeon that the cats got but not sure, or it was the corn on the cob she snaffled the day before or possibly the apple she stole from the kitchen counter. Could be anything really.

@Jinnybean and @PhoboPhobia your puppies are so cute!!! They're absolutely gorgeous!!

So, I can't take AwesomePup out for walks for the next 10 days as I've got covid. Any ideas for what I can do with him to wear him out? Obviously that don't take much effort from me either as I'm feeling crap. He can't go to doggy day care as I can't take him and nobody else drives.

@tizwozliz no I emailed them each time. So first time we replaced the front and girth parts up but kept top the same. Then last time we went up to 40mm - can’t remember sizing but I can check it. I think we won’t need to change any pieces again now…

We also got a lie in... 815... First time i've slept past 6.10 in two weeks. Bliss. And bought some pigs' ears. Oh the joy of not being chewed and being able to redirect onto another form of flesh :)

FawkesPup has been "helping" me to garden today. I say help, I mean shoving his face in the compost bag, running off with my gloves and generally being a pest. It's taken twice as long and twice the mess to get the job done.

He's also got an off tummy but suspect it might be the warm weather and too many treats. He's full of beans!

[quote Biking0077]@bingohandjob we have a 17mth LabX and the bit 8-12mths the lead walking went awful and general monkeyness kicked back in (my poor garden full of holes) it’s felt like everyday it was just consistent training and reward ALL The Time … it really has paid off though. However we have definitely had another blip this week think it’s a mix of kids back to school so house quieter, lots of hair shedding again seasonal or hormones?? Little monkey destroyed the hose pipe yet again, pulled a piece of toast off the counter having not attempted anything like that for months, ran off chewing a shoe …again not done any of that for a year!! But then the monkey behaviour it’s only lasts half hour and then she settles back to the calm dog she’s growing into. I just got lulled into a false sense of security after an easier few months [/quote]
Thank you for sharing this - it's a comfort to know it's normal and hopefully has an end point. Pup is such a good natured boy on the whole but the lead walking is exhausting but stop/start here we go again!

[quote MsAwesomeDragon]**@Jinnybean* and @PhoboPhobia* your puppies are so cute!!! They're absolutely gorgeous!!

So, I can't take AwesomePup out for walks for the next 10 days as I've got covid. Any ideas for what I can do with him to wear him out? Obviously that don't take much effort from me either as I'm feeling crap. He can't go to doggy day care as I can't take him and nobody else drives.[/quote]
Oh no! Hope you feel better soon.

@MsAwesomeDragon oh my word you poor thing!

Have you got snuffle mats and puzzle toys? Trying to think of minimum effort things you can do. Get well soon xx

tizwozliz thanks for the words of warning. I am hoping the darker morning will be helpful to us on this one.

I had a garden assistant today too GuyFawkesDay. It certainly did make a few easy jobs much harder. Just a word of caution, though, make sure pup isn't eating compost, as apparently it can make them pretty poorly. I only found this out after Bella jumped into our giant planter and started digging a few days ago.

@MsAwesomeDragon you poor thing. I hope you stay not too unwell.

@ilovesushi corn on the cob isn't good for dogs. Sorry to be a negative nancy 😔 but consider vet if pup looks unwell

@Equimum, he didn't eat any but he took great delight in grabbing the plastic bag, nicking my gloves and trowel. Thanks for the compost warning though, I had no idea on that one.

We took pup to the beach tonight and there's a fibreglass cow on the route there (obviously) 🙄 Stupid me thought it would be funny to stand by the cow and moo. Goofy looked alarmed and I thought I was teasing him so moo'd again. He took off in terror and really ran (off lead). Wouldn't stop and I thought I'd lost him 😞 I used the whistle and he stopped but wouldn't come back. Just look petrified. I felt awful but also pretty surprised as he's not nervy normally. Kicking myself

@MakeMeCleanTheHouse that will explain the upset stomach! Good news is she seems fully recovered! She nicked it from the kitchen uncooked and we found it half chewed in the garden.

Get well soon @MsAwesomeDragon

@MakeMeCleanTheHouse That must have been so scary. I haven't been brave enough to let pup off yet for that reason. I remember our family pet once running off and it was awful.

We went to puppy socialisation today. Pup was terrified initially. 20 puppies, some up to a year old and some of them huge and bouncy compared to her. But after 30 minutes she was much more confident. Showed me how submissive she is though, as she showed her belly to every dog there.

We then went to the park and she met another sprocker. And some other dogs. This was her when we got home!

I think the submissiveness does wear off a bit when they get more confident,?

@MsAwesomeDragon hope you feel better soon.

How did @MightyMeerkat pup sleep?

We have loose leash walking cracked! ...for 5 seconds of every walk, when he feels like it, when nothing is coming, when he's not wanting to jump at me, jump at passer by, not crossing a road, not when a leaf is fluttering in the wind, not if older dog isn't close 😭 other than all of that...it's perfect

It's so utterly tedious stopping walking every 4 steps waiting for him to realise tight lead means no progress. He has the memory of a goldfish so 4 steps later....

It's so utterly tedious stopping walking every 4 steps waiting for him to realise tight lead means no progress. He has the memory of a goldfish so 4 steps later....

This is why I'm planning walks that require the absolute minimum of walking on lead. We still practice it (at the end when she's tired!) but at this stage walks aren't fun for anyone if she needs to be on a lead. Still early days

Currently questioning my sanity for deciding to go on holiday with a puppy. Fear it's going to be a long five days of puppy management

So we had 3 nights of sleeping through from 11 to 7. Amazing. Last night he woke up at 1, needed a poo, after crazy poo zoomies he had his poo. Fine. But then I just can't settle him back down! Took over an hour. He wants to nip and if I ignore he barks and then will wake everyone up. Any thoughts? The nipping is the main thing I'm still struggling with as any attempt to stroke he thinks oooh hand and goes for the nip!

I know ignore but then do I ignore the barking? Worried about everyone else having a disturbed night.
My son did get up with this morning so I did sleep in until 8.15 after being up between 1 and 3.30!

Hope you get well soon @MsAwesomeDragon!

@MakeMeCleanTheHouse I used Primula and almost constantly squirted tiny bits into his mouth! He still needs lots of treats to keep walking nicely but he’s much better now and he even offers off lead heeling which is awesome 🤷‍♀️.

It’s Billy’s half birthday today and he seems to be celebrating by being a really good boy! Hope it lasts 🤞.