Puppy Survival Thread - for old and new pups

[Riverlee]

Thought I’d start a new thread as the old one is at its limit, for new and older pups.

please come and share your tales of success, woes, concerns and questions, and of course, photographs.

Wow, an hour @BleakGarden that's a long time! Our puppy class is only 40 minutes, 25 minutes drive away, and Hazel was exhausted after. It sounds like you made good progress.

Have you used the urine scent odour sprays? You spray it on where the wee occurred and. It’s supposed to deter them.

ah a fellow sufferer, could have written that exact post myself. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was doing it just to wind me up!
I have now lost the will enough that I have booked a dog trainer to come round on Friday and point out where I’m going wrong

I hope that the trainer gives you some really helpful advice @Pineapplemonkey .

Hazel learned to use the cat flap yesterday and took herself out for a cheeky wander. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's weather.

@Riverlee we've been using it but makes no difference. Also tried vinegar and methylated spirits (heavily diluted). He gives no shits.

Well Hazel settled at 19:30 and I haven't gone to bed, thinking that I'd go when she wakes. But she hasn't woken. I guess I'd better go to bed.

It's blowing a gale outside and pouring with rain.

I remember my old dog using the internal cat flap we had. Until one day she was too big 😂. I came to find her stuck half way through!

Foxpup was sick yesterday evening 😟. Seemed to just be his food, but I reckon he must have eaten something in the garden. He’s fine now. And ate some food straight after!

He is still waking up twice a night. But I suppose he is still very small compared to others, so his bladder will be tiny. He always does a poo at midnight/1am. He doesn’t eat after 7pm though.

I thought Charlie would never sleep through the night. But he started to about 2 weeks ago - coincidentally when he was able to climb onto the sofa and sleep directly with DH... We've gone from saying DH would finally move back upstairs to bed once Charlie was sleeping through to 'aww he needs to sleep with a human 🥰' We're being trained well I think 🙈

Hazel woke at 01:40, which isn't bad considering she went to bed at 19:30. Then she was up at 06:00 for the day. So 10.5 hours with a poo/wee break.

I tried to teach her to pick up toys today. Disastrous. They are dead to her if food is available.

Hazel woke at 01:40, which isn't bad considering she went to bed at 19:30. Then she was up at 06:00 for the day. So 10.5 hours with a poo/wee break.

I tried to teach her to pick up toys today. Disastrous. They are dead to her if food is available.

Oh I remember teaching "tidy"! So useful, now Fluffpup is so happy on laundry day as when I carry the clothes downstairs as she collects all the items I dropped. She's the perfect urban retriever.
Recall is still an alien concept to her though.

How did you do it? She literally ignores the toys if there is food. Over the course of 80g of kibble, we progressed to her touching the toy with her nose. When we aren't training, she's happy to play with toys.

We haven't collected our puppy yet, another 3 weeks to go.
Can I ask some questions re timings please?
We have booked first jabs for day after we bring him home / he will be 8 weeks.
When do 2nd jabs happen?
At what age can he go outside?
Can he meet up with other family dogs before 2nd jabs?
What age should we book puppy classes?
I'm so out of the loop as my last puppy was 20yrs ago.
I have bought easy peasy book so will pick up tips from there plus this wonderful thread. Thanks.

Was easier to train dog than the kids to tidy.
I used my kids to help - we did a "go find" it first - I yelled "go find teddy" and they made a big fuss of finding the teddy and got a sweet and hug when they did. About 6 billion times later Fluffpup joined in. She got a fuss and treats. She usually just brings back the nearest thing though, she doesn't know the difference between go find teddy and go find ball.
But the best thing is asking her to go find our tortoise if he's been outside for a wander. He likes to bulldoze through my flowers and Fluffpup seeks him out instead of me having to bend down and look for him. She's extremely biddable and keen to please but not the brightest spark.

Hello, I picked mine up at eight weeks and she had her first jabs a day later. It will be exactly 4 weeks this coming Monday and she is booked in at 9am for the second ones. Then it's another 2 weeks before she gets freedom (although I might be a bit flexible on this for both of our sanity).

Your puppy can mix with other dogs if you know they are definitely vaccinated and it can go in your garden (providing unvaccinated dogs don't hang around there.

It's a lonnnnngggggg 6 weeks

@cockapup oh and I think puppy classes as soon as is recommended. But they do have to be fully vaccinated. Mine start at the end of this month.

