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

Barking is for attention. Or when I go upstairs.

Thank you for above replies. I am aware I am the problem much of the time. I will follow advice . I have let him become central to everything. Another issue is that he still wees two or three times a night. Is over sixteen weeks.

Ah! He's still a baby 😊

Don't worry if he's weeing overnight at sixteen weeks - many dogs do! Those of us who manage to nip it in the bud before then are usually have fairly unique circumstances that make it easier!

It's hard to not let them become central to everything. They are so time consuming that inevitably they manage to become the sole focus of your life. When he barks when you go upstairs or for attention, just ignore him. When you come back down again or he stops don't fuss him and just carry on as normal. He'll learn that barking doesn't equal attention eventually 😊

It does get better in a few weeks - promise!!

Grateful for all your input. Feel less isolated and useless. And a bit self pitying. Sorry!

Pupxx is now 10 months old, I didn’t think I’d make it at times. The early days are such hard work!

Florapup became a gorgeous angel at 12-months. Now that she’s 13-1/2-months, she gone back to another fear period, so she is more protective (barks like a banshee at any stranger near me, territorial (kicks off at my two little toy poodles if they might be near something that she doesn’t want them near), very wary of anything new, clingy (more than her usual clingy), highly strung. I’m mentally exhausted with it, but at least I’ve seen the glimpse of the lovely calm dog that she will become when all the hormones level out 🙄

@AnnieSnap
What a beautiful dog!

This little stinker rolled in 🦊 poo this morning. Did a proper job as well

Looks so pretty in the photo though 😂

Puppy slept until 5am this morning with no barking until then 🥳 that's definitely a win for us!
I covered up the window of the front door as well so it was a bit darker for longer.
Both OH and I are being really focused on getting a calm lie down before going upstairs and that seems to be gradually working too.
Little monster, good job she's pretty

@Jonsnowsghost
She's gorgeous! I've always had a soft spot for setters.

One year ago today we were picking up this little one. She's a bit bigger these days

@tizwozliz
She's made a beautiful dog.
How has your year been?
I'm 3.5 weeks in and Brodie is 15 weeks today. It's definitely improving, but OMG is it relentless hard work!

@BrodiePup - she's actually been the easiest puppy ever. It took her a bit longer to get toilet training than our older one but we're still only talking 2-3 weeks and a handful of accidents. In most other respects she's been much more straightforward than our older one ever was.

Walking nicely on a lead is a work in progress when her sister is about, but she can do it on her own, or when she's not so excited at the end of a walk so I'm sure it will come in time.

Oh, and with the light mornings, she does try and like to persuade us that 5am is breakfast time 😂

@tizwozliz She sounds like a dream, you've been so lucky...apart from the early mornings 🤣

She's beautiful @tizwozliz . I can't believe Hazel is 10 months old. She's still really little at 20.7kg. I've been so happy with the way she's developing.

I can't believe Hazel is 10 months old. She's still really little at 20.7kg

@Lougle Grace was that sort of weight at that age, don't think I've weighed her more recently but don't think she's put on much since.

I'm here for a bit of reassurance, I'm not usually needy but I feel like I'm drowning in puppy stress.
Brodie is adorable, he has so many qualities, he settles well at night, he can mostly go from 10:30 to 6am, he doesn't cry or bark much, house training is still hit and miss, but is improving.
It's the long hours of surveillance, and the absolute lack of anything else...I feel like I've lost everything I value in life. I don't do much, I'm mostly at home anyway, but I like to sew, crochet, read, watch tv...I can't even have a 5 minute cuddle with my husband on the sofa anymore. I dress like a tramp. I smell of dog. I don't even enjoy a meal anymore.
Poor me, I'm just wallowing lol, think I needed to 'say' it out loud.
Please tell me it will get better?
He's only 15 weeks old, and I'm ashamed to say I don't think I've regretted something so much in my entire life. I'm doing him such a disservice, he's a gorgeous little dog.
I do think my main problem is exhaustion, I'm a poor sleeper at the best of times and really don't cope well if I'm tired.

Can you take a little trip somewhere with pup @BrodiePup ? I found getting out the house occasionally helpful and it's good training and mine always found it tiring at that age. Also both loved the car and settled really well so driving was one time I didn't have to keep an eye on them.

