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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Puppy survival thread! All welcome!

1000 replies

VanGoSunflowers · 30/08/2025 18:00

Running on from our last one…

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

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GoodBones85 · 15/10/2025 20:47

Hi all!

Sorry I’ve been AWOL for a few weeks, same as @Struckbylightning I have kept up with reading posts but haven’t got round to replying (even if I do so in my head 😂).

Ive had an awful few weeks at work which has left me unable to concentrate on much else. @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I saw your post about work in another thread and feel we must have similar jobs. Ones where the government respond to resource pressures with extra paperwork and processes…….leaving less time to actually work with the people we are meant to help 🤦‍♀️ anyway I digress……

W is now 8 months and honestly this last few weeks I don’t know if we are coming or going. One day he is following every single command and being a complete sweetie, and the next day (today) he’s trying to chase a squirrel into a busy road (on the lead, never in danger, but still threw me),barking at every dog we meet and following me round the house all day acting like I don’t feed him. It’s like a rollercoaster.

Can also relate to whoever shared the story about chasing their pup around the house with a packet of cream crackers. I always know I’m supposed to calmly ask him drop, and then offer him something more exciting in reward, but I always seem to do a lap of the house or garden before I remember that…….

For those of you with male pups/dogs, interested in your views on castration? I know we have a while to make decisions but interested in what others have done/plan to do?

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 16/10/2025 09:13

@GoodBones85 sounds like we might have the same job 🙈🙈, that sounds like a very good summary!

LandSharksAnonymous · 16/10/2025 14:29

@GoodBones85

Ones where the government respond to resource pressures with extra paperwork and processes…….leaving less time to actually work with the people we are meant to help 🤦‍♀️ anyway I digress……

You're not a civil servant are you...

Because that literally sounds like my entire week this week.

"Your budget next year will be -X% in most likelihood, please consider which resource you can cut. By the way...why haven't your team done all this work X needed you them do.'😁

On castration, I haven't snipped Twatdog and I won't. Mostly because I don't think he knows what to do with it anyway but also partly because I show him (and castration is slightly frowned on) and also because I worry about possible orthopedic issues. When I talk to buyers of puppies, I tell them what I do/have done, but ultimately it is their choice - and puppies personality plays a huge part.

If it makes you feel better about W, it does get better! Twatdog went through this stage (for about two years tbh). Has W started doing the 'sit in front of random strangers and pretend mummy hates him' thing yet? I feel like every dog goes through that period. Mine all do that (even the older ones) and it is so beyond mortifying. Even the puppy does it! 😫They just find a target on a walk and march up to them, sit in front of them, and demand to be patted.

Aubrielle · 16/10/2025 14:34

@LandSharksAnonymous @GoodBones85
FWIW, have had 4 male Pyreneans, none of them castrated. Next boy won't be either. We don't feel it caused any health or behavioural issues at all leaving them entire.

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 16/10/2025 16:58

@LandSharksAnonymous I most certainly am 😂😂 although we’re kind of loosely civil service in the we’re a relatively new addition!

GoodBones85 · 16/10/2025 18:31

@LandSharksAnonymous I am indeed also a civil servant….. and your comment made me 😂 I feel your pain!

based on the ‘relatively new addition’ comment I’m almost certain @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding that we do the same job!! Do you and your colleagues speak almost entirely in three letter acronyms??

Anyway back to the doghouse……thanks for everyone’s comments in castration. Interesting as I was really expecting everyone to say get him done. I have time to decide yet but really unsure what to do for the best.

Took W for a dog-friendly pub lunch today with my mum and he was beautifully behaved, sat calmly while we ate and didn’t bark at anyone inside, so today was a good day!!! ❤️

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 16/10/2025 18:39

@GoodBones85 yes we do, definitely the same job 😂.

We had Billy castrated mostly because there’s an old farmer guy in our village who lets his collie out on her own while she’s in heat 🙈. Didn’t want any little labracollies and he’d run off or pull my arm off trying to get to her!

Lavenderdog · 16/10/2025 18:44

Those of you who have not castrated dogs, please can I have tips on managing them with an in season bitch?

Older dog, 8 years old, was a rescue and very anxious so vet advised against castration. He is on Reconcile now which has had a massive impact and enabled me to build his confidence.

Pup is 6 months now and will have two seasons before neutering.

Did wonder whether male dog should have the castration injection, but vet says we may lose the progress he has made, so best to just manage him through the two seasons.

Any thoughts? No easy options in terms of sending one somewhere else!

Aubrielle · 16/10/2025 19:16

Castration injection might stop your boy from physically doing the deed, but it may not stop him lusting after her. @Lavenderdog
He might not be too bad or he could be a nightmare - it varies considerably from one dog to another and there is no way of knowing until you try it.
Some bitches will warn the dog away and not stand any messing, but others will almost invite advances by sidling up with their tail held to one side, but again, there is no way of knowing how your girl will be.

