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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Puppy Survival Thread: surviving into 2022

999 replies

LadyCatStark · 12/01/2022 16:18

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 🤬😡😭.

OP posts:
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tizwozliz · 04/02/2022 18:41

Hope A is feeling herself again soon

Thanks, tbh she's more or less her usual self but it's hard not being able to get out and about. I'm sure she has no idea why she's suddenly not going anywhere. She keeps going into the garden, then coming and tapping on the door, not because she wants to come back in but because she wants you to play with her. Tug is such a boring game though, especially as she's not actually that good at it so I have to let her win all the time!

She was living the dream earlier this week though, picked up two tennis balls at once! We bought a whole bag of cheap balls in the expectation that we're likely to lose some. I don't let her have them in the house as otherwise she sits and defluffs them.

Aria20 · 04/02/2022 18:54

@TerrierOrTerror hmmm I don't notice any swelling in mine but looked up the other signs and she has been lethargic, "depressed" and definitely lost her appetite (not that it was ever great though!)... the last couple of weeks she's started digging up her bedding/the carpet too. She hasn't been possessive of any soft toys or anything like that though so I don't know!

TerrierOrTerror · 04/02/2022 19:00

@Aria20 hmm, so after her first season she went really anxious, I would say it was 2 months from when the first season began. This is when her SA kicked off big time, so we always wonder whether there was something hormonal going on there too.

I really wanted to get her to 2+ before we got her spayed, but I just can't put her through another season unless the vet confirms it necessary. She finds them so tough, her anxiety really kicks in, her SA gets worse and she also really struggles with dogs/people walking behind her.

Goawayangryman · 04/02/2022 19:09

When mine is bored and confined to the house she throws balls for herself Grin

PollyRoulllson · 04/02/2022 19:16

Re female dogs hormones for a good 9 weeks after the dogs season her progesterone levels will be very high. Actually higher than if she were pregnant.

So it is very common to see anxiety , lethargy, resource guarding, separation anxiety in this time. Instill as much calm as possible in this period do not expect loads of your dog, try not to introduce them to loads of new things just have calm and familiar activites If you just stay still with regard to training etc dont introduce loads of new things. Then when this period ends you will hopefully be able to carry on with training and any anxious behaviours etc will pass.

ABitBesottedWithMyDog · 04/02/2022 19:35

Thx blahblah. She did poo in the end, once the sun came out. Hope that's not a precondition for future toilet events.Hmm We don't use puppy pads anymore as she rips anything plastic or paper to shreds.😬

Aria20 · 04/02/2022 19:35

@PollyRoulllson thank you, her season finished beginning of December so I guess this would be the time to notice these changes... can I still get her spayed next month?

PollyRoulllson · 04/02/2022 20:33

@Aria20 do check with your vet it is better not to do too soon after a season to allow for hormones to level out but your vet can check exact dates. I would wait until 12 weeks after the season but I am not a medic

Aria20 · 04/02/2022 20:55

@PollyRoulllson it will be 12 /13 weeks post season. If she is having a phantom now will it be over with in 4 weeks?

PollyRoulllson · 04/02/2022 21:00

Possibly - Sorry that is not very useful. Some dogs do have symptons for longer but your vet will be able to confirm.

Aria20 · 04/02/2022 21:08

Thank you @PollyRoulllson hopefully she will be back to her normal self soon!

CharlieBoo · 04/02/2022 21:59

Hi, I hope it’s ok to join the thread. I have a 6 month old boy cavalier King Charles spaniel called Billy.. I’ve had him since he was 12 weeks. He’s very lovely but I am struggling to wear him out! He’s so full of energy. The only thing that really tires him is an hour of chasing the ball at the park..he’s super super smart, very loving and cheeky.

CharlieBoo · 04/02/2022 22:00

Billy

Puppy Survival Thread: surviving into 2022
Original poster
LadyCatStark · 04/02/2022 23:56

Welcome @CharlieBoo and Billy. I have a Billy too 🥰.

OP posts:
Blahblahblah40 · 05/02/2022 07:24

😴😴😴😴 Blahpup has been difficult this morning. Usually sleeps 10:30pm until 4am, up to wee outside then back to bed until 6:45am when I get up. This morning however it was 4am, 5:30am, 6am, then cried/barked/howled on and off until 6:30am waking the whole house (and probably the attached neighbours). Took him outside each time and ignored the whinging as long as I possibly could but after 20mins I couldn’t deal with it anymore so I got up. Have sent DC back to bed. Why do they always regress on your days off when you just want a little rest? I think they know, and do it on purpose to try and wear you down so you are so tired you give in to their constant demands and they are then in charge…. 😂

SirChenjins · 05/02/2022 09:18

Welcome @CharlieBoo - and Billy! He’s gorgeous Smile

@Blahblahblah40 - that’s really tough, you have my utmost sympathies ☹️ will you be able to get a nap at any point? Nothing worse than sleep deprivation, it’s like the baby stage all over again.Fingers crossed he’s as good as gold for you for the rest of the day!

