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

1000 replies

Lougle · 08/03/2024 13:33

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

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

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.

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
153
Jellycatspyjamas · 12/07/2024 20:47

@LibisMum it’s so good to hear the voice of experience - my arms are a bit shredded too and I’m getting used to holey clothes, pups have such sharp teeth. My boy is struggling with toilet training - he really doesn’t get he’s supposed to go outside and doesn’t really show any signs that he’s about to pee. I’m currently sitting in the garden trying to persuade him to pee but I’m not hopeful.

Its good to know they all come through in the end.

BrodiePup · 12/07/2024 20:50

@JamieJ93
No...but he's learning to play the bagpipes 🤣🤣

Puppy Survival Thread for New and Old Pups - Spring is around the corner!
JamieJ93 · 12/07/2024 21:03

@BrodiePup
Looks like we are going to have driving bagpipe playing dogs in no time 😵‍💫

Brodie looks quiet, what have you drugged him with? Can I have some ? 😂😂

BrodiePup · 12/07/2024 21:11

@JamieJ93 Now that's a scary thought 🤣
Occasionally...very occasionally...he is calm and quiet. He seems to like watching tv, he has strange viewing habits which usually depend on him sitting on the remote!

Trixibella · 12/07/2024 21:15

Brodiepup - I know this has been said a lot but he’s so young and WCS are so wonderful in the end - they do sniff and sniff and pulling is going to be a thing to begin but you absolutely will train this out of him.

Long lines are best for recall training when they’re on the ground and you can put your foot
over them to stop the rushing off. Not holding them like a lead. You said his recall is ok, so next is to do it with distractions so “Brodie Come!” (Eg Brodie Sit, Brodie No, Brodie Down, Brodie Heel - He needs an instruction as his name is to get his attention then he knows to listen for what to do next). Then wait as sometimes it takes a minute to process for him. So don’t shout “Brodie! Brodie! Brodie! BRODIE!” Then if he is still hooked on the distraction and at the end of the line give a tug, to physically get his attention and he should look round and then if you need to give another tug to get him to come towards you (and again and again if necessary, not repeating the commands) then huge praise and a treat when he comes back and sits at your feet. This needs to happen every walk more than once. If you can get a mate to surprise you with their dog, even better.

if the pulling is hurting, then you can use a halti for walks but I don’t love them personally however if you need a break from pulling they certainly work.

if you can practice off lead heel in the garden for ages before the walk, then he should
pull less but it’s a work in progress. Sometimes having a toy that he likes might help keeping him looking up at you and engaged. If he’s looking at you or a treat pouch, he can’t pull or look at other things.

Walking a puppy is not much fun as you have to be engaged with them all the bloody time. You can’t enjoy the view or the walk, you have to watch all the time where they are, what can they see, what can they hear, how far are they, what’s on the horizon, it’s a fucking baseball cap isn’t it has that dick got a dog I have to prepare for? is that a tractor in the next field, is some other bastard walking their puppy at 6.30am to avoid other dogs? Are they pulling and if so why, is it a sniffy walk or are they just dragging behind because they’re eating cat shit?

it DOES pass. But it does seriously ruin walks for a long old time. Then they’re wonderful. It will pass!

BrodiePup · 12/07/2024 21:34

@Trixibella your post made me laugh! Thanks for taking the time 😊. It's all sound advice and pretty much what I've started doing now. I need to sharpen up my long line technique as he bolted off after a magpie this morning and I didn't stamp on it quickly enough.
I think when you're in the middle of it, it seems to go on forever and feels like it will never end. I didn't think we'd ever crack house training, and I'll not tempt fate say we have, but we've gone 3 weeks without an accident now.
He is a gorgeous little dog and has a really lovely nature. I just need to relax more and stop being a stress head, I'm also an emotional wreck when I'm tired 🙄.
"It will get easier" is my new mantra!!
It's nice to read posts where people have survived the puppy stage.

YorkshireFelix · 13/07/2024 12:07

Hi all, going to be joining you soon as our pup is ready on 2nd August!

I've read this whole thread over the past couple of days like a mad woman. We're getting a working cocker with a very strong lineage of field trial champions. The breeder doesn't usually let them go as pets but my DH grew up training gun dogs so he's made an exception. He's one of two black pups in the litter and the other black one is going to mountain rescue Shock We live up on the moors in West Yorkshire so lots of countryside to explore once he's big enough.

I am excited and terrified in equal measure as I've not had a dog before, DH works 7 days a week at the minute between being a contractor and running our business so it's going to be all down to me. Fully aware I'm going to be in for the shock of my life! I've watched so many videos on puppy training I think my brain might explode!

We were on the waiting list for a future litter but the breeder contacted us as someone had to pull out due to ill health, so it's been a bit of a whirlwind as we weren't expecting to have a pup until next year at least. So I haven't bought a thing yet...