Well we've had a bit of a disaster this morning, I took them both to the park where she's been meeting other dogs and growing in confidence. She was a bit worried initially but starting to warm up.
I think my older dog was overstimulated and started to bully her a bit, she hasn't done that before! So pup got panicky, then a 7 month old puppy bounded over and was just too in her face. He'd been told off by another dog already and was generally lacking in social skills and not going back to his owner. When he approached her again she growled and snapped, the puppy then left her alone. It all happened in a few seconds, from my dog bullying to the snap.
I'm a bit devastated that she was pushed that far, but also that she's now gotten anxious to the point of being aggressive... at 12 weeks.... she's not going to be a small dog. Not sure if I should call in the professionals now or just have a reset and give that park a miss. I'm not mad keen for her to go to parks and socialise generally. I'm just thinking she needs to get more confident around dogs in general, but clearly that was way too much!

Dogdaywoes woes golden Labrador, 18 weeks, 10.5kg
Lougle chocolate Labrador, 13 weeks, 7.6kg
Riverlee black Labrador, 16 months, 28kh
BigBundleofFluff Golden retriever, 18 months, 30kg
NoWordForFluffy, fox red Labrador, 12 months, 24-25kg ish
thenewaveragebear1983 fox red Labrador, 12 weeks, 8kg
DoggyNewbie yellow Labrador, 17 weeks, 12.7kg
FeargalLandSharkey Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, 10 weeks, 2.41kgs
BleakGarden, German Shorthaired Pointer, 12 weeks, 9.5kg
Pineapplemonkey Miniature Schnauzer 11wks 3.5/4kg (roughly, will be weighed next Monday at vets)
RedFoxPuppy Red Fox Cockapoo 10.5 weeks, 3.7kg (that was last week at the vet
RowNine, Maltipoo 10 weeks, 2.5kg approx
Chimichangaz, black working cocker, 19 weeks on Friday, 8.7kg
CockapooMadness, cockapoo, 14 months, 10kg
Doodledangle, 10 months minature poodle, 5kg and gaining

Just catching up on the latest posts and good to hear puppy progress (or take comfort in lack of progress ).
I've just booked my first training session - an hour in the local park with a trainer and she's confident with lots of at home & distraction practise it won't take too many sessions. I've just joined the Dog Separation Anxiety Support Group as DDog still won't be left for even a minute without a meltdown & I'm still sleeping on the sofa .

Hope the wet and windy weather isn't causing too much chaos for you all

@BleakGarden poor puppy and you. It’s so hard when you can’t control how other dogs are.

I’m still surviving looking after the adult dog. It’s so stressful, she won’t settle at my house and she’s a big, strong breed (Weimaraner). She jumps up, can open doors, and won’t rest. I think I will be drinking wine again tonight 🤣

Thanks @FoxRedPuppy I've calmed down now, it was too much for her, poor pup. Gosh a Weimaraner!! They're very similar to GSPs... I'd never ask a friend to watch my girl unless she had the same sort of dog and especially not if they had a new puppy to contend with and couldn't get out. I'm a bit gobsmacked on your behalf. How many more days have you got the dog? I'd be drinking now if I were you.

Photo of a peaceful moment...

Feeling vv low. Worried made the biggest mistake getting puppy and really want to take her back - though not sure I can do this now. We've only had her 2 days and the absolute enormity of it all has hit me today. I feel sick. I'm finding it extremely triggering to just lose my freedom overnight and have all this extra responsibility. What should I do? I've been crying all day. Prob not helped by being awake since 3. I feel so incredibly stupid. I love animals. I love dogs. I feel so surprised by my reaction. I have two children. I think possibly it's because I've come out of the full on stage and it's really taken me back there. Feeling v depressed.

@mogernator it sounds like it's hit you hard. Do you want us to tell you that you should take her back, or do you want practical suggestions to make it all less painful? There is no right answer, but I don't want to barrel in with a list of suggestions if you actually just want to give her back

@Doodledangle the trainer sounds like a good move. Let us know how it goes. I'm also still on the sofa, simply because it reassures DD2 (puppy is in her room downstairs).

@BleakGarden I long for a moment when my two settle down together. I'm using the SMARTx50 and the progress is remarkable though, just on day 2.

@mogernator be kind to yourself, the puppy blues is a real thing. I really struggled when my children were babies and the first puppy I had took me right back to that. If you really want to take her back, that is ok.

It does get easier. I have found getting into some sort of routine and rhythm helps a lot.