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.

@Citygirlrurallife I really conscious that RiverPup will be a larger dog (Labrador) so really trying to put the effort in now as I know he’ll be too strong for me fully grown. Had a really good walk yesterday where he didn’t pull so much but was good on the loose lead. Whenever he sees another dog he starts pulling madly so trying to get in the habit of making him sit first - easier said then done.

@Riverlee def! Haku is 4 months and 19kg already!!

our trainer said now that he sits really well we need to convert that to a down because it’s harder for him to jump up and run when he’s fully lying down

some of it is becoming habit now though - when he hears a car and we’re walking he automatically sits which is great for example.

lead training not great here though. I’m sure I’m falling into bad habits enticing him to move with a treat when he sits or lies and refuses to go on!!

Not feeling the love for RiverPup today. We were playing in the garden, and he jumped up to get the toy, and he bit a hole in my newish jumper. Guess I should have changed out of it earlier, but it’s so annoying. Wouldn’t have minded if it were old, but this one wasn’t. One of those days when it feels relented. Doesn’t help that the other adults in the household are poorly.

Can anyone suggests any toys they can play with that keeps them occupied? A Kong just doesn’t seem to work. Also, I gave him one of those toys you put treats in but that lasted five minutes. Sometimes he’s content with a yak bar or buffalo horn but not today. One of those days I wish I could stick him in front of CBeebies for an hour or two.

@Riverlee have you tried licky mats? They’re usually good for a little bit and they can be soothing because of the licking.

@Riverlee my pup absolutely loves the Kong make toys, she has a Kong Wubba that she violently shakes while bouncing round in circles and a Kong Knots Elephant that has rope/knot feet and trunk.

She's also got a Deer leg that she will happily chew on for ages and that wears her out.

@Liftconfused we used a licks mat once. Didn’t keep him occupied for long. Maybe we didn’t put enough paste on. How much do you put on?

@BeansOnToast32 we did have a rope bear, but eventually get destroyed. Never had a Wubba toy. It’s the egg shaped toy that he doesn’t seem to be occupied by.

off to Google awubba, and to spend more money on toys….

I live within a 3-4 min walk from a petshop, it's lethal! I don't recommend it. 😫

So. Bonfire night. Fireworks going off like crazy. Bangs, whistles, crackles. Pups not flinched. I've jumped at a few really loud ones.
Opened the back door and put his toys by it- just chewed away happily.
We went into the garden to watch and he just wasn't interested and wanted to get back to his toys.
Fingers crossed for the same next year.

Hope everyone else has calm, happy pups.

So far RiverPup has slept through the fireworks or hasn’t seem bothered. Fortunately, they’re fairly distant and not too close to us.

@Riverlee not enough to cover the whole thing, I think the trick is to get whatever you’re using worked into the mat, we normally get 15-20 minutes which is enough time to settle my puppy, he’s normally pretty chill afterwards, and for me to do something like vacuum etc which he has a strong aversion to.

LiftPuppy has been good with the fireworks I don’t know if he’s even noticed them!

Our village is silent which is annoying - was hoping to socialise Haku to the noise!

@Riverlee i find the same to be honest, kings and lucky mats buy us 5 mins absolute tops - I might try those kongs that they have to knock treats out of though. Haku is chewing for England at the moment, seems to alternate split antler, olive wood and yak milk

Sunpup had been great with fireworks! We've just had a massive display about 2 minutes walk away and he just chewed his toy and went to sleep! All the YouTube fireworks noises paid off! Hope all the pups are ok tonight

Pup been brill with the fireworks, didn’t bat an eyelid when they were going off right outside. Had a bit of a scare earlier when he managed to get his jaw stuck in between the crate bars and couldn’t get free himself. Luckily hubby was in the room at the same time so managed to free him but I’m wondering how I can block the bars so he can’t do it again? Or if anyone uses anything different?

@Riverlee we've been using a bob-a-lot from amazon, we get a good 30-45 mins peace with him trying to get the kibble out. Tried a frozen Kong but lucky if it takes him 10 minutes! He's usually quite chilled afterwards thankfully

@Flightlessbirrd How durable would you say it is? Is it fairly chew proof?

Worst luck ever.

no fireworks going off and I live in a village. Most people put on the village fb group to say they are letting some off at approx X time. Nothing on fb and no displays in the village.

lets the pup out in the garden and go upstairs to use the bathroom and some idiot let off fireworks right when she was outside going a wee.

I ran back out and she was hysterical, barking, running around in circles and now she’s shaking and hiding under the sofa.

Fucking idiots, she’s been fine this whole weekend and now she will be terrified for life probably. My daughters been in tears as she was waiting by the door for her and seen her so scared.

@Hollypups oh no! Hope she’s calmed down now. Hopefully it’s a one-offl, and she’ll be fine going forward. Maybe worth speaking to a dog behaviourist to take their/advice. Cuddles to all, pup and daughter.

Our once long-lasting treats are becoming a quick snack for our goldie boy. We're always on the hunt for long distractions! We recently bought a filled hoof from the pet shop. He's been at it for days, about an hour a day before we take it away. He's still going. And it's was less than £3! It bloody stinks though!!

We also like the pig skin rolls, lamb braids, cows tails, beef hide etc. some last longer than others.

@Hollypups oh no! I think there'll be the odd random one for a few weeks yet.

Diesel went for his first walk yesterday. Didn't do too bad. Kept stopping to pick things up off the path but he walks ok- just so slowly.
He's had sloppy poos on and off since Thursday and they absolutely smell. He's happy, biting, playing and eating and drinking. Yesterday we had normal poo, this morning not. Don't think it's anything nasty as he's OK in himself but think dh may ring the vet to check.

I’m in one of those villages where if you light a bonfire half the village will be complaining on the fb group within minutes😂 don’t leave any dog poo around either (I don’t) or it will be on the weekly ‘ooo patrol’ states too😅🤣
Normally everyone puts on there that they will be doing it so I thought it was safe😩

@Riverlee yes I would say pretty durable, it's solid plastic, pup throws it around bouncing off his pen and chewing and there is barely a mark on it!

Thanks. 😀

We had a few weeks when the poo was softer. We put it down to the chews he was eating at the time. Possibly also teething (does that affect poo in dogs?). Has he had anything new?

We’ve had problem poo this morning too, had what looked like undigested food and blood in it. We did give him egg yesterday as read it is good for dogs so wondering if it hasn’t agreed with his tummy.

Wondering whether to ring the vet but he’s eating as normal and has plenty of energy.