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

Can anyone help? We're currently on a family holiday with our 16month Sprocker, and she's been so unsettled at night since we arrived. When we've travelled previously, she's been unsettled for the first night but then fine. We arrived on Saturday and she's been awake and barking every hour overnight....

We've bought her usual travel crate and blankets, toilet before bed as normal and she should be straight to sleep as we've been busy so far, but no, and we're exhausted! Any tips please?

We've been doing so well with toilet training and minimal accidents in the house, but dd has just taken Vinny out twice to get him to pee and he didn't do anything despite waiting a while so she brought him back in, and he just squatted and peed in his crate for the first time ever!! I am gutted

We've had him a week as of today. He's a good boy but I'm starting to get irritated by him. My husband works 7 days a week so everything is down to me and I am shattered. I'm back at work on Monday (I work from home) and dreading it to be honest. I don't know how I'll keep an eye on him and work at the same time.

@Lougle and others, has anyone had every single comment they’ve made on these threads “thanked” by an anonymous user in the last couple of days? They’ve gone through previous threads too. It seems a bit odd!

Bizarrely, yes!! That's weird.

Hazel is away at residential training right now. Can't wait to see her on Thursday.

Ah ok so it’s not just me! How odd! How has Hazel been getting on? Pup was away for 3 weeks, she did so well and the trainer loved her. He spent a lot of time getting me comfortable with handling her reactions to other dogs. She’s loads better now and will ignore most dogs, she might bark at a dog that approaches and warms up to calm dogs quite quickly. Her lead walking is much better now too. It’s still a constant work in progress at this age but things are going the right way. It was so lovely to have her back

Oh that's so nice to read @PointerParty ! I'm glad it went well.

Hazel was meant to be away for 4 weeks, but got sent home after 2 because she went into season. Then her season turned out to be a prolonged weird affair, so we delayed her remaining 2 weeks until the beginning of August. She's doing really well, thanks.

Anyone? Please?

We've moved her crate to the upstairs landing hoping it might help...

I’ve got no help I’m afraid but a hand hold for you as I’ve got this with my 4 month beagle. He’s adamant on weeing on any bedding/bed or mat he has. I gave him some of my old clothes to help him settle but he wees on those too so they stink. I literally washed his crate mat, spent all afternoon drying it on low heat, put back in crate and he went straight to it and peed on it 🤦🏼‍♀️. Every time I wash them he does it again 😂

Here is the culprit 🙈

@YorkshireFelix

I haven't had that experience, but maybe he just got confused - was he distracted when he was outside and needed longer to get down to business? Is it the only time he's done it so far? The advice I followed when mine was younger was to stay outside until she had wee'd (assuming it was a time when I thought she probably needed to go) Even down to being out with a brolly. Then a tasty treat immediately she finished.
You're going to have to prepare yourself for a difficult time at first, I'm sorry to say but that's how it is with a puppy, especially if it's all on you. Any "mistake" your puppy makes indoors will be because you missed the signs or waited too long. It's sooooo hard, yes.
I kept a toileting diary and it was sometimes 12-14 wees a day, and if she was playing it could be every 20 minutes. My main room is carpeted too, if you're lucky you have easy clean flooring..🤞

Another tip I read (probably on here) is if they don't wee when outside to not let them down, carry them, then try outside again in a little while.

I really feel for you, and hope you get some help and your pup gets the hang of it quickly.

Mine is 7 months now, she was pretty quick at learning to go outside, but even now has the occasional mishap if circumstances are different. (Workers in the home installing radiators, and then at my parents' home where they don't have a secure garden.)
Pic of my skinny minnie (and total darling) Fern.

Oh yes and I am still alive although now on antidepressants.

@SparkleMonster someone needs to sleep with the pup. Either on a sofa or in your bedroom.

The more distressed a pup gets the more likely you are to set up a situation where they end up with separation anxiety.

I'm now on dog no. 13. My Eighth pup, none of the dogs I've had since pups have suffered from SA, someone always slept with them - especially in new situations.

@Mumoftwo57

Could he have a urine infection?
Is this a new thing?
Sounds awful!
Does he also wee in the garden? Has he been rewarded for doing it outside? Immediately, that is, as soon as he finishes?
Beagles are very food motivated aren't they?
Hopefully somebody else will reply, there's so many experienced people on here.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I was so upset last night but was exhausted which didn't help. I am just really worried about doing anything wrong and causing issues. DH slept downstairs so I've had a proper nights sleep in bed and feel so much better this morning.

