Adolescent Dog Survival...Sharing Tips & Tails

[BrodiePup]

Moving on from the puppy survival thread, this is for anyone with a hormonal teenager 🤪

Brodie is just over 7 months now, and is a fun loving pup who is (mostly) a pleasure to be around. My main issue is still walking him which can either be almost a pleasure, or like having a Tasmanian Devil doing breast stroke and bunny hopping down the road 😡. There seems to be no reason for which dog gets attached to the end of the lead, but at least it shows he can do it if he's in the mood!

We've also had our first proper tummy upset this week 🤢 no doubt due to some rubbish he picked up and swallowed before I spotted it. Thankfully it seems to have passed now.

Going to join you guys. I posted my own thread. Can see how supportive you are here.

@Helpplease88 Welcome!

I completely hear you about spending the day on high alert and feeling like you need to react. Tell us about him and what he gets up to/what your days look like together and if we can help we will x

Before moving to Canada I worked in the city with the steep hill. I have also worked in Gainsborough. I know Twigmoor well.

We lived in North Lincs, not too far from Guy Martin’s pub.

Ausshole rapidly heading towards this thread. Five months old next week.

@MooseBeTimeForSnow he is genuinely one of the most beautiful dogs I've ever seen! No offence to mine 😂

@MooseBeTimeForSnow Wow, what a gorgeous boy! I agree with @YorkshireFelix, what a stunner. That is a wonderful sploot he's showing off.

I genuinely didn't expect anyone to recognise Twigmoor or the wider north/North Lincs region! The rhododendrons at Twigmoor are amazing. If it wasn't such a hike up the A15 we'd go there more often.

@MooseBeTimeForSnow

😍Wow! 😍Breathtaking.

@Cavalierchaos
Hey 👋
I've just seen that you have started your own thread.
Do not listen to them over there, mumset can be pretty harsh when it's not specific to a support thread.
He's 9 months now, he's becoming a teenager and he's going to become hard work.
I don't think you are doing anything wrong with your routine and he seems absolutely well loved and cared for.
I have suffered massively with my mental health. Attempted suicide twice been in a coma twice for 2 months each time and I totally understand how it feels to have mental health issues with a young dog.
I do agree with brain training exercises.
Does he know the "go find command"
Spaniels love to use their noses

Thanks all <blushes>

@brushingboots i used to commute the A15 on the daily. I would switch to the A46 if I got bored or needed to call into the Market Rasen office.

My husband is a runner and had fun every year being a scent marker for the Brocklesby Hunt when they brought through the bloodhounds from Newark. Having witnessed many horses coming at me across a field at full tilt, I can understand how a cavalry charge might have felt to the enemy!

@Cavalierchaos @CaptainBeanThief

I've just replied there. I have severe mental health issues too. Anxiety/social anxiety/agoraphobia/panic disorder! When I'm without a dog I just don't leave the house at all. I'm filed with self-doubt and I've had my arse kicked on other MN threads and left twice. Don't go on AIBU.

Stick with us over here. We'll support you. I promise x

He loves to sploot for sure. We keep being told it is a sign of good hips. We joke that he likes to keep his balls cold. And he needs to enjoy that whilst he can as he’ll be losing them just before Christmas ..

@PyreneanAubrie
I have bipolar and BPD and anxiety I'm sure Milo has increased the levels of intensity for me 🤣👋
But yes,
@Cavalierchaos
We will support, you have had some snide comments over there, I had to come off because I already had a run in with someone that derailed our puppy thread once 😬 to be fair I did go full on attack mode

@Cavalierchaos Just wanted to echo the lovely @PyreneanAubrie and @CaptainBeanThief – you know you can always chat to us and we'll help. We're the Non-Judging Breakfast Club (bonus points if anyone gets that reference) x

@CaptainBeanThief I'm so sorry to read that – sending you lots of love from afar and I hope you also know that you can always chat to us here too <3 How's your lovely ratbag doing this week so far?

@MooseBeTimeForSnow Oh that is brilliant! What a super super fun thing. I have hunted with the Brocklesby and they have a lovely, lovely pack of hounds – one of the oldest if not the oldest in the country. Definitely quite a sight!

And I hope you're right about the sploot as my spaniel does it constantly! It does look very comfy to be fair.