Blahblahblah40 · 05/02/2022 09:27

@SirChenjins fast asleep in his bed for the last hour so I’ve actually managed to have a full shower and dry my hair so feeling a little more human. Think we will all be in bed sharp tonight though! Maybe I’m expecting too much of him, I’ve got some exercises I found online to work on with him to try and get him to understand how to get my attention without whining so will see how they go over the next few days.

@CharlieBoo Billy is mega cute. Squishy wee face. 😍

SirChenjins · 05/02/2022 09:33

That’s great you’ve had a chance to get ready and hopefully you’ll get a better nights sleep tonight 🤞
What are the exercises you found?

ABitBesottedWithMyDog · 05/02/2022 09:40

exercises sound good. My pup is a vocal one. She now grumbles bitterly whenever she finishes a meal, half-howling for a full minute. Yesterday she sat full on barking at the fridge. I don't remember any previous pups doing this! She also apparently hates Chihuahuas, chugs and other minidogs and kind of growl-howl-whinnies at them, unlike the waggy interest in big dogs. A lot of training ahead, once she can go on the lead outside.

Blahblahblah40 · 05/02/2022 10:17

@ABitBesottedWithMyDog I can just about cope with whinging and barking during the day. I really don’t like it at night or early morning. Mostly because of DC, but we have a neighbour who’s dog barks like mad when he goes out for his last toilet at about 11:30/midnight every night or if his owner goes to his van at 5am. I don’t want mine being that dog pissing of the neighbours!! 😂
Mine loves all dogs to the point of trying to jump out my arms, other end of the scale which is just as bad. He’s going to meet the wrong dog one day…

@SirChenjins one is a “leave-it” game. Blahpup can do sit on command (most of the time) so it’s about moving that onto self control over the excitement and not impulsively demanding. You have them on lead and toss a treat out of range. When pup gets to the end and pulls they should come back to you and sit. Basically saying please or help. So you reward the fact they have come back and sat and looked at you. If they keep eye contact and stay quiet you reward again from the floor.

The next one after that is making you the “treat”! So you put them safely about 5ft away from you, behind a stair gate or on lead feathered, while you are doing something like reading or filling the dishwasher. Ignore the whining/howling and trying to get to you and when they stop and are quiet you give them a few treats one after the other from your hand. Then toss one on the floor so they are back to standing, and repeat the whole process. Says it can take up to half an hour for the first sit but after that time should shorten. Goal is to get pup to understand that being quiet and calm is what gets your attention.

Autumn101 · 05/02/2022 11:03

Billy is gorgeous!! I’m taking in all ideas on tiring out puppies, Wilson is only 10 weeks but goes a zillion miles an hour every second he’s awake!

Just went for a walk down our local high street with him in his new dog bag and he actually tolerated it for 20 minutes before getting too squirmy. Felt great just to be out for a brief bit of time!

Then got home and my eldest has tested positive 🙄🙄 he’s totally fine so I’ve told him he can homeschool and be chief dog entertainer next week!

SirChenjins · 05/02/2022 11:05

That’s brilliant @Blahblahblah40, thanks - will give those a go Smile

certainshepherdpups · 05/02/2022 15:01

Billy is adorable @CharlieBoo.

Yesterday my pup got completely filthy in the park so DH gave him a bath. He somehow managed to escape the bathroom and ran into my home office when I was in a Zoom meeting. A soaking wet puppy certainly enlivened that meeting. Grin

Goawayangryman · 05/02/2022 18:20

@certainshepherdpups oh my goodness. I bet that have everyone a laugh. Mine sticks her head up to the camera and everyone says hi and she does that head tilt thing. Luckily my boss is very doggy although his are impeccably trained and he is probably sending judgy vibes 😊

Goawayangryman · 05/02/2022 18:23

I took ours to John Lewis today. That was...erm.. well actually it was ok but she was so overexcited. She did lifts with minimal resistance but was totally freaked out even walking past escalators. I had to do my best toddler distraction overexcited hey hey run this way doggo voice and people must have thought I was stupid. But I bought a quilt and some haberdashery. Yay!