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 Hi there, I tend to read rather than post, but wanted to let you know not to use coffee grounds, our then 6 month old lab ate some coffee grounds and on checking we found out it can be toxic for them. He was fine but best not to take the risk. Only thing that stopped digging for us was blocking access and they get out of the habit....slowly....

@Sidneyrocks I was told it wasn't toxic! I feel really bad now for suggesting it!!

@Aria20 Don't feel bad, we only know as our lab puppy went through a stage of hoovering up anything within sight, we ended up googling everything he ate that wasn't kibble

Eeh, we also have a digger. I've just decided she can have her little patch to turn over. It's been thoroughly cleansed of any dangerous bulbs, plants, etc. She likes to take her favourite toys there and bury them.

Does anyone else find that their pup is easily disturbed by household comings and goings? Enforcing naps when the kids are around is hard (and they are not particularly noisy, just much more fun than boring old me!) Unfortunately there is nowhere else to put her crate/ run.

She did 9pm till 6am last night. I feel high on sleep.

Re the kitchen... did something clatter onto the floor? Washing machine given doggo a fright? they get spooked by the weirdest things. We had a couple of days of barking at the oven door because she could see her own reflection in it and wondered why this puppy wouldn't play with her....

I think the only way to desensitise is to lure them back to the area/ scary thing at their own pace, with very high-value treats. Not that it's working with satan-hoover-of-hell. Ours hates it which is unfortunate given how much she will shed when older.....

Oh no, never mind! DH had put DS’s football goal to block the area off, which would have been perfect if Billy had have had the foresight to chew a perfectly Billy-sized hole in the net 🙈. I’ve tied all the pieces together now so that he can’t get through!

Is anyone using Fish4dogs food? Our trainer recommended it, but nutritionally it’s not that much better than the skinners he’s on.

The ones recommended by the pet shop (pets corner) also are in the 70%’s so not terrible but not in the 80/90’s… I have no interest in feeding him raw (unless it’s a kibble version) with elderly MIL and young children… just more pickable poos would be good as they get softer through the day 🤢

He bogged off to another dog yesterday before I could clip him on and the owners let theirs off and they had a run around. I couldn’t stop him going, but did successfully recall after a minute of them bombing around which I didn’t think was too bad. After 4 days away with other dogs he is more desperate than ever to say hello to anything covered in fluff 🙄

Fortunately he's ok with the kitchen today!

@TheBigMacDougal we use millies wolf heart and poo is very pickupable lol. Think it scores in 80% on all about dog food. My pup is on "peak performance" flavour which is higher fat as she needed fattening up! Previously she had their countryside mix.

We feed Eden which is 90% or so, dry. Poos are great as long as he's not had too many treats or chicken.

FawkesPup had a first groomer trip this morning and he charmed the ladies something rotten. Hilarious video of him having his fur blow dried whilst lolling on the lady and clearing loving all the attention. He smells nice now too

Thanks @Aria20 and @GuyFawkesDay! I’d looked at millies but not Eden. Just want to make one switch that doesn’t cost the earth. Some dogs seem to eat better than we do 😂

Did they trim him @guyfawkesday? Mac pups coat is very short still (16 weeks), so not considered getting him groomed yet but don’t want to miss out of the socialisation. He also finds being brushed a mega exciting bitey game, so I don’t bother more than once a week 😳

@Aria20

Sorry people with diggers I think the only way is constant supervision and redirecting or no access! Our trainer suggested a sandpit they can dig in but we didn't go that route as thought it would just practice the behaviour.

In the meantime fill the holes in and cover with ground coffee as dogs don't like it but it's not harmful.

This is a great tip - stupid question, but can you use used coffee grinds for this?

Sorry, just seen the latest replies. Will avoid! It was on my list of toxic to dogs but thought I must have got it wrong.

@TheBigMacDougal no, he had his claws done, ears cleaned, bath, dry and brush. I thought he'd hate it as he normally is exactly the same when I brush him but he loved it 🤣 mainly as he was the centre of attention!

@TheBigMacDougal

Thanks *@Aria20 and @GuyFawkesDay*! I’d looked at millies but not Eden. Just want to make one switch that doesn’t cost the earth. Some dogs seem to eat better than we do 😂

Did they trim him @guyfawkesday? Mac pups coat is very short still (16 weeks), so not considered getting him groomed yet but don’t want to miss out of the socialisation. He also finds being brushed a mega exciting bitey game, so I don’t bother more than once a week 😳

My DN is a professional groomer. She has recommended that I take Penpup to the groomers after her 2nd jab. Just for the pampering and nail trim to get used to the experience.

Oh and the Eden looks expensive but they have really small portions. So FawkesPup is on 33gm x3 a day plus some for treats. So even though a big bag looks loads, it last ages!

Pup had great fun with the Amazon wrapping today and has zonked out now!

@TheBigMacDougal - we're planning on switching Ada to Millies Wolfheart once we're home from holiday. I'll let you know how it goes. We looked at Eden but it's only available in one flavour for sub 12 months plus the portions look really stingy!

Much needed advice__ newpup twatpup is biting me consistently every night, chew toys and stimulating environment but it's me she wants to chew. She is also growling and barking at me. I've just moved her behind the gate to calm her.

Mine ends up in the pen when he does that too. Got hyper when I got home last night, bit a hole in my shirt 😠

He's very nippy and a pita especially around 6/7pm

@littlebilliie sounds like you're doing everything right. When Goof was biting I used to do some training which calmed him.

Attracted by the small poo claims I've just bought Eden. Will have to start measuring

I'm really hoping to move to the semi moist food and to moving flavours, though he scarfs his grub in seconds and will take it whilst training so it must taste good?! I do add a little flaked fish (sardine in oil this week) on it (and once a week a tiny bit of grated cheese!) And no complaints from the dog.

Urgh. The zoomies are back 😩

Oh I've just looked, it's from 16 weeks onwards for all the flavours so I might try him with the fish one.

Mac pup has taken his jumping up a notch. He isn’t really jumping at us very much, but has decided jumping on the sofas and up at the kitchen counters or dining table is his new favourite sport 🤦🏼‍♀️

He also seems to be choosing when he decides to listen to ‘sit’ so might need to up the reward value for a bit.

The jumping. The biting. I hear you. It really hurts. So much worse when tired. Enforced naps every hour here. Sick of bleeding!

Plus pigs' ears and lambskin twist chews.