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.

@Rowgtfc72 i think that’s just because they are hard and theoretically could break a puppy tooth. Our pup has all kinds and has been ok so far, we usually get new chews each weekend, today we got a cow hoof and tendon but he does have a coffee wood stick, he’s been going at it for a week and all he’s done so far is skim the top layer!

@Rowgtfc72 I was recommended Dragonfly products- their website categorises chews by age so there's a whole list from 8 weeks! I would do a link but I'm not that techie 😂

I can't get my puppies to stop peeing in the house and it's driving me insane. During the day they are pretty good at it but co,e the evening one puppy in particular pees inside (thankfull6 wipeable floor)

I take them out every 20 mins or so but sometimes she will pee every 10 minutes or she'll go outside and have a wee and then come back in and then have another and then the other pup decides she's missing out and has a wee.

They sleep from 9.30-7 in the crate with no accidents and im sometimes out for up to 2 hours and no accidents in the crate.

I moved to high value treats, lots of praise when they go outside and ignore inside although I have been losing patience with this the past couple of days & saying their name in an exasperated fashion but apart from a bell thing can anyone else offer any wisdom?

Im at my wits end

Hi -can I join? This is Coco -a 9 week lhatese. We’ve had her a week and she’s a sweet thing that suddenly morphs into bitey landshark when tired. Hates sleeping in her crate (prefers to start in her bed but then migrates all over the floor) but will deign to do do with her sleep sheep and dog bed in crate provided one of us is on the sofa right next to her at night (I’m alternating with Dh). I start work again on Monday and am really panicking as to how I can do anything with a pup to care for/entertain/take out to wee every thirty minutes…

@HollyPuppy Our goldie pup was so hard to walk. Would take us forever to get to the bottom of the road, and he was so scared of the busier road at the bottom. We ended up giving it a break for a week or so to reset. We also drove to places nearby and walked home (and then walked back without him to get the car back!) and that seemed to help. He's now absolutely fine and drags me down the road (we're working on that!)

Hello @Cocopuff
We alternated on the sofa for the first week. Everyone was ridiculously tired. He wouldn't go in his crate and would only take half hour naps laid on us. By the 7th day we had had enough, bit the bullet and put puppy in his crate at half ten. He was good till 3am. On the 8th day he did 10 till 7am which is what he still does.
I think you just have to try it.

Thanks @Rowgtfc72 - she goes 9.30 to around 5.30/6 at night with one of us on the sofa next to her but will not nap in her crate unless one of us is sat right next to it. And if we don’t close and lock the door she migrates all over the place - but if we do she cries up a storm. You’re right though, I do need to just suck it up and pop her in there during the day for naps - will be alot easier when I don’t have the kids banging around all the time and getting upset because she’s crying

@Cocopuff we mainly work opposite shifts so there's always someone about. He naps on the sofa with us during the day. He started going in his crate and playpen for an hour and a half at shift change. He's home alone. Beautifully settled when I get in so don't think he's too bothered.
He's 10 weeks old today. How olds your pup?

@Rowgtfc72 shes 9 weeks - we’ve had her a week now. First pet I’ve ever had (Dh had dogs as a kid) so a steep learning curve! Brilliant that your pup is ok being left in crate and pen for an hour or so - that’s the dream!

@Cocopuff I was you three weeks ago. Thought he'd never sleep in his crate, I'd never have a minutes peace again and wondered how we would juggle working shifts, a kid and a puppy that was quite frankly a nightmare. Not there yet but it certainly gets better.
Ours gets his second jab tomorrow so fingers crossed in a weeks time he'll be out and about burning off his excess energy.

Both of our Labs (sadly no longer with us) weren't bothered by them. They did come from parents that were working gun dogs so not sure if that made a difference. With the older dog when I went to puppy classes we were given a CD of firework sounds to play to the puppies. Maybe worth a try.

Just watched Top Gun -Maverick film. That was quite noisy in parts and RiverPup didn’t seem bothered.

Gah - 2 weeks in house yesterday and back to night time waking here! Am I the only one who finds it super frustrating that in a house of 5 I appear to be the only one who remembers to take the puppy out regularly and keep eyes on her?

