Puppy Survival Thread for New & Old Pups - Soon be Autumn 2024

[BrodiePup]

Setting the ball rolling on a new thread as the last one has reached 1k 😊.

Brodie had his first proper bath today...
I don't think he was overly impressed!

He'll be 6 months old on Tuesday. I can't believe how the time has passed, or how far along we've come.

To everyone who is struggling at the moment, stick with it, it really does get easier.

This is Caoimhínn, he‘s 3/4 collie and 1/4 fox red lab. 9 months old and much calmer / less stuck like glue to me than he was at the start of the summer holidays. In fact, he’s taken himself off somewhere in the house while I write this, which would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago! Training still a work in progress, particularly recall… I’m hopeful he will get there as he has the capacity to learn, just maybe not the ability to resist distractions quite yet!

@Twiglets1 Roman is a beauty! I love black labs. Aren't you going to be a little bit heartbroken when he goes?

@CaptainBeanThief Will you stop raining on my parade? Think yourself lucky I've got a whole year to go 😱.

@Dominicains So many lovely pups today, Caoimhinn looks a proper character, and nice to hear that there is hope before 18 months old!

@BrodiePup we will be completely heartbroken when he goes.

I thought I would be able to handle it as could think of myself as a foster mum. But I just love him and will hate saying Goodbye, though will be very proud if he can be an assistance dog to someone.

It’s hard to imagine him being a Guide dog at the moment as is just a typical naughty pup stealing stuff and biting us all the time!

@BrodiePup
NO!
I have suffered so you have to 🤣🤣
Luckily Milos shagging stage Lasted less than a couple of weeks when he was trying it on my leg constantly 👀

Hi all

Libi is now 17 weeks and has hit the "bambi" stage - all legs. Now old enough to do the half circuit of the local field so I started taking her out with the other dogs - not a good idea it turns out - she and the mini schnauzer wind each other up so she ends up doing too much racing around - so I'm back to two (sometimes three if I take the old boy out!) morning and evening walks.

Ironically easier as much less stressful, and she is still at the stage where she stick to me like glue, unless a more interesting dog or person appears of course. In the past when I've had a Flatcoat pup it's always been with an older Golden or Flatcoat as a calming presence, the schnauzer is a sweetheart, and her playmate, but walking together isn't going to work until she's more sensible.

My arms are beginning to heal, I still get an occasional bite but it's definitely more accidental, she does respond to the old "whimper like a puppy" trick and stops, thank goodness.

Picture of her after deciding to join me in the shower, she marches straight in 🤣

@Twiglets1 I think you should be very proud of yourself, but I really don't envy you saying goodbye. Enjoy every moment while you've got him.

@CaptainBeanThief And I thought you were my friend 🤣. I'm hoping Brodie keeps his attentions to his monkey. My brother has a cockerpoo and he never left my SIL alone, he had to be done to save her sanity.

@LibisMum Libi is lovely. I bet that makes bath time easy if you can both shampoo together! I can't imagine having to do double walks, it'll be keeping you fit.

Apologies pup parents I should've started a new thread but I didn't realise it was full.

Ruairi did NOT appreciate his crate today after a good day on Saturday Puppy cam gone wild. Sent my son in to puppy sit him

I didn't realise either until I noticed it had gone quiet.
The crate situation must be frustrating, all you can do is keep trying and hopefully he'll eventually settle.

Not really a pup anymore, but loving being off lead again after her season.

@tizwozliz They're both so beautiful! What an amazing shine on their coats!

@tizwozliz
What a lovely photo! They're gorgeous.

Beautiful!

Madam has lost an upper premolar this morning. Only noticed when we were out on our early walk and I saw blood on her muzzle - not a good look on a white dog 😬Fortunately we didn't meet anyone ! DH is slightly peeved that the tooth is lost, he likes to keep their baby teeth.

@Pyreneansylvie We only found 2 of Brodies baby teeth, I guess he swallowed the rest. It must be really miserable for them, poor things.

I didn't find any of Milos...
I've just taken him on a walk and I don't know why he insists on strangling himself on walks I really don't

@BrodiePup DH somehow found a tiny incisor on the kitchen floor a couple of weeks back - all I can say is his eyesight is far better than mine! We've generally found at least a couple of canines from our previous dogs. Brie is teething hard right now, we're encouraging her to bite on the tug ropes rather than hard chews and I've been giving her goats milk ice cubes because they're much softer than water ice.

