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.

Hi everyone, I started a thread yesterday but didn't get much response so hoping someone here might have advice.

We got our lovely boy on 29th December, he's 3/4 Shihtzu and 1/4 yorkie. We had our last dog for 15 amazing years and she sadly died in 2021. Finally we're ready for another dog and now have a 9 week old bundle of fun. However, my 9 year old son has been sneezing constantly, runny stuffed nose and a red rash around his mouth/red lips. I was hoping it was washing powder/sprays or something causing this but when we separated them for a few hours his symptoms stopped.

We all love our pup so much already, especially our 9 year old. Is this an allergy he could likely outgrow or get worse, I'm reading mixed things but clinging on to hope it will improve. He had zero reaction to our Shihtzu that he grew up with and doesn't react to my mums dog either.

Not keen on daily antihistamines as that wouldn't be fair on a 9 year old but want to rule out everything as we of course want to keep our lovely pup but not at the expense of our son.

Has anyone experienced similar? Did it improve?

@Pineapplemonkey thank you for sharing. That sounds incredible stressful, I’m glad things turned out okay. I am a new puppy owner, I’ve had my toy cavapoo 6 weeks & she is 14 weeks old. There have been times I’ve cried, mainly from exhaustion and frustration but I’m consistently advised that things will get better. Thank you to all who hsvd contributed on this thread, it’s helpful to hear everyone’s stories & to know I’m not alone on this journey.

@tizwozliz how long has the season been going now? I'm dreading it!!

Oh sorry to hear that @newyear2024 I've got no experience myself, I do have one friend who had this and sadly it didn't get better. Their child did have a cat allergy though so it wasn't a complete surprise. Have you spoken to the breeder?

We went for a woodland walk today and it was very swampy, I feel like I've gotten a great workout from trudging through ankle deep mud. The outside hot tap is a life saver. Just 4 or 5 months of this to go now before the ground dries out again 🤦‍♀️

Can I join in?
We will be collecting our pup mid January - a gorgeous border terrier (boy)
I've never had a dog, husband has prior to us getting together so 20 years ago or so, an apparent bonkers cocker by his account!

It's been on the cards for a few years now, and we are nervous and excited all at once. I've read and read and read some more! We plan to crate, and also to sleep downstairs for the initial settling period and beyond if needed.

My one real worry is the journey home - we are a 6/7 hour drive away. Obviously we will stop more frequently than we would otherwise normally do (it's a route we take 2/3 times per year anyway - pup is from friends of our good friends, we saw them just before Christmas with mum)

Any tips for a long car journey with a new pup would be greatly appreciated.

@newyear2024 Not what you want to hear, but a friend has re-homed their dog when they realised their daughter was allergic to it. She was fine with their dog predecessor, who was actually shaggier. But the new dog, a different breed caused her problems. They didn’t realise it was the dog until they went on holiday and noticed her symptoms stopped.

The labradoodle was apparently first bred in New Zealand to help people with dog allergies.

(And please can we have a photo of this bundle of fun?)

@JaneIves I’ve got a border boy…. You’re in for a treat 😬🤪. Is the pup crate trained already do you know ? If so it will make the journey home in a car crate much easier. We were really lucky with the breeder living local to us and had no problem popping him into the crate for the ride home.

@BleakGarden - we're about 16 days in. One of her sister's came into heat about 5 days ahead of her and it was over by 20 so I'm expecting similar. I suspect she's already beyond the risky period but we're playing it safe for a few more days.

@userxx they're only 6 weeks at the mo so unlikely crate trained - Litter of 7 fluffballs!
We are getting regular 'pupdates' from the family, but no firm date as yet.

Just how crazy will it be?!
I've just read you have BT boy too.

