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.

@Sunflowers765

Riverpup is 16 weeks. His routine is:
6.30-7am -ish - wakes, wees and poos, 7am - breakfast, usually full of energy
9.30am - sleep, until 11ish, wee straight away
12.30a, - lunch, awake until 2ish, wee and poo,
2-4ish -sleep
4-6.30, - awake, wee, tea around 4-5pm,
6.30pm - sleep
8.30pm - awake (or we wake him) for wee and poo

All times are flexible, but that’s the appropriate routine.

Yak bars are good for us also.

@Flightlessbirrd Any cute picture you can show us?

@Flightlessbirrd we sometimes find that throwing a ball helps, or getting RiverPup to run around. Somehow the movement halos him to go.

@CockapooMadness

”we're finding it a bit disheartening when we envisioned cuddling up to a peaceful puppy on the sofa and ended up with a shark instead, it seems there's no end to it all”

so true!

buffalo horns have also been good.

@Riverlee oh yes, sorry! Here is a pic of our little (big!) addition! I'll try a ball too, thank you...i fear that I could be setting him up for failure

I’m impressed you have such a routine.

I have no such thing 😅

Awwww🥰

What flea and worming stuff are people using?

I never did the prescription thing at the vets and Iv just bought advocate from them separately for about £10 a go.

I use Beaphar Worming Syrup for Kittens and Puppies along side the advocate which the vet said was fine.

Im just wondering if there’s any other cheaper tick/flea stuff that I can pick up at pets at home etc.

I did see a flea/tick thing for 99p in home bargains for puppies 12+ weeks but no idea if it’s any good 😂

@Flightlessbirrd what an adorable ball of fluff. What is he? A spaniel?

@Hollypups Is very approximate and does change, but we do seem to have a two hour awake, then sleep for 1 1/2 -3 hour routine.

@Hollypups i’ve signed with the local vet. It’s more than Pets 4 Home, but the vets is a ten minute walk, rather than 20 minute drive. The medicine is prescription only so I’m guessing is stronger than an over the counter treatment.

Found this online which is helpful for the zoomie landshark attacks

What’s advocate?

We don’t have a routine yet but it’s a schedule of sorts of wake, outside loo trip, train/play, outside loo trip, play, leave in pen, give food in kong/licky mat in crate and pray the pup will have a nap - and repeat over and over and over again… Coco eats 4 times a day (all raw food so easy for kong and lickymat - If put in a normal bowl it’s gone in 30 seconds) - pup gets rather sleepy in the evening and generally down sometime between 9.30 and 10

@Cocopuff We use a slow feeder for our pup, partly because I saw one cheap in TK Maxx and partly because RiverPup would gobble down his food at the speed of light. Definitely works well and slows down how quickly he eats (and gives us previous time to empty the dishwater!).

One of our dogs is petrified, we make him a den under the bed and we also put a throw over the arms of the two sofas so he can hide in there too if he wishes, we put water near his dens so he doesn't have to go to far and I usually turn the tv up a bit louder than normal, we also give him a Lily's kitchen bedtime biscuit, they're calming. Z

Oh god whoever mentioned those cow/bull tails they make me heave. I hate them - I’m a vegan but can deal with everything else (I cook liver cake treats for Haku!) but the tails and the ears I just can’t stomach

pre vaccinations we just carried Haku everywhere and had to do so until he was over 13kg! Worth it though, he’s pretty inquisitive and not frightened of much now

we have a similar routine to @Riverlee
7ish wake up and breakfast (but I think I’m going to move breakfast to after the morning walk as he likes having a veggie chew and doesn’t really eat his kibble)
8:30 short walk or play on the rec after school
drop
off
9:30-11ish morning nap
lunch we go out or have another play if his GR friend is around, training etc
2-4ish afternoon nap
immediately now out for a longer walk (unless morning walk was longer)
6ish dinner

then the evening is a mish mash of dozing, playing, training. He usually conks out sometime between 8-9pm and we make him go out for a wee when we go to bed 11pmish

It doesn’t come in this box as they just gave me the pipette but I’m guessing this

**

It’s called Advocate 40 Spot-On for Small Dogs (up to 4kg) which matches what’s on my invoice from when I bought it.

@Flightlessbirrd awwwww!

Diesels turning into an absolute little nightmare. Biting. Zooming about and wrecking things. If you turn your back on him he's got his teeth in something or someone. Driving me up the wall!
He's allowed out on Monday so hoping that calms him down a bit.

Our pup had advocate at his 8 week injection with the breeder but our vet has moved him onto Bravacto for worming and Milprazon for fleas, they are both tablet form. Our vet wasn’t so keen on the spot treatments because they are only as effective as their application, if it rains or dog manages to rub it off before it soaks in it won’t work.

We took out the vets for pets monthly plan at pets at home. £13 but includes nurse appointments etc too.

Our Bitey Benji is not very polite with visitors when they first arrive and wants to jump up and bite them. We’ve asked guests to come into the room and sit down before he greets them and to try and not get him too excited but of course pup is excited because it’s someone new and interesting 🤨. We tried distracting with a toy and when that failed popped him in his crate to calm down a bit before trying again and repeating if necessary. I was wondering what you do when you have visitors round? We’ve got family round tomorrow so I want to use them as guinea pigs before my friend comes round on Sunday 😂

@CockapooMadness we've worked REALLY hard on sit as a command in general and make him sit before anyone says hello. Now whenever he walks past anyone he sits waiting for attention 🤔but yeah I advocate training sit hardcore as it is a brilliant mutually exclusive behaviour to have in your back pocket.

have to say we’ve massively prioritised this because Haku is likely to be close to 40kg (maybe even bigger!) so I never want him jumping up at anyone!!

@Rowgtfc72 it's so good to know we aren't alone! We have vaccines at the end of next week so a few weeks before we can walk yet. Fingers crossed it makes a difference for diesel!!