Puppy survival thread part 2

[Orangebadger]

Thought I would start another thread for all those puppy owners.

@Riverlee
@Unluckycat1
@Sunflowers765
@BigBundleOfFluff
@Cocopuff

Will have to look back to tag others as cannot remember all names.

I found a grass seed in Unluckypup's paw so thanks for the warning @Orangebadger I hadn't known to look for them before. Ear gunk is next on my list of things I didn't know I should be looking out for 😬

At the vets for worming today, Grace now weighs 10kg, growing fast.

Hiya! I wonder if you have any puppy advice…. cos we really are at our wits end 😢
Belle wakes up ready for the day between 4 and 5am!
We have tried everything. Dark cosy room, later dinner, walk in the evening, keeping her up and playing before bed, later bed time, ignoring her when she wakes so early, not giving her breakfast as soon as she wakes…. Nothing is working.
She barks and crys, I let her out in the garden for her to wee and poo. I don’t talk to her just let her out then straight back in her room so she knows it’s still night time. But she doesn’t go back to sleep, or if she does it’s not for long.
Today for example she woke up at 3am so I let her in the garden. She did a wee and poo, back in her room and I went back up to bed.
4.15am she was barking and crying. I ignored her. She would not stop. It got to 5.15am and she woke the kids up. I gave in and went down to her. She didn’t need a wee. She just said hello to me and then she fell back to sleep on the sofa!
I cannot carry on like this, it’s killing me and waking the children up. Any advice welcome xx

How old is Bella?

Is there something that’s disturbing her? Lorry going past? neighbourhood dog barking?

We put Smooth radio on as background music. We find that helps. We also have the light on low. If we forgets, he wakes and doesn’t like the dark.

@RoSa1719 how old is she? Is she sleeping in a crate or in a room?

Hello!! Please may I join? Brought my puppy home three days ago and absolutely adore her, but the nipping and tiredness and toilet training is starting to kick in now and I’m feeling rather anxious and tearful and was hoping that this was normal. I’m worried that it isn’t!

I’m very anxious about juggling the six week holidays and the puppy (I have a six year old daughter) particularly with regards to letting the pup sleep as much as she needs and not leaving her alone for too long (we have a few different appointments over the holidays that will take 2 hours including travel time).

Is this level of anxiety and emotion normal? I had post partum anxiety and depression with dd and it feels like I’m sliding back into it, which is ridiculous as no hormones are involved!

Thank you x

This so common, until they get older and sleep longer the only solution is to have her in your room after the 4/5am toileting which i personally wouldn't do as I don't like dogs in bedrooms, or accept it is crap and to prevent waking the whole house just take it in turns with your dp, one of you just settle on the sofa with a throw and grab another couple of hours sleep with her.

It’s not what everyone wants to do and it may not be for you, but allowing them to sleep in your bedroom solves the problem. It’s unnatural for dogs to be alone and although most learn to cope, it’s hard for them to come to terms with it. If they can hear you breathing (their hearing is far better than tgat of humans), they know they are with their little pack. Mine sleeps from 11.30pm to 7.30am and if I want a lie in, she will go back to sleep for another hour.

@Chihowhow totally normal to have ‘puppy blues’ and anxiety. I think we have all been there, some still are. Puppies are very hard work, but worth it in the end.

@Chihowhow welcome. Have you got a chihuahua by any chance? Can we have a picture?

What you’re are describing is very normal. Puppies are hard work and puppy blues are a real thing, including the tears. Hang in there. It does get better.

@Chihowhow . Hi! I replied on your other thread but hang on in there. It will get better!

Thank you so much @AnnieSnap and @Riverlee . She is indeed a chihuahua, and she is utterly beautiful. I am so glad that these feelings are normal, I was so worried that something was wrong with me! It feels very much like having a brand new baby again-all the worries about whether I am doing everything right, whether she is ok/settled, whether we will crack potty training etc. You have both reassured me massively!!