We had two bitches with an older boy, then the same two bitches a few years later lived with a younger male. I will admit that we mostly packed one of them off on holiday to my parents, but on a few occasions we toughed it out. I have to be honest and say it's really not easy without back up, but it can be done.

I don't know if you crate or not, but we don't so I'll advise on that basis.
You obviously need to keep them in separate rooms for the duration, but the boy might still howl and bark. Our older boy did get vocal but the younger one didn't. We had the tallest, most robust dog gates we could find, and also kept doors closed as much as possible. Bear in mind that mine are giants, which has advantages and disadvantages; less chance of one sneaking through or escaping unnoticed, but they're a lot louder when they kick off with howling and yowling.

You could try putting pants on your girl so the scent wont transfer around the house quite so much. Obviously it won't fully prevent a mating if they were left together, but it can help.

I'd also recommend taping notes onto the doors to remind family members to close the door/gate to keep the dogs apart. It's very easy to forget!

It's many years since we went through this and I suspect @LandSharksAnonymous will offer you much better advice but if I remember anything else that could be helpful I'll let you know.

Lavenderdog · 19/10/2025 07:00

Thank you @Aubrielle , that is really helpful. Both dogs are crate trained and I live alone so hopefully I can manage on that basis.

Struckbylightning · 19/10/2025 18:14

Well I had the craziest walk with Merry this weekend. I decided to go to one of my favourite places, where I used to go with our previous dog. It’s a beautiful huge forest area with multiple walks (and a nice cafe!). Started off nicely, it felt good to be in the woods. The deeper we got, the madder the puppy went. It’s like she totally lost her mind. She was ranging about the woodland, charging through the undergrowth, flinging herself down slopes and went completely deaf! Almost all recall gone. She reminded me a bit of a spaniel - you know when they are working, nose down, racing about after a scent. Kind of like that. She did keep sort of checking in with me, but not getting close enough for me to catch her, was not interested in treats at all. At one point she was out of sight and I couldn’t even hear her rampaging about. Thought I might never see her again!! I am guessing that she could smell deer, and maybe other new scents..? Obviously won’t risk that again any time soon, and I came home and set DH the job of researching trackers. (I think Facebook knows more about my life than me, because since we got Merry it has been bombarding me with ads for gps trackers. I should have paid more attention!)

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 19/10/2025 22:12

@Struckbylightning I’d be terrified, it’s always dog walkers that find the bodies 😮.

Rory has been to the beach again which seems to be our Sunday tradition and he now loves the water. He got extra-super-mega zoomies 🤣.

Aubrielle · 20/10/2025 13:41

Lavenderdog · 19/10/2025 07:00

Thank you @Aubrielle , that is really helpful. Both dogs are crate trained and I live alone so hopefully I can manage on that basis.

That should definitely make it easier, they can take turns to be crated/free. I'd say your biggest worry will be the potential for him barking and howling, but hopefully that phase won't last very long. I'm sure you'll manage fine x

SpanielsGalore · 20/10/2025 14:21

@Lavenderdog I have heard of dogs mating through crate bars, so you might want to do a belt and braces approach. Play pen around the crate. Or one dog crated and a stair gate blocking entry to the room. Really depends on the dogs, so I guess you see how it goes and what measures you need to take.

Aubrielle · 20/10/2025 14:26

SpanielsGalore · 20/10/2025 14:21

@Lavenderdog I have heard of dogs mating through crate bars, so you might want to do a belt and braces approach. Play pen around the crate. Or one dog crated and a stair gate blocking entry to the room. Really depends on the dogs, so I guess you see how it goes and what measures you need to take.

Good point. I was working on the assumption that it would be crates in different rooms, but that is a very valid comment. I'd still be inclined to put a dog gate up, as you say.

Aubrielle · 20/10/2025 17:31

I don't think @VanGoSunflowers has been around much lately but just posting a quick update on the beef food in case she or anyone else is interested. We've concluded that it doesn't suit Brie and we won't be re-ordering. It's making her poo smell awful so we think we're going to stick with lamb, which all our dogs have done well on.

VanGoSunflowers · 21/10/2025 17:19

Hi all
@Aubrielle thank you for the update on the food, sorry to hear it didn’t suit Brie. Lamb definitely seems the way to go!

Sorry I’ve been quiet, work has been manic and it fries my brain when it’s like that! On a positive note, and because of the book conversation earlier on in the thread, I decided to give YA Fantasy a go and read Six of Crows! Finished it in 5 days, it’s definitely my new fave genre! So thank you @Aubrielle

@Struckbylightning that sounds like a scary walk! I guess you don’t know how they will behave until you get them in to an environment like that. Pablo kind of goes crazy on that type of walk but I must admit he’s never gone out of my sight and I don’t know what I would do if he did! I was reading a thread earlier about a dog’s recall disappearing around adolescence and I must admit it has panicked me a bit!

On a positive note, lead walking is going very well. We had a lovely walk this afternoon and my arm isn’t as sore! Doubling down on the training at the moment in the hope it’ll cushion the blow when full adolesence kicks in but I’m prepared for it to be difficult! Expect the worst and hope for the best I guess. I think I have discovered that P is sensitive to fish, tried him on some Millie’s Wolfheart fish training treats and he had a bad belly after that.

