Puppy survival thread. Nov. Read this and buy a hamster instead

[WomblingKnobhead]

Or a rabbit, or a goldfish, or a cuddly toy.

Pup has just been collected for her weekly walk, and has been given gifts from the dog she walks with - who knew that was a thing?!

@tizwozliz oh god as if there’s not enough to do at this time of year without having to buy gifts for dogs you don’t know!

Merli has a spot on his chest like a bite. I'm dithering over vet or not. He is not at all bothered by it

Do you have the online vet thing? Might be worth using the video vet if so.

FawkesPup is being a night-time twat again. 3:30am wanted out. Needed a poo. Fair enough...wouldn't come back in, then whining and yodelling in his crate. Don't know if this is the secondary fear stage and I am poorly and exhausted so I slept on the spare bed with the dog 🙈

I have no idea how to sort it as he's a typical cocker spaniel and just wants to snuggle up but he's not allowed upstairs now. I think it might be a phase as he was fine until this week. His 🌰🌰 have grown loads so I think maybe it's hormone and teenage fun 😩

@WomblingKnobhead is that one of those fabled hot spot things? If so, the treatment in my breed FB seems to be diluted hibiscrub wash and some sort of green clay concoction.

Well just over a week in and Foopup is definitely all settled in,cries for a wee at 1 and 4 am, dings a bell 75% of time during the day and if not always hits his puppy pad...... omg I had forgotten how knackered I get with broken sleep!!!!

Clever Foopup!!!

FawkesPup is a prizewinner. Training scho had an online dog show and he won.....the goofball prize 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Aaaaawwweeee everyone knows goodball is the best prize!!

*goof

Well done Fawkespup!

I’m freeeeeeeee! Guess where the first place Billy took me was?

I'm gonna say....petshop?!!!

@GuyFawkesDay lol goofball!

Mine had an excellent off lead walk in the woods, recalling and checking in fine... until just as we were about to leave 2 dogs appeared from nowhere...pup ran over to say hi, luckily they were friendly and happy to engage with her, she did recall when I called but only a brief "yes mum" before running back to play with the other dogs... not long enough for me to grab her! So she had a little play and eventually the other dogs went back off to their owner and pup followed me in the other direction. Not a disaster but a shame after the rest of the walk was so good! Ah well she's 10 months today so I guess still an adolescent... on the way home she met a 5 month old cockerpoo who was very lively and bouncy, jumping all over mine (both were on lead) and pup was very patient and tolerant with the little pup and I thought it was quite funny it's usually her other dogs tolerate and now she was doing it

@GuyFawkesDay correct 😂

@Aria20 I actually think that sounds very good in terms of recall. I have read that it can take up to 2 years for recall to be really solid.

We are nowhere near 100%. Or even 80%. My pup will recall beautifully if there are no other dogs or distractions like a squirrel, a leaf, the wind blowing. . . It probably doesn't help that DH has a habit of calling repeatedly, "Come, come, come, come, come!" So the word has lost its urgency a bit. But I'm determined to keep working on it.

Yes I sometimes struggle with repeating the word, as does DH. Something to work on.

FawkesPup chased his first squirrel today. He hadn't a cat in hell's chance of catching it so it was a fun watch. On his longline but loose, and he recalled off the tree....but only after he spent about 20 seconds pointed to where it was presumably so I should know where it is to shoot it 🤣🤣

He's had his Christmas puppy groom and smells nice so I've washed all his beds, fleeces and mats too so we can resist the spaniel stink that little bit longer 🤣

Frogdog had a very exciting weekend, lots of socialising - 3 off lead walks, a visit to a cafe and a trip to the pub! You would think that would tire him out, but not so much.

Still really struggling with the daytime sleep. @GuyFawkesDay so envious of your lovely snoozy cuddly dog, mine will not settle for a cuddle ever, just ramps up into overtired and bitey so all sleeps are in the play pen in the kitchen. I really want him to settle in the living room with us but I don’t know how to get there. Dog trainer said it will happen in time, I have to keep reminding myself how much he has learnt so far and he is only just 12 weeks old

@GuyFawkesDay mine chased a flock of magpies earlier they scattered and flew in different directions so she looked very confused! I love it when they are fresh and clean, sadly doesn't last long though.

@LostFrog 12 weeks is still so tiny you will get there

@GuyFawkesDay Frogdog had his first bath on Sunday morning and then promptly got caked in mud from a puddle at the Christmas tree farm.. so had second bath on Sunday afternoon! I have never seen an adult springer NOT caked in mud so i think we will have to get used to it!

How are everyone’s Christmas decorations holding up?

@LostFrog it really does happen in time. I despaired that Billy could only nap in his crate in the evenings at first but now he just chills in the evening with us 😊.

Billy gives the odd bauble a boop with his nose but that’s it!

@LostFrog since the day she pulled the tree over and 2 baubles broke, we haven't had any further issues!

Noxious smells here tonight, I'd be quite happy if pup would take herself off to another room but no, she's sat on top of me emitting foul gases!

Our decorations haven't been touched...

...they're still in the loft

Oh yes @Aria20 was it yours who frightened themselves? Our cat was a kitten last year and we have many photos of him sitting proudly amidst the tinsel halfway up the tree - see attached photo for “spot the kitten”

@LostFrog ours was definitely not napping well at 12 weeks. There was a lot of mini naps in between massive bitey and zoomie sessions. He's much more settled nowadays. He's always been quite laid back, the breeder said he was the most chilled out of the litter.

It'll come with time. I do think the calmer you are with them the more it helps too. When I had real puppy blues and he was being a nightmare and got all stressed and shouty it just made it worse. Not that it helps when you're exhausted, emotional and fed up but with hindsight I can see it now.

So far the tree has remained intact. A bit of sniffing round the branches but some butter apple spray as a preventative seems to have worked.....so far.

I did have to rethink all decorations round the fireplace though as he nicked and chewed the pine cones and wood decorations 😆

Aw this brought back memories! Puppies are, without a doubt, soooo much work. But they are bloody gorgeous and, if you put the work in, you get a best pal. Am looking at my wee snooze machine lying at the foot of my bed right now and remembering what a lunatic he was🤣🤣🤣🤣