Puppy Survival Thread - as we approach Fireworks night for the first time…

[Riverlee]

Apologies if someone has already started a new thread. Couldn’t see one when I had a quick look.

As it’s a new thread, why don’t we all (re-) introduce ourselves. Ie. Good excuse for more cute puppy pictures!

I have RiverPup, who is now a 15 weeks old black Labrador.

Two pictures of when we first got him, and more recent.

My vets recommend 3 months after the first season for small breeds which is what I've had done in the past and will do again this time.

Don't quote me on this but I thought it used to be believed that getting a spay done before a first season could lead to incontinence issues in the future in some breeds? I'm not 100% and don't know if this is still the case?

On the lookout for a waterproof coat for our pup was wondering where you have got yours from? Something that's easy to put on too...not asking for much am I 😅

We seem to have hit a wall this week, 16 weeks old and has forgotten everything he’s learnt.

He’s back to pulling, nipping, jumping up and jumping peoples legs again. He’s been an absolute nightmare. He’d stopped all of these things in the last couple of weeks but they’ve come back out of nowhere.

Hoping it’s just a teething phase or something!

So all of a sudden Twiggy can climb the stairs (ancient cottage so steep higgeldy stairs that she hasn't bothered with until now) and she snuck up there just now and ate the cat's dry food. Should I be worried (I mean the food not the stairs!) - she didn't want her tea but is currently wrestling with DDog1 so doesn't seem unwell...

@JessieEssex i guess just keep an eye on her. If she shows signs of distress, then call the vet.

Our lab has worked out how to open the door, although at the moment he only opens one door. He hansn’t worked out that the other doors open on the same way!

Riverpup is now getting better. Although can be restless and unsettled at times,, he seems more his normal self.

Glad riverpup is on the mend!

@JessieEssex scary re Twiggy - I think Riverlee’s advice sounds pretty sound.

Coco had her kennel cough vaccination today and took her for a little walk on our drive and on the street outside for a sniff (using harness and collar) - she was fine for most of the pootle then went all crazy attacking the lead and trying to bounce around everywhere so had to pick her up and bring her back in…Puppies are total nutters aren’t they?

Twiggy is absolutely fine - three enormous poos this morning and the cat food seems to have passed through! She does already seem to have the terrier iron constitution as she eats all sorts of crap in the garden/on walks to no effect!

Thinking off taking pup out this week before his 2nd ( but actually third) jab next Monday. He has been an absolute demon biting everyone, tearing round the house, weeing indoors.
He had a week of walking which he loved and has now been grounded for a week which he isn't enjoying in the slightest.
Can't cope with another week like this.

Our vet was fairly sanguine about taking pup out before last jabs. She said most dogs in our area are vaccinated, keep away from dog walking spots, and just be sensible. We took her to the beach as tide had just gone out and it was swept clean.

@Notsympatheticenough he had his first jab with the breeder and our vet couldn't do a compatible jab. Another vet said they could but on taking him back to our vet for a different problem she said he would need a third jab and if he was her dog she wouldn't let him out until he'd had it.
We're veering towards walking him round our block as he's going stir crazy in the house.

@Rowgtfc72 what jabs has pup had? Are they the same brand like Novibac? If so is the difference just that ones an L2 and the other an L4?

@BeansOnToast32
Can't remember the name of the first one but I've never heard of it. Certainly not Novibac. Second vet gave him canigen. Our vet says he'll need another canigen to ensure he's covered. All L4 though.
He's been out.
He's peed all over the house this morning and we caught him chewing the fridge Freezer.

