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.

I'm the same as @Bupster . Brie is 8 months old and we never leave her. Our breed is noted for separation anxiety, although with LGD it manifests slightly differently and is linked to their need to protect. She is very independent minded and even when tiny she was okay about us not being in the room but now the guarding is properly kicking in she wants to watch over us more.
None of our dogs have ever really been left much, we do love spending time with them and it hasn't really felt like a problem to us.
We've never crated, they all been free-range pups but they don't go upstairs because of their size and weight.

In agreement with others; do whatever works for you and your puppy.

@ConsternationStation There are so many horror stories but don't let them put you off one bit! Honestly, my girl is a dream and the only significant issue I have had is getting past my puppy blues, which I would have had whatever her breed as she’s my first dog.

She’s fab, but I think that’s because I explicitly give her what she needs: hedge diving, flushing birds, picking up anything safe as a gift for me, retrieving dead birds from the garden/hedges, gundog work, interesting, varied walks etc. I also taught her to settle straight away so she’s not a nutcase at home. She might do some work next shooting season but maybe not as she’s not ready for what I’d want her to do, and that’s fine – she’s an extremely spoilt pet who has as close to a working life as she can without working. I think they do do better if they have a job, but that job can be tidying up after themselves in the house (with various gundog commands) or working with you on walks.

We talk about gundog training and general training a lot on the adolescent thread as there are a few spaniels on there; I won’t bore on further.

If you’re up for it, which it sounds like you are, she will be a wonderful, wonderful dog. It makes me sad when I meet spaniels that don’t get to experience ‘spanielling’ for whatever reason as watching them do what they’re bred for is the most happy-making thing in the world.

We could have cheerfully throttled Betty tonight 😂 she was SO overtired and bitey – it’s the first time she’s made DD cry! – so after a good half hour of putting up with her barking and running around like a loon we put her in her crate for an enforced nap where she proceeded to almost instantly pee. Our fault entirely as we should have taken her out before she went in (she’d been out half an hour earlier but she’d had zoomies since then so we should have known!). It’s the first day she’s been a really obnoxious, bitey wee puppy and it was tough going – but goodness, the difference in how I feel about it now compared to how I would have two weeks ago! The puppy blues are real and when they clear it’s transformative. Tonight she has hugely tested my patience but a) I can 100% see where we went wrong and caused the issues and b) I’ve still got ended the night loving her ridiculous wee Muppet face (seriously, she looks like a Fraggle – photo evidence attached) and being almost proud of her stubborn, determined self.

Definitely see the resemblance but one's much cuter and that is Betty.

@peachgreen Fabulous news! Not so much the would-be throttling (can absolutely relate) but your reaction to it – amazing. So glad to hear it!

You are real-time proof here for anyone lurking and worried that they won't get through the puppy blues that it does lift and that though pups continue to be a menace, we learn to deal with it better x

Excellent job. I'm always pleased to see these updates from you as it shows how much things have turned around in such a short space of time! And Betty is gorgeous, what a little poppet.

Bless your dd, how old is she? My dd would seek sanctuary from the biteyness right in the corner of our sofa as V couldn't jump up there for a good few weeks, then when we installed the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs she would sit behind the bars when he was being crazy. They have such an amazing bond now he's a bit older and it's lovely but there were points when she really didn't like him.

How are you getting on with walking her?

We don't have much to report now Vinny is 6 months. He is still a bit mouthy and chewing things which is annoying but the vet last week said he still has some last teeth to lose so I'm hoping that's why. Here he is cuddling his new soft lamb toy which dd chose for him. We probably should have saved it for Christmas but we just can't resist 🤣 He is so spoilt.

Also my new tiny Christmas tree in the background because puppy!!

@peachgreen our girl also made DS cry yesterday when she chomped down on his shin and wouldn't let go 🙈 it's madness how the can go from being fun, cute and cuddly one minute to a maniac biting and chewing everything in sight. This morning it was the Christmas tree that was getting attacked over and over, as well as me. Hoping the demon dog doesn't last too long!

