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Original poster

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

995 replies

cheeseisthebest · 05/09/2021 20:24

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.

OP posts:
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63
Biking0077 · 22/09/2021 11:29

She did behave a bit differently like mothering herding us and the kids Smile she would carry a dolly like toy about all the time and try hiding it in her bed etc. she’s very food orientated so never stopped eating

Biking0077 · 22/09/2021 11:30

Post Op absolutely fine and I was nervous about her being spayed but I’m glad now we did it, she’s 16mtgs now and no issues.

BaconAndAvocado · 22/09/2021 11:33

@cheeseisthebest

I'm 5 weeks ahead of you Bacon, sorry!!
Noooooooooo!!
Aria20 · 22/09/2021 11:33

Thanks @Biking0077 I'm nervous too but will get her booked in for 3 months after as it's preferable to the risks of cancers or puppies if they aren't spayed!

tizwozliz · 22/09/2021 11:39

@Aria20 - our pup definitely has days where she's more interested in food than others, and has been like that since day 1 so it might not necessarily be anything. I've just presumed growth spurts or tiredness or something.

I'm hoping pups first season is nearer a year as otherwise I'll probably wait until after her second to spay, as would like her to be 14 months minimum

TerrierOrTerror · 22/09/2021 12:12

Our first season was mid May, so 8.5 months. Fairly early I think! She was super clingy and needy, needed physical contact more during the day and couldn't lie on the floor on her side as she wax so uncomfortable. First signs for us were swelling and she did not want other dogs to sniff her. She wasn't a great eater but got even worse until about two months after the season.

SpreadHummusNotHate · 22/09/2021 13:03

Our pup is having her first season now - she’s into the 2nd week and is almost a year old. It’s not as bad as I was expecting - she’s kept herself very clean, just a few spots here and there. Main thing is keeping on lead for walks and I’m steering clear of places there might be lots of off lead dogs in case their owners struggle to recall them (understandably!). I’ve booked secure fields a couple of times a week to blow off steam and for a very active spaniel she’s coping remarkably well. Dare I say it she’s also acting more like a dog rather than a puppy and I’m hoping that doesn’t fade away when her season ends!

Will be getting her spayed ASAP though as she’s having to miss out on offlead time and going out with dog walker. But I was worried about it and it’s definitely not been as much of a pain as I was expecting!

MightyMeerkat · 22/09/2021 15:47

Been away for a few days and come back to lots of cute new pups! Welcome everyone.

@KILM Don't beat yourself up. The biting is the worst. I bought a play pen and when she's really bad - like this morning - I put her in it for 2 minutes for a time out. It really works to calm her down.

Sorry to hear about the sleeping troubles. We've really struggled with sleep too. She has never gone in her crate and cried if left. In the end, I put her bed in the play pen in the kitchen. I close her in it each night after last trip to the toilet. The first week I slept next to it and just stroked her if she cried and she started sleeping from 11 - 4 then 4.30 - 6. Then the following week I sat by her until she went to sleep - I sat quietly in the dark on my phone so no distractions - then crept to the sofa to sleep and she started sleeping 11 - 5. Week three now and I again wait until she is asleep but go up and sleep in my bed. I have a camera with audio so I can pop down if she needs the toilet and she generally sleeps 11 - 6. It seemed to take ages to get to this stage and I was so tired during it but it's so much better now.

But you solve one thing and then it starts another. In our case, she has started growling and snapping if we try to stop her doing something she wants to e.g. sleeping on sofa, eating something dodgy. She's very headstrong. And it's hard to remember distraction and positive enforcement when you have sharp teeth heading for you!

Lifeishitsometimes · 22/09/2021 16:07

Biting is a normal puppy behaviour. They have to bite, otherwise they don't learn to inhibit their bite. So I'm learning from endless behaviour sites.

Someone asked about enforced naps. It's into the crate and pen (which I got stick for earlier on this thread) but it works for us and makes her generally calmer. Crate's the only way when the kids are around because they're just toooo exciting. She's a happy little soul really. We luffs her.

Today we've been enjoying a variety of dried animal body parts. they smell a bit rank but enable me to work in between training sessions :)

Spudlet · 22/09/2021 17:25

We have a crisis here - the shop is out of lambhide and goathide twists Shock This is very serious indeed. We have had to buy a pizzle which is not something I’m ecstatic about, tbh ConfusedGrin

Returnoftheowl · 22/09/2021 18:12

How to people tire their pups out? Every evening mine has so much energy left that he turns into a bitey horror. Walks don't seem to tire him, nor does training, brain games or playing...

