Puppy Survival Thread: muddy footprints into Spring 2022

[tizwozliz]

Discussion of all things puppy...

Previous thread here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/4451767-Puppy-Survival-Thread-surviving-into-2022

Teenagers also welcome

@tizwozliz Ada is so beautiful!

we had our second week of gundog training and agility. We only got to gun dog training just in time and Billy was a bit hyper at first and he didn’t have time to settle but he did perfect recalls around at least 20 other dogs and he was one of the only dogs to do a perfect retrieve of a dummy 😵 I think he shocked the whole class as we’re so obviously not experienced gundog handlers 😂. His real passion is agility though. He kept trying to break into the ring when it wasn’t his turn 😂. His trainer says he’s going to be lightning fast but I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up!

We get month by month too due to weight check too - though last time vet gave me 2 months supply as she was unlikely to go past to the next weight bracket in that time.

YamyamPup has hit adolescence bang on 6 months. She's really changed, I thought it was the dodgy tummy but now thats all cleared up it seems she's just growing up!
She's become a lots more whiny/vocal. A little 'jumpier' in terms of loud noises etc.
And the chewing and constant scavenging has gone up to a new level, I didn't know was possible!

She's also suddenly gone off her crate. She would normally take herself off to her crate every evening and tuck herself on for the night but the last 2 nights I've had to 'help' her into it... and then she's woken up at 12 or 1am and not been able to resettle after letting out for very quick boring garden trip.

Exhausted!
Last night I popped my t shirt in which seemed to help, and today i'm going to work on positive association again, feeding meals in there again etc. Plus washing all her bedding.

Any other tips? And anyone else experienced a sleep regression??

2nd jabs today for wolfpup. He is 12 weeks and 13kg, hes a bit underweight (my fault as i was not giving him enough) so we need to up his food. Looking at 45-50kg adult weight.

He has developed a slight limp on his back leg, we are really worried as obv hip dysplasia is common in big breeds, vet said he's clearly not in pain so he's probably just knocked it but keep an eye on it. I can't help but be really worried though!

Thanks everyone - good to know it’s not just us! Hopefully he doesn’t go above 15kg because I probably won’t be able to pick him up for cuddles anymore…..

Wow @PugInTheHouse ! 13kg at 12 weeks - I saw your photo on one of the other threads, he looked big compared to your pug but I didn’t realise he was only 12 weeks old! Hopefully his limp clears up soon - fingers crossed he’s just bumped it during the usual puppy madness.

Pup decided to vomit on my foot during a meeting with my boss this morning 🙄

@Handsfullofholes yep, it's crazy, biggest baby ever lol! He can walk over the pug without jumping now

Yes I hope so too, he doesn't seem bothered by it, still standing up on his back legs to get to the kitchen worktop and happily lays on it so hopefully it's nothing more serious. Oh dear, they always pick meetings to do stuff like that, same with kids haha.

Vet said we can walk him next week now his jabs are done, she said 15 mins once a day, I always thought it was 15 mins twice a day when they are 3 months. It doesn't seem like much considering that takes into account them playing at home also. I am paranoid he has been overdoing it, obv the 2 dogs play together but only for a minute or 2 at a time. We carry him up and down the stairs to bed also so we have been really careful. He jumped off the sofa once but we are super vigilant about it now.

@PugInTheHouse 😮 at 45-50kg adult weight! Mac pup is probably about fully grown now and only just touching 16kg. I can’t imagine 50kg of dog coming for a lap snuggle 😂

We have our first gun dog training session on Sunday at 11 months old. They’ve stuck us in with the 0-6 months group to see ‘how bad he is’. I felt pretty demoralised after I spoke to them at the start of the week. After a great weekend, on Monday Mac went mental in one of our safe areas for off lead and nearly ran in to the road. They said the challenges i’m having are probably because we’ve ‘treat trained’, him not respecting me, and they find causes problems with being completely unmatched to a high prey/hunting drive… I really hope it helps us to learn to work together. Just feel a bit of a failure for not going for an ‘easier’ breed and feel like I’ve been trying pretty bloody hard 😔

They said the challenges i’m having are probably because we’ve ‘treat trained’

All our training has been done with positive reinforcement, i.e. treats or toys. This is what our gundog trainer promotes also, but I think some gundog people are quite old school.

@tizwozliz I think they are a bit old school, but the main thing I want is help learning how to hunt together and we can then keep that going how we choose to. They do say they’re about fun and positive training, but I think it’s more praise based.

I thought we are building a good bond, but I can’t find enough resources to teach myself and him some of the things that he obviously lives for, which are more fun for him than paying attention to me. We were making strides in distracting environments and then seem to have really bad days that knock my confidence.

@TheBigMacDougal Do not be swayed! You have been right and any trainer that blames the owner is a shit trainer. Swop and go to tizwozliz trainer instead

Not followed the whole thread but the reason your dog may be becoming a bit of a muppet is because he is a teenager. This too will pass.

DO NOT take the blame or doubt yourself. Keep doing what you have been doing and in a few months you will have a beautiful, loving, trained dog who loves to be with you. Don't get tempted by the a ahh brigade or a quick jerk to show him what to do.......

We were making strides in distracting environments and then seem to have really bad days that knock my confidence.

