Puppy survival thread! All welcome!

[VanGoSunflowers]

Running on from our last one…

I won’t tag people because I will forget someone and then feel awful 😂

I can just about cope with all this talk about leaving nuts out of cake but the coffee hating?! Come on! That’s beyond the pale 😂😂😂

Big pup got a rabbit ear from the tooth fairy for the first tooth we found. I don't think we found any of little pup's.

@SpanielsGalore that'll teach me for typing at pace and confusing your dogs! Sorry! Do the vets know what is wrong with P? 😔Or is it just one of those things where they are completely stumped? How do the other two take P being sedated? Whenever one of mine has had to be sedated the others are always extra clingy to them (except Clem, the misery).

To be honest, I am not sure I can get over the not liking nuts in cakes AND not liking coffee...this might be it for me. The tipping point 😂

I should have known it was the recent death in the US that was allowing people to really show themselves for what they are. Celebrating the death of someone, no matter whether you support/agree with their political beliefs, is just...yes, probably best I don't stray down that road! I do try and stay off the political threads - my job is too political as it is, the last thing I want to do is talk about it in my free time.

But I just ignore things online once they no longer makes me happy or I think my presence in it isn't helpful (the other thread, Twitter, my work's intranet...)! I guess after so long working in a politically adjacent job, I'm very good at just ignoring things once I've decided it's best for me or others! Like an ostrich burying it's head in the sand, only with a slightly smaller bum (I hope...although after all this cake, who knows?!).

Speaking of which, DMum does not come from the 'LandSharks' school of puppy rearing - she's just whatsapped me to tell me that Eris has had a ostrich trachea to 'keep her quiet and away from me'. Sigh. But I suppose when one is getting free doggy day care they can't really complain.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding absolutely nothing wrong with a doggy advent calendar, presents and Christmas dinner! I have a photo on one of the others threads of Satan dressed up as a reindeer. Satan also gets a seat at the table and her own plate of food. None of my dogs do, but DMum does treat Satan like her third (much more loved) daughter. Will you keep the tradition going with Rory?

I was so lucky for Twatdogs first Christmas as he slept from about 11am - 4pm. So he missed present opening and Christmas dinner which was great. Not sure what I'd have done if he was prancing around being annoying. Something tells me I won't have that same level of luck with Piranha features...

Sorry to hear about the unpleasantness elsewhere. I only do doghouse and occasionally gardening and DIY/property on MN. There’s some really crazy threads out there otherwise and too many aggressive people. That’s the reason I came off all social media a few years back. I’ve only got my FB account to use for the rescue I volunteer with. They organises everything through private FB groups, but I deleted all friends and don’t post except to volunteer. World is going mad at the moment so it’s nice to live in a bubble with just dog/puppy talk.

@VanGoSunflowers was it you who mentioned Xmas trees? I was thinking about this the other day, I may avoid, or perhaps do a tree without many decorations. This will be a watch and see decision nearer the time. I also have some small fairly light trees so could just have those up instead 🤔

My last two Bassets loved Xmas present time, they also loved birthdays. This was because we use to buy them a pork pie with a candle on for their birthday and sing happy birthday. They then associated anyone singing Happy birthday with Pork Pies. We affectionately call it the Pork Pie song here! 😂

God, I'm the worst furry dogmother, I'm afraid 😧 Mine have never had Christmas, Birthday, Easter or Tooth Fairy gifts 😭We're not really big on celebrations. They'd sometimes get a bit of roast veg with their dinner during Yule, but that's about it. They've all seemed pretty happy though.

We didn’t put the Christmas tree up last year (V was 5/6 months old) and got a really small tabletop one instead because I felt sad without a tree. I’m going to risk the big one this year as he’s getting slightly better with his kleptomaniac tendencies, and I am confident I can tell him to leave it enough times that he will get the message. He would have been a nightmare for it last year.

Funnily enough we were just browsing the pet Halloween stuff in TK Maxx and I said to dd that I’d buy it all if we were rich (or if he didn’t destroy everything!!). It’s more for her benefit than anyone else’s because she loves holidays and swoons over any dog related Halloween/Christmas/Easter thing so it’s very exciting for her after almost 10 years of mithering me for a dog.