Our pup reminds me of Sweep (of sooty fame)!

he’s been ok - still likes to poo under the xmas tree if we don’t catch him in time! Final jabs tomorrow

Aww he's just leaving you a nice festive gift 😂

Little horror (N) just hopped through the fence into the neighbour's garden during a particularly manic episode outside. Our fence has small gaps between the horizontal pieces of wood that I didn't think she could get through but was aware that it was a possibility. Fortunately I watch her like a hawk in the garden so I managed to catch her by her back legs, turn her with both hands jammed in this little gap and guide her back through. She's probably about a week away from being to big to even do that anymore! Might have to put her lead on her for the garden now which I suppose is just good practice for when we start walks in a couple of weeks.

Little rotter absolutely terrified me. Our last dog, a rescue JRT, was a runner so I have the fear. Even worse when N is just about 10 weeks and still has a long way to go with training.

Mine just tried barkour on the back of the sofa, fell off and nearly broke her bloody neck

now asleep with the most disgusting smelling fish flattie chew

Hi all, not read the thread yet but just wanted to ask if I could join?
10 week old mini dachshund and it's like having a newborn 🤣 I spend most of the day in the garden saying go pee but she's getting so much better at going outside

Welcome, @ew1990 ! My little monster is past the puppy stage now but God I remember spending half my summer carrying him up and down the stairs and out to the garden. There was one particularly memorable night when he'd dug out an enormous octopus I'd bought online and not realised the size of, and every time we walked through the dining room towards the back door in the middle of the night I'd step on at least one of the bastard squeakers in every bastard tentacle 😄

Come moan here, we're all either going through it or are only just out of it, and it's the most supportive place in the internet x

Ahh thank you, it's a slog but so worth it
We do lots of socialising on the school run in her puppy sling and she's so nosey I love it!

Hi @ew1990! We’re about four weeks (and several kilograms!) ahead of you! I think I cried pretty much every day of her tenth week so you’re doing better than I was already! This is our ratbag fluffball who has all the digging/burrowing/exploring instincts of her Kerry Blue Terrier side plus the long, matt-prone coat of her Shih Tzu side, and still a month to go before she can have her first proper groom 🙃

Haha that is not the photo I meant to post. She just looks like a black mop there. Although to be fair that’s accurate.

Omg, I had no idea this thread was here! We are 1 week into life with our puppy who is 90% delightful, 10% nippy devil! She’s 10 weeks, so hoping the nipping is something they grow out of reasonably soon 😬

Welcome @Ineedanewsofa ! Warning that the landshark phase can last till the puppy teeth fall out… frozen carrots, nylabones, and yak chews are your friends. I found a big empty cow’s hoof was great too as he could get the edges right in where his teefs were coming in and hurting. If I could remember he was in pain it made it easier to tolerate!

@ew1990 I have the exact same sling for my almost 10 week cocker! It's been so good on the school run, letting her see and hear all the traffic and people! She squeaks and whines once we get the DC because she wants to run after them!

Can they have these at 10 weeks?

Daisy just lay inside it the first week
Now she won't stay still in it 🤣

Hi, I’d love to join if that’s ok, have read whole thread lurking and it’s helped me so much 😂 We have a beautiful, 14 week old working cocker spaniel, Belle. Had her since 8 weeks and it’s been intense. Same as you @ConsternationStation we had researched the breed and actually looked after two WCS through Borrow my Doggy - but know I constantly freak out I’m not meeting her breed needs.

She’s still quite bitey, but we’re beginning to get better at recognising the tiredness signs and popping her in her pen to sleep. Can’t be left for more than a couple of minutes yet - but nights are pretty good could be because I’m still sleeping in the living room with her though 😂

I’ve had her out last couple of days at an enclosed dog field, working hard on recall to the whistle so I can build confidence for more off lead on country walks!

photo of her out yesterday!

@ComeTalkToMe aw, isn't she beautiful? I think that the fact we are aware of the breed's needs will actually go a long way to helping meet them. The puppy stage feels quite overwhelming because there is SO much that I want to teach her so that she's a well-rounded, obedient, sweet dog but it can feel like you're not making much progress. There's definitely been progress in the two weeks we've had N (she's 10 weeks old tomorrow) but there's not a lot of consistency yet! I can't wait to be able to take her out!

Welcome to all the new people & keep the puppy photos coming. My pup looks fully grown now, though he’s only 7 months (Lab cross).

Dare I say it… I miss the little puppy days!
(conveniently forgetting how stressful I found it at the time…)