I hope everyone else is doing well!

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Houndymumma · 21/10/2025 17:30

Sorry I’ve been missing in action for a while, I tend to have breaks from social media/MN and been reading a book. Does my brain good to have a break from all the gadgets 😃

We’re doing well but I’m not looking forward to my girl having her first season. My previous girl came to me via rescue aged 2 so was already fixed. My vet says ideally don’t neuter until 18 months old, so guessing 2 or even 3 seasons may happen? It’ll be my first time doing this so any advice greatly received. Other than that, we’re doing well. Zoomies/Witching hour getting less manic but we are in the middle of teething. My freezer is full of frozen tea towels which are greatly appreciated by the pup.

Houndymumma · 21/10/2025 17:35

Struckbylightning · 19/10/2025 18:14

Well I had the craziest walk with Merry this weekend. I decided to go to one of my favourite places, where I used to go with our previous dog. It’s a beautiful huge forest area with multiple walks (and a nice cafe!). Started off nicely, it felt good to be in the woods. The deeper we got, the madder the puppy went. It’s like she totally lost her mind. She was ranging about the woodland, charging through the undergrowth, flinging herself down slopes and went completely deaf! Almost all recall gone. She reminded me a bit of a spaniel - you know when they are working, nose down, racing about after a scent. Kind of like that. She did keep sort of checking in with me, but not getting close enough for me to catch her, was not interested in treats at all. At one point she was out of sight and I couldn’t even hear her rampaging about. Thought I might never see her again!! I am guessing that she could smell deer, and maybe other new scents..? Obviously won’t risk that again any time soon, and I came home and set DH the job of researching trackers. (I think Facebook knows more about my life than me, because since we got Merry it has been bombarding me with ads for gps trackers. I should have paid more attention!)

That sounds like a stressful walk!! My friend got a tracker but said by the time she got to where the dog was, he’d legged it to the other side of the woods. She said she spent an hour following the little tracker dot on the app! 😂 he is a quick speedy little devil though.

LandSharksAnonymous · 21/10/2025 17:40

I have also been quiet (on this thread) because all my time is being taken up with Twatdog who doesn't fit in the puppy bracket anymore!

@Struckbylightning lots of people seem to recommend Tractive - although I think it's quite expensive!

@VanGoSunflowers you cannot just reappear after days (or weeks!? Feels like weeks) of silence and not provide a Pablo photo. So rude! 😂

@Houndymumma for seasons, just being mindful of personality changes (mine get very clingy and also a bit short tempered) and thinking of it slightly like female periods tbh. Also they may lick a lot and some people invest in body suits due to blood drips (I'm of the school of, no suits but they instead aren't allowed or furniture and have to stay in a dog bed - mine get too hot with suits on).

On Pupdates my end: Eris is still a star. She no longer sucks her brother's willy. But she has displayed critical thinking skills (working out that her great-grandmother couldn't push her away if she lay on the carpet to snuggle her instead of laying on the wooden floor) that make me worry she may be smarter than me - which isn't hard.

Houndymumma · 21/10/2025 17:58

Thanks @LandSharksAnonymous I’m guessing it could be from aged 6 months onwards. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it.

VanGoSunflowers · 21/10/2025 18:34

@LandSharksAnonymous i do apologise, how rude of me 😂

Puppy survival thread! All welcome!
Puppy survival thread! All welcome!
OP posts:
Aubrielle · 21/10/2025 18:43

Oh yay to another YA fantasy reader @VanGoSunflowers , it's very easy to get hooked.
Fish disagrees with Brie, and Algy didn't get along with it either, even salmon oil is a no, so Pablo is not alone in that.
It's great to hear that the lead walking is going well.

No bodysuits or knickers for our girls either @LandSharksAnonymous , for obvious reasons 🙄

Not sure what the average would be for Bassets @Houndymumma but Brie was a late starter, she was almost a year old when her first season started. We probably won't spay until after the third one - if at all. It might depend whether we get a boy.

Houndymumma · 21/10/2025 19:06

@Aubrielle well that wouldn’t be so bad if she was nearly a year, I’ll ask a few Basset friends what age theirs started.

I missed the earlier posts regarding books, I’ll catch up later. I’ve just spent the last few weeks reading the Deborah Harkness trilogy and digitally detoxing. Been meaning to do it since watching the TV adaptation. Books are always better than TV generally. Good to relax occasionally between periods of absolute puppy madness and it is the season for witches/vampires after all.

Aubrielle · 21/10/2025 19:41

Yes, do ask around in your breed @Houndymumma but I'd think your girl is a bit young to start yet, I'd have thought 9 or 10 months might be closer to the average.

Ah, that's interesting. We read the All Souls books as they came out and only watched the adaptation on dvd recently. I was rather disappointed that they didn't manage to find a Komondor to appear in the series because Lobero was such a perfect companion to Jack. It is indeed the perfect time of year for reading that series of books.

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