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 🤬😡😭.

Sweet Jesus I'm never bringing the dog away again. Predictably the howling gale has resulted in refusal to toilet. Endless trips outdoors on leash (back garden unsafe due to high winds) with her refusing to go. Back in. Bark And whine for a half an hour. Back out. Repeat. And refuse to go again. Come in. Pee on holiday cottage sofa. I am in utter despair today! She is fine at home...

But yes I totally agree with this thread being supportive. It's great. You'll find your people here.

Welcome @Suzbug - and hang on in there, it does get better! ChenPup is 5.5 months now, so is settling into a bit of a routine although he's still an arsehole at times (often). I remember the very early days after we'd brought him home and it was like having a new baby again - endless poos, sleepless nights, not being able to leave them alone for a moment. DH and I had an almighty row at one point through sleep deprivation and I really did wonder why on earth we'd got a dog. Every week that goes by does feel a bit easier - although I've just been upstairs and he's obviously got hold of the loo roll, it was shredded all over the house. I need to resend him the good pup memo I think.

This is a very supportive thread, it's great. I did once start a thread to ask for advice on how to deal with off lead dogs jumping up at on-lead ChenPup and that's the last time I ever ask for advice on MN!

Can I ask a question please about vaccinations?

My current vet doesn't offer the same vaccination (nobivax) as the breeder will be getting him vaccinated with at 7 weeks. The vet has suggested that I ask the breeder not to vaccinate and to take him to them within 2 days of buying him and starting the course. Does that sound normal/reasonable?

@otherwiseitllbeboris our breeder didn’t vaccinate our pup, and we took him to the vets for both. Most vets actually charge the same for 1 and 2 as they would for just 2 I found.

The only issue we found was we couldn’t put him down outside for a wee on the 4hr journey back, but we wouldn’t have been able to do that even with one vax!

Our breeder did get her vet to vaccinate and do all the health checks before we picked him up - we then just took him back to the same vet for the second lot and his health review, and it was easier because the vet already had all the records. We've known the breeder for a long time though, so I don't know if that makes a difference?

Just to note on our pup as well, we did get a signed note from the vets to say he had been health checked and chipped.

The only thing about not starting the vaccination course until you bring pup home is you'll be delayed a week before you can start going out and about.

I think not starting the vaccination course is sensible if you're going to start over with a different make. Alternatively, is there another vet nearby that you could use to complete the breeders vaccination course?

@otherwiseitllbeboris Our breeder didn't vaccinate Incase our vet used a different type and they'd have to start again. Sounds like common practice these days.

@SirChenjins Thank you! Your username looks familiar from earlier posts I was reading. Appreciate the support. I'm very much experiencing the "puppy blues" and wondering if we've done the right thing by getting a dog...and then feeling guilty for feeling this way But I feel encouraged by everyone's posts that this brand new phase goes quickly. I mean, I survived two newborn babies! Just need to get my all-over-the-place emotions in check!

yes I totally agree with this thread being supportive

Although it feels a bit bad typing this, a bit like revelling in others struggles, I found it hugely helpful to realise that our pup did have some good points too! So yes she didn't sleep through for months but she did toilet train quickly, and whilst she appears fairly wild when out and about she's actually pretty chilled in the house

[quote Suzbug]@SirChenjins Thank you! Your username looks familiar from earlier posts I was reading. Appreciate the support. I'm very much experiencing the "puppy blues" and wondering if we've done the right thing by getting a dog...and then feeling guilty for feeling this way But I feel encouraged by everyone's posts that this brand new phase goes quickly. I mean, I survived two newborn babies! Just need to get my all-over-the-place emotions in check! [/quote]
I know the feeling very well. I’ve wanted a dog since I was little - I’m 53 so ChenPup has been a long time coming to me and I do love him to bits. It just feels a bit overwhelming at times, it’s really hard work, there’s so much conflicting advice, and I don’t know if I’m doing it right - I felt exactly the same when the DC were little but they’ve turned out ok so hopefully the doggo will be the same!