@CaptainBeanThief Oh you have my sympathies, it is a nightmare. Brie is a puller too, she ends up gasping and it worries me in case people think I'm being too rough with her. I'm beginning to feel that I now have arms like Mr Tickle...

I hate teeth so I hope they all get swallowed here!!!!

The OH found one of our older pups incisors on the kitchen floor, unfortunately for him he found it with his bare foot!

🤣

Don't even get me started on the pulling on the lead, it's actually starting to quite upset me...
I start every walk full of optimism then come home and either want a stiff drink or a cry!
I'm going to go back to using a collar for loose lead training and toughen up...if he wants to try and throttle himself he might eventually learn. I've read several articles recently about how harnesses encourage pulling as it's a dog's instinct to lean into any pressure, so it enables them to pull with the strongest part of their body. On a young dog it can also damage their shoulders and hips. I know there are a gazillion other articles that contradict that, and I've probably read most of them. There's way too much information nowadays.
All I know is that the definition of insanity is repeating an action and expecting a different result, so it's time to try something new.
We were also told at gun dog training not to use a harness, so I'm going to give it a go.

@BrodiePup
I totally get it - it is so frustrating! I set off determined to enjoy a nice relaxing walk but return half an hour later dripping with sweat and feeling as if the whole village is laughing at my inability to stop a 'cute little puppy' from pulling my arm off/biting the lead/veering in front and tripping me up. She meanwhile thinks it is all hilarious fun.

I got an Ezydog harness for our previous dog (male) and both my DH and the pup's breeder strongly disapproved, saying it gave me no control. On reflection they were right. He was very tall and the best set up for him as an adult was a Dogmatic headcollar but Brie is too young for that. So...I'm back with the Ezydog harness only this time I'm also using a double up collar and a dual trigger hook training lead attached to both. I suspect harnesses are probably better for the tinies or bull breeds but then for me it is kind of a grab aid when madam decides to take off; I just hang on for dear life. DH prefers walking her on a martingale/half-check collar, he still refuses to entertain the harness.
It's all trial and error. You'd honestly think we'd have cracked it by now after 8 of these ridiculous creatures but no, every dog is so different.

Anyway, if you find the secret with Brodie and he does stop pulling, please share! I need all the help I can get.

Our breeder told us not to use a harness on a spaniel so I've not bought one. There's a good group if you're on Facebook called 'Working Cocker Spaniels (UK)' which has some brilliant videos and loads of knowledgeable people in there, which you might find useful re loose lead walking. I've also been watching Mordor Gundogs on YouTube who do really clear informative videos.

I tried the longline on Vinny attached to his collar and he just thought it was a pull toy...

I am keen to train him to use a slip lead, especially if we decide to train him to work, but not until he's much older.

God yea the tripping over the puppy. I think we are on walk 5 now. I'm using a lead atm. But I swear cars slow down the state of us

Can I join you all? Our family recently got a new pup. She is a 18 week old border collie/aussie shepherd plus who knows what else (she was a rescue dog). We just ordered a DNA test, so all predictions are welcome - she currently weighs around 31lbs already, so will be pretty big I think.

@Pyreneansylvie I feel your pain, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one. I was actually looking at martingale collars today, it's a step I didn't want to take, but I am considering it. Have you any recommendations?
If there's no improvement in another 3 months when he's old enough, I'll also be looking into dogmatic/halti. I'll always treat him with love and care, but honestly all this reward based training is only achieving diarrhoea with all the treats I'm stuffing into him. He's a really intelligent dog and will do anything I ask in the house, but OMG outside 😱

@YorkshireFelix I follow that Facebook group and I've watched the Mordor videos. They are good, but more towards a proper working dog, and Brodie is a pet. I don't fancy a slip lead as I want him to enjoy sniffy walks and the idea seems to be not allowing them to put their heads down at all. We were told at training that you must use a harness with a long line as the speed they can get up to over a longer distance can cause serious damage to their necks.

@DoggoneTired Hello and welcome! What a character, I love her ears!