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 🤬😡😭.

@DottyHarmer

Just had second vaccines today…. Only to be told by vet that dog must stay in for three weeks till they take full effect - - I had counted on a week, but three…. We are going bonkers here!

So bloody difficult. We had incompatibility with our vaccines so have been home for 4 weeks now, 5 days to go!

We were told a week.

Actually reading around the web it does seem as if 2-3 weeks is markedly safer.

Having nearly lost a pup to parvo about twenty years ago (a pup who just survived but had permanent intestinal damage, had diarrhoea for life and was undersized as she couldn't absorb much from her food; she ultimately died young for her breed), I am going to err on the side of caution. Thanks, @DottyHarmer.

Friend shared this with me thought you’d all agree!!

Love it @Askawayyyy Esp the head in the shoe - that’s a very familiar view we have of ChenPup!

We were told 2 weeks after his 2nd vaccine - that was long enough. I’d have been going crazy after 3 weeks

We were told we could go out 5 days after second vaccine on a dry day, pavements only and quiet times where we were less likely to meet dogs. Then no restrictions after 10 days.

Though tbf another vet in the same practice told us nothing for two weeks so we just chose the advice which felt more doable to us. We have foxes in our garden so didn't think the risk of the streets was actually that much higher. TerrorPup has survived, she's 17 months today!

There are two types of vaccine - I went for full monty so that’s reason for longer period staying in.

I was speaking to dog trainer and she said that you’d be surprised at how many dog anti-vaxxers there are. Not because of cost or can’t-be-arsedness, but through “I’m not putting drugs in my dog’s body” a la human anti-vaxxers. She said that when she started asking for proof of vaccination for dog boarding a surprising number of customers with unvaccinated dogs crawled out of the woodwork (or, worryingly, the park…).

How do you all keep your pups entertained at home? I’ve got Kongs, snuffle mats, hide treats under muffin trays etc but it seems to keep him busy for 3 minutes maximum!! Garden has been my saviour as he loves running around out there but today it’s raining……

I've hidden some chopped up frozen dog pate under tea towels, turned over tupperware containers and in plastic bottles this morning - that kept him quiet for a while. I also resorted to throwing socks up and down the stairs for him last night when it was pouring down and neither he nor I wanted to venture out - he loved it! We also practise commands and do tug of war with his toys and I throw a ball for him to fetch then I do "swap" for a treat.

It all those take just minutes, as opposed to hours - and as time goes on pups sleep less and less - wail!!!

Dog ate his puzzle game, where you have to move the slots to find treats. Why bother to manipulate slots when it’s much more fun to power through the whole thing

Like the socks idea! He’s currently enjoying playing with the dustpan and brush (and obviously ignoring all the lovely dog toys I’ve bought)

Weather is miserable here so we are indoors a lot just now as it’s too cold for me to just stand in the garden. We play fetch up and down the hallway which tires him out. Also an opportunity to train to ‘drop’ with some treats. Have stopped tug of war for now unless very gentle and no kids around as he gets too hyper with it. Blahpup is starting to respond to sit, down and quiet so next training will be ‘round’. Can’t go wrong with putting a meal in a 2L plastic bottle and watching them get it out! 😂

I’ve only done his meals in a bowl so far but I think I’ll try the bottle idea - might give me time to have a cup of tea in peace!

I've been standing out in the snow/rain most of the morning trying to lure the pup out.

Collies don't usually do the rain. This is where I envy my brother his muck-loving labrador.

@ABitBesottedWithMyDog lead on and lift outside if you know they need to do a wee/poo. Then treat of going back in because they’ve done such a good job! 😂
Remove puppy pad if you have one down, encourages them to remember they should go outside.

@DottyHarmer you are so right. I had to leave my breed facebook group because it is dominated by a small coterie of 'nothing unnatural in my dog' types, who treated anyone who just did standard vet-recommended course as akin to Satan. No-one worms or flea-treats either, unless with garlic powder (!) and instead they all send samples of poo off to be worm-counted regularly. There was a very, very tolerant and patient vet on there too, and how she did not implode I don't know!

I'm not for a minute saying that we should force feed dogs full of medicines and preventives, but honestly, some people take things to extremes. I always wondered if they'd had children and whether if so their children were unvaccinated as well!

Day10 here of pup's first season, this is almost as bad as waiting to go out after vaccines, but with an unknown time period element.

We've been doing lots of training in the garden, hired a private field a few times and doing a nightime on lead walk but I'm missing my walks in the woods.

@tizwozliz you have my sympathies. I am slightly concerned we now have a phantom pregnancy which will push her booked in spay back.

@TerrierOrTerror what makes you think of a phantom? They are common and I keep my eye out for signs too... she is one next week and due to be spayed in March!

[quote Goawayangryman]@DottyHarmer you are so right. I had to leave my breed facebook group because it is dominated by a small coterie of 'nothing unnatural in my dog' types, who treated anyone who just did standard vet-recommended course as akin to Satan. No-one worms or flea-treats either, unless with garlic powder (!) and instead they all send samples of poo off to be worm-counted regularly. There was a very, very tolerant and patient vet on there too, and how she did not implode I don't know![/quote]
No worming or flea treatment… wouldn’t be visiting them then 😂🥴🦟

@Aria20 just some slightly swelling so far, nothing hugely noticeable until she lies upside down.

Does anyone have experience with daycare? My pup had his third session yesterday (he's gone once a week for the past three weeks). He was thrilled to be there, seemed to have a great day, and was in good spirits when he came home. But he seemed a bit out of sorts in the evening, much more subdued than usual. Now I'm wondering whether daycare is too overwhelming for him even though he loves it. He will be eight months old next week.

Maybe I'm overthinking it. I seem to be agonising over every decision with this pup. I don't remember feeling so much stress with my last puppy. Though that was 16 years ago and I guess I was younger and more carefree then. . .

No advice on daycare.

Hope A is feeling herself again soon @tizwozliz

Bloody dog buggered off chasing skylarks in the field today. He didn't got out of sight. He came back when I called once he'd slowed down enough to be sensible again. All good....but his bloody chuckit ball is now somewhere in the middle of the farmers field. I wasn't going to spend hours looking for it, as it could be anywhere.

Tennis balls get shredded and he loves these ones but we've lost one he took in the river, and now this one 🙄

He's probably just tired out, certain