Puppy Survival Thread: surviving into 2022

[LadyCatStark]

The other thread is full and I can’t see a new one! Hope it’s OK to start one. I’m actually barely surviving puppyhood, actually teenagerhood, this week 🤬😡😭.

[quote LadyCatStark]@littlepeas that pic is toooo cute!

Since destroying his bed and crate mat, Billy has just had blankets for sleeping on. He’s been enjoying cuddling cushions recently and DS suggested giving him a pillow so I gave him on last night and he slept until I had to get up at 7am! Then this morning he’s spent most of his time trying to destroy it 🙈 (which I fully expected to be fair). Why on Earth does he feel the need to chew up everything that he loves the most??[/quote]
Our retriever was like this - every toy, ball, bed ripped to pieces. He even systematically destroyed the vet bed we got (recommended for bed destroying dogs) and then the towels and blankets he was given after that! He did finally stopped doing it, but I think it is a case of waiting it out unfortunately. he had a couple of cheap IKEA blankets as a 'bed' for a long time, as it was the only think he didn't rip up. We have gone back to vet bed for him now (and the puppy) - so far it's all still in one piece.

She's had a new Nina Ottoson puzzle this morning in commiseration celebration of being a lady! I was trying to decide if I'd prefer 3 weeks every 6 months or 5 days every month!

Knew we were going to end up having to miss something at some point, timing is so unpredictable that you'd end up doing nothing if you never booked anything just in case. It's just if it was just 5 days later it would mean missing out on far less.

Hello, my first post here so hope it's ok to join. We are picking up our Labrador puppy in a few weeks so I thought I would join here to see the reality. We are experienced lab owners so we think we know what to expect 🤣

We are experienced lab owners so we think we know what to expect

Whilst our lab is our first dog, I'd lived with 3 previously and thought I'd done lots of prep. Pup was quite prepared to prove most of my assumptions wrong, and the things that I thought would be hard were easy and the things that I thought would be easy were hard!

@tizwozliz

We are experienced lab owners so we think we know what to expect

Whilst our lab is our first dog, I'd lived with 3 previously and thought I'd done lots of prep. Pup was quite prepared to prove most of my assumptions wrong, and the things that I thought would be hard were easy and the things that I thought would be easy were hard!

I have a feeling I'll be more than a little grey haired this time next year!

oh no, @tizwozliz.... argh! How old is she? I hope she isn't too badly affected by it... on the bright side, you should be clear for a few months after if you're not getting her done. At least it's the middle of winter when going out is less appealing!

Puppy class last night was predictably awful. DD cried as our dog was the worst behaved and totally distracted. However the trainers were absolutely lovely and it was actually nice to hear someone else say "ooh, she is highly strung, isn't she!" (the dog, not DD, she has an old sensible head on a young body!).

But. But. this morning. Huge success with using a stick AND food for recall and getting her to mind me more. I know sticks are really bad for dogs and when the tug-e-nuff arrives we will use that instead. But, she came back first try every single time and sat nicely waiting for her stick. Once she'd got it, she drops it again after a few paces so I'm not too worried about stick-related injuries. It showed me that indeed she has not forgottten her commands, she's just deciding when to obey them and I have to be THE most exciting thing in order to control her at this point.

She's 8.5 months @Goawayangryman

Her mum was 7 months and I know at least 2 of her 5 sisters have already had theirs so we were expecting it sooner rather than later. In some ways it makes decisions easier, as we definitely won't spay after just one season given her age, whereas if she was around a year it'd be less clear cut.

it was actually nice to hear someone else say "ooh, she is highly strung, isn't she!

Yes, I was quite pleased when the trainer described Ada as spirited and talked about how it can be hard to maintain the relationship when they are like that. The positive side of it is we never got lulled into a false sense of security and don't seem to have been hit by teenage behaviour as much (or rather she didn't have a well behaved period to regress from ). I did a lot of standing about on walks, dog on lead doing nothing until pup gave me eye contact then asked for a sit. Literally 10 minutes in one spot freezing my arse off sometimes.

Yes, I guess it does make it easier, you can let her fully mature before getting her done, it is such a difficult call to make, when to neuter (or even, if).

That's also true about the highly strung thing. No time for resting on laurels ;) Actually my daughter was a bit like that too - so far her teenagerdom has been a breeze because she was never not a bit challenging and 'spirited'!

@Goawayangryman What a good puppy for coming back every time. I am so happy for you 🤩

Honestly, it was such a relief, @LBF2020. I know it will go tits up again at some point but I'm enjoying it for today.

Mega puppy blues today. Just had a massive cry in the garden it’s been such a hard day. Feels like he is reactive to everything, his collar, the car, me, being left for 20 seconds while I nip upstairs. All of it. Is it an overtired puppy or an anxiety, I can’t tell. Can’t walk him yet (vaccine compatibility issues) so been at home for 3 weeks now. Another 2 to go. Send help….

