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

Not long joined Mumsnet, but can I join. This not so little pup is 23 weeks this week.

@SummerBummers sorry you are struggling. All you can do is keep going. Apologise to your neighbours that they may hear the pup crying for 20 mins while you go to school as you can't bring dogs into school - hopefully they will understand as 20 mins isn't long at all. If you deal with that issue then hopefully you will feel less anxious then you can deal with the dog's separation anxiety. It is only a few weeks until the October half term so maybe you will be able to really work on it then.

As long as pup is safe in the house and can't hurt herself, has had food/drink, been for a walk and toilet before you go then crying/barking for 20 mins won't kill her - yes she might be stressed but she will calm down once you are home, obviously it's not ideal but you are working on it so hopefully you will get her to be comfortable being left for just a few minutes and then be able to build on it. My dog isn't interested in kongs etc when left either for some reason she saves them until I'm back! However, if I give her a snuffle mat/lick mat a couple mins before and she is distracted with that, it keeps her busy for a while and then she lays down and sleeps or watches out the window for me to get back. I used to leave the tv or radio on for her but sometimes forget, I have camera on so I can see if she barks - maybe if there is a knock at door and I can tell her it's ok and lie down and hearing my voice seems to reassure her.

@SummerBummers I would also try and speak to another trainer who’s a bit more understanding of your needs. You have no choice but to leave her, your children need you and sometimes that’s just the way it is! Hopefully if you can have a session with someone who’s experienced in separation anxiety they can give you some tips.

And please don’t feel guilty, she’s a loved and looked after dog and you are 100% doing the absolute best you can. I doubt any of us have done every single thing in the ‘ideal’ way x

@SummerBummers re the separation anxiety. ,we had a session with a trainer last week (he was a guide dog trainer as well as general dog trainer) and he advised that it's all about getting the dog to realise that you are always going to come back when you go out. He suggested practising by leaving treats by the door, shutting the door behind you then a few minutes later coming back in and making a fuss of dog. Over time you can work on building up the time you wait before coming back in. He also said that if we do have to leave pup then we shouldn't make a fuss when we go out. Just drop him some treats , make sure he has toys etc and then just leave. We are only three weeks in to having our dog so it's all new to us too!

Thank you so much for all the replies. In the grand scheme of things I guess two twenty minute spells a day isn’t the end of the world.

I think I will try to find a more sympathetic trainer. I struggle with the mismatch of information (it’s worse than having a baby!), for example PP said they’d been advised to make a big fuss on your return but elsewhere I’ve read to not make a big fuss…..

Pup just came into season! First time and I have no clue what I'm doing! Off to Google. Any tips?

How much is everyone paying in insurance? The one we got from breeder ends next week. Also, does anyone have any recommendations (or discount codes!).

I'll PM you my many pets code. They're superb. Really impressed. I pay £29 a month but bear in mind they lumped out £1200 for FawkesPup's CT scans last year!

@GuyFawkesDay Thank you. Everyone has said tomget Lifetime policy. Quotes have varied from £20 to £70 per month!

I'm with Many Pets for both my SBTs and Insurance Emporium for my Alapaha. I have 7k lifetime cover for all 3. Pricing very good.

Had to claim with Many Pets and they paid within 2 hours of accepting the claim.

Yep we went for lifetime cover too.

We are with pet plan.
Covered For Life® Classic+
Up to £7,000 in Veterinary Fees
I think it’s £34 a month.

@SummerBummers Your pup is beautiful.

Im not sure I can offer any advice others haven’t but my pup is nearly 16 weeks too and seems to be ok being left alone (so far🤞🏻)

Things I have done is left her from the very beginning, just 10 mins while I sat outside and listened to her and I built it up to a hour and a half. Building up the time slowly when I knew she started being ok for the 10/15/20 mins etc.

She goes in her crate & I Never made a real fuss when I returned. Just opened the door, said Hi, smooth and took her out back for a wee.

Her Crate has a cover over.

She has a Snuggle Puppy with a heartbeat in her crate and I put it on every time I leave or go to bed.

Shes not allowed upstairs so very frequently she sees me/everyone else go up the stairs and has to wait downstairs by herself. She used to whine a little bit but now either sits and waits at the bottom of the stairs or she goes back into the front room and lays down until I/we come back.

I’d probably just let her cry for 20 mins. There will be loads of other times that you will need to leave her so it’s essential she gets used to it somehow.

Look at her eyes. How beautiful.

Thanks @HollyJollyXmas57 he is a beautiful dog. Got a cracking temperament too.

@GuyFawkesDay would love your many pets code too!

we def need to start leaving our puppy on his own too

Also recommend Many Pets - we’ve had a few costly vet trips recently and they’ve all been paid quickly and so straightforward to claim

@Citygirlrurallife I've PMd you xx

Thanks @GuyFawkesDay

mid level many pets is £45/month - is that high or low?! £7K per annum cover

Is that the lifetime 7k option? If so compare it with Insurance Emporium Gold Life Time cover. Both defaqto 5 rated before committing.@

So my boy is 23 weeks and we have the opportunity to go to Guy Fawkes night with him. I want to desensitise him to fireworks. Good shout? Or should I find somewhere we can hear it at a distance?

@Citygirlrurallife - I don't know how much it varies by breed/size of dog but our manypets cover (15k lifetime, 99 yearly excess) for a lab is £36

@Toooldtoworry gorgeous pup! I don't think going to a fireworks display with your new pup is a good idea. It is going to be pretty overwhelming on lots of fronts - crowds, dark, different smells, unknown location - before you even consider the noise and light of the fireworks. You don't want it to backfire and instil a fear.

I think different breeds react differently to loud noises. We have a working lab/ working goldie cross and she is unfazed by lightening, fireworks, gunshots in the forest mainly because her breed has been developed to work as a gundog and take sudden loud noises in their stride. I still don't think I would take her to a fireworks display though.

Our cats incidentally are very chilled around loud noises but I think that is because we lived in central London when they were kittens so their first couple of years were full of sirens, traffic and shouting! They will actively chose to go out and check out thunder storms and fireworks now we live in the countryside.

@ilovesushi I was wondering whether it would possibly be slightly too much. He is used to large crowds/busy environments around food/etc and settles easily/ignores under those circumstances. I'm just mindful that we can't get away from fireworks and I don't want him afraid.

My last dog, a jack Russell would walk quite merrily with fireworks going off. Not bothered in the slightest.
I'm not sure I'd want to try it with a pup with too many new things going on.
We may try ours in the garden first.