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.

@newpupworries

We put RiverPup in the crate when he’s awake, but looking tired. We recognise his tired cues now - gets snappy or bitey, or slumps on the sofa. Also, he has a half moon white shape in his eyes (not sure how to describe it).

We may leave a yak bar or just tempt him in. Usually we have to throw a treat in to get him in (a bad habit of ours). The kitchen is then a no go area when he sleeps (we have a saying, “whoever wakes the beast has to deal with him!”).

Nugg pup is gorgeous.

RiverPup is now six months and we’ve noticed new behaviours, such as barking at the tv. Never done that before (apart from when we first got him and he was initially confused by the people on the tv).

Thanks for this, really helpful. I did have to leave him for 15 minutes in there earlier unexpectedly. I did hear barking as I got to my front door but it stopped and I waited a minute or two and he was quiet so I walked back in and let him out and didn't make a big fuss. He loves a yak bar so maybe I'll save that for his crate treat and I'll definitely start practicing while I'm at home now.

Ha ha I love that saying! Think I'll start using it in this house (although it always seems to be me dealing with our beast despite being the one who works hardest at calming him!) I know exactly what you mean about the eyes. I always say newpup looks like a basset when he's extra tired . Thanks for the advice, really helpful. Here's a pic of the pup himself...

@newpupworries He’s lovely. A lab? I have a black lab.

Yes he's a lab too. Riverpup is a beauty

Diesel turned 20 weeks on Sunday and his behaviours taken a rapid downturn.
He'll pee outside and then come in and pee on the carpet. Barks like crazy at anyone walking past. Barks at us when we sit on the sofa. Took the top off my thumb last fri playing tug with a rope.
He's started to stalk our food as well.
Absolutely lovely till about 10 days ago. Is he due a regression for some reason?
He certainly doesn't nap as much as he used to.

Incidentally his crate is in a pen and he's good for a couple of hours on his own. Not a peep from him.

Loving the new puppy pictures.
Here's Diesels latest.

Diesel sounds like he’s entered the challenging teenager phase when your lovely puppy suddenly disappears. Coco is now 19 weeks so I’m waiting for the terrible teens to hit… I think the advice is to go back to basics and reinforce your training but it’s hard!

I started a new job yesterday and was out the house from 8 till 7ish - Coco was very happy to see me when I got home which was lovely. Still can’t leave her alone for long without crying etc so am paying for my nanny to stay with her on those days but will need to step up the separation training.

Loving the photos too

@Rowgtfc72 i am no expert at all but I assumed they’re going to be much like children, go through delightful phases and then phases when they’re little shits! Am just trying to stay consistent.

our evenings are somewhat frustrating at the moment because the family is so rubbish at giving Haku proper attention - ie training or enrichment - he’s a bit of a nuisance wanting to go in and out of the garden and barking at the gate etc. I am very sure it’s because he’s bored and wants attention. We also have a bit of a witching hour before he passes out

am just waiting for horrible adolescence to hit!!!

Just had a quick Google. Adolescence can last from 5 - 18 months!!

@Rowgtfc72 diesel is adorable! What lovely markings!

I wonder if different sized dogs/breeds tend to enter adolescence at different times?

Nugg - who's actually called Lola - has definitely started since almost the day she turned 7 months old 🤣

She is being a pain in the day while I'm trying to work and would live in the garden if I let her! Sometimes digging up plants other times zoomies and mostly sitting watching the birds and sniffing around. Barking a lot at the fence to my neighbour who has a male adult and a male puppy dogs.

@Nugg i was wondering that too - Haku would also happily spend all day and night in the garden!

I know retrievers aren’t supposed to mature until 2years and sometimes beyond so hoping that means adolescence won’t kick in for a bit (he’s 6months) so I don’t have to deal with 18months of annoying teenage dog. When we got him I said I wish I could just have a nice well trained 3yr old dog but the puppy phase has actually been relatively kind to us - am definitely worried this is the calm before the storm

A naughty teenager isn't a given, we had no huge decline in behaviour, although admittedly she was not a saintly puppy! We saw a steady improvement from 6 months onwards but we've kept formal training for all of that time (now 20 months).

@tizwozliz admittedly it's only been a couple of weeks so far but if the worst it gets it extra jumpiness/nervousness and barking I can cope. She's always loved my plants a little too much, and is very eager to please and trainable so I've kept it up all the way through as it does tire her out quickly too!

She absolute detests my wrist warmers though! Goes wild jumping at them and won't be stroked with them on 😆

The blips in behaviour we had inside (basically a return to an evening witching hour) were all season related in retrospect.

Our pup is generally ok, 14 weeks tomorrow, occasional toileting accident but not many, walking her is a challenge but she is a hound, notorious for been more challenging outside than in. But she's very friendly to anyone and any dog and has such a lovely and lively temperament.

The thing that is driving me bonkers is the nipping our feet, shoes, lower legs! Distraction with a toy hardly works! It's driving me bonkers, please tell me it will end!

@Rowgtfc72 Diesalpup is gorgeous.

I think separation anxiety has kicked in with Haku - he’s started barking when we leave even to go upstairs and this morning barked for the first time ever when he woke up

so looks like we need to gently build it back up again

Diesel is a gorgeous pup @Rowgtfc72 very distinctive markings!

Rowdypup is definitely starting to live up to his name! He's into absolutely everything now, stealing items, trying to get into the food cupboards, he's almost big enough to jump on the sofa so nothing will be safe then 😂

He had his second vaccinations yesterday and weighed in at 11.1kg! Only 1 week until we can start taking him out for walks. We're booked in to start puppy training classes at the end of the month which will be good for him.

Does anyone know what chews are safe for an 11week old pup? Rowdypup is definitely into chewing, we've been giving him carrots but they're demolished in seconds.

We've been on yakkers for a few weeks now @Rowdythree but I'd check the age limit first. Most things are 6 months plus I've found like antlers and coffee wood. We're counting down the days.

you can get these fucking horrible cow tails that are ok at that age and wood - we found these wood chews that had hard corners which Haku preferred to the rounded ones. kongs as well - even after he’s got everyone out of it Haku likes to chew on them

we get through so many yakkers, by far his favourite and at least last a few days!

I really rate JR pets for treats snd chews. It's a bit more expensive but there is nothing the dog hasn't enjoyed. She usually gets for supper in her crate a handful of sprats and I like the pate cut up into little cubes as her high value treats.

I like a mix of longer lasting chews and quick treats. I do watch her like a hawk when she gets to the tail end of a chew - she's swallowed a bit that was a bit too big and it came straight back up again.

They do puppy bundles from 12 weeks. Warning - some things stink. Even if they say it's low odour it's LIES.

We’ve given RiverPup yak bars from quite a young age (don’t forget you can microwave them when they get short to puff them up). Coffeewood is also good, and last ages.

Just brought an antler so we’ll see how that goes. We’ve used buffalo horns as well.

I rate JR products as well, although the freeze dried chicken treats were less appealing then the cheap Tesco dog hotdogs!

Difficult to be a vegetarian and a dog owner!

@Riverlee i feel you - I’m a vegan dog owner!!!

im actually intending to put Haku on a vegetarian diet once he’s 18months

Ooooo I'm lifelong veggie too! I'm ok about the body part chews as I hope it's using the whole animal (I think) but it's the smell of her wet food that really gets me.