Summer 25 pups

[Lavenderdog]

Any other new puppy owners around this summer? Have been looking back at some of the old puppy support threads and can see how helpful it was for those posters to share their experiences.

9 week old mini schnauzer here - so toilet training and avoiding those needle sharp teeth are the current main activities here!

(And being tolerant of her determination to rid my garden of lavender plants. Hence my user name 😂)

@FartyBumCheeks Hello. How exciting. What are you getting?
We shouldn't be here really, as my puppy was a Winter 24 one. But a few of us from the adolescent thread post on here too. I have a 10 month old working cocker. And a couple of adult spaniels too.

We’ve just been for our 4th walk, twice now Rolo has torn the skin of his paw ☹️ first the back then the front just now on his latest walk, slight bleed from it. Happily walking around, I think I’m more worried than he is. Anyone ever had it? I’m assuming his paws will get tougher as he grows? He’s only 14 weeks.

@SpanielsGalore that’s fab some of you from Winter 24 still post. I for one am more than happy to learn from your experience!
I’m getting a ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on 15th August

Other spaniel’s crossed my radar, but I’m too much of a fanny 😂

Thank you @LandSharksAnonymous ❤️
@Bupster your post made me smile, that’s excellent advice. Thank you. I will bookmark this page and re-read these pearls of wisdom when I am having a bad day!

Congratulations to you both @BarkItOff 😊

@scoobiedoozie if you need to talk any of it through or just have a wee rant then we are all ears! I’ve found it tough to juggle life with a puppy, especially as I’m doing it alone but I’m making it work. Or, more accurately, I’m neglecting things I should be such as work

Hi @FartyBumCheeks 👋 you must be so excited!!

Sorry @Megsro that hasn’t happened to us, but it sounds rough! Does he seem in pain at all?

@Megsro never happened to me! Their paws are sensitive though. Was he going on concrete before his walks (assuming that’s where you’ve been walking him)?

How far and how often are you walking him? The five minute rule is fairly flexible. But if you’re going far over that it could be another reason

yep he was going on part concrete outside, and then grass also. We’re just walking around our block so I’d say a 15 min walk perhaps. Is this too far? He’s also a dachshund for reference. The first time he cut them we were on a stoned gravel type of ground, so I put it down to that. But the recent cut is just from concrete. He does pull on the lead slightly also.

@Megsro we haven’t had this either with Rory but I’d say 15 mins in one go is probably too much for your little dachshund. Could you split his walk into 2 shorter ones. Also, I’d focus on getting him to walk nicely on his lead for now, even if you don’t get much further than your house.

Billy was always cutting his paws on one thing or another though l, usually rocks when swimming, and they did always heal very quickly. I always took him to the beach as the salt water healed them right up but if you don’t live near the sea perhaps bathing them with slightly salted water would help?

@Megsro oh that’s interesting! It probably is nothing. Usually any bleeding or stiffness (which I see more of) is down to be unused to walking on a particular surface or being walked too far! I’d just keep half an eye on it and if it’s still happening in a few weeks pop down to the vets just to be sure. More than likely though he’s just very sensitive 😊

15 minutes sounds about right to me! Assuming you’re not dragging him along at a running speed😃

Easier said than done, but try not to worry too much!

@Idratherbepaddleboarding I could try two shorter ones, and focus more on behaviour on the lead rather than the actual walking.

@LandSharksAnonymous lol! It’s more him walking me.. he gets very excited when we get outside so he pulls on the lead which makes me think he’s digging his paws harder on the ground to pull? Rather than to just calmly walk?

so my question now is, how do I make him walk gentle? I’ve tried to bring treats along but he’s so distracted by EVERYTHING he doesn’t care about treats when we’re out.

@Megsro how long has been been walking outside and are you doing the same route each time? Does he know ‘heel’?

With my lab pup (who I walk twice a day) the first walk of the day is the same route each time to an enclosed field nearby so he’s kind of become desensitised to that walk as he knows where we are going and he concentrates much better on nice lead walking. Once in the field (we usually have it to ourselves) I do a bit of training with him - recall, heel off-lead etc. in between him having a good sniff etc.

