Puppy Survival Thread for New and Old Pups - Spring is around the corner!

[Lougle]

A thread for puppy owners to share their ups and downs as we head into Spring. We're not just here for the idyllic moments. We've all had a cry at some point!

All posters welcome - just dive in.

The previous thread is here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/4945764-puppy-survival-thread-for-old-and-new-pups-heading-into-winter?page=1

Awwww, happy birthday, Grace!

Labs seem generally unbothered by minor knocks! 😁

They do love ostrich bones, don't they?!

Awww such pretty pictures.

Hazel passed her Bronze Award at dog training tonight. For weeks we've been trying to get her sit stay from a distance of 1 metre for one minute. At home she could do it no matter how far away or what distractions we offered, but at training class she broke it. We had to change venue this week, and were moved up to the silver/gold class because we're so close to passing Bronze. The atmosphere is a bit different and Hazel rocked her sit stay ❤️

I've just realised my last comment sounded quite negative about Labradors and that wasn't my intention ... I love them, my most beloved childhood dog was a lab! They're just full of joy and want to say hello, it's a problem I'd love to have!

Well done Hazel!! I'm struggling to find places that offer KC good citizen near me. The one I did find via the KC website said she's doing her own certificates now, so you wouldn't actually get the KC award

Oh wonderful to hear @Lougle , well done Hazel!
12 wk vaccines and vet visit today. Finley appears healthy and now weighs 9.2kg. First tick treatment tomorrow.
He’s walked around the block 4 times now with the other two, really impressed for such a young age, he just follows besides the other two and dh of course. He’s really really bonded to dh.

@CurlsnSunshinetime4tea he sounds like he's doing well! I just looked back at Hazel's weights. She was 6.6kg at 12 weeks. She's a bit of a pint pot as Labradors go!

Milos 1st behaviourist session is at 2.15 today!
We've had a long wait for this.
He is pushing the boundaries at the moment with being 10m
Tbh he's winding me up alot recently.
He reached his first adult milestone in the last week - cocking his leg up 🤣🤣

Oh let us know how it goes!

My little one had first puppy groom today. We’ve been combing her at home and trying to get her used to it but she hated it. She didn’t bite or anything but was very vocal. I actually cried a bit when I got in the car! Groomer wasn’t phased at all and said it’s not unusual, but I’m really struggling with the prospect of her being noisy/barky. Don’t get me wrong, at home she’s great but out and about it’s a bit unpredictable. I feel a bit sad as I feel like we’ve done everything by the book and tried so hard but have got it wrong. She’s 17 weeks and in every other way has been amazing.

I took pup on his first walk today, just around the block. It was great! He did refuse to move at some points but we waited and eventually he moved! The treats helped too. Really hoping this will start tiring him out more...

good luck with the behaviourist @JamieJ93

I was made to feel so low and humiliated for reasons I won't go into however I feel like a massive massive failure and Milo deserves a better owner.
I spent the whole journey home crying.

@JamieJ93 firstly, is your behaviourist qualified and accredited? I can't think of any situation where the owner being made to feel low and humiliated is a helpful outcome. Talk to us. We're not going to make you feel worse. Chin up.

I just felt like everything that was said was criticism,
That I shouldn't have him as a pet because he is a working cocker ( yes may be true - but he is loved and has his needs met)
I'm not exercising enough with him - he has 1.5- 2 hours a day - longer on weekends. ( I don't want to fuck his bones up)
Pretty much his behaviour issues are all caused by me i.e. everything I do is WRONG.
She says he is "way too skinny" and in the same breath I'm feeding him too much.
I just felt like everything which was said to me was a bit condescending.
The pet comment hurt me because I try and fulfill his needs as much as I can - he does have lots of stimulation whilst at home too.
I just feel like SHIT and judged for having him because I am just not good enough.

I'm not exercising enough with him - he has 1.5- 2 hours a day

If they said this, I wouldn't trust another word they say tbh

oh no @JamieJ93 that's so disappointing, especially when you've waited so long for the session. Since pup arrived I am learning that behaviourists are very variable in terms of their approach and knowledge and this woman doesn't sound great tbh. It's tricky because they're so expensive so you can't try a few before you find a good one. I've also discovered that there are plenty of "dog people" out there (breeders, trainers, behaviourists etc) whose default setting is to patronise everyone who crosses their path.

You're not a failure, you've sought out a behaviourist for a start! I know plenty of people with WCS as pets. You're dead right with exercise, that's plenty. What specific things were you hoping the behaviourist would help with?

@JamieJ93 all exercise will do is make him fitter. Then you'll need to do more and more and more. That's rubbish. Have you tried scent work? 10 minutes of sniffing is like an hour of walking and it can be done in your lounge, your back garden... Anywhere.

Yes! We do sniff work every.single.day!!

I just felt like a child and that I didnt know fuck all!!!
He has a lot of exercise but how can I do 2 hours plus!!! He's a baby!!! (She knows his age)
She literally just pulled me to bits.

When she commented on his weight - she asked how much and when he was last weighed cos he's "very skinny" (he was 9.6 kg 3 months)
I've just been to jolleys to weigh him and he's now 11.6kg??
She even picked him up and said - no way is he ten kg!
It's made me worthless the whole day. All I want to do is lay down and cry

What did you go to her for? What were you hoping for?

His nipping mainly + jumping up
And just to give me general obedience training
I just didn't expect her to rip me apart
Sorry for having a moan it's just got to me today

@JamieJ93 nipping and jumping up are self-reinforcing behaviours. The more you ignore, the harder he'll try and the more rewarding it will be when you have to respond (i.e. it hurts too much to ignore). So management is your friend, along with rewarding calm behaviour.

I don't know what your financial situation is, but if you can afford it, I'd highly recommend Adolescent Dogs VIP academy. It's £28 per month (or £16.58 if you pay yearly) and you get about 450 online lessons, a Facebook group that you can share wins and frustrations on, and a weekly 'Live Ask the Trainer Q&A session' on Zoom, where Mike Newland answers any and all questions about training/behavioural issues people are having.

The particular courses that might help you are 'Calm Canine', which is a 30 day course, and some of Reactive Rehab. They do a 14 day free trial, so worth a look.

This says more about the behaviourist (unless you are very, very sensitive) than it says about you. Teaching anything is about showing the way and drawing out ability in the pupil. You might be better with a qualified dog trainer than a behaviourist. A trainer should teach you how to teach your dog. Ask your Vet if they can recommend one. If they can’t, look for a centre near you that does lots of dog stuff (day care, puppy classes etc), they should have, or be able to recommend a trainer.

I agree with this. Hazel is hopefully going to be an assistance dog, so we're signed up to the AD Assistance Dog Programme, but we also go to weekly training classes. The trainers know that her biggest issue is loving people, so they make sure that whatever the actual content of each week's class, they spend a bit of time doing work on reducing her pulling towards them when we're training, too.

Soooo yesterday and today I have taken puppy on 2x 15 minute walks. He's been good on the walks, but I was SO hoping it would make him less hyper. Honestly, I feel it's made him MORE hyper! He can't settle after the walks! He's whining in his crate and scratching so I take him out and then he's lunging and pouncing around at top speed! I feel like he must be over tired but he just won't settle. Argh!

He's 11 weeks old, isn't he? 2 x 15 minutes is quite a lot, I'd say.