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.

@Bupster glad daycare went well! We are going to try a local one with Vinny. You can book ad-hoc rather than commit to a specific day each week so would work very well for us. Was he really tired out at the end of the day?

@Flashcardsagain good work on the heel training! Vinny nose booped me to signal he needed the toilet twice today which is huge for us. It's good to have a glimmer of hope that they are starting to understand!

Well RIP Vinny's bed. It was nice while it lasted but he's chewed a hole and started pulling the stuffing out. DH has put it on the side and he keeps looking at it with sad eyes 🙄

@FlashcardsagainRoman sits by the door to the garden when he wants to do a wee or poo and gives the quietest little whine possible, barely audible. I wish he would speak up! God knows he’s noisy enough at other times like when he barks loudly demanding playtime.

It’s good when they start asking to go out but it does mean you have to be super vigilant. I don’t know how people cope who are working from home or juggling puppies & young children.

@YorkshireFelix poor Vinny losing his bed to …well… himself. He’s waiting for you to magic him up a new one so everything’s right in his little world again.

Well, I took inspiration from whoever it was on here that uses the bells on the door and got some delivered yesterday - SUCCESS.

I'd noticed a couple of times Libi was trying to open the outside door before being let out for a poo - yes, she can use door handles now, but obviously not for inward opening doors (yet??🤣).

This morning she woke me with the usual kisses to be let out for a wee at 6am, then we all went back to bed, about half an hour later I heard a weird noise, wondered what she had got now.... then realised it was the doggy bells. Straight out for a poo.

So she really must have been signalling like mad and I was just missing it because of being in another room. 🔔🔔🔔🔔

@LibisMum ah amazing! They are such a simple invention but so effective.

The bells are great until the pups realise they can have fun and games with them...or maybe I've got a particularly mischievous lad 🤣

Yes or until they realise it magically opens the door to then start dicking about in the garden eating leaves and picking up snails 😐

Yes - I might have unleashed something here! I have 3 other dogs who will have their own reasons for wanting to go out - looking at you squirrels ......

Sorry, I'm kind of off-topic as usual 🙄but the Millie's Wolfheart samples arrived this morning and Brie went completely bonkers as I was opening the box 😲She's had a few pieces of Hunter mix as a treat 😋

I would be grateful for thoughts about the best way to figure out which is the better option - should it be determined by MW's high energy bouncy dog vs lazy arsed bugger feeding chart? She is most definitely the latter. Or is it just about preference? I'm thinking MW countryside mix as the main food... possibly... We do want to wean her off the Purina asap though.

Also, (really shouldn't say this as probably tempting fate) but...last two solo walks have been brilliant with only one single lead-grabbing faffy moment! I do think she walks much better without the harness though.

@AubrieDog Have you spoken to MW? Their customer service is brilliant. They sent me a really long email with different suggestions and what we can feed Vinny based on his weight and activity levels. Apologies if you've already done this bit! Good to hear she seems to love it though. And also good news on the walking!!

Forgot to say they got back to me same day too.

@YorkshireFelix Thanks. No, I haven't contacted them so I'll do that today.

The improved behaviour from Brie will not last; she's too good too soon...😨I fear that adolescence is going to be impossible...😱

They responded straight away...and I had ordered the ones they do NOT recommend for puppies 🙄It would be helpful if they gave that info on the website. But, that was my stupidity for not asking before I ordered 😩

Ah well...back to the drawing board as to researching foods for Brie.

@AubrieDog Definitely contact Millie's and ask their advice, as Brie is still a pup it's not quite as straightforward as activity levels.
That sounds like excellent progress with walking! Brodie is much much better on a collar than his harness, I used it again yesterday by accident when I got him out of the car and he was straight back to pulling. I totally understand that Brie will be easier to grab with one on though given her size.

@AubrieDog Guess who hadn't updated her feed before replying? 🤣

I've now ordered the "puppy pack" with duck & veg, which I think is the flavour that you mentioned. I'll have to hang onto the other samples and the two cans until she's older... well, either that or get another dog....🤔

It's interesting what you said about Brodie on the collar compared to the harness, clearly it does make a difference regarding their pulling power with a harness.