BrodiePup · 13/07/2024 13:08

@YorkshireFelix Hello! I look forward to hear how you get on with your new pup, exciting times!
If you've read any of my slightly hysterical posts please don't be put off, things are always far more positive after a good nights sleep, and I wouldn't be without the little monster now.
Brodie is also from parents who have a strong champion lineage, with hindsight, not a clever idea for people who just wanted a pet! His Mum is kept as a pet who they had one litter with, but she also lives on the Yorkshire moors so has a fantastic life running free...a bit different from Brodie in the suburbs...His dad is from Farlavale gun dogs in York, I can't recommend them highly enough for puppy training if you live near to them, and fancy some extra training.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

YorkshireFelix · 13/07/2024 16:15

Ah thank you! We are in Baildon so not too far from you depending on which side of Leeds you are.

My daughter is obsessed with dogs and has been asking for one since she was 2 (she's almost 11 now), and she doesn't know yet. I can't wait to tell her!

You have done so well with Brodie so far. He is gorgeous. I know it's going to be hell for a few months but will be worth it for us in the long run. Hang in there!

newusern99 · 13/07/2024 20:27

Anyone have any suggestions for how to stop puppies thinking socks are fun things to steal and chew?

BrodiePup · 13/07/2024 20:57

@YorkshireFelix Aw, your daughter will be thrilled, what an amazing surprise! We're in Morley, so the other side from you.
I wouldn't say I've done well with Brodie, but I've done my best, and he's a happy little pup. It's like anything, if I could go back and start again it would probably be a very different experience!
@newusern99 Just surrender with the socks, it will be part of life 🤣. Brodie has a thing for dusters and cloths, I just need to train him to use them properly!!

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 13/07/2024 23:18

@newusern99 prior to Fin i had saved old socks to use as dust rags or for dh and the garage. we recently took one and stuffed a tennis ball in it and he seems satisfied with that. my laundry basket is out of bounds.

newusern99 · 13/07/2024 23:30

Ddog had to go to the vets today after swallowing three quarters of a sock! Luckily they were able to get him to vomit it back up. It had been chewed into pieces but it was quite a thick sock so vet wasn’t sure if it would have passed naturally and we didn’t know what size pieces he’d eaten.

BrodiePup · 14/07/2024 06:08

@newusern99 That is worrying, I hope he's ok. All you can do is a stern "no" if he picks one up, or make sure they're out of his way.
I'm still struggling with Brodie picking up stones, I thought we were getting somewhere but the last couple of days he's been really bad.

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 14/07/2024 06:38

Thanks to a tip upthread Finley will exchange all stones and stollen treats for an ice cube.
oddly despite the stolen items being in his mouth most are initially undamaged.

coolpineapple1 · 14/07/2024 08:56

Hi all, joining as I have a 15 week cockerpoo. I've always had rescue dogs all my life but never a puppy. I currently have 2 rescues as well a 6 and a 3 year old podencos.
Wow I thought rescues were hard but a puppy is something else lol!! My poor dogs don't know what's happened to their relaxing calm lives and I'm not sure I do either!
I got the puppy for my 13 year old daughter she's autistic and doesn't leave the house much. She loves him to bits but the biting is definitely hard on her. Currently have lots of gates across every room to give the 2 older dogs a break from him.
Reading this thread has been super reassuring and also made me feel I'm not alone.

YorkshireFelix · 14/07/2024 09:33

coolpineapple1 · 14/07/2024 08:56

Hi all, joining as I have a 15 week cockerpoo. I've always had rescue dogs all my life but never a puppy. I currently have 2 rescues as well a 6 and a 3 year old podencos.
Wow I thought rescues were hard but a puppy is something else lol!! My poor dogs don't know what's happened to their relaxing calm lives and I'm not sure I do either!
I got the puppy for my 13 year old daughter she's autistic and doesn't leave the house much. She loves him to bits but the biting is definitely hard on her. Currently have lots of gates across every room to give the 2 older dogs a break from him.
Reading this thread has been super reassuring and also made me feel I'm not alone.

My dd is also autistic and gets so much joy from animals (especially dogs) so was a big driver for us getting ours. I am worried about how she will cope with the bitey madness but I'm putting a gate on the bottom of the stairs so she can escape up there if she needs to. Hopefully the nipping doesn't last too long! Nice to hear she loves him so much Smile

coolpineapple1 · 14/07/2024 09:39

@YorkshireFelix I think it's given her company too as she leaves her bedroom far more than she used to.
Hopefully once out the bitey stage he'll be much easier for her to look after.
Though as I type he is currently humping my arm while biting my jumper Wink
I hope it is all going well with your pup and DD x

Solsticemoon · 14/07/2024 10:31

Hello - please please cd I have help?!
we have a lovely puppy but i am really struggling.
our old dog was a clingy one and she just did what i asked and slept in ned peacefully from day one …
this puppy is extrovert - she finds all things exiting and as such struggles to listen

or main problem is sleep - its affecting our heath and relationship- we are early 60 s.. husband has heart problems and needs rest - i have thryroid issues and asthma.

