Puppy Survival Thread for New and Old Pups - here comes winter 2024

[Bupster]

I thought I might as well be the one to start the new thread! Nothing to report but a sleepy puppy over here.

Thanks both! He's getting so big. I think he's going to be quite large for a cocker.

@brushingboots I forgot to say I bought that rechargable collar light you recommended from Pets at Home and it's fab. We also got a multicoloured one which reminds me of a disco light which isn't particularly useful but looks cute 😄

@YorkshireFelix oh brilliant, I'm glad you're getting on well with it! How big are his sire/dam, do you know? Pupsy's dam is apparently 16kg which seems amazing to me when baba js only 12kg and fully grown now.

@brushingboots I don't know actually, but I can ask! I met his Mum when we went to meet him for the first time, but I don't remember registering her size at all. What age are they usually when they stop growing? He's 11.5kg now and quite leggy. My MIL had a humongous cocker when I first met DH and I've never seen one as big as him before. He was a unit 🤣

@brushingboots not very easy to tell size from these pictures but here they both are 😃

I think the sire (black) looks pretty chunky but not the best photo from above!

@YorkshireFelix I want to say they're fully grown, size-wise, by a year – I reckon that's was true here, anyway. He does look tall!

Just checked my dog app and when she was five months she was 8.7kg and now she's 12-12.5kg. Gratuitous puppy portrait here from last October when she turned five months. They really do grow up so, so fast. I think you can see there even though she's sitting that she's a fair bit shorter than V so I'd say he's going to be quite a bit bigger in the end.

He's lovely @YorkshireFelix your photo reminds me I need to hunt out a good old wood that's near me my grandparents lived in the Chilterns and I miss the really old woods we used to walk in, although I do live near one that was in the doomsday but it's all pine trees I want one that looks like Robin Hood will jump out of a tree 🌲

We've had a good day no accidents until late afternoon we we had an excited dribbling wee and we missed a cue that he needed a poo but it does seem like we are getting there!

We live in a town but back onto a nature reserve which is lovely so done a circuit of that today I've been practicing with a long lead and keeping it loose and then calling him and giving treats each time he follows he actually did well and mostly came although was a bit distracted at times.

Photo of him in what my DH calls his council road worker jacket, not sure why as DH used to wear one so could have easily called it a factory safety officer jacket as well but he reckons he looks like he's going to sort out potholes for some reason 🤣

Photo didn't add first time for some reason!

Thank goodness for that so we only have a few more weeks of munching I hope
I bet he'll find some fox 🦊 poo to roll in to make up for it though.

@brushingboots aww she looks so much like Vinny apart from the white streak!

@Imtheghostofchristmaspast that's brilliant news re toilet. It's such a relief when they finally start to get it. I remember a few weeks ago being so stressed about it and now he's brilliant. The council worker jacket is hilarious 🤣 I love it!

@Imtheghostofchristmaspast once they get to the point off occasional accidents inside it’s not long until they progress to no accidents inside.

Sweet in his little council worker jacket 😂

Puppy has been progressively getting worse with barking for attention. All the guidance says ignore but it’s getting worse not better and it’s worse with me over DH 😖 any one else had this?

Have you read anything about extinction burst @JohnNutLips ?

"A dog extinction burst is a temporary increase in an unwanted behavior when you stop reinforcing it. It's a sign that your training is working, and your dog is trying new tactics to get your attention"

I hadn't heard of that before @DataPup, very interesting!

I can report that our short walk up to the shop this morning, and our long lunchtime walk were very successful!! Stopping each time he pulls has worked absolute wonders already and it's improved by about 80% I'd say. He's way more engaged with me too so I am thrilled

Can I ask for those who have experience with a slip lead - I know they are meant to wear it a certain way depending on if they are walking on the left or right. V will do longish stints on one side or the other, then sometimes keep switching from side to side constantly. We've just had another very glorious short walk with barely any pulling, and he's been super responsive to a gentle tug on the lead to correct him, so I'd love to try him on the slip lead again. But should I wait until I can get him to walk consistently on one side? I'm not sure if that will ever happen to be honest!

This is the issue I have @YorkshireFelix because when I'm pavement walking I like Brie to be on the inside, away from the road. Obviously this makes a slip collar difficult for everyday walking, although it's fine for training sessions. I suspect that yes, with a slip lead you do have to consistently walk with the dog on your left as you would in the showring.

I have to walk Roman on the left side every walk as he’s a guide dog in training and that’s how they want them trained.

It felt odd at first especially because I’m right handed. But I’ve actually got used to it now and as I consistently move him to the left side he happily walks that side now without trying to get to the right side. Unless he sees something edible out of the corner of his eye and then he lunges to try to get it.

A work in progress…

Hello hope it’s ok to join and the right place to post. We’d been doing well with the chocciemonster pup and starting to gradually improve her anxieties (rescue pup) but with the fireworks she seems to have become super scared, so much anxious barking and hyper-vigilant the last few days. Has anyone been there? Any advice? Thanks 😊

Thank you @DataPup that makes sense - he
doesn't do it all the time and it’s obviously not anxiety, just attention. I will keep persevering!

Thanks both @PyreneanAubrie @Twiglets1 for your advice. I think I might work more on correcting him to my left hand side before trying the slip lead. He's very trainable so I'm sure I can do it eventually!

Sorry I don't have any advice @chocciemonster39 but she is lovely! How old is she? Hopefully someone else will come along to help.

Thanks @YorkshireFelix she’s 6 months

Hi @chocciemonster39

No advice to offer really but just want to say that my 7 month old pup has struggled with the fireworks too. She is normally very calm but last night she was hyper anxious and panicky. She's been okay today but I think we'll need to consider getting something from the vet in time for New Year's Eve fireworks.

I hope your little one will settle down again now Bonfire Night is over.

Welcome @chocciemonster39 and chocciemonster pup, I'm sorry I don't have advice for this year but hopefully the fireworks will be ending soon.

Apparently Dogs Trust recommend sound therapy you can play for anxious dogs that gradually builds up in sound/intensity and they recommend you start getting your pup acclimatised to it a few weeks before fireworks start so it gradually builds up their tolerance.

www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/understanding-your-dog/sound-therapy-for-pets

So we've used the slip lead every day since I posted earlier this week and it's been a revelation so far! Lots of lovely loose lead walking. We are sticking to the left-hand side and simply stop for puppy to adjust her direction if she starts looping across us. Lots of HVT as rewards and watching video also helped:

Now we just need to work hard on stopping her thinking that every person and dog she comes across wants her to jump up to say hello! I think I'm going to have to start being blunt and make it clear we won't be stopping because she's in training.

@DowntonNabby ah that is brilliant! Well done. Maybe I should just go for it with the slip lead? We are also working hard on not reacting to other dogs/people we come across. I get him to sit and wait, or recall and walk on if he's off lead and there's enough space to pass with a bit of distance between us and the distraction. He's done some excellent examples of this today and then also some not so excellent examples so it's very much a work in progress 😂

Sometimes if he's off lead and I'm unsure if he will cooperate I put him back on, but other times I chance it as he needs to learn (and 90% of the time he does great). Unless the other dog is on lead then I always put him back on his.