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

He's lean @Lougle but not thin. The vet nurse complemented me on his shape <buffs nails> as she sees 'a lot of fat staffies'. I think he's just chancing his arm most of the time.

If he's not thin then you're probably feeding the right amount. Poor chap, having a responsible owner!

His body goes stiff, tail down too, and stares. So I dunno. :(

Google "aggressive dog posture" images, look at the stiff raised tail, hackles raised etc.
I think you'd find your pup isn't as stiff as you think, and is just staring ready to spring into play action as soon as he finds someone who will play rough with him. He will not need much encouragement, maybe fast moving hands and feet, excited noises, laughing. They play really rough with their littermates. I had brother and sister last time, and they sounded as though they would kill each other! Most of the day would be spent play fighting.

I imagine actual aggression would be rare in puppies? But they are practising for being big dogs, and they learn through their play!

Wait for others with more experience than me though. I just hate to hear how worried you are.

@Cavalierchaos I agree, it's really rare to see proper aggression in such a young pup. They do run through the full gamut of behaviours during play though, growling, barking etc. If you're still worried then engage a good trainer if you can, dogs trust should have a centre near you. They also offer phone support, you can pop your pup's details on their website and they usually call back within a couple of days.

I dropped pup off at Super Vet this morning! Luckily no filming today, I wasn't keen to be on the show!! She was pretty worried bless her, she might be there all day.

Pupxx has totally gone off his raw food, so much of it is being binned and I'm obviously really concerned he's not eating anywhere near enough for a growing pup. The breeder was big on raw feeding but I think I need to try something else. Have just ordered a sample from Wolfworthy, does anybody use this company?

I hope it goes well @PointerParty .

No experience with that brand @userxx , but I see it mentioned a lot.

@userxx how old is your pup? Mine seems to have gone off her raw food too at 20 weeks- she’s still eating it but not the quantities suggested. She seems well enough, just wondering if it’s a developmental thing?

thanks @Lougle sat here twiddling my thumbs!

@userxx I've no experience either, my older dog turned her nose up at raw and I gave up quite quickly!

We use Butternut Box and Different Dog in the main. Both have been received enthusiastically since they were introduced last year. FluffyPup was a fussy bugger before those.

(I can provide referral links if needed, as can Riverlee on BB, IIRC.)

A good friend of mine uses Butternut Box for her reputedly fussy whippet.
Looks pretty pricey.

Is it possible to walk a dog without getting covered in mud yourself? Musings of a winter puppy owner…

8 months this week….. not sure how I’ve made it through 🤣. He’s been going off it for a few weeks but I’ve persevered. Time for a change, I’ll have a look at what’s been suggested.

I tried walking my pup on the lead around the house and garden for the first time today. It didn't go amazingly...will try again tomorrow! He didn't want to walk!

We use Millie’s wolf heart and have been very pleased with it, although Maggie is the eternal dustbin and I genuinely have not found a single thing she won’t eat, except celery.

Don't use the lead yet. The lead is the last thing to use. Lure him round the garden with treats, getting him used to walking by your side and giving you attention as he walks. Add the lead only once he's doing that really well.

If he's not happy with the lead, then you could leave it attached to him (all the time you can supervise him) and let it trail as he runs around. Then he'll get it used to it.

Can anyone advise me roughly when puppies can start to hold their bladders overnight? Our pup is 14 weeks and he’s getting really good at going on his puppy pad during the night. However I’ve been getting up at 6am to let him out into the garden to do his business and he’s already usually done it so it feels like a
fruitless exercise right now as we walk out in the garden together and he just looks up at me :)

We use butternut for our fussy 1yr old beddywhippet too.

Thank you, I have been trying those things - I walk around and say 'heel' and put a treat by my foot, and that's worked well in the house.

Bad news, he peed in his crate for the first time before. He'd weed outside beforehand and had only been in the crate for an hour. Now I'm wondering if he's done it before and I hadn't noticed...

And he just bit my face, lovely.

They can supposedly hold for 1 hour per month of life + 1 hour (so a 3 month old can last for 4 hours).

What's the reason for letting him use a puppy pad at night? I'm not sure you're getting him into good habits. We let FluffyPup out at night every time he needed to go.

That’s helpful to know thank you. The main reason is so that we can get some sleep ourselves!

Were you staying up all through the night with your puppy?

We slept on the sofa with him sleeping in the room too. It was fine!

We never used puppy pads either. I slept in the lounge and Hazel slept in the room next door with DD2. I got up with her as she needed to go.

I would say no! I got asked if my labs were dappled!!! yesterday. Nope, just filthy

I always have muddy legs between socks ending and leggings starting! Utterly filthy (as is FluffyPup!).

I did a dramatic slide in the muddy woods today. Somehow stayed upright. 😬