The second walk I tend to take him somewhere new or not often visited so he can experience all the new smells etc.

I started trying to teach lead walking when he was pre-jab around the garden and then progressed to outside once we were able to go. On his ‘familiar’ walk, I can usually get him to concentrate on me and walk to heel if I give him the command and show him the treat before he gets too excited by passers by or other dogs. I was worried I was making no progress but on yesterdays walk was able to get him to walk past several people and other dogs by catching him before he was too excited so it must be starting to click! That’s taken weeks of walking though!

So we’ve been walking outside for around 5 days now. We’ve been doing the same route around the block, we went to a park once but it was too stoney and that’s when the first cut paw happened ☹️

No he wouldn’t know ‘heel‘, we practiced walking on lead pre jab and he walked brilliant in the garden, took treats and praise. Got outside and he thought ‘wow this is new, let’s ignore everything I’ve learned’ so listens to zero commands, even with treats. He just wants to pull and run.

I suppose we’re still early days! I’m expecting a lot from him when it’s all so new

Got outside and he thought ‘wow this is new, let’s ignore everything I’ve learned’

That sounds familiar 😂
Weve been out walking now for about 6 weeks and Pablo still does this sometimes. He knows what he is supposed to do but sometimes is too excited by his environment to do it 🤦‍♀️ I’m just trying to be consistent with him, saying ‘no’ when he starts to pull and praising the hell out of him when he’s in correct position. It makes some walks challenging when you’re walking along constantly saying “no, yes that’s it good boy” over and over 😂 but I figure he will get it eventually and definitely wasn’t doing anything anywhere near heel walking when he’d only been out for a few days. I’m sure we will all get there 😊. I’m fortunate in that the majority of circumstances, food comes above everything else in his hierarchy 😂 I think he would even get rid of me for a piece of cheese.

10kgs of pup puts a bit of a strain on the arms so god only knows what it’ll be like when he gets bigger and heavier and teenagery!

In other news, I’ve noticed two of his baby teeth have come out!

Had a lovely walk this morning despite the bad weather! Went to our usual location and Pabs was on it with heel, recall and ‘left’

But my fave bit was when we walked out of the field and a man walked passed us - just minding his own business - and rather than lunge at him, Pablo looked up to me as if to say “what do I do now mom?” So I said ‘wait’ and he did! Such a subtle little thing - blink and you miss it, but I loved that he looked up at me for an instruction ❤️

@Megsro teaching loose lead walking is really hard. I do it by basically bending down alongside my puppies for a week or so on every walk, for the entire walk, and holding a treat really close to them. Gives me an awful back and only works as Goldies are so good motivated! But puppies do get so excited. It might sound counter-intuitive but perhaps try walking him when he’s already tired? He might engage a bit better then (as opposed to when he’s at full energy).

@VanGoSunflowers it’s so incredible when it pays off, isn’t it? That look they give you when they finally look to you to understand what it is that they should be doing…there’s just nothing like it. Have you saved any of his baby teeth? I have mine in a glass on a shelf in the kitchen (bit grim, I know).

We’re still trying to crack loose lead walking with SoupDog. It’s always better after she’s had a zoom about on her long lead or off lead. It’s going to take us months to get her to do it consistently I reckon. Off to get some primula cheese spread.

Oh god! Hope your arms can hold out to him as he gets older lol! Rolo is 3.5kg and thinks he’s a Rottweiler half the time! How cute about his teeth! Rolo lost one yesterday so obviously a trip to the pet shop for a new toy was needed 😂

@LandSharksAnonymousas I was reading your comment I was thinking your back must be in bits! I think that’s really good idea to take him out when he’s tired, might put it into action tonight when hubs is watching the dreaded football! I’ll keep you posted.

as always, thank you for the advice!

Update for walking when he was already tired. He literally wouldn’t move, ring door bell says we were away 3 minutes. He refused to walk.. straight back in the door and he hopped into bed. Saying it now, my 14 week puppy rules the roost

Having a bit of a puppy parenting crisis today. Need a bit of reassurance from those of you who have survived!