so we need sleep

initially i slept with her in kitchen- to settle her - she was in a pen with crate inside it - this was to protect dh health and sleep as she settled.

then - here is the mistake!- i moved her upstairs with me ( dh and i sleep separately as he snores badly) in a pen near to me in bed room.
she used to sleep 10 to 6

one night she was stood up whining amd wagging her tail- at 4 pm - in my half aslepp state i picked her up and put her in bed with me - expecting her to settle- she tried to but moved constantly - up n down in a half aleep unsettled way changing position every few mins-

the next night i was so tired that when she did the same thing i picked her up again - this has gone on for a week now -
i am so exhausted- i wanted a cuddly / sleep dog and wd be happy to share the bed - but it’s impossible- she constantly moves and i have no idea why.

i am in tears most days now due to exhausted state and its affecting the bond massively

my husband thinks to just leave her in the kitchen so we can get sleep - there is massive tension in the house - not good for human or dog!

wd this now be cruel- to suddenly change her routine? If so what do i do to get sleep?! If ok re kitchen- do i go cold turkey -? I am so anxious to upset her or cause separation anxiety- i know i made a mistake but i now feel totally lost and anxious all the time.
how can i start to improve from here?

i know that i should have gradually left her in the kitchen at the time - but ive only known a still cuddly dog and i didnt see this comming ..

please please help! Dh and I are not getting on and its really awful stress . Thank you .

Trixibella · 14/07/2024 11:16

Dogs do usually get up and move around at night - older ones sometimes more or less than younger. It’s like us rolling over in bed at night. They’re finding somewhere cooler or warmer or more fluffed up or less. Dogs sleeping on the bed is a nicer idea than the reality! They shake periodically, they clean their paws, they dig, they circle, they sneeze.

They can’t do all of that in a crate unless it’s spacious (I prefer mine out of a crate quite quickly) but sleeping on the floor by your bed should be ok.

if you don’t like the noise and you find that it disturbs you too much then best to acclimatise the puppy to downstairs (perhaps get a camera or a baby monitor so you know if your puppy needs to go out in the night).

stick some of your slippers or an old jumper with the puppy for comfort.

HariboFrenzy · 14/07/2024 11:28

@Solsticemoon DH slept with our puppy downstairs on the sofa til he was 9 months. Then he had a stag weekend coming up so DH moved back upstairs. There was some initial barking the first couple of nights - we went down, checked he didn't need to go out to toilet and then ignored. He accepted it very quickly. We now play either white noise or calming musing for dogs on the alexa and shut the door and he generally settles straight away. How old is your pup?

Bupster · 14/07/2024 11:38

Properly struggling today. It's like the tiredness has been gradually accumulating and today the dam burst and I'm just not coping at all.

Trying to put a harness on my menace is always really hard as he thinks it's a tug toy - he's fine once he's wearing it though and I was really hoping I could spend part of today getting him acclimatised to sitting in the front booster seat of the car. If I can't get him in the car without trauma I have a really horrible journey next week as he's boarding with his breeder for a week while I work away, and he really struggles in the travel crate. And I can't get out for more than a ten minute 'walk' at the moment as he's getting too heavy to cart far in a rucksack (plus it makes him need to poo!). If I can get him in a harness and in the car, I could take him to see friends and both of us could socialise. I could go and see my family.

Today I tried to put it on him and he got so over-excited he bit my ear hard enough to draw blood and it's like all my resilience just collapsed. I've been crying on and off for an hour. I know it's not deliberate, I know he's just a puppy, he's only twelve weeks, I love him and I know it'll get better, but today is just really, really hard.

Trixibella · 14/07/2024 11:44

some dogs just don’t like harnesses - I use a collar and lead. I know MN is v pro harnesses but there’s nothing wrong with a collar and lead. My dogs bring me their leads when they want a walk.

Solsticemoon · 14/07/2024 11:48

HariboFrenzy
18 weeks . The irony is she has just slept next to me for 2 hours n not moved - in a different bed .

how can I acclimatise her to kitchen without sleeping in it myself?! Xx thanks !

LibisMum · 14/07/2024 12:05

Solsticemoon · 14/07/2024 11:48

HariboFrenzy
18 weeks . The irony is she has just slept next to me for 2 hours n not moved - in a different bed .

how can I acclimatise her to kitchen without sleeping in it myself?! Xx thanks !

At this stage you are building her confidence so that she will be able to be left alone without distress. The best way to do that is to let her sleep in the same room as you - until she chooses not to.

If you create a situation where she is distressed at night this is likely to feed her anxiety and make her less likely to settle.

I created a sort of camp bed situation next to my bed, using sofa cushions, where I slept with my pup for the first few weeks - she was able to move to the floor if she wanted and I had a comfortable night's sleep (I'm 68 so comfort and sleep are both important to me!). Your pup might be too warm on the bed ATM, but will still want to be near you - on the few hot nights we had mine took herself off to my en suite and slept on the floor with her head on the bathroom scales!

We are now both sleeping on the bed, and she is able to get on and off it using the cushions as a step up and down.

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