I've been really strict with taking him out and waiting. He doesn't actually pee as often as I expected he would but I'm going to start noting what times he goes. I do bring him back in and carry him and until yesterday he wouldn't toilet in his crate, so it would be outside, carry, crate for a bit (he's always really happy in there) and back out. So maybe he did just get confused. It's frustrating as sometimes I definitely know he needs it but then we go out into the pen and he just lies down and gets comfortable haha!

We do have hardwood floors thankfully so at least that's one positive!!

Thanks again for the advice. I have found this thread so helpful as there's so much conflicting advice online so it's nice to speak to actual real people.

Hi ☺️.

I stand corrected because he didn’t do it yesterday. He wasn’t really understanding toilet training (I was doing the extreme praise when he did anything outside), but same again as of yesterday he did everything outside! Yes, they are food orientated and don’t I know it lol, he already tries jumping at the side to steal food 😂.

thanks for replying ☺️

@SparkleMonster my solution to this would be putting pup’s crate next to my side of the bed. I’ve had to do this every now and again with both dogs for one reason or another. It’s not forever and means everyone can sleep.

@Lougle wow Hazel is all grown up! She’s such a beauty! Did she have trouble with pregnancy hormones after her season? So far pup has sailed through hers and I’m wondering if I should let her have another couple before thinking about speying. I think the hormones have boosted her confidence a bit

I've been really strict with taking him out and waiting. He doesn't actually pee as often as I expected he would but I'm going to start noting what times he goes.

You’ll get into a routine with him. My boy is 4 months old and it’s taken a good while for him to understand he toilets outside. I’ve had mornings of sitting outside at 4.00am encouraging him to pee only for him to do it as soon as he comes inside. He doesn’t give clear toilet signs either so it’s been watching subtle changes in his body language and getting him out before the inevitable.

He still has accidents, I think he doesn’t fully understand that a certain feeling means he needs to pee so doesn’t have clear bladder control yet. It will come though, I’m constantly cleaning floors.

One thing though is that he never pees or poops in his crate, so when I’m working I’ll have him in his crate with a lickymat for an hour or so. Then I get him out to the garden or for a walk, we’ll do a 5 minute training, some play and he’ll be ready for a sleep. He has a bed in my home office and I bring his crate through if need be. He is a distraction but we’re both in a routine now.

@Jellycatspyjamas That is good to know. I am back working tomorrow so will do a similar routine I think. I'm hoping the pee in his crate yesterday was just a one-off as he's never ever done it in there before. The breeder told me none of them will pee in their bed and he was right until then! I think he maybe was just confused.

He's been in and out for the past hour or so after a long nap and still not gone! He's going back to sleep now. Seems a bit less annoying today but maybe that's because I've actually had a good nights sleep...

Honestly I’ve been in despair at times with the toiletting thing - he’s also really not food motivated so training has been interesting but I do see signs that he’s getting there. Hang in there, it does get better.

@YorkshireFelix I've my DH downstairs atm too. He has a cold and started to snore and I'm like are you joking? Spare room please 🙈😂

I'm mean I'm touching all the wood I can but this little man is doing well with the potty training 🤞🏼he was sick in his crate last night over a blanket but I heard him and got him sorted quickly x

Sorry - late to the party
Have we found out who the anonymous thanker is/was??
I wondered why I had a shit load of notifications.

@Ruairismum nooo not the snoring! I feel like a new woman today after a good nights sleep.

Vinny has been an angel today. So chilled. Maybe he picked up on my grumpiness yesterday and that's why he was being a little pain in the backside!

Hope all the pups are keeping cool. This one is still restricted to lead walks so has had to settle for relaxing in the hammock rather than a nice swim somewhere.

@LibisMum @PointerParty thank you both, we've been alternating sleeping on the sofa but it's not comfy in our holiday home. Last night we moved her crate to the upstairs landing and left our bedroom door open which seems to be a better solution, and there was more sleep all round (phew!). We're assuming it's the change of location/routine that is causing her to be unsettled, but it's not the relaxing holiday we'd hoped for!

No idea @JamieJ93 I didn’t even know you could leave anonymous thanks! I was less creeped out when I realised it wasn’t just me!

I found it very strange 😐.
Milos behaviour has seemingly started to improve. ( Sometimes he likes to lure us into a self sense of security)
He's in the full throws of adolescence.
He does do stuff purposefully to wind us up but does seem to coming out of the other side.
He has been a night mare.
The worst spaniel I've ever had to be honest and would never get a cocker again - I love him to bits , he is my best friend but he has caused me deep depression at times.
I feel like a failure - I see dogs younger than Milo better behaved on walks and I think I where the fuck did I go wrong - I cry.
Ive done my best but it doesn't feel good enough. I've spent the last 14 months training and training but he's just such hard work.
I do love him very very much but my gosh pass me a gin.... And I don't drink 🤣
As I usually post a picture every time I post here you all go