I think that's entirely normal, our training sessions used to begin with an review of what had gone well and what had gone badly in the week - it was like group therapy :-)

I don't think I could have handled pup acting like a knobhead and then being blamed for it too

@PugInTheHouse wow, 45-50 kg as an adult! Mine is about 30 kg now and I think (hope) that he has stopped growing.

@TheBigMacDougal I feel your pain. My pup is 10 months old and has become selectively deaf. He seems to lose his mind occasionally, like yesterday when DH wanted to take him out for a walk. The pup suddenly had zoomies all over the house (which he hasn't done in months) even though he obviously wanted to go for a walk. Teenagers! But you definitely shouldn't feel like a failure.

@TheBigMacDougal what breed is he again? We had our first Gundog training session two days ago at 2 years old so don't worry about his age! They can all learn. I also had similar reservations about the training methods, the trainer was so friendly and non judgemental about our rather poorly behaved girl. We went to a Pet Gundog accredited trainer and she has really helped us, spent alot of time with us and was happy to talk through the pros and cons of the ways we have tried training so far. Feel free to DM me!

He is a sprocker @abeanbaked . And lovely in lots of ways but it has been hard work outside since he hit about 6 months. He’s 11 months now.

thank you for the encouragement @tizwozliz @PollyRoulllson.

@TheBigMacDougal ours was around 6 months when she had her first chase of birds and she hasn't looked back, it's been an ongoing battle so I fully sympathise with you!

@TheBigMacDougal FawkesPup is just the same. He's amazing one day, then a prize arsehole the next. I'm just chalking it all up to teen hormones.

The gundog trainer who is £££ here is positive only. Does a lot of clicker training with hers. Could just do with winning a few hundred quid on the lottery. FawkesPup loves picking up, I've bought him a dummy to carry about and fetch and he is SO happy.

He's also gone back to toy destruction and shredding beds this week. FFS, dog!!!!

@TheBigMacDougal it really doesn't sound like you have done anything wrong with training at all. That is definitely the type of training I have been told is the best thing to do with dogs, essentially finding their thing whether it food or toys. Yes 50kg is huge but the dad is 53kg and he still has lap cuddles lol.

@GuyFawkesDay what weight/type of dummy did you get if you don’t mind me asking? I have been starting some in dog training at home (very basic sitting and ignoring as stuff is thrown near) with a dummy shaped toy, but I’d like to get him a proper one, just not sure which!

There are a couple of funding trainers near us but one is £200 for 6 weeks! Seems far too pricey. We are supposed to be on the waitlist for bronze too but the club has gone quiet.

@TheBigMacDougal mine is a 9 month old WCS. I've been following some of the thread (I don't put pictures on MN so can't pay the tax to join you properly) and just wanted to add my voice to all the others saying our adolescent pups are just the same and you've done nothing wrong.

I've been going to classes with a gundog trainer since mine had his jabs, and have always been encouraged to train with treats (or toys/touch/praise/whatever your dog finds positively reinforcing). Although we've been from the start her approach is that they absolutely can start gundog training at any age, nobody is made to feel bad or out of sync. I would swerve the old school trainer and find someone else to work with. Also you need to be able to enjoy the sessions too, not be knocked down and demoralised.

If it helps, I've also found some online courses that have been useful with mine too. The Ladies Working Dog Group has a fab 9 week online course called "Hot Mess Handler" which is less than £50 for lifetime access www.ladiesworkingdoggroup.com/hot-mess-handler/ - obviously not the same as in person training but there are good videos and FB support, and a lovely supportive positive ethos. And the Fenzi dog sports academy often offers online behaviour/foundations courses relevant to working with high drive and energy or environmental arousal. All with "treat training".

Anyone got any good non food/treat related mental stimulation ideas. Ideally something that isn't too messy and doesn't involve too much input from me - for times when she's been exercised, eaten, trained etc but still wants attention and I'm trying to work lol.

@Aria20 does yours have a gun dog dummy? She’s a cocker spaniel isn’t she? We play hide the dummy (or child if he’s at home!). Mind you, Billy would just play ball alllllll day long!

She hasn't got a dummy yet I thought about ordering one but haven't yet as she's in a destructive phase again toy wise! She does love balls but can get a bit manic if playing with a ball for too long! Also she tries to bury them in the garden when she's finished playing so I can't take it away... then she wonders why she's told off for digging lol. Still can't be allowed in garden unsupervised!

@Aria20 Billy is only allowed his when we’re actually training with it as he would definitely chew it and release whatever is inside! He snuck it off his crate the other day so it’s currently living on the kitchen window sill 🙈.

Have any of you given your pups chews made from yak milk? I bought some but then heard horror stories of dogs damaging their teeth because the chews are too hard. My pup (now 10 months old) is quite an aggressive chewer and I wouldn't want him to hurt himself.

Yes I have, but stopped bothering as Yampup (6 months, black lab) demolishes them in a minute and then has the runs!
Our favourite chew is dried deer ears - long lasting & lean. Bit stinky though..

We stopped using Yak chews once her adult teeth came in, mainly as she had the strength to splinter them and I cut my foot on a shard.

We have a lot of chews though, current favourites are furry buffalo ears, pizzles, deer hide, beef scalp, pig snouts and beefy tails. She also loves beef lung but it stinks to high heaven so is outside only, likewise fish is outside only as I can't be doing with the scales everywhere.