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.

Hazel is turning into a very beautiful young lady @Lougle. I've tried using the front loop on his harness with a double ended lead, it worked well for about a week. Then he started walking almost sideways curled round, which didn't look the healthiest of positions.

Collar report...it might have made a slight difference, but I'm not really sure, I'll try it again tomorrow. I really am at the end of my tether now (or should that be the end of B's lead?) I'm so fed up of unpleasant walks. My husband should be getting on top of the job he's doing by mid September, and he's going to have to take over the reins (lead) getting a WCS was his idea... and then he takes on a contract that involves him working more hours than he ever has 😡.

Then when I got home Brodie knocked a glass of squash over that has run under a sofa which is way too big and heavy for me to move.

It's been a loooong day!

Aww thank you @BrodiePup .

What techniques do you use for lead walking? We use a few different things which have really helped. So positioning treats behind our knee, so that she learns to stay behind/beside as she walks, or dropping treats on the floor beside our feet - slows them down slightly. Then backaways - if she gets to the end of the lead, stand completely still, then reward when she looks back - they learn to recognise the tension on the lead and double back. 'Let's go' - walk in the opposite direction and treat when they catch you up. The main thing is to never let them make forward progress if they're pulling. It's hard to be consistent but they do get the idea after a little while.

Awww, sounds like a bit of an exhausting day @BrodiePup , I hope tomorrow is easier.

@Lougle we've tried all that, he's not interested in treats or toys when he's out. What we're sticking to is stopping, turning, little tugs back on his lead and lots of praise. It's virtually impossible to do it constantly as we wouldn't make it to the bottom of the drive and he needs exercise and will only poo away from home. I know it will take time but we're 3 months in and it's really starting to get me down now.

Thank you @Pyreneansylvie 🙂

Arty shot of him scheming.

@BrodiePup I did wonder if it was worth changing his food. We've got a huge 12kg bag with about 10kg left so I'll have a think about it over the next few weeks. He's on Eukanuba which the breeder recommended but I don't think it's the best after I've done some research!

Wow! Beautiful photo @BrodiePup What a handsome boy.

Hi there I’ve just had pup out for her second walk and she got such an enormous fright from another dog. The neighbour went to greet her and her big dog barked really loudly from out the car window right next to my pup. She was absolutely terrified. I hope it hasn’t set her socialisation back.

Hopefully not. My puppy had a few scares from other dogs on his first few walks, like yours he was scared if other dogs barked at him. But he got more confident as soon as we were able to walk him off the lead and he had more doggy encounters. He seemed to get over his little scares very quickly.

@Canalboat hopefully she'll be fine, she might remember the spot where it happened. Brodie used to freak out at any barking, even way off in the distance, and want to turn around and go home, but he soon grew out of it.
Good luck with your walks 🙂

Martingale collar progress report...
I'm not sure I like it 🙁.
It doesn't bother Brodie at all, in fact he seems quite happy to be half throttled, it just makes him pant all the more.
I don't know whether or not to stick with it for another couple of walks in the hope that he cottons on, or go back to a normal collar.
I'm really not happy with inflicting discomfort on him.

I think I've tried everything, bought everything, done everything, and now it's just going to be time. It does worry me when you read how people are struggling years on though...

Apologies if you have already done this @BrodiePup but have you tried getting a 1 to 1 dog trainer to go on a walk with you and try to address the issues?

I think I may need one myself soon tbh.

It worries me how many stupid dog owners allow their dog owners to attack MY dog for minding his own business whilst they are on their phone ignoring their precious can't do fuck all wrong dogs 😡😡😡😒

@Twiglets1 Thanks for your suggestion, it is something I'm considering, but I'm not sure we would gain anything from it. It's also tricky finding a good trainer.

We took Brodie to gun dog training for pets with the people who own his sire. There was only 4 of us so we got plenty of one to one time. We were told flat out that he would never walk to heel or be happy on a lead, as he is from strong working lines...my heart sank to say the least. They were very matter of fact and tell it how it is people, and it looks like they were right.

I'm not expecting perfection, I'm not even bothered about heel, I just want a loose lead.

@CaptainBeanThief
What's happened? Is Milo ok?