MightyMeerkat · 22/09/2021 18:28

@Returnoftheowl If your pup is anything like mine then the fact that he is biting means he already is tired. My pup starts biting but can't switch off to sleep or for a nap when she's tired. So I sometimes enforce a nap by putting her in the pen. Or ignoring her and then she falls asleep because I'm being boring.

GuyFawkesDay · 22/09/2021 18:30

We have walked 30 minutes across the field and he's had mad zoomies but he's still being a twat. Just bit DD, was a play bite but there is more force behind it these days.

I wish I knew what to do.

GuyFawkesDay · 22/09/2021 18:31

I just put him in the pen and had to grab him by the scruff and almost lift him with it as he was turning to bite.
Proper witching hour stuff. He will be ok in a bit, it's short bursts and bitter apple spray etc helps but omg the biting is bad.

Returnoftheowl · 22/09/2021 18:58

[quote MightyMeerkat]@Returnoftheowl If your pup is anything like mine then the fact that he is biting means he already is tired. My pup starts biting but can't switch off to sleep or for a nap when she's tired. So I sometimes enforce a nap by putting her in the pen. Or ignoring her and then she falls asleep because I'm being boring.[/quote]
We've tried enforcing naps & being boring, but it doesn't calm him down or make him sleep. He's quite happy to bite you even if you're being boring. If we pop him somewhere quite to calm down he whine and howls and will not settle.

For 21 hours day he's adorable. For 3 (always in the evening) he's a terror and makes me have proper puppy regrets.

Returnoftheowl · 22/09/2021 18:59

I wish it was short bursts with mine... He can keep it up for hours!

MightyMeerkat · 22/09/2021 19:19

@Returnoftheowl I'm sorry that does sound really difficult. I wish I could help.

Spudlet · 22/09/2021 19:38

Spudpup is definitely less of a bitey tosser y days if it helps. He’s five months old on Sunday. I can’t deny that I’ve given him the odd sharp no when he’s been a total tosspot though (like 30 seconds ago, for example…) but he’s better and better these days.

We just had to get him in a headlock though as a bee stung him on the ear on his walk and the sting was still in there! So DH wrestled / distracted with biscuits simultaneously while I got it out with tweezers. Poor pupster. Apparently he went barrelling over to DH yelping like anything, as you would of course. He’s ok now the sting is out though.

GuyFawkesDay · 22/09/2021 20:39

twatpup FawkesPup went into the ditch at the side of this field tonight. Sniffing in the long grass and suddenly disappeared. Hoiked him out, he was unrepentant and covered in sticky buds 🙄

Puppy survival thread September and the pups just want to eat all the leaves!
Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 22/09/2021 20:44

I hesitantly say mine is getting slightly less nippy now he's discovered how amazing it is to have a toy thrown for him to fetch!

OP posts:
GuyFawkesDay · 22/09/2021 20:52

The nipping seems to wax and wane. Today he's been awful but other days not so bad but at 15 weeks we are in prime teething territory. Frozen stuffed kongs really help him calm and I think are probably soothing on his gums. And frankly, they keep him quiet and still for 20 minutes so everyone's a winner 🤣

MakeMeCleanTheHouse · 22/09/2021 21:10

My adult DD had surgery today so I've driven 7 hours and brought her home. Knackered and pup has been utterly manic since I got home.

opalescent · 22/09/2021 21:14

@GuyFawkesDay

twatpup FawkesPup went into the ditch at the side of this field tonight. Sniffing in the long grass and suddenly disappeared. Hoiked him out, he was unrepentant and covered in sticky buds 🙄
@GuyFawkesDay did you have him on a longline? Or can you do off lead walks yet? I am definitely going to invest in a longline, we are nowhere yet with recall, and I want to go for lovely open walks!
GuyFawkesDay · 22/09/2021 21:22

Longline. We have got 5m and 10m ones. The farmer has signs up asking dogs to be on lead and I think that's only fair. The 10m one I use every day.

A 10m line is a bit bulky but I used to lunge horses and it's amazing how muscle memory works... I just use it the same! I would love a biothane one as the webbing one gets soaked and covered in grass clippings in the park and it's a bit grim.

Definitely prefer 10m to 5m as FawkesPup gets chance to have zoomies, sniff, potter about (and fall in ditches!) as we are pretty rural. And we practice recall and stay etc on it. The 5m is handy in the park in town for a bit of freedom.

opalescent · 22/09/2021 21:54

Ladies what do your late evenings look like?
As I've mentioned previously, opalpup is a total pain in the arse from about 8.30. She's still going tonight. Barking, lunging, biting. I know she's tired. It's really disruptive with young children in bed. It feels like we spend all evening trying to contain her behaviour, and I'm just wondering if that's normal?

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