@Aubrielle the birthday pork pie was started by DH, he loved doing it! Guessing he’ll do it with the new puppy.

We’re very low key at Xmas too and only have a small Yule dinner. DD and I are also veggies so no big traditional dinner with a crowd. We usually go for a lovely dog walk on the day itself and it was hard last year because we had no dog to come with us and it was close to the first anniversary of losing my last boy. We lost him just after Xmas 2023. DD likes to get the dogs a present, but it’s the unwrapping more than the gifts that the dogs loved. 😃

Yes this is what I’m leaning towards at the moment, no big tree. I have a couple of white fairy light trees from Dunelm that look like bare winter trees. Still big enough to hang a few decorations on but go up high on the side. To be honest, it might be quite nice to have a more simple display, plus having the tree with a playpen or dog guard around it will slightly kill the look!

@Houndymumma I deleted my FB a good while ago and then Instagram went afterwards. I rejoined the latter a short while ago and mainly only follow a few friends, a couple of ‘funny’ accounts and loads of dog related stuff! But the algorithms always try and push more controversial content, I try and report as not relevant to me so it doesn’t keep showing it to me.

I think I could get away with putting a tree in DS’ room (I’m sure he wouldn’t object!) and some other decorations high up elsewhere. I’ve started to let Pablo have free run of downstairs if I am only upstairs for say ten mins and he’s usually just chilling on the sofa when I come back down but wouldn’t want to leave him on his own in a room with a Christmas tree I don’t think!

@YorkshireFelix love that your DD gets in the holiday spirit! She is a girl after my own heart - I absolutely love Halloween and bonfire night and all that! Someone let off some fireworks around here the other evening and other than a small ‘woof’ Pablo didn’t really react to them luckily!

@LandSharksAnonymous including a pic of my coffee bean delivery just for you 😂

Just been out for a quick walk in the cul de sac behind our house. Trying to keep pup busy and distracted in the dreaded ‘puppy witching hour’. Pup usually goes down for a nap between 6.30-7pm so I can have my dinner in peace.

Oh wow there have been so many posts since I last logged on! I’ve just caught up while eating my dinner. This chat (and dogs themselves) are such a welcome respite from the shit going on in the world, and the horrible shit that then appears on the ‘tinterweb.

My pup has become a much more pleasant beast. The shark attacks have pretty much gone, as have the zoomies, mostly. I am enjoying walkies and play sessions, but she really is very full on! She seems to only have 2 speeds - 100 mph or zero.

I had an awful fright on Friday night, when she came in from the garden and was suddenly covered in itchy spots, and her eyes and face became all puffed up. Seems she had an allergic reaction to something. After speaking to the emergency vet I spent the next hour or so driving around town trying to find Pititon. Anyway, she was back to normal by bedtime, and I still don’t know what caused it. Maybe she ate a bee or wasp??

@VanGoSunflowers oh yes she LOVES it. She’s been planning her Halloween outfit since Easter 😂 V wasn’t bothered by fireworks last year, but we live in the land of year round fireworks (aka Bradford) and they have been really bothering him recently, so I am dreading as it gets closer to the actual date. It’s usually relentless every night from October onwards!

@Struckbylightning oh no, hope it wasn’t too bad. I’ve seen a few dopey wasps amongst the grass this last few days so maybe something like that. Lucky you on shark attacks decreasing and zoomies, how old is your pup now? Can’t wait until this teething business is over.

@SpanielsGalore sorry I missed your post about P earlier on in the thread. Poor her and poor you 😭 I hope the rest really helps and she doesn’t have to go through more investigation.

@Struckbylightning I don't suppose you want to do a dog swap? I'll take 100mph zoomies over piranha attacks any day 😁Piriton is a life-saver though - I always keep some in my car and in the house, just in case the dogs get into something!

@VanGoSunflowers Ohh that is a sexy looking coffee order! The signature blend is the one I've been eyeing up ever since you mentioned them, but I still need to get through my current lot of Union and Red Brick first.