She’s nearly 4 months, manic biting is still really bad later in the day. Struggling to get her to sleep during the day, although she’s brilliant at night. She’s still in my bedroom at night .Think I might have to try getting her to sleep up there in the day time.

I have two older dogs who are not at all impressed with her and so they are separated with gates / puppy pen etc. (Did expect that!)
So house training is me taking her out regularly and I worry she won’t get in the habit of taking herself to the door.

On the positive side, she didn’t like the car at all at first and soiled the crate every time with anxiety . That has stopped now, and I was able to leave her alone in the car for a few minutes yesterday.

It’s also tricky leaving her, am building that up slowly, but it is very slow.

Having a bit of puppy regret at the moment. Am newly on my own, knew it would be hard, but there were good reasons why I got her now, with the two older dogs.

Kind words of encouragement please!

@Lavenderdogi didn’t want to read and not respond, however I am no use whatsoever as I get the majority of advice from the others here. I just hope it gets easier for you, it’s not easy, it makes you feel so defeated. What about puppy training? Some 1-1? The puppy regret sets in for everyone on those extra hard days. Hoping it gets better for you

@Lavenderdog we’re first time pup owners so I’m no help either but sending solidarity.

@LandSharksAnonymous it definitely pays off! Don’t get me wrong, I had nothing of the sort on our second walk of the day but at least I know he is capable of it 😂 but his little face looking up at me made me think he feels safe with me or something?
Havent kept his teeth but only because I didn’t find them, just noticed the gaps! They are the little ones on the bottom at the front. He’s definitely been a bit more bitey and even a bit more clingy so I do think his teeth are bothering him!

@Megsro I know! Maybe I will be hench by the time he actually walks on a loose lead consistently 😂

@Lavenderdog Im so sorry you’re having a tough time! I wish there was something useful I could do or say - hopefully the more experienced ones will come along with some tips but it sounds to me like you need a break. Is there anyone that wouldn’t mind sitting with her so you can get out? Even taking your other dogs for a really long walk and a sit outside a nice cafe may help if you’re in to that sort of thing?
I think feeling regret at some point during raising a puppy seems to be very normal. It’s not for the faint hearted but I’m sure you’ve got this! It’s even more difficult trying to do it alone.

If she’s not sleeping enough during the day, that might be one of the reasons she is so bitey? What’s the current set up, does she sleep in your bed or in her own space? Will she sleep if you’re not in the same room?

@Lavenderdog OK, first things first – deep breath! You’ve got this, it’s going to be OK. I was where you are about this time two years ago.

Don’t worry about the biting, it WILL end. They all do it and it is horrible – I think it was the thing I hated the most about having a puppy because she got totally manic and would attack me and I just didn’t know what to do, but it did end. What I learned is that if she’s biting you, she’s tired, especially if it's later in the day. Once she starts with the crazy eyes, she’s off to bed, and ideally before the crazy eyes start so you’ve pre-empted it. I taught a ‘go and lie down’ very early on to combat this manic biting nonsense because otherwise I was going to have a breakdown. When she started it, she got put in her bed and I’d walk away behind a gate/door. She would usually whine for a minute but then realise that being in bed was where she needed to be and she’d conk out.

Where she is sleeping (or not sleeping) during the day? I would be cautious of allowing her to sleep upstairs during the day if you don’t want that as your only option for life. Be careful of making a rod for your own back.

Remember the positives, as you’ve said – she’s now better in the car, which is excellent news!

I think this age is the peak regret moment, but push through – it will be worth it and you will get the dog you wanted. She’s in there somewhere.

Agree with @VanGoSunflowers – can you get just a bit of respite somehow? I was on my own Monday to Friday and made judicious use of friends with dogs in the village when I was just not coping. A break away from her made such a difference. I started leaving her quite early on for short periods because I had to do things outside the house without her. It depends dog to dog but for us there were no ill effects and she is a very settled, confident little dog now.