Oh it'll be just puppyness. They're such demanding little monsters at that age.

If overtired then enforce nap in crate. It will help. Do loads of mental stimulation too so you keep pups brain busy learning to walk on lead etc.

I remember the days waiting for "release day". Felt a mile away!!! FawkesPup was so bitey and howled for me if I was out of sight (still does, the dopey dickhead) but it's loads better. Just hang on on there.

Definitely normal puppyness! I remember it well. It was painful. Mentally and .. actually painful, because of the biting, struggling, trying not to trip over the little bugger.... this too shall pass, keep repeating, repeating, repeating :)

Thank you for the replies. 🙂
So bloody exhausting isn’t it. Feel like I’m ranting to my DP on the regular. He keeps asking if I want to send pup back. 😂
Bloody love the little sod, but is seriously testing my sanity this week. I’m a single parent so trying to juggle school runs/extra curriculars and ft work and training with him. So difficult. He is on an extendable lead in the garden at all times because of a fence that is in the middle of getting fixed. We back onto woods that lead to a main road so can’t risk him getting out or we will literally never find him ever again.

@littlepeas that photo of the two of them is adorable!

Just found this thread and hope it’s ok to join x

We picked up our puppy on Saturday and I am definitely feeling a bit of post puppy blues I think - really emotional and overwhelmed! He’s very very gorgeous and loving but it feels like having a newborn, if I’m not watching for toilet accidents I’m feeding/playing/trying to get him to nap/not chew furniture - every minute day and night seems focussed on him!

I can’t wait to start puppy classes and shirt walks just to get out the house 😂

I feel your pain @Blahblahblah40 - but it does get better - very slowly - so hang on in there. ChenPup is almost 5 months and we’re gradually getting into a routine but the first 2 or 3 weeks were a nightmare - the lack of sleep and endless weeding and pooing in the house were the worst. DH and I had a massive row brought about the lack of sleep and at one point I really thought it would be better all round if we gave him back to the breeder, even though I was besotted by the pup.

@SirChenjins

I feel your pain *@Blahblahblah40* - but it does get better - very slowly - so hang on in there. ChenPup is almost 5 months and we’re gradually getting into a routine but the first 2 or 3 weeks were a nightmare - the lack of sleep and endless weeding and pooing in the house were the worst. DH and I had a massive row brought about the lack of sleep and at one point I really thought it would be better all round if we gave him back to the breeder, even though I was besotted by the pup.

Oh I hope so. Thankfully we are getting the wee/poo accidents pretty under control now. He is good at letting me know. I think right now it’s pretty much just the frustration of not being able to get out and about to work off the excess energy. Only so much a walk around the garden can do. Sleep is gradually getting better as well but he is a light sleeper so wakes every time I move anywhere in the house. Just a needy little thing and wants constant attention as well which I just cannot give. It’s almost like that feeling you get with a newborn where you are “touched out”.. Trying to build up the time away from him gradually, making a cuppa etc, but the whining is defo hard on the ears.

Honestly I sat and cried with tiredness and frustration and "wtf have I done" even though I loved the little oik. I promise it gets better and so do they!

We did lots of find it games before we were allowed out the house, excellent for tiring little pups. And I used to love listening to her sound like a little steam train when she was sniffing treats out.

@tizwozliz

We did lots of find it games before we were allowed out the house, excellent for tiring little pups. And I used to love listening to her sound like a little steam train when she was sniffing treats out.

People keep telling me about this but tbh all I can think is that he will literally destroy my home trying to find them… I have zero trust right now. Think I just need a morning away from him which sounds awful but it’s been 3 weeks and I’ve only had 1 hour to myself.

Strength vibes to those of you with new puppies. The early days can be hard. But they are over quickly even if it doesn't feel like that at the time!

I took my pup for a walk this morning and he was doing so well. We passed by someone walking a gorgeous young golden retriever that was pulling like mad on its lead. I tried to smile sympathetically at the owner (but I don't think he saw, since he was concentrating on his dog). Because even though my pup was angelic today, I have had my share of disastrous walks too. Solidarity for all puppy owners!

We have a find it game that ChenPup loves which doesn’t involve him tearing up the house…we put some kibble and other treats down on the floor and then turn some plastic tubs over it. He spends ages pushing them around the kitchen and trying to get underneath them to get to the treats. Maybe worth trying?

Muffin tin game is fab too.
1 X cupcake tin. 12 balls/toys. Put kibble or treats under the toys in a few of the hollows and let pup find them

@SirChenjins

We have a find it game that ChenPup loves which doesn’t involve him tearing up the house…we put some kibble and other treats down on the floor and then turn some plastic tubs over it. He spends ages pushing them around the kitchen and trying to get underneath them to get to the treats. Maybe worth trying?

That sounds good. I’ve been putting his ‘lunch’ in an empty 2L plastic bottle and he loves that. Pretty simple but keeps him entertained. Will try the tubs tomorrow for something different!