@BrodiePup Definitely stick with your old collar for now. Maybe wait a few days and give the martingale another try or get your husband to walk Brodie on it and see how he feels about it. As I said before, my chap walks Brie on the martingale/half check but I don't have the knack of the tug/release action so I'm sticking with the Ezy Dog Double-Up collar with the harness as my back up/emergency grab handle kinda thing. If you feel the panting is worse then Brodie is better off on his existing collar.

It does irritate me that some people make it look so easy with the trot along and change direction thing while I'm being towed along the pavements by a baby polar bear with 4 wheel drive. I just have no idea how to establish loose lead walking when the creature is so pigheaded and ignores me. She's also now started a boot biting habit when we get near home and is continually tripping me up.

You are definitely not alone in your frustration and despair at feeling lack of control over the pulling.

Oh no @CaptainBeanThief Is Milo okay?

It doesn't just apply to gundogs either @BrodiePup - Brie is a livestock guarding breed from French bloodlines with working dogs. Stubborn as hell! Very different from showring specimens; taller, leggier, more agile and...dare I say it...more challenging to rear. We know we will never get unquestioning obedience or any reliable recall. So yup, totally understand the difference between your working boy and the average pet; definitely more work involved.

@Pyreneansylvie Thank you! That's helped me decide 🙂 I'm putting it away until my husband gets home. It's the ezy dog checkmate that I bought.

I so feel your pain, and I know I shouldn't but your posts make me smile. How much does Brie weigh? I can't imagine handling a big dog. Brodie is 12kg of pure muscle.

I now loathe all dogs and owners who trot along nicely without a care in the world 🤣.

I feel like it is time to introduce myself. The cutie in the picture will be coming home in 3 weeks, when she is 16 weeks old (she's coming from overseas and that's the minimum age). She's a Miniature American Shepherd, a breed I've been in love with for years and years. It's finally the right time! I can't wait to have her in my arms, especially once the entire transatlantic trip is over.

What a little sweetheart @BlueberryPup hope the flight is ok for her

Okay @BrodiePup Please don't laugh...
5 months old next Tuesday, she weighs 31kg 😱and is 24" at the shoulder.

It is insane. I have to laugh at myself when she's towing me along but I know it really doesn't give a good impression so I do need to work at it.

The recent tragic events involving large powerful dogs are never far from my mind these days. Fortunately we've lived here for 30 years and had 6 "big white bear dogs" so people know our dogs never roam loose and aren't aggressive. Nonetheless it's still a worry to us with regard to possible future legislation regarding muzzling of large breeds etc...

Oh yes, the perfect dogs with perfect owners infuriate me too!!!

@BlueberryPup What a gorgeous puppy! I love her colouring.

We were told flat out that he would never walk to heel or be happy on a lead, as he is from strong working lines

This just sounds like crap to me. All working dogs have to be able to walk to heel.

Happy on a lead is a bit subjective, spaniels are always going to prefer off lead freedom, but manageable loose lead walking should be possible.

@BlueberryPup What a striking puppy! I bet you can't wait to meet her.

@Pyreneansylvie OMG! What will she be at full size? You have my respect and admiration and put me to shame for whinging about my 12kg cocker spaniel 🤣. I do hope that any future legislation doesn't affect you. As usual it's the minority that spoils it for the majority. It sounds like you're going to have your work cut out for you with training too. Is Brie related to any of your past dogs.

Thanks @tizwozliz it's good to read that 😊

@BrodiePup
She'll probably be 55 to 60kg fully grown and 28"- 29", her mum is quite big for a female. She is distantly related to our previous five but a bit closer to one girl, Rose whose litter mate is Brie's great grandsire. My first two, family dogs in my teens/twenties were from British show bloodlines so not related to the other 6.

Honestly, in some ways the adult big dogs are easier to walk because there's more to grab hold of if you see what I mean. I'm positive that if I was asked to walk a toy breed I'd trip over and break my neck! Medium dogs like Spaniels and Labs are probably the perfect size though in truth - it's just my Dad chose us a Pyrenean when I was 13 and they stole my heart. At 60 I'm still hooked but their size can be a liability in some ways.

How about Brodie? I presume he's your first Working Cocker but have you had spaniels before?