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

Our poor pup got the fright of her life last night - huge thunderstorm, she was near the bi-fold doors which weren't properly closed over and there was a HUGE thunder clap - I've never heard anything like it. The power immediately went out too which didn't help.

Poor love @mrsfeatherbottom but hopefully prepares her for incoming bonfire night?!

Does anyone’s pup get cracks in their pads? Mine has a fairly big crack/cut in one of his pads at the moment - I only noticed it by chance when he was sleeping. He’s still running and playing and hasn’t been licking it or anything. Wondering if it warrants a vet visit or is there anything I can put on to help it heal?

@Autumn101 ouch! That looks quite deep. Mine hasn't had anything like that so I can't offer any suggestions. I'd probably send the photo to the vets and ask if they need to see pup or what they suggest in meantime.

Lovely new puppies! Aww Nugget seems so big in comparison already at 14 weeks!

She's doing really well, had a bit of a weekend as my daughter brought her cocker spaniel, my granddog, over to be introduced - she's nearly 3 and has been our "baby" since they got her and is very attached to me too. Mixed results. She was very growly and snappy at times, seemed like jealously and protectiveness as when Nugget was playing tug of war and growling she really didn't like it. She's a big soppy lump but we will have to keep a close eye on them. They've moved an hour away sadly, part of the reasons I got Nugget as I miss granddog so much 😆

Otherwise she's all good. Sleeping well, no accidents for well over a week, I'm making over my garden and she keeps having a go at the new plants, I just keep distracting and pulling away but that's gonna bug me after all my hard work 😂

We start puppy classes tonight but not til 7-8pm when she would usually be going to bed as she's a sleepy head so it will be interesting 😳😆

Good luck at puppy classes @Nugg

im starting to have anxiety dreams, we get Haku on Monday and I’ve never had a dog before so am a bit nervous of the training and getting it right and doing right by him.

our breeder has recommended food but not treats - any brilliant favourites of your puppies’ yet?

also we have a pen as well as a crate thinking then there’s no rush to fully crate train and he’s used to a pen but it’s massive and takes up a huge amount of space, do you keep it up all the time or just put it up when needed? Was thinking just for things like nighttime or when whoever is watching him has to pop to the loo or things like that

@Acorncat1 we were told at puppy class not to take anything out of their mouths in case they developed resource guarding. I got yelled at for trying to take a load of fluff out of our dog's mouth. Can you start doing a swap for treats instead so it doesn't become a habit?

@Citygirlrurallife I know exactly how you feel! Day 3 of River Pup and still feel daunted. My first dog also.

(Although getting easier)

I liked the Nature's Menu puppy treats, suitable from 8 weeks and JR Pate.

We were all set to use daily food allowance for treats but pup had different ideas! The JR pate in particular is a complete food so I didn't have to worry quite so much about how much we were using.

Anyone else’s pup likes eating cobwebs, leaves etc?

Mine is currently eating our grass. Clearly having an identity crisis and causing lawn mayhem in the process.

Yup. Leaves. Twigs. Bramble branches. Rocks. Feathers.

Puppy class is too late for her I think 7-8pm but it was ok. She's just usually in bed by 730ish now and altho I fed her early and didn't do an afternoon walk plus got her to nap before, she was overtired and over stimulated! Will keep on tho!

Glad Nugg Pup class went well.

Poor Nugget appears to have been stung or bitten by something in the garden this morning. Proper off colour, won't eat or drink or anything but sleep. Poor baby! Antihistamine given and watch and wait 🥰

Poor Nugg pup. Hope she’s ok. The cocker spaniel facebook groups have almost daily photos of stings and swollen faces.

how are all the new pup parents?

foxpup is obsessed with chewing twigs, leaves, feathers basically anything on the floor. DC are back to school today so she’s having her biggest nap ever. Normally they’d have woken her three times by now. Tomorrow is her first walk out and about.

@Nugg Oh no, the poor thing! Hope he recovers ok. My pup is always chasing bees and it really worries me as I can't watch her every second.

Yesterday afternoon she unexpectedly vomited quite a lot but seemed fine afterwards, ate her dinner ok and is full of beans today. Not been a fan of the torrential rain we've had the past 24 hours so that made the last wee before bed quite a drama last night!

On my lunch break I swept up all the twig and leaf crap she'd chewed everywhere while DH took her for a walk. She was really naughty for him as I think she associates him with playing so he came back really flustered 😂

@Foxgloveleaf I need to join cocker groups some I think! Bet wanted to see her after all and relieve me of £50 for an emergency consult and steroid injection 🤦🏼‍♀️ she's still snoring as she has done all day!

First walks are sooo exciting! I still love it two weeks later 🙂

Aww @Isthislife poor pup! At least no long effects! Mine loves the rain, she's bonkers!

The amount of exercise to prevent the crazed shark phase is slowly sinking in as our cocker gets a bit older and less sleepy… sooo different from our cavaliers!

The amount of exercise to prevent the crazed shark phase

Don't make the mistake of trying to tire them out through physical exercise alone, you'll never succeed. Brainwork is the key!

@tizwozliz I've been thinking about puzzle type things for eejit pup to do - he's 17 weeks now & would like something that challenges him a bit.

I’d be interested to know what good brain games you all play. My pup is 15 weeks and really coming into her own after being quite chill at first. I try to come up with things for her to do, especially while I’m trying to work, but I worry I’m not very good or imaginative at it and feel a bit bad for her

Pets at Home do a good range of puzzle toys, we have about 6 that get rotated. I’ve used them since very early days as my dog is so much calmer with a decent amount of mental stimulation! I also do a lot of ‘find it’ type games and hide treats or his ball in cardboard boxes for him to snuffle out or rip apart.

We’ve started a sniffer dog course too so play some games from that which really fire him out

I spent some wasted money on a brain game from amazon where you hide little treats in slidey compartments with leavers. It was nicely made and I thought it might be good to leave her with it while I popped out but she solved it and ate the treats in about a minute. She enjoyed it but it was short lived! My dog loves sniffy games hunting for kibble in the garden which she does with the cat. They are very respectful of not stealing each others snacks!

Mine likes to throw puzzle toys about or just break them!!

He's generally quite happy if he's had some "work" on his walk, so I might hide a dummy or two, or do some seen retrieves. Really helps as he has to use his nose and brain.

Scentwork for spaniels is mega tiring and engaging definitely worth a look