On vaccinations, we picked our pup without any vaccinations. We were also allowed out for walks at 10.5 weeks (5 days after second injection) so it worked well for us.

I feel like I need to join this thread! We got our 8 week labradoodle puppy on Monday. I think generally it’s going ok - DH is doing night times and he has plenty of calm, sleeping time during the day. But when he is awake, it’s quite full on - wanting plenty of attention, nipping at the children etc…. Feel a little overwhelmed to be honest.

Welcome @Olivess! You’re in the right place - puppies are great fun but oh my word, it’s a bit full on at times. Hopefully in a year’s time we’ll all have well behaved, well mannered pups who know all their commands and don’t embarrass us in public

@Olivess

I feel like I need to join this thread! We got our 8 week labradoodle puppy on Monday. I think generally it’s going ok - DH is doing night times and he has plenty of calm, sleeping time during the day. But when he is awake, it’s quite full on - wanting plenty of attention, nipping at the children etc…. Feel a little overwhelmed to be honest.

Hi @Olivess! Welcome!! I've just joined myself - I have a now 9 week old Golden Retriever who we've had a week. I feel like we may be have a similar experience! It's A LOT, especially with children at home to manage as well! I'm trying to take each day as it comes but on very little sleep each night it's hard! You're not alone!

6am start here - he obviously heard DD leaving for work. Am so, so tired - that’ll teach me to stay up late to watch a film 😴😴😴

Yes! It’s the mix with children which is hard. My two year old won’t be on the floor in the same room as puppy so when we’re downstairs I’m having to carry her around or she has to sit on a chair. Hoping that will change with time! DH is doing nights - that’s was the condition of having a puppy - I’ve done all the nights with 3 children so wasn’t prepared to do it with a dog as well. Older children are good with him but he constantly is biting their toes or socks or leggings or jumping up at them. I’m having to intervene all the time. Not sure how to stop him doing that as he doesn’t do this with adults in the house.

@Olivess can I just say it's a relief to now find someone else who, like me, has a 2 year old and a puppy. I've been scared to post that before because I thought everyone would tell me I'm insane.

Thank you for vaccination advice all c

@hashbrownsandwich Ha! I know - in some ways there’s no good time to get a puppy I suppose and as life is mad with 3 children anyway, you might as well make it a bit madder! 2 year old is in nursery 3 days a week on the days I work and DH works from home - just think there’ll have to be a lot of tag teaming with the puppy and children…!

@hashbrownsandwich @Olivess I have two young childen - 6 and nearly 3. They have to sit up on bar stools in the kitchen. They like the idea of him but they're also nervous of him - and when he jumps at them or barks, it upsets them. Really hopeful it'll get better with time. Trying to manage them all is a challenge to say the least!

@Suzbug@hashbrownsandwich This is so reassuring to have others in the same situation.

Another disastrous training class this morning. Ddog whined and barked and pulled on his lead trying to get to the other dogs and then he chewed through the new double clip lead that I bought yesterday

Frustratingly in the brief moments when he was concentrating he could do all the basic exercises really easily (touch hand, watch sit, stand, lie down, stay) and was best in class at 'leave it' games but after a couple of repetitions to show willing he just lay down and refused to do any more and went back to whining and pulling.

He was so noisy that we were taken outside to do recall on the long line so that everyone else could concentrate. He then spectacularly failed to recall at all and ignored me entirely
The trainer lady just said he is an adolescent male from a guardian breed and that this is the way he is likely to be for a while.
I have to incentivise paying attention to me but honestly it's hard to know how I could do that as he is much less fussed about food now, no interest in balls and only a slight interest in toys particularly chasing and ripping them up. He wants to play with other dogs and sniff and pee up stuff and that is all he wants to do.

It's the last week next week
I don't think I'll book any more as it feels so pointless
I think I'll have to get the expensive 1:1 guy back.

@Suzbug @Olivess I have another dog but he's small and old, my parents have Labrador's which my kids are around 3 days a week so they're used to dogs. My only worry is the nipping, anything else I can deal with remind me of that in 6 weeks time please