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.

I will be thrilled when I can move onto the adolescent thread! Probably for same reasons as you @BrodiePup. Even just him being less bitey and more chilled the past week has made me much happier we got him!

So I braved off lead just now! With the longline on for peace of mind but it wasn't really necessary in the end. We went to a large playing field near the woods which was quiet and he loved it. Did a few retrieves with the ball and practiced whistle recall and sit (which he did listen to mostly) and had a good sniff around. He didn't venture more than 5 meters away from me so I feel a bit better about the whole thing now.

I'd love to take him for a walk through the woods off lead - do you think I can do it with the longline trailing or is that unsafe? I am sure he won't really venture far but I don't want to do it without in case we encounter another dog and I can't get him back close enough to clip his lead on.

We also did some successful swapping on things he kept picking up with a treat, so thanks to everyone for the advice yesterday.

Here is he happy as Larry at his freedom!

@YorkshireFelix Hooray! Such lovely news! I personally wouldn't do longline in the woods as it's just asking for it to get stuck so I'd brave it. Sounds like he'll be just fine. You're going to have to let him off sometime and get him back reliably so you might as well start now while he's small and more pliable/less brave. Others might say to keep him on until his recall is further on but in my view they can't learn something that they've never had a proper chance to practice.

(Pressed post too soon soz, have reported and asked mumsnet to delete)

Thank you, I did think that re getting caught on something so I'll just go ahead without. It's nerve wracking but he did so well today so I think we'll be fine. I'm so glad I did it! Thank you for the encouragement.

When we arrived at the field there was a lady with a Dalmatian and he bolted off to the outdoor area of the cafe which faces onto the field, and he was causing absolute chaos barking and jumping up at tables and she just stood there miles away meekly shouting and squeaking a ball for what felt like an eternity 😂 I have nightmares about that happening to me haha!

@YorkshireFelix You will be absolutely fine – you have so much fun to come! Watching a spaniel do its thing, safely and under control, is just the best thing ever.

The fact that you have nightmares about that happening probably means that it won't – and if he does bog off you won't stand there pathetically!

well done for being brave! the sooner off the lead the better - while they are young they will stick close to you and you can reinforce things like recall until they turn on a sixpence and come running to you immediately. Which Libi does ATM.

This is all needed because in a few weeks she is going to be putting her metaphorical two fingers up to me as her hormones kick in. 🤷🏼‍♀️. IT won't worry or upset me as I've been there before and am expecting it.

It's important to keep reinforcing them coming to you without thinking, because it's that automated response that will help get through adolescence.

The danger is NOT doing the work now because they don't stray far - and when you need to do it they are at the stage of ignoring you. I see so many people with young dogs that they "can't" let off lead because they left it too late to try.

I found adolescence was the point I needed the long line, not for long with my Golden, she was a star, but I got the Mini Schnauzer at 6 months after his owner died, and of course because she'd been ill he hadn't had any consistent training. I had to use a long line, on and off, for about 18 months with him... a VERY long line 😆. He got there in the end though, and now, at 6, is fabulous off lead. I do remember thinking I would never get there ......

Libi is pretty brave and adventurous and loves other dogs, so I think adolescence with her is going to be challenging!

I think I need a quick judgement check from fellow pup-owners.

Bill loves our local dog park and has lots of friends there, but one of the puppies closest to his age is now quite a bit bigger than him and is playing quite roughly (he's a Lab, it seems to be what they do). Bill's okay playing like that for a little while, and used to love it when they were both littler, but tonight he got body slammed a couple of times and ended up trying to climb up me to get into my arms. He's exhausted this evening and I'm feeling very guilty.

This isn't the first time this has happened, and I don't blame the other puppy or his owner, who tries to keep him on lead when he's being a hooligan, but can't always get him sorted fast enough. He's not always there, and he doesn't always play so roughly when he is there, but this evening there were quite a few dogs and the owner had kids with her and not enough eyes for everyone.

Am I being selfish in wanting to keep taking my puppy up there? He always wants to go and does that breast stroke thing to get there, and he generally has loads of fun, but I'm doubting my judgement a bit as it's been a social lifeline for me too, which makes me wonder if I'm doing it for me, not him.

What do you think?

@Bupster It sounds like he loves it so you're definitely not being selfish. Can you go for a bit and then if it starts getting a bit much, take a break or leave? It's a shame really as it's not him that's the problem but I understand pups can be very boisterous!

@LibisMum thank you! I honestly wouldn't have braved it without the advice and support here.