@Aubrielle if it makes you feel less like a bd furry dogmother, I don't dress mine up either! It's just Satan who gets spoiled - I think it's a little dog thing. DMum definitely did not do it when she had Goldies!

Speaking of which, she practically lobbed Eris at me when I got back to the station earlier. If puppy hurling was an olympic sport, she'd definitely win the gold.

@Houndymumma how was witching hour for you in the end?

Loving the Christmas chat! We usually get a real tree but need to think how that might work with the needles…

Ive collected the medicine ahead of the examination on Thursday and we have Trazodone and Gabapentin. Has anyone else had this? Needs to be taken the night before in the morning.

@LandSharksAnonymous Better with getting out thanks. Just a shame witching hour happens as I’m desperate for a sit down and a cup of tea!

@Houndymummai meant to attach a photo. She looked a bit like a boxer dog!

Seems I spoke too soon, as ever! She’s really struggling to settle tonight, though she has only
done minor nips on Dh and ds and not me 🙃
I think it must be teething related as she is desperately gnawing on everything, including the coffee table and dining chairs. I’ve just given her a second cow ear. Feels a bit like lazy parenting!

@Aubrielle I think all of our differences in opinions come down to the needs of our chosen breeds. I wouldn't have listed size though. I have nothing against dogs of any size.

@brushingboots Thank you. 😊 Hope your book sales are going well. If you do come up to scream on a Scottish beach, wrap up warm. We seem to have skipped autumn and gone straight into winter.

@LandSharksAnonymous Everyone knows it's a grandparent's role to spoil their grandchildren. I hope the other dogs got a chew too.

Sorry for bringing the outside world into the puppy thread. I do feel better for having shared though. I usually stay away from the news as it's never good. And I have a son in the army, so I don't want to know about imminent wars. I'm standing next to Landsharks with my head buried in the sand.

Thank you all for your good wishes for P. It's the knee she has had two operations on. Last year I was told she had mild arthritis, so she is on permanent pain relief. She had slowed down on walks, but I thought she was being sensible compared to the nutter puppy. But since Saturday, she hasn't put her foot down properly and places her leg out to the side. It was a bit upsetting as the vet said her knee will be a life long issue and because she puts more weight on her left leg to compensate, that one will develop problems too. It took a year to recover from her original operation and nine months later, she is suffering again. 😞

@LandSharksAnonymous All of her sedations preceded these two dogs, so I don't know how they will react. She'll probably have to go to Edinburgh again, so she'll be recovered by the time we get home.

And I have just scrolled back through my phone photos. K was three months old last Christmas and I didn't bother with a tree. I did have one when P was 6 months old. I have a video of her stealing a bauble. 😂

I just meant the dog carrying thing @SpanielsGalore But you did have a point although I was snarky about it at the time. Sorry. I'm almost always defensive about their size, even when I don't need to be.

That is rough about P, it must be so difficult, more so in view of your location and the travel involved to get to a veterinary hospital. I think you said she doesn't travel well either. I really feel for you.

@Aubrielle Oh. I had forgotten that. Didn't it end with me leaving the ex to die in the woods, because I couldn't carry him back to the car? 😂 Still sounds like a good idea to me.
And yes. P is awful in the car since all the vet visits before. I'll have to ask for a mild sedative if we have to go to Edinburgh again.

@SpanielsGalore I get you, my brother is in the RAF and his aircraft were over Poland the other night, scary times but at least he’s safe on base. He used to be in the Army and that was scarier.

I hope P is ok, I missed what happened?

@SpanielsGalore just seen your update, poor thing, how old is she?

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I was alright until Trump got re-elected and started stirring things up in Ukraine. DS is infantry, so he'll be first in line. He's off to Estonia in the new year. I heard there was trouble in Poland a few days ago. I hope your brother stays safe.
P is 4 years old. She was diagnosed with luxating patellas when she was 2. Her right knee was really bad, so needed operating on. It took about a year for her to be fully recovered. I don't know if the cold weather has affected her or the longer walks we have been doing now K is older. Or if it's just one of those things.🤷‍♀️