Puppy Survival Thread - for old and new pups heading into winter

[Lougle]

A thread to continue our journey with our puppies as we head into winter.

If you're new to having a puppy, jump straight in.

I clearly should have got a Labrador and not a border terrier 😆. I've never met a dog that needs such little sleep, I'm absolutely exhausted. He on the go all the time and teething like a demon so I'm constantly trying to direct him to something chewable rather than the bannister, tv unit and lamp wire.

I'm having a reoccurring fantasy about checking into the local hotel, having an hour long bath, ordering room service then lying on the bed for the rest of my stay chatting on my phone and surfing the net. I actually requested this as my Xmas present but boyfriend thought I was joking 🤷‍♀️

@userxx I think our pups are the same age, aren't they? Hazel is 5 months today, 22 weeks tomorrow. I think, tbh, I got lucky. Apart from stones, tarmac and sticks, she generally just seems to know what is hers to chew and what isn't. She lost one of her lower canines last night and her other one is wobbly, so she's been quite chewy today.

I'm quite excited. Our trainer is running a trick training workshop in a couple of weeks, so I've signed up for it. It's 3 hours, so I think Hazel will be exhausted by it, tbh.

It probably also helps that we have a big dog who she plays with, too. They tire themselves out play fighting.

We're on our way home. Not managed the usual big run around we'd do before an overnight ferry but fingers crossed they'll settle anyway.

Yep, exactly the same age, born 29th July. We had to pull one of his teeth out on Xmas day, it was giving him grief but refusing to come out without a bit of help, I'm keeping my eye on the other side. I know this is a passing stage but my god it's hard! On a positive note he was absolutely amazing on his walk today, it was a pleasure rather than a chore.

Do you have a 5 month photo you can share? Here's Hazel.

A favourite pose

Good luck at @tizwozliz I hope everyone gets some sleep.

I'm finding walks a bit stressful at the moment because everywhere is so busy. I've worked out that she's much more comfortable with older than dogs than younger ones. She growled at a young dog today, I had said she's nervous and she was on lead but it was so chaotic with so many dogs milling about she was getting approached left, right and centre. We'll head out much earlier tomorrow. We also had our first ignored recall today because she found a freshly killed pigeon. I had to go to her and trade the gruesome pigeon for treats while some traumatised children watched

Lovely teefs Hazel!

@BleakGarden a dead pigeon is a challenge! I was lucky this week, we passed a pigeon wing and a dead rabbit but she was distracted by other stuff so didn't really notice.

Thanks @BleakGarden - managed some decent stretches of sleep, just a midnight trip to the 'poop deck', although turned out older one just wanted to sniff the sea air.

Now safely home. I expect pup's not going to be happy when older one gets taken out and she gets left at home though! She'll have to settle for an on lead walk later on.

so today I moved the Christmas tree and have - finally- created a pen/safe zone for the pup. I’m going to move my office upstairs as well so from Jan 2nd I’m hoping to be able to start leaving her a little longer during the day. Of course, she currently refuses to stay in the pen, even with a pig ear to chew… but we’re making tiny little steps. She does love her crate so that hasn’t changed. I guess we’re thinking ahead to a time when she may be able to be ‘loose’ in the house - this seems like absolutely a million miles off from where we are now.

she had a lovely walk today, we’re getting more confident letting her off lead and her recall is excellent. She really enjoyed just scampering around in the park with me and ds. She met a few other dogs, and has met some off lead now which is good for her. I find it stressful but I just say to the owners that she’s not been off lead around others and is it ok, they often say yes and she gets to make friends so all good.

Ahh that looks nice @thenewaveragebear1983. When you say 'loose in the house' do you mean when you've gone out? I can't quite imagine being that brave yet. Having said that, we often shut Hazel in DD2's room loose, and she just jumps up on her bed and goes to sleep, so that's a start. In the day time she roams free in the downstairs unless the other pets are being fed.

@Lougle well even just when I leave the room would be a start, but I suppose at some point they must be able to be left? Confined to a room or area, but out of the crate/pen? That seems a very long way off!

I’m hoping someone can offer advice. I was on these threads with our puppy who is now 3yrs old and the sweetest, friendliest bundle of joy.
we have taken in a 5 month old puppy, same breed and same sex as Ddog. He hasn’t had a great start to life and doesn’t seem to be house trained, had two accidents in the house today even though I’ve taken him outside after every nap and play time.
I seem to have forgotten what to do at this puppy stage, any advice would be very welcomed.
they are currently curled up asleep together and so far are getting on great, is this just a phase? am I setting myself up to fail Ddog, we have such a great set up with me working from home.

@thenewaveragebear1983 what happens when you leave the room? Can you work on each bit of what happens individually? I don't keep a close eye on Hazel anymore, but I do keep an ear out for unusual sounds. Having said that, we have puppy proofed fairly well, and my rule is that if she was to chew anything, it's fair enough because it must have been left in her reach. I'm lucky that she's not a chewer and sticks to her toys.

@Rescue2024 it sounds like a good start. I'd treat new dog like an 8 week old puppy. Toilet every time he wakes, plays, eats, drinks. Stay out there until he's done something, huge praise and treats, then inside. Rinse and repeat.

I don’t know really. She’s into everything but in this room there’s not really anything she can get, she’s not a chewer either. I’ve just never actually done it! Maybe I should try…..
after new year when I move my office upstairs that will give me a bit of scope to leave her in this room unsupervised and see what happens

I got a blink camera and put it in DD2's room. It was really interesting to see that when we shut the door, Hazel cocks her head for a moment, then jumps on to the end of the bed. After a couple of minutes, if DD2 hasn't returned, she moves up to the pillows and snuggles in.

My pup is nearly eighteen months and we don’t let him free roam in the house when we’re not about - he would cause too much mischief. However, he does have more freedom to roam now, although one of us is always near him. The only time one if us us not hear him is when he’s in his crate.

@Riverlee when you go out does he go in his crate then?

At the moment Maggie is happy in her crate but I worry that she’ll get fed up of it, or we will eventually need to go out for longer and she’ll need more space. I’d love for her to have the kitchen as her ‘base’ but at the moment we have a very old cat who lives in there. I actually think they’d be fine but dh says it’s not fair to either.

re: the coat conversation, I just ordered a trespass waterproof on Vinted for £10, bargain! It looks warmer than my current rain coat and is actually waterproof unlike my big duvet coat.

I was upset earlier (not puppy related) and she just knew and she came and clambered into my lap. She’s so lovely 🥰

Look at that face, @thenewaveragebear1983. 😍

FluffyPup has free run of the house when we're out. He just sleeps when we aren't here.

I think once I’m settled with my office upstairs I will consider getting a camera and seeing what she does if I leave her in this room.

@thenewaveragebear1983 Yes, he does. We try to plan going out to coincide with his nap times, to make it easier, or we give him a Kong.

After all your help in my thread, I thought I'd join this one. Meet Boo. A bit of everything, with 'some staffie ' according to 90% of people who meet him