Puppy survival thread. Oct/Nov fireworks!

[sandwiches77]

New thread...

Oh @cheeseisthebest I think our pups are communicating! I'm being watched whilst I have a cuppa, just in case I drop a morsel or leave the mug unattended. Then he buggers off to the far side of the sofa and gives me the side eye.

Though he got his new big dog collar today and looks very grown up in it 😭

That makes sense, @LadyCatStark. My pup was the largest in his litter by a long way, so I think even when he was very young he was used to being the biggest!

I made an attempt to trim his nails today but he was having none of it. I'll try again tomorrow.

@GuyFawkesDay he looks very sweet and I can't believe the things you say 😁
Merli met a few dogs his size today and had a boisterous play. All fun then as we walked back he met a smaller spaniel that was a little feisty and he was panicked. Ears right back, frozen and braced position and I couldn't get to him as man in the way. I whistled and he came to me and I popped back on lead with the feeling that he would have jumped into my arms if he could.

@BaconAndAvocado aww I didn’t know that. We had the last pick of the litter but I’d have chosen him anyway due to being a bit different. His KC name was randomly assigned but just perfect for him 🥰.

Aww to lovely pups. FawkesPup has a very fine white line down his front. Much more common in spaniels, obviously!! It's obscured by the sheer floofiness of his coat these days 😆

@WomblingKnobhead he's very angelic looking and a sweet, sweet boy. Really lovely lad. He was the quiet boy of the litter. Less noisy and rough than the other ones (only boys left to pick) and he's a real people dog. He's also a typical spaniel. Bitey, bouncy, daft, eats anything and gets into scrapes!!!

We wanted a boy and there was only 2. We liked his chilledoutness which he is most of the time apart from evening crazy time!

I don't know what I wanted. I was in the thick of grief following two bereavements and my much loved terrier dying. But he's perfect and just what I needed. I've just had a long chat with him (as you do 😆) whilst he stared intently into my eyes and half way through he lifted a great big paw and dropped it on me before resting his huge head on my shoulder and nibbling my ear.

In the time that it's taken to write this post he's bounced off, barked at the kitchen (for not doling out food no doubt), snatched his rolee and is looking like a dog that won't sleep again tonight 😒

Can I join in ? My life has just been turned inside out by a baby whippet with springs in her legs and extraordinarily sharp teeth, however she also has the warmest, softest, snuggliest body and too big skin, and when not sinking said teeth into my earlobes and feet just wants to cuddle... ALL day...

@Didiplanthis only if you pay you entrance fee of one picture…

I dont know how to post pictures ! The honeymoon period is over and she is now 9 weeks of pure mischief, attitude and teeth !! What do you do when all the books say if she bites and jumps distract her with her favourite toy... and she has zero interest in ANY toys at that point in time. There is only so long you can ignore and withdraw attention when she is ripping your clothes Nd sinking her teeth in !!!!

Sandwichpup is alternating between biting me and his teeth falling out. Not interested in a stuffed kong. Anyone still have a Pup that is still up in the night? Sandwichpup bangs the side of his crate when he needs a wee, took him out at 4am this morning and he was banging his crate again at 5am. DH took him outside and sandwichpup did a poo but then would not settle in his crate again. He is 5 and a half months old now

It is so much easier to do ignoring when it's only me here and I don't have the rest of the family moaning about the barking. It totally works as after a few minutes of very loud barking he has now gone off to play with toy. But in the evenings I have husband moaning cos he barks so loudly when we are trying to eat or relax!
Need to keep working on the be on your bed thing!

Sandwich same age here and he's now sleeping in my sons room and he does, fingers crossed, sleep through. Hopefully you will get there soon. X
He's still a bitey nightmare!

On winter coats for dogs - my retriever loved the cold til he was ancient, and I wasn't planning on one for setter pup, but my dsis thinks that's mean - do you all have coats/jumpers for long furred dogs?

@sandwiches77 and @cheeseisthebest yep we had a 4am poo trip this morning. Scratting at the crate at 6 to get up. Driving me potty!!! FawkesPup is 5 months tomorrow.

@casinoroyale4ever I have never had winter coats for my dogs. They have all been herding breeds, including the current pup. Cold doesn't seem to bother them at all with their thick fur. I tend to be more worried about them in the summer heat.

Yes same with my old retriever - anything above 16c and he didn't like it so much!

I have a rain jacket for pup but it's a bit useless to be honest as doesn't properly cover her belly which is the bit that gets wet. I will prob get her a warmer jacket that has more coverage at some point... I'm more concerned with her paws when it's frosty...

Got the classic FM for pets on in the kitchen and got FawkesPup a crate cover and mat with that noodle style cover. He loves the bathmat and doormat with it on so I thought it might be a hit. One the fireworks are over I'll go for operation sleep downstairs.

All of a sudden some of the training is clicking. Got a 10m+ stay and lie down stay today.

That said, he's still only coming to the whistle when he feels like it, and only does good heel walking when we are on the way home to getting a meal 😆

Billy was getting upset with the fireworks. There were a few last night and he was fine but much more tonight. We’ve got classic fm on now and it’s really helping.

Right this is weird but.... FawkesPup is asleep. In his downstairs crate. I put him in there as he was getting bitey and hyped with classic FM on and he's sparko!!!

5 months yesterday and only up 4 times in the night 😟.... he was doing great but regressed significantly and trainer thinks adolescence. Whatever it is I'm tired. I've decided to move him into hallway (front door) instead of lounge (patio door to garden) and last night he didn't go into the garden once so he doesn't need to. It's obviously need for contact. So he's now directly opposite my bedroom but waking to try and come in to me. Hoping this settles when he realises it's not going to happen

No response to most fireworks. He's stirred a couple of times. I've been doing Dogs Trust desensitisation since we had him. No idea if that has helped.

@GuyFawkesDay it's his special day today!!

Haha @WomblingKnobhead I had to think carefully about that so my poor brain must be a bit mashed.

Here we had a bit of a freakout in the garden when the bangs and flashes were most violent but otherwise ok. I wonder if she is actually deaf or hard of hearing I've scoured for earwax so it is not that

Hope everyone's fireworks nights were not too bad. Pup did ok here. Did her business in the garden with no issue until a firework went off right above us and she legged it back in the house.

Quick question - how do are dogs travelling in cars? We have a pet carrier which she is getting too big and heavy for. Not sure what the safest alternative option is, I don't think we have space in the car for a travel crate!