Puppy thread 2021 alumni, where are you now?

[LadyCatStark]

Hi gain, I fell off the puppy thread a while ago but have been wondering how all the pups (now dogs I guess!) are getting on?

Billy is 18 month old now and is the most gorgeous, good boy we could ask for. He was neutered on Wednesday so has been feeling a bit sorry for himself as he wants to get back to playing in the fields and he doesn’t like his special collar (but completely freaked out at the cone the vet sent him home in!). He’s thriving on raw food and is super fit and shiny but he is a typical greedy lab and could happily eat all day long 😂. He totally failed at gun dog training but is a super star at agility and fly ball (although he is having to miss a few weeks while he recovers). The only bad thing now is that he’s decided 5:30 is time to get up in the morning 🙈.

It feels like those early days of wondering what the hell we’d done are a life time ago 🥰.

First time leaving FawkesPup for a holiday.

Needless to say he's having a marvelous time. He's staying on a relative's farm with their 5 spaniels of varying types and I don't think he will want us to take him home 🤣

Trying to decide whether to splash out on a new bed for pup for Christmas. We've got a cheapish one right now (our second) but she likes to dig in them and they're not really tough enough for that.

I'd like to say I can advise on beds but FawkesPup has designated our bed his new overnight spot.

He broke us by barking and howling all night in his crate. We tried leaving him downstairs with the run of the rooms but he sat by the stair gate and barked/howled. Then he ended up on the floor upstairs but snuck onto the bed and shoving him off frequently ended up with my even more exhausted.

So now he sleeps by my feet. Snoring, on his back and happy as a sand boy

Have you looked at the George Barclay ones? They're supposed to be amazing. Downstairs he has a cheapo Aldi mattress style one with a squishy top and it's been fantastic for the price. Can't dig in it too much because of its style or easily hump it cos it's rectangular

Oh, Ada's slept on our bed since she was about 6 months. This is for downstairs napping purposes ☺️

Billy has a raised bed with an entire, folded in half (when he’s not dragging it around the house!) double duvet on it. He likes to dig on it especially when his ball rolls underneath but it’s survived for over a year and is easily cleanable. He tried to take his duvet on a walk with us the other day 😂. Mind you, he’s currently curled up on the sofa under it 🥰.

Ah found you lot! How are the dogs? Mine is going to be 2 in Feb!! She sleeps in bed with my sons - they take it in turns each night, she starts off on her mat on the floor but then climbs into their beds and snuggles up in the night. During the day she sleeps on her mat downstairs.

Do your dogs wear coats/jumpers? I felt neglectful yesterday as mine was one of the only dogs without a coat or jumper. There was frost on the ground but she was running around the whole time so didn't think she needed one... am I mean?

We have jumpers but they're for activities like mantrailing where we might be doing a lot of hanging around or for putting on after a walk if wet. Not needed when walking.

The spaniels I know wearing coats are wearing for easy cleaning purposes as much as warmth.

Good to see fellow 2021 alumni! @Aria20my dog doesn't wear a jumper or coat. He's an Australian Shepherd with a thick fur coat of his own and really doesn't need any additional layers. Though I could see how a coat might be handy to keep the mud off. He can certainly become quite filthy after romping in the fields.

Mine wears fleece or a suit but it's due to him reacting to grass .ore than anything. We are pretty certain now that long grass irritates his skin so covering his tummy and as much if him as possible is required.

He looks a bit of a knob but hey ho!

@Aria20 hello! 👋 Billy doesn’t wear a coat but he dropped his entire summer coat on the floor and has grown a much thicker, coarser winter coat 😂. He mustn’t feel cold as on today’s walks he’s actively sought out the icy bits to run around/ walk on!

Ada has been spayed today (laprascopic). Think it's going to be a difficult few days keeping her calm. She's already attempted to jump out the car boot and has jumped on the sofa too!

Yeah we had a time of it after H was castrated, keeping spaniels quiet is um..... difficult!! He didn't cope well with the 5 minute sniffy walks after a few days. He was like bloody Zebedee on a lead 🫣🙄

@tizwozliz hopefully as laparoscopic she will recover very quickly. Ours didn't have the laparoscopic and she was a bit sorry for herself and gingerly walking in the house for a couple of days and she then decided she was ok to try and jump up on sofas etc and I was like noooo but I think in general they do seem to know their own limit....boy spaniels excluded @GuyFawkesDay haha!

My dog is terrified of snow men and there are so many around here at the moment... she barks and growls and backs away/runs away from them. Especially the huge 9 foot one some enthusiastic dad built in the park with a step ladder

We haven't had any snow which is very disappointing.

Pup is right as rain this morning, one minor incident when she decided to go for a second poo and I hadn't rolled up her suit!

We've just gone for a drive for coffee and cake and then we'll go watch the birds by the river from the car.

Hope Ada gets well soon @tizwozliz! we haven’t had any snow either but Billy is loving the frost. He keeps going out into the garden to investigate and eat it 😂.

We need keep calm vibes rather than get well vibes really :-)

Watching the birds.

@tizwozliz bet she is desperate to chase them!

One of her wounds isn't looking great so we've now got antibiotics and another week of restricted exercise. She has 'celebrated' this by chewing through the Christmas tree lights!

Oh no!! Poor girly!! Hope she's better soon xx

FawkesPup is still bastarding itchy. Just as we thought we were on top of it he spent a day with a friend and most of it in their garden and since then has been itchy 🙄

I'm almost positive it has to be grass he's reacting too, poor lad. So he's got th blow up collar back on as he licks and bites at the itchy bits and makes them really sore. Wish I could help it but nothing seems to sort it.

More suits bought and hoping he will improve soon.

well Hi! I was on this thread but might have had a different username back then....

Dpup (GR) now 18 months and going strong. She's a really good girl most of the time apart from the counter-surfing and attention stealing when I'm trying to work, is happy to be left for hours, and sleeps till I roll out of bed generally.

She was the bitiest, naughtiest, least obedient dog at bronze classes. A true horror. She's had a transformation and is now soft as butter, politely greets other dogs, and (usually) comes back when whistled for. Still a bit over-enthusiastic with people at the door but we're working on it...

Sympathies to the person with a 12 week lab. eeh, they are such fun at that age. It's a bit grim. I went out one evening when mine was about that age, and left her with my young teens. I came back to find the teens barricaded behind her pen rearranged to make a guard aroun the sofa, and her looking peeved she had no ankles to hang off/ chew/ bite anymore.

It would be easier if she felt poorly. At the moment it's like having a 3 month old pup again, except one who sleeps less! Have to make sure I have treats on me at all times to swap for stolen items and she can't be left unsupervised.

Poor Ada and itchy Fawkes Pup. They do and an extra layer of worry to your life don't they? It's a good job they are cute (when not eating your fairy lights...). We've had a couple of crunched baubles and a good go at a scented Christmas candle.

Do add

I can't complain, he's really good in the house. Tree and all decorations left alone. He did eat half a Terry's choc orange segment but it was such a small amount we didn't worry and no I'll effects.

He's such a Knobhead at the moment. I am hoping at some point he might grow the f+CK up