@tizwozliz
Thanks for replying 😊
The car is a good idea, he does do well in it. I just can't manage to get him in mine easily, he's too heavy for me to lift into the back of my tiny two door car, and not quite big enough to hop in himself yet. I'm hoping that will change soon.
I love walking, it's one of the main reasons I wanted a dog... I do know he can't go far yet. The problem I'm having with that is if he hears a dog bark that he can't see, he suddenly gets terrified, and starts pulling like crazy to get home. It's awful, it's almost like he goes a bit mad. If he sees a dog he's absolutely fine, wagging, sits and watches..
I asked about it at puppy class and was told no experience is better than a bad experience, so now I'm at a loss about what to do.

@BrodiePup it gets better. I’d have handed ours back happily anytime in the first couple of months. She’s 4 now and happily asleep and snoring in her bed while I wfh today. Had a brilliant walk with her last night with her off lead on the beach . You’ll get there.

he’s still young, everything is new. .I found high value treats really helped on walks to keep their attention.

also the worst behaviour is when they are over tired, they need so much more sleep than they think they do….

stick with it. Be consistent, paradise the good and ignore the bad.

@Lougle Maggie is around that weight, maybe 22kg now at 10 months. The dog carer was laughing about her stumpy little legs yesterday 😿 🤣 I don’t know if she will grow much more. It’s a nice size for a dog though. Big enough to walk a good distance but small enough I can still lift her.

@BrodiePup do you have a crate? In my very limited experience it’s a godsend. Maggie is now 10 months and I don’t use it anywhere near as much but in those early days it was essential for getting anything done and just having some respite. I think most dog owners feel like you are right now and I promise it does get easier.

@BrodiePup
I can only feel your pain -
Milo has been so so so hard work throughout his life 😂 he's one in less than 2 weeks so not much of a puppy eh.
Is he fully vaccinated yet? If so, definitely start getting out on those short frequent sniffy walks! Careful of him picking up shite off the floor tho - they love doing that 😒

Has a crate been introduced? A lot of people do not "believe" in these but with most things in life it's not a one size fits all - it's best boundaries start being put in place now as when the 6-8 month mark you will see an improvement in behaviour before adolescence hits.

Teach Brodie the "go find" command - hide his favourite toy or a few treats in hard to find but easy accessible places for him to get his brain working - at this age he will still be loving his sleep so this will tire him out.

Honestly - cocker spaniels are like no other breeds on earth - they make you question your entire life, cry and anxious to even wake up sometimes - I know it has me.
Once he's able to go out more and more and you can do more exploring outside in different places the more tired out and less annoying he will be.
Please don't listen to people that say oh take pup for hours and hours out running because mental stimulation is just as or more important than physical exercise.
Please try to keep your chin up - it is hard - very hard
Xx

Thank you all so much for your kind replies.
I can't say today has improved at all. I've tried taking him for 2 short walks, he'll only poo away from the house. He goes utterly stupid following scent trails, we have a lot of foxes round here so I'm presuming it's that, he pulls so much that he's virtually walking on his back legs. I've tried standing still until he notices me which takes ages...turning around...he got me off balance and I fell over...his absolute favourite treats, nothing...saying his name...nothing...then he gets home and splats on the front lawn and won't be moved.
I do have a crate and he usually goes in it for an hour or so after lunch, but he hasn't pooed yet so I daren't.
He's really good with training in the house, I don't understand what is going so horribly wrong when I'm out?
I really am at the end of what I can deal with.
I thought my husband would help, but unfortunately he got a huge contract that started at the same time Brodie arrived, so he's working all hours and is stressed and tired. The last thing he needs is me in floods of tears.
I do blame him for the choice of breed however!!

He's really good with training in the house, I don't understand what is going so horribly wrong when I'm out?

Totally overstimulated by the sounds of it. My older one found the outside world just far too exciting at that age. I could not compete. I'd love to be able to tell you the secret to get past it, but I think a lot of it was just time and maturing.

My younger pup was my reward for staying sane with the older one I think!

@BrodiePup
It will be soon be the rolling around the floor possessed phase as pictured below 😂😂