We have had a really lovely day today and I’m feeling more positive-she is being slowly moved over to a raw diet and has had a trip to the pet shop to buy some raw treats, we went to register at the vets, and we got home and she really tucked into a rabbit’s ear and is now napping on my knee. I just feel so responsible for her, it’s a bit all consuming!! She is incredibly loved!

@BigBundleOfFluff thank you!! You have given me such a fantastic reply-it sounds like you felt the same way as I am; I feel like I have brought a whole new force into our household and it has changed all the relationships in it. She is so loved though-she is just an absolute sweetheart. I am so glad that these feelings pass, I have been really worried!

I’m not feeling anxious that things won’t improve, but I am stressed at present. Florapup is actually much better with housetraining (no accidents over the last few days) and she is a lovely girl, but having to be ‘on it’ all the time is exhausting mentally and sometimes physically. Also the biting is very tough (see photos of my arms). My husband has been ill for the last few days (totally out of action, then collapsed in the garden today) and, as I type this, I am at the hospital with him where he’s had a ultrasound bladder scan & will be having an MRI. I feel the need for virtual hugs from fellow puppy slaves.

@AnnieSnap , wow, those are some serious battle scars!!! You sound like you are having a really, really tough week, and today has just finished it off. I’m so sorry it has been so hard. Sending huge virtual hugs xx

@AnnieSnap oh Lordy they look sore!! Hope you and husband are ok. Sending hugs. Fluffpup sends a tail whack (her speciality)

@Chihowhow welcome!! I had pnd with my three kids and had a nasty case of the puppy blues as well... the great thing is that no hormones are involved this time so it's easier to recover from. I keep saying "well at least I don't have to breastfeed this one" 😂 Things started feeling better for me once I got a bit of a routine figured out. Good luck keep us posted!

@RoSa1719 It may not be for you, but we did the whole crate training thing right from the start with pup sleeping downstairs in the lounge before deciding at 8 months old (he's 11 months old now) that he was having none of it and barked and whined out of the blue one night. We couldn't leave him for very long as we're in a semi so we left him to it for as long as we dared and then moved his crate into our bedroom and he slept through.

I decided though that I didn't want him in my bedroom for the rest of his life, so we moved him out onto the landing and that seems to satisfy him knowing we're close by. He'll happily sleep there with all the comings and goings of us going to the toilet in the middle of the night and my son taking our cat downstairs in the early hours. I'm not saying you should crate train, but it might be worth considering moving your pup nearer to where you sleep if she continues.

@AnnieSnap Wow your poor arms. Puppies are bloody hard work, I know I wouldn't go through it again as much as I love ours to bits now. Sending virtual hugs and fingers crossed your husband gets sorted.

Thank you @Chihowhow @BigBundleOfFluff and @CockapooMadness

We've got a busy weekend ahead, puppy swimming tomorrow and mantrailing on Sunday. Got to keep older pup occupied and tidy the house at some point as well.

He is so gorgeous @tizwozliz How old is he in that photo?

He's a she 😁and she's 15 weeks here

Just saying hello and joining in if that’s ok. 👋

Yesterday we brought home a new to us 9 month old Whippet. ❤️

So she’s not an 8 week old new pup but she and us are having to navigate a huge change.

I will post a pic later. She has a mostly black face so it’s harder to get a good photo in evening.

We had 2 whippets before but adopted them at 5 so this is our youngest dog yet.

When we got the first two I had quite a bit of anxiety and didn’t sleep for a while worrying about what I’d done to them and us.

Well 8 years later when the second one died I was heartbroken. 2 months later here we are with 9 month pup!

AnnieSnap that’s a big mix of bites puppy and poorly DH. I hope things settle soon.

Here she is. Yet to have a wee this morning. DD has her on the lead. Trying to help her be successful.
DD is young adult who’d rather train dog than do dishwasher (of course).