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.

Thanks @Isthislife - good to hear it gets better. Coco continues to be a pain - shes off her food today (tiny lick of breakfast and lunch but otherwise not remotely interested). Shes still drinking water and toileting and seems ok otherwise but something clearly going on....

We had pup to puppy play class today for an hour and a half where you leave them there but apparently he’s not a doggy fan, much prefers people and just sat there in a corner watching the other dogs play. Took him for a walk this afternoon and had an explosive poo so had to bring him home smartish to wash his bum 😳. Presuming this was due to the stress of this morning so am hoping for a firmer poo later. Going to try doggy daycare next week as the staff think this might be more suited as there’s more going on. We shall see. Don’t think it helps that we have no friends with dogs and family members all have cats. Anyone else have a shy pup?

Hi @CockapooMadness Coco is shy/reactive pup - she does want to say hi to certain dogs and invite them to play but then has no idea what to do when they do want to play... Other dogs she wants to get away from as quickly as possible. We do a puppy class on Sundays with 2 other dogs - first class she froze up and refused to do anything as was so scared, second class she kept trying to escape to the next cubicle to see the dog there. So give it time..

How old is your dog?

@Cocopuff 15 weeks old, how old is yours?

14 weeks - she’s a small fluff ball so has an issue with really big dogs. And French bulldogs for some reason.

One of my family dogs growing up was shy and not remotely interested in any other dogs. She only loved humans. She was very happy, never aggressive to other dogs which is the main thing and had many wonderful relationships with lots of humans. The other dog we had at the same time, same breed, absolutely adored anything with a pulse, they can all just be so different

I'm still trying to upload of photo with no luck!

Anyway Luna had her first mini bath today in the sink. She didn't like it much, hoping she gets use to it!

I also got around to blocking under the garden shed so she has free reign around the garden now. Only one problem under the trampoline she sniffs out cat poo and yes has a nibble before I get it away!!! I had no idea until Luna the hound arrived and sniffed it out! Need to find a way to deter that. It's probably our own cat!

Does anyone else feel that they forever giving treats to their puppy, and probably way to much?

Also, what ‘high value’ treats do people use? The ones we’ve been using seem to have lost their appeal.

Highest value here is cooked liver (air fryer) and freeze dried chicken cubes from Natures variety. They are saved for recall and LEAVE THE CAT ALONE PLEASE training. Mid range are wagg puppy treats or webbox sticks in sections and low are cheap Lidl schmackos. Yes we get through a lot but pup is a good weight so she just burn it off. She’s a border terrier. We just give crumbs each time really. Tiny tiny bits.

Brr, cold out there today!

Best treats are cooked diced chicken and beef sausage here for Coco as well as Lily's kitchen puppy bites - though she can sometimes turn her nose up at those so following this conversation with interest! She's raw fed so sometimes I use the dried meat sticks from JR Pets - she liked the ostrich and salmon sticks (I cut them up super small and it gives her the crunch factor)

Has anyone found any non-plastic good dog chew things that dont stink/stain ? Coco isnt all that keen on nylabones so I'm looking for options to stop her chewing on DS3's tripp trapp. We've got lamb braids and cow braids which I can just about cope with - ostrich tendons (which she loves) tend to stain. Tried a goats ear and it stinks to high heavens. Have been warned off bulls pizzles for that reason too.

We’ve had good success with puffed chicken feet.

Rabbit ears with or without fur, they don't last long though.

My pup absolutely loves her Deer leg it still has all of the skin and fur on it. She's gradually strips the skin from it over a week or 2, they cost about £2.50.

@Cocopuff we got Coffeewood which has lasted ages. I think dc got it of ai Amazon.

Our pup's coffee wood is still going strong months later. But she absolutely loves her Yakers - they smell a little but not offensive

Our pup destroys everything but his yakkers is still going strong two weeks later!