@brushingboots
He's ok.
He's being very good and obedient ( never thought that would enter this thread) the baby gate is definitely the way to go ( if you haven't done that for your girl)
His recall is still rubbish for my husband.
To be fair Milo hasnt really done much "wrong" this week but he is still very much "puppy" in his head but dog in his body.
I had necrotising fascitis in my left leg right above my artery and he seems to have the right pinpoint of jumping on the spot to cause the maximum amount of pain possible. It really hurts me. I have hardly any feelings in that leg but it's still very sensitive of you know what I mean? He bites still, alot not nasitly but hey, mum lets play. Any tips on how to help with that as I've done all the usual stuff?
How is your girl? Wanna swap ? Make babies 🤣🤣

@CaptainBeanThief

Sorry you've been through so much physical and mental health stuff. You've had a bloody tough time!!!

Still don't believe you re. Milo though; he's your Emotional Support Dog (even if he is a bit bonkers 😆)😉

Awww thank you guys for the kind comments. I am so paranoid. I just wondered what the general consensus was but I guess Mumsnet isn't really reflective of the general population.

Sorry to be so negative all the time. The whining just gets in my head.

@MooseBeTimeForSnow he is gorgeous! beautiful colouring!!
I too suffer with anxiety and panic attacks which is mostly managed by medication.
@CaptainBeanThief max is still very bitey, in the same let's play way. I've started saying no biting and tucking my hands in where he can't get them. He has a little stop at me, banging his front paw down and barking then he generally stops and brings me a toy to tug with.

I was worried about you. Please don't get upset by the harsh replies on the other thread.

Sorry but I don't know what to suggest for the whining, it's understandable that it bothers you, but hopefully it's a puppy thing that he'll grow out of.

Aww you're so kind. Im not upset, I just want some answers really. I do think some people's dogs on my thread must have lives of luxury with 24/7 attention and walk!

Oh I know. Perfect dogs with perfect owners 🙄
One of which I know for a fact has had her rescue dog literally 10 minutes but is now apparently an expert in all matters canine 😏

@Cavalierchaos Honestly the whining just goes through you. Bill has days like that. I could cheerfully sell him for kebabs on those days.

The whining could be anything. Bill whines for chews, because he's bored, because he wants my complete attention, because I have the temerity to be brushing my teeth, etc etc. He's not actually a whiny dog but MY GOD when he starts...

I've found sometimes he's just hungry - we are struggling to get a stable feeding routine and food that he actually likes. I also think the little sod just gets bored with his grub and wants me to change things up. He paces when he wants my attention (or sometimes when he's really unsettled or sick). It's not that I'm not exercising or entertaining him enough; he's just six months old and a pain in the arse, because he's too young to self-regulate properly and his hormones have him bouncing off the walls, and I actually have a job and can't spend every second of every day entertaining the little bollox.

You're doing fine. You're a lovely dog owner, and he's a lucky pup. He just doesn't know it right now because he's a hormonal nightmare. Imagine him as an actual human teenager in a furry onesie and his whining is him saying "I hate you, I wish I was adopted" in the voice of Kevin the teenager - I find it helps a lot 😄

When Milo whines I put him in the hallway (behind the baby gate) and if he doesn't stop - I shut the door 2 and he stops,
Theres nothing wrong with him, he's just being an attention seeker and trying to get his own way.
Honestly guys with your little wingers ignore the little fuckers they like to push your buttons at this age Milo is 16 months and he still loves winding me up 😉

@Cavalierchaos

I just read your other thread. Honestly I was going to start one of my own yesterday because I was having a bad day and thinking it's all going to shit.

I think you're doing really well, it's REALLY hard work with a puppy and I think especially so when they approach adolescence.Honestly depression and anxiety are ever ready to remind us how 'crap' we are at everything we do.

I think it's important to take your 'wins' when they come, i.e. when you're sitting on the sofa together, or he's having a nap and snoring contendedly, having a fab sniffy walk, when someone at the pub wants to make a fuss of him because pup is sooo cute - whatever. That's a pup who's having a good life and the whining is probably how he's attempting to get more of the good stuff or maybe he needs down time and doesn't know how to settle himself yet maybe?

My little swine coming for cuddles as a particularly loud sounding set of fireworks scared him.
Mind the mess in the background
I live in a shit hole
I just wanted to show off my beauty 😍

Oh and I've just had a Mud Mummy delivered to wash his paws off after a walk so I don't have to keep putting him into an inch of bath water. Haven't used it yet but that's my solution for the muddy paws and occasional wee'd on belly hair.