Puppy Survival Thread: Surviving into Summer 2022

[tizwozliz]

Discussion of all things puppy, highlights and pitfalls, good times and bad, successes and failures

Previous thread here

www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/4496297-Puppy-Survival-Thread-muddy-footprints-into-Spring-2022

Teenagers also welcome

@Autumn101 thanks, all is forgiven. Pup has had a two hour sleep and they have made up. She was definitely overtired. She’s a different dog this afternoon.

@Foxgloveleaf hope DC is ok. We've had a fair bit of this too! It's awful. Yelping or saying 'no' firmly seems to make it worse. We now say 'no' and walk out the room for a few minutes. That seems to be bothering her as she's always so desperate for our attention. We need to persevere every single time (hard when I'm desperate to have my lunch in the kitchen!)

Hi guys, I’m day 4 of puppy life and feeling full of puppy blues 😭 I knew it would be hard but feels pretty miserable today with lots of “accidents” in the house after successful couple of days of nearly all poos and wees outside.
Feeling pretty fed up ☹️

@Puppypower83 awww read the thread and you're not alone! It's puppy season and lots of us are in the same boat xx

I had an emergency call today just as mine woke and it meant two rancid poos in the kitchen as I couldn't leave to let her out! She looks so sad afterwards bless her!

Not as sad as me armed with kitchen roll and spray!

@GuyFawkesDay I think I saw you mentioning bio washing liquid for accidents- please can you explain if it was you! I've got a zoflora pet thing!

@Puppypower83 sorry for the bad day. It won’t last forever. Things will get better soon. We’ve had a disaster day with puddles after three great days with no accidents. She’s found the dining room carpet and apparently loves to wee on it.

DC enthusiasm is starting to wain as well so everyone is moaning about taking her out. It’s making everyone grumpy.

To everyone feeling overwhelmed with puppy blues, it honestly does get better. Those early days are exhausting and bitey and it feels like your life has been stolen from you. For me the truly overwhelming thing was suddenly being responsible for a little vulnerable life - just when my two were a bit older and independent and didn't need a childminder any more, I felt like I had put my life in reverse. I questioned what on earth I had done and felt quite regretful and almost grieving about our decision to get a dog. BUT, big but, I also discovered a whole new aspect to my life. I never thought I was a dog person but I am! I love our pup. I love our daily walks, our agility classes, meeting other doggy people, I love our snuggles on the sofa and having a benign shadow following me around the house and lying at my feet as I work. I am looking forwards to trying flyball and gundog training. I don't love the blonde hair stuck to everything but I do love the friendly warm presence she brings to our home and our lives. I can also see that she is transforming from a manic ball of bitey energy to a more chilled loving playful girl. It will be worth it!

Literally any biological washing powder, own brand or as cheap as you can get.
Hot water, powder, wash the stains. So much cheaper than the wee stuff from pet shops and works just as well.

Save your money for training treats!!

Those of you in the mad tiny puppy days keep going. Keep training and it'll all come good!

We had a lovely affirmative moment today. I have worked like stink on FawkesPup and his walking loose lead and his manners on walks. I have trained every damn day on it. Tonight we walked a long walk on a waist lead and he was brilliant. Another dog we were with was not....so I am feeling tonight the hours have been worth it. He is definitely getting there.

On the other hand, he's declaresd himself protector of the house and really started bring barky. Something else to work on 🙄😭

@tizwozliz good luck with leaving your dog. It will be fine! I left ours this weekend for the first time with my mum. What really helped was a squeaky ball belonging to my mum's old dog, which kept her happy all weekend. Have you decided what to do about spaying your dog? My vague plan was to wait until 2 years old. I have a little bit of pressure from our doggy daycare to get it done but although we don't want to breed her, I feel reluctant to go ahead with it. She had her first season at Christmas and we are still waiting for the second. Not sure when it will be but probably when I really need daycare and can't get it!

Our breeder strongly advised against spaying too early and provided links to articles about the issues it can cause. She hasn't had her first season yet but presume it could happen any time now.

She did a huge wee on DD1's big beanbag yesterday - no idea how to clean it! Then, this morning, she got DD2's absolute favourite soft toy which is normally placed out of reach and chewed it's face off. Lots of tears.

@GuyFawkesDay that's amazing! I need to learn so much!

So much cheaper than the wee stuff from pet shops

We bought special cleaning spray, loads of wipes and rolls of tissue for wiping up accidents and used it a total of twice! Sods law but money well spent.

Pup is with the other half so in safe hands. Just not sure how she is going to react as she tends to stick around me in the daytime whilst we're working.

Ada's first season was January, so overdue now assuming 6 month intervals. If she has her season now it'll mean she'll be 19 months if we spay her after this season which I think is ok age wise.

Love all the support here, thank you.

@GuyFawkesDay amazing work, so lovely when they behave and your hard work pays off.

@mrsfeatherbottom oh no, poor DC it’s like a whole new layer of sibling arguments with a pup in the mix.

@tizwozliz glad to hear pup is coping well.

Foxpup slept 9pm-6am again which was lovely. Hoping the 3am wake ups might be behind us. Plan for today is going back to basics. So no access to carpets, more frequent trips outside and into the crate for long naps. She’s done three wees and two poos in the two hours she’s been awake.

training wise she’s fab at sitting, mostly comes when called and pretty good at “leave it”. She’s terrible at jumping up and pulling on the lead (typical cocker) also thinks DC3 is a toy to chew and make squeal. Lots to work on. @GuyFawkesDay any tips on lead work for a 10 weeks old pup?

Absolutely now is the time to start! Do you use a clicker? I'd definitely recommend them.