My two "good" walks were using the Ezydog Double-up collar and a 5ft webbing lead but no harness. Brie did pull like crazy to see her best friend (a young beaglier from up the street) but even with just collar and lead and no emergency grab strap I didn't feel she was going to pull me over. So, I'm setting the harness aside for the next puppy now and sticking with just Double-up collar and a sturdy lead.

That's interesting re harness and pulling. Vinny isn't pulling as much now but I think that's because he's more used to going outside so it's less of a novelty (don't get me wrong, he still finds it extremely exciting!) so I might try again with the collar and see how it goes. I need to start practicing with the slip lead again too.

We are just about to head off for his puppy groom so wish us luck!

@YorkshireFelix RIP V’s bed! But it sounds like, chewing aside, a bed outside the crate works well for him though. Good luck at your groom!

@AubrieDog And hooray for your walking success! How lovely to hear.

I swear blind that our lead walking improved the moment I took the harness off (when she outgrew my preferred one). It was nice when she was tiny to have something bigger to grab on top, and I would always, always use one still if long-lining/hiking, but I really haven’t looked back re collar and lead (though I appreciate that a tiny cocker is rather a different prospect to walk than HRH Princess Brie).

My only gripe with walking at the minute is he zig-zags and swaps sides so much that I'm always getting tangled up or almost tripping up over him. I know spaniels will just zigzag anyway but I don't know if that's entirely to blame or if he's just being an excitable puppy.

Also he did this weird thing today where half way through the walk he decided he wanted to start jumping up at my legs for some reason? No idea. The dog is just a mystery to me!

That's so interesting regarding harnesses. My husband wouldn't entertain the harness on either Algy or Brie but as I'm such a scrawny little thing I felt it gave me security. Clearly that was purely psychological on my part though, because, if anything, it probably gave them more traction... But, as with most things puppy-related, it's trial and error until we find what works best for us and I'm now very happy with the double D ring collars.

@AubrieDog Yes, it is duck and veg that Brodie is on, he's thriving on it. I hope Brie enjoys it too.
I use the ezy dog classic neo collar, I chose it because it's quite wide and padded. I thought it would be more comfortable for him if he continued the ridiculous pulling. I also use the ezy dog bungee lead for the same reason. I almost daren't say it because it's tempting fate, but he really is coming on in leaps and bounds with his walking.
Maybe leaps and bounds isn't the best way to put it 🤣.

It might almost be time for me to leave the puppy survival thread, after all my ups and downs and hysteria. It's been one of the most helpful threads I've ever been on and definitely saved my sanity on occasion. Just to say to anyone who might read this who is struggling...it honestly really does get better 😊. Maybe I should start a new thread for hormonal adolescents? 🤔

He was so good at the groomers! Whinged slightly while getting washed (which I expected) but was perfect with the blow dryer and having his paws shaved etc. They put a little bow on his collar which is very cute. He was a pain in the arse walking home but I'll take the groomers as a win today.

@BrodiePup
Yeah please do start an adolescence thread so we can continue to whinge about our dickhead dogs 🫢
Milo is pretty much through it - still some behaviours that are not great but we are getting there.
I do feel the hardest bit is to come for you and Brodie - this age is when I had some relief from milo but then adolescence hit and I had the daily breakdowns so enjoy the time whilst it lasts. 😀😀😀

@BrodiePup @CaptainBeanThief ignoring the insane adolescent stage, at what age did you notice a difference in puppy behaviour? If I can think to myself 'ok just X amount of weeks to potentially get through' it might make me feel slightly better about life! I'm just going to pretend teenage years don't happen for now...

Awww, it's good to hear that the grooming session went well @YorkshireFelix

@BrodiePup Definite progress for Brodie on the walking front then and everything sounds very positive for you.
We should probably move on too; Brie doesn't really feel like a puppy any more either, she turns 6 months later this week and her behaviour is already quite adult in many ways.
I've just done my first solo long(ish) walk with her and I was so proud that she met three dogs and didn't really pull towards them!
So yes, you are right - it honestly does get better 🙂