@JaneIves I think it very much depends on the dog. My friend recently drove home a border terrier pup over a similar distance... she was on her own. The pup went into a large cat carrier and didn't make a single sound between toilet stops. My GSP pup on the other hand screamed bloody murder when we tried the same thing (a 5 hour drive). So she slept on DS's lap in the backseat and the journey was peaceful. I know you should have pup secured in the car but we hadn't planned on her refusing the carrier and she was little enough that she slept the whole way 😬

We brought our pup back in the car, not as long a journey, but if you want them on a lap, a dog car seat clipped on will satisfy the legal requirement for them to be restrained

I've been given a dog car seat thing, should be ample to travel and sleep in whilst he's so tiny.
Fingers crossed he'll sleep for the majority of the trip.
I remember taking my then 7 week old daughter on the same journey, she slept for the majority of it too!

@JaneIves it will be crazy and fun! Our breeder got the pups used to the crate from birth which was a massive help. As others have said, pup might be better on your knee.

I’m sure you’ve done your research but the best advice is get him out into the world asap, carry him around the park, around the supermarket car park just everywhere! Let him see all different sizes and shapes of other dogs, obvs at a distance to
start with. Watch out for separation anxiety, get him crated and used to you leaving the house,I really wish I’d done this more often 🙈

@newyear2024 sorry to hear about the allergy. It sounds like you'll need to make a decision about antihistamines or returning puppy. Could you try making sure DS washes his hands before he touches his face, to see if that changes anything?

Thanks @userxx we are in a really dog friendly town, lots of other dogs on the school run to see and some good friends with small to medium dogs too. We are quite a busy house too, both shift workers but due to childcare there's always someone home, it'll be interesting to see how he reacts to our late arrival home (often 2/3am)

@JaneIves There's always someone with my pup too but that's what has caused the problem really, he's got too used to it 🤷‍♀️. The good thing about dog friendly places is that they can go everywhere with you but I'd quite like a nice meal in a posh Italian restaurant from time to time rather than the dog friendly pub 🤪.

You must post a photo when he arrives, my pup was so small and has grown in size so quickly! I bet you can't wait.

@userxx - our older pup didn't really get left at all until she was around 8 months old, so I wouldn't assume you have a problem yet. Contrary to popular belief, not leaving them until they're older doesn't set them up for separation anxiety.

@userxx We literally cannot wait!
There will definitely be a photo incoming, watch this space!

I find this very reassuring. We haven't left ours and this was compounded by the fact we went down with Covid a day after we picked him up. This meant tbh we didn't do any of the things we planned as we were too damned tired/ill. Now nearly 3 weeks down the line I feel like I'm never going to be along again. As he follows me round.

I got quite down today as it feels like I've done everything wrong

@BackToLurk 3 weeks is nothing. We change things around all the time as Hazel is growing and she just adapts.

Thank you. This thread is keeping me sane. I'm speaking to a behaviourist from his rescue tomorrow about his biting & clinginess. Although I think he's got a bit of stomach ache today, which is contributing to extra nippiness. (to me it feels more than nippy, but I've decided I know nothing). And my tears

@BackToLurk biting is really common in the early weeks. They need to learn bite inhibition. So firstly, that they don't get nice things when they bite, then that they can control their bite, and that they can gently mouth without biting.

This was my hand when Hazel was 13 weeks old. Now, at 22 weeks old, I have no marks at all because she doesn't bite. She still mouths, but it's gentle.

We've had an expensive dog bed for weeks. She practically ignored it at first. Then we started putting her in a pen with the bed when we ate meals. Now, a few weeks later, she's started taking herself there when she's tired.

Enjoy the puppy puppy phase. They don't stay that small for long!

Thats reassuring, maybe it’s just a clingy stage he’s going through. When one of us leaves the house he looks like his world has ended and sits staring out of the window until we return.

@Lougle yes we have noticed that the bitey phase seems to be getting better.
we’ve also noticed her doing a proper ‘Labrador sit and stare’ thing, like a proper dog. She sits at the window or on our top patio just staring out and the very top of her nostrils flickering in the breeze.
my dd took this today

Oh she's fine @thenewaveragebear1983 ! She seems a bit bigger than Hazel. The Labrador stare is amazing, isn't it? I'm used to our GSDxGR who just stands near you when he's not sure what's going on. Hazel settles herself down in a sit and watches you.