We've just done our evening walk, and ended up going a lot further than I planned as it's such a nice evening tonight. We went along a bit of rural path which leads out to the river and canal, and I was even more brave and just fully let him off the lead. He was SO good and walked perfectly alongside me like an absolute angel. He walks so much better off lead than on!! He sat and let me clip him back on the lead when we saw someone approaching, which was something I was worried about. I had visions of chasing him around...

Then when I had to have him fully back on the lead to get home, he did a good 15-20 minutes of perfect walking. I am so proud of him.

And he left a few things when I said 'leave it' 😮

I'll ignore the fact he pissed on the floor as soon as we came inside, because he's done so well today 😄

Have joined to see what we have in store! My adolescent humans are hard enough 😂

thanks, @YorkshireFelix - he does love it and you've made me feel better. In fairness it's been him that's been the hooligan in the past - they're all just puppies in the end.

@YorkshireFelix so glad you were brave and it paid off! What a little star! I bet he's had an ace time with all those sniffs.

@Bupster I think all you can do is read him as you see him. If he needs a break from the play it gives you a good opportunity to teach him to just take a breath – perhaps you can put him into 'middle'? – and then you can reevaluate. I've never been to a dog park so I can't imagine what the environment is like!

What do people mean by a “dog park”?

I take Roman to a park that has dogs running around, is that the same thing? He doesn’t mind a bit of hooligan behaviour, in fact he enjoys it but he is half Lab half Retriever so maybe that’s why.

There are a few securely fenced dog fields around here that you can rent for 30 minutes or 60 minutes to let your dogs run loose but I'm not sure if its the same thing or not... I thought you had the field to yourself though, so this might refer to something different. It sounds more like the things in US city parks, which is a gated compound for dogs to run about in.

@YorkshireFelix it sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing with Vinny's walks and making excellent progress 😊. I think you'll be fine without a long line in woods...we tried one very briefly and got instantly tangled 🤣

@Bupster I've been wondering what a dog park is too? We've used fields like @AubrieDog mentioned, but we've rented them for private use.

I'd continue taking Bill because it sounds like you both enjoy it, just make sure he has a bit of time out if it looks like it's getting too much.

Woods were very successful and he loved it. I wish I could upload a video here as he looks so happy!

But it's absolutely torrential rain here so we both got soaked and caked in mud. I had to hose him down when we got home (which I feel bad about) then he jumped all over the sofa while I tried to get a towel so everything is damp. Then wouldn't let me towel him and just got bitey so now he's in his crate snoozing near the radiator to hopefully dry him off a bit. Need to work out a better strategy for wet walks I think...

@YorkshireFelix The rain is awful today isn't it?
Get a drying coat, it really is one of the most useful things I've bought.

Yes I should definitely get one! I looked at the Ruff and Tumble ones recently but they are £££ so would rather wait until he's fully grown for that. But maybe a cheaper one will do the job for now? It pisses it down constantly here so I guess it would be a worthy investment!

I sold my ruff and tumble coat on once it had been outgrown so recouped some of the cost. Having said that, we've had lucky paws ones from Amazon which I think dry better between uses.

Torrential rain here too (west Pennines so we get a lot of rain), we haven't ventured out aside from garden. We've done kibble in a cat food box, ball play in the kitchen and now Brie is having a pre-lunch snooze.

Hope it's better tomorrow and we can get a decent walk. Husband is off on some work thing or other so Miss Breezy won't be a happy bunny and at least a field walk would distract her.

I should probably look at a drying coat too.

@YorkshireFelix it's the lucky paws we got and I really don't think you could beat it. I bought a size too big for growing room and it's fine to use.

Oh brilliant I'll definitely look up the lucky paws ones @tizwozliz @BrodiePup thank you!

@AubrieDog you do right not going out in this weather. I definitely need to buy some more appropriate dog walking attire!

@YorkshireFelix Strongly recommend a drying coat too – I got mine from Amazon I think and it was a few quid. I'd love a Ruff and Tumble one but they're so expensive and I'm not convinced they're any better, having felt them, than the one I bought which was £30 cheaper! Definitely no point buying a fancy one when he isn't fully grown.

I am also familiar with what we call the 'wet zooms' – had it this morning where it's also pouring down. But she has learned that the towel is good news and now she waits to be dried off.

@brushingboots yes I did think they seem very expensive for what they are, but I've seen them mentioned everywhere. The Amazon one looks great so I think that will be good for us! No point in spending 30 quid more if it does the job exactly the same.

I thought of you this morning as I dug out my Barbour jacket and put my whistle around my neck before our walk like a proper Spaniel Man 😂