Do you know the trick with the end bit? Soak in water then drain and microwave. It puffs up like (cheese flavoured) honeycomb. Pup loves it!

@mrsfeatherbottom this is one of the reasons I bought one. Waiting to see what happens.

Hi all, please may I join the thread? I’ve been reading all of your stories with slight fear, excitement and trepidation, as will be collecting our new puppy on Sunday.

Poor pup has had a rough time of it - he was already sold, and went to new owners who decided they couldn’t then cope with a puppy, then he returned to the original owner, and the mum dog jumped on him, and broke his leg! 🥺He’s been in plaster, and had his final check up yesterday, and thankfully his leg has healed fine 👍

I’m a bit nervous - DH grew up with dogs, but I’ve never had one.
Any tips gratefully received!
Here’s a photo of Monty ❤️🐶

Welcome @tigerbear. Monty is super cute. Sorry he's had a difficult start - am sure all will look up for him when he joins your family. I'm a first time dog owner too. Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy is a great book. Other than that I have v little advice as Coco (my 15 week old) either adores me and is limpet dog or totally ignores me and is impossible to walk...

She's on her third day of being finicky with her food - poos in the morning are fine but she has a sloppy one in the middle of the day and off food till her evening meal. I wondered if it was the raw food pack she was having so have opened a fresh one - and she's exactly the same. Took her to the vet 2 days ago who said she looked ok and to come back if she didnt eat - only for her to then eat her dinner. Just wish she could tell me what's going on.

Monty is So cute. I just want to give him a cuddle.

I’m also a first time dog-mum, although dh had one growing up so is the expert (not!).

Easy Peasey is very good, but I find bit over simplified. Or at least my pup could do with reading it to find out how he should behave!

My tip is that training is ongoing. Don’t reward behaviour now which you don’t want in the future. It may be cute if a pup jumps up now, but not when they’re fully grown. Also training is a rollercoaster. Things they knew yesterday they forgot today.

I’m surprised how many toys we’ve already got through. Rotate them so the pup never gets bored. Also don’t have too many out at once - maybe one chew one and one cuddly one.

Get a good torch so you can keep an eye on pup when they go outside.

It can be relentless so be prepared. There will be times when you both love and resent him.

However, enjoy. Things do get easier as you establish a routine and they cute and adorable, if frustrating at times.

Ah yes - good torch and coat are essentials for the many hours you will spend outside with the puppy! We have a set of crocs by the back door we can just slip on to take pup out. Also giant golf umbrella for super rainy days handy to keep you and pup dry.

@Cocopuff and @Riverlee thanks so much for the warm welcome, and for the tips and advice so far, it’s much appreciated. I hope Cocopup is better with food soon!

@Cocopuff i impressed you’ve left them by the back door. RiverPup would have destroyed them. Our easy-to-slip on shoes live on a table out of reach (for now). We’ve had a few ‘chase around the room’ to get shoe back moments.

Another tip is to buy toys that are larger than the gap underneath your sofa and coffee table. Otherwise you’ll be for everyone retrieving them, when pup plays the push-the-toy-under-the-sofa game (and usually just out of reach). Here’s looking at you RiverPup!

Our nap routine seems to have gone to pot the last couple of days, even though I'm still reading that at 15 weeks he should be having 18-20 hours sleep he's getting nothing like. I'm putting him in his crate at his usual nap times but instead of sleeping he's either not sleeping at all or sleeping for less than he used to. Anyone else had this?

@tigerbear Don't want to scare you but be aware of puppy blues. I've had this a couple of times and for me it happened very early on at Day 2 where I wondered wtf had I done, cried and wished that things were the way they used to be before we got him. It's definitely got better over time (we've had him 6 weeks) but even now as some on here will know, I have resented him even up to last weekend and still have my moments now. It can seem all seem a bit relentless sometimes and you wonder if this is your life now but I'm holding onto the thought that at the end of all this we'll have the dog we've wished for.