I’m also the one left to deal with the majority of bathroom breaks. The only thing that has made it a 100% better was she now uses her doggy door bell so it kind of acts as a signal that the closest person has to now go and let her out instead of me constantly remembering or telling others in the house to take her out.

Thanks. I may have to try to parking further away and walking back!

Started puppy Classes yesterday. It seemed very basic…. I’m not sure what I was expecting though 😂 He did lots of talking, a walk to heel which we will practice and sit, down…. Both of which she can do already.

It was good for her to see other dogs though and help her socialisation. We also had a second meet up with a. Friend who has a frenchie and took the dogs got a walk…. By the end Hollypup was getting really confident around her and even wanted to play!

Ours is 3 now and not bothered by them. We never acted like they were a big deal. The cat on the other hand hates them. Lies under the bed shaking.

Hello, I’m in to join with the madness. Here’s our sweet golden retriever boy after his first shower, he did a poo and lay in it in his excitement to get to the chicken…

Hes 11weeks and been with us about 10 days. I am totally exhausted and had a big drama on day 5 or so where I totally felt wtf have we done, but now feeling a bit more like I can see a routine emerging and light at end of tunnel.

My main worries though are barking, and mouthing/nipping. He barks in the crate if left when awake. Goes in fine if tired. Have done a bit of training about ‘quiet’, ignore him until he’s quiet and praise, which has improved things a bit but not very reliable yet.

DH and I disagree about whether he is mouthing or biting - he thinks it’s communication and shouldn’t all be discouraged - I think we need a clear rule that no teeth on people is acceptable. Our kids are young and struggling to be consistent about turning away and stopping playing, and with DH and I not agreeing on this one, I feel this could be an issue longer term, but maybe I am catastrophising and they naturally grow out of it?

Twiggy had her first walk today - she's 11 weeks and one day 😊. As we live on a very quiet lane with not much going on, I took her in the car to walk five minutes to DD1's school and back to the car. She was so excited and is now fast asleep with DDog1.

Oh and she's so weeny that the only harness that fit her at Pets at Home was meant for a kitten 🤣

@Beginningless that photo 💕. I agree it's hard re the biting particularly with children - sometimes they think it's funny and encourage it, which doesn't help! Twiggy is 11 weeks as well but we've had her for three weeks and I do think the nibbling has eased off a bit in the last week or so. Maybe she's got bored of the taste of us 🤣

Found the pup a brand new coat in tk max for £9. Love it 😂 Shame they only had the 1 style in her size!

That’s encouraging Jessie, I hope it naturally passes. How exciting for twiggy her first walk!! How is she in the car? That’s another one I need to tackle - had to do a few journeys with him as needs must but he was quite scared with lots of barking, think I need to go back to the start with gradual. Today both kids in childcare so going to sit in boot with nice things and gradually build up with tiny journeys.

Thats a bargain coat Holly!

Tentively coming over.
We bought home foster pup yesterday, awaiting some legal things and are hoping she works out with our current dog to be a permanent house hold member.
Shes an unknown cross of a guessed age of between 12 weeks to 6 months depending on what vet you see ! we would put her at about 5 months, she still has puppy teeth but isnt a tiny puppy. She has bit of a sad history so is incredibly nervous. She was more confident within her kennel environment when we met her but understandably has taken steps back since coming into the home.

We have fostered before, so know the drill but its still hard to not want to shout "let me be your friend/ im a nice person!" across the house when shes not leaving her crate. Shes tangled her self slightly in her harness (she has a long line on in the house due to being a flight risk) and its so tricky trying to maintain her trust by not suddenly touching her, while desperately wanting to fix it for her.

Its all early days and shes done very well thus far.
It is only 9.30 though and i could do with a nap.

As an aside, while looking at all about dog food ive noticed that its recommending adult food for her and a lot of the adult food says its suitable from 12 weeks up. Did anyone else go straight to normal food? We arent a fan of the rescue kibble so are looking for a replacement to start the change process

@Cocopuff we had words about me being the only one to take pup out for more than 2 mins and feed him and entertain him. Teenager is no longer speaking to me!

@JessieEssex diesel is 11 weeks on Sunday. Crossing fingers for much less bitey behaviour. He's determined to draw blood.

Puppy had his second jab yesterday. Counting down days till he can go out for a walk. We also have a cat harness !