Teach the "watch" command now, it'll be absolutely key to getting focus from these scatterbrained spaniels! It's simply eye contact, held for 10 seconds. Take a treat and move it slowly up toward your nose. As you make eye contact with pup say "watch" and treat. Obviously start with rewarding any eye contact and build duration up to more time. They pick it up so quickly.

Eye contact and watch then becomes the basis for other focused skills close to you including loose lead walking.

So for walking you need to work out which side you want dog to walk. Tradition is left side to leave right for your gun. So if dog to left your lead handle is in right hand and pick up slack with left leaving a J shaped slack.

Lure puppy with yummies into heel position on your chosen side. Say watch and pups eyes should head up to yours, quick treat and walk forward. Say "with me" or heel or whatever you use and if you get just a moment of walking with eyes on yours then reward it. Just keep repeating this. As soon as they stop, repeat the lure back to the right spot and go again. Once they master heel as a position it's easier!!!

You're trying to get focus on your face and body language so that 'watch' command is vital to getting the connection with the dog.

Spaniels are SO biddable and quick to learn you will can get those basic positions and skills fast so sit, down, watch, heel (by side) and then delivery position in front of you (I say front) and middle between legs. They just LOVE learning so it's mega fun. Loads of 5 minutes bursts worked best for us, rather than longer sessions.

@Puppypower83 I'm sorry to hear this. I know exactly how you feel. I was deep in the blues on Sunday after 3 days of puppy parenthood. It's been better since then but just wanted you to know you are not alone! I didn't even know puppy blues was a thing until Sunday. I never imagined anyone could feel sad with a puppy around and no one I know who has/had one ever mentioned it.

I made some changes to the way we were doing things after watching some online training videos in desperation. Realised I had given her too much of a run of the house so she wasn't making the association with the back door for wees. Now I have re-located us to the kitchen-diner, where I now work, and she learned really quickly after that. It's so much more manageable having her in a defined space that is easy to clean.

Good luck, I hope you get to enjoy some puppy fun times soon :)

@GuyFawkesDay great tips again thank you! Going to try that one at lunchtime.

Well my little bundle had her first walk! Loved the beach but spent a fair amount of time doing what she is in the second one then snores her head off for 2+ hours once home. Still pretty sleepy now!

@GuyFawkesDay - amazing work on the lead, gives me hope!! Loose lead is improving slowly but surely, these spaniels just get so excited they can’t help themselves can they?! 😂

Oh my god, he has been such a numpty, has driven me absolutely crazy. Used to tow me down a blind bend rural road with no pavements, scary as. He's now an actual pleasure to walk. It's fantastic. He even sat after he went through the kissing gate today, normally he blanks me and buggers off!!!

I am not popular as I have moved my living room around and done a big deep clean change and vacuum cleaners are not popular!!!

Oh no, the puzzle toys have come back to not me on the arse, dog can operate a pedal bin to raid now.

Is there such a thing as a dogproof bin??!!

Those with swimming dogs do you wash them properly once home every time after? If not do they stink? Mine paddled in a very shallow stream yesterday so I got away with a quick dry of paws and a spritz of puppy spray. But today she was right in a deeper river and I've bathed her once home - she was filthy, the car smells of damp dog, bath was brown and gritty. She had a great time but what a clean up operation..... also she drank loads of river water, it didn't look the cleanest although wasn't algae at least so hopefully she won't get a dodgy tummy!

@Aria20 I do a quick wash outside with a bucket of soapy water if he only
paddled/splashed or if the water looked clean. If it’s muddy/stinky then full wash in the bath! I don’t bother for sea water

For those interested in loose lead walking, you can start to train without a lead in the house and the garden. If your puppy is food motivated, this is easy peasy. Just have a bunch of treats in your hand (can be regular kibble if they like it) and bring the pup to your side. Walk a step or two forward, give a treat, repeat. If they prefer toys to food it can still work but I think it's a bit more difficult. After several days or weeks (depending on how quickly the pup learns) you can add the lead. Since the puppy is already used to walking by your side it makes things easier. Though it's a good idea to continue training without a lead as well IMO.

Loose lead walking was something that I was determined we had to get right. Someone once told me that most of the things we teach our dogs are things they would do naturally: sit, lie down, etc. But walking on a lead is not a natural behaviour so it takes time and repetition for a dog to learn. I found in the early days that it was really important to work on loose lead walking every day for at least 10-15 minutes. If we missed even one day, it set him back. He's now 14 months old and walks wonderfully on the lead.

@Aria20 my plan is to have an outside hot and cold tap with a shower attachment so i can rinse outside.

@GuyFawkesDay amazing tips thank you. I’ll try that.

@Nugg so cute! What a lovely day.

Much better day with the house training here. 100% outside. She’s tried nipping the back of DC’s legs again. She’s good at ‘leave it’

@Aria20 I only give my pup a full bath if he really needs it. I can often get away with a quick wash but after a few swims in the river he gets quite filthy and smelly. We have a self-service dog washing place nearby that I really like, because I don't have to clean up afterwards! If I wash him in the bathtub that tends to entail a deep clean of the entire bathroom because he tries to shake off the soapy water.

Regarding washing dogs, has any got a Mud Daddy or a Karcher Cleaner. Someone mentioned them to us but they’re not cheap. Think dh has got his eye on the Karcher!

@Riverlee my old neighbour had a mud daddy but said she wouldn't bother with it if she hadn't been given it for free as it was a hassle.
@certainshepherdpups wish we had somewhere like that nearby - todays bath did involve full bathroom clean after as expected but it needed doing anyway.
@Foxgloveleaf working on DH for having hot water added to outside tap... not sure what the cost would be likely and is it just a normal plumbers job?