Just sharing my experiences here, absolutely NOT giving advice or saying “well it was fine for me…”. We did canigen at 7 weeks at breeder, nobivax at 9 snd 12 weeks at my vets.
canigen and nobivax are compatible but my vet said 7 weeks was too early for a pup to be vaccinated due to interference from maternal antibodies and wanted to start again. I was gutted but willing to suck it up for the extra weeks.
However at the third jab appointment the vet said she was fine for pavement walking but to carry her out of the vets and cat park and avoid heavy dog traffic areas.
So the day after her third set of jabs we went out. For lepto though, as you aren’t covered for another 4 weeks I think, we avoided all surface water.
The vet said we lived in an area that had very high levels of vaccinations. I did call the vet back to double check I had heard correctly and they confirmed.

I would have a chat to your vet about it. Good luck, by 12 weeks I was heartily sick of my back garden.

@BigBundleOfFluff
That's interesting. Pup was vaccinated at 6 weeks.
We were told canigen was compatible with nobivax. Our very first jab was versican. No vet within an hour and a half of us uses that.
We took him round the block yesterday. That little sausage dog ran! What a different dog he is today.

@Rowgtfc72 i don’t know which brand our pup has but he has only had L2, our vet wasn’t bothered and said to give L4 at the booster.

Anyway I think in your situation I would definitely take pup out for a little walk on pavement, at this point I think the risk of not being socialised would probably cause more problems than the vaccine, considering this would actually be the third vaccine.

Agreed. I’m not sure if I completely agreed with the vet about 7 weeks being too early but I’m not qualified to argue with them.!!

Anyway I’m glad he got a whirl round the block, I found getting out and about meant we settled into a great routine and the time outside on a walk was less time I was watching her like a hawk waiting for pee/poo signs.

He's still peeing like crazy in the house. That's gone completely backward.
Pleased to report noone or nothing has been mauled so far today. Completely different puppy.

Feel like we’ve gone back to square one. Before RiverPup was poorly, loose lead walking was progressing nicely along the road (70:30 success rate), and we were beginning to make progress in nearby wood (40:60 success rate).

Today, I reckon it was less than 20% success rate, so back to using a lot of treats etc. He’s also pulling loads when sees other dogs and people, although strangely at puppy training class doesn’t pull at all (or very little). Bit disheartening really, especially as he’s now so much stronger so it’s physically harder also when he pulls.

However, amused me this morning. He hasn’t climbed through the coffee table for ages - didn’t think he would still fit!

Can echo the square one feeling
Our pup has been slowly getting more confident but we are on day 3 of just chaotic behaviour.
We've just put her to bed, just writing today off and will try again tomorrow

Crossing fingers it's some sort of 3/4 month regression.
Still walking twice a day even though 3rd jab isn't till next Mon. Much less bitey, deranged puppy.
@Riverlee my pup sits under the coffee table too.

Just checking in - Haku is generally doing really well, def much better behaved when he’s had a day of walks and training and attention. I went away for 3 days last week and the welcome when I got home was amazing!!

we do have some issues with being a bit stubborn on walks but working hard on heal training (loose lead is a pie in the sky hope right now!) and that seems to be helping a bit.

anyone got any good games for indoors now the weather has turned? We do the various little bits of training and got the puzzle good things which he does very quickly but looking for things that can wear out his brain.

Sorry about all the chaotic behaviour though - I’m pretty sure I’m being given a false sense of security and Haku will be a difficult adolescent!!

Coco is a nightmare to walk - she will do 5 steps, stop, refuse to move, see another dog across the street and try to run after it: please tell me your dogs were all like this when you started taking them out… Loose lead walking is a total impossibility

@Citygirlrurallife snuffle mat is popular here. We also have carrots toys in a mat which she enjoys pulling out. Cardboard tube or egg carton with food hidden in it has been a hit too.

We are in full teething mode this week, lost a few of his front little teeth on top and bottom so chewing everything and not able to settle well during the day, woke up this morning at 7.30, just had to put him in his crate for an enforced nap!

Oh if anyone is interested in many pets insurance they have sent me a referral link for a £40 Amazon voucher for both referrer and new customer (usually £20).

Let me know if anyone wants me to pass it on!