Puppy Survival Thread Autumn 2025 - all welcome!

[VanGoSunflowers]

Hello everyone! Won’t tag you all as you know everyone is welcome 😊

Wow @VanGoSunflowers that's brilliant. Pablo did so well - so did you.

A happy day 😀

Thanks @Twiglets1 ❤️ as I went to use the whistle I thought to myself “this isn’t going to work, I’m going to have to go over and get him and apologise and look like I have no idea what I am doing” and then watching him run back to me, with an audience as well, was the greatest feeling! Sorry it probably seems like such a small thing but I’m so pleased!

@VanGoSunflowers It's not a small thing at all. It's a massive thing that shows that all of your hard work and training is paying off. And that Pablo is a good boy. 😇 💖

Thank you so much @SpanielsGalore I know he may regress at some point, but it’s seeing that he is capable of controlling himself that has lifted my spirits! Needed it today as I think I have a mild dose of that flu that’s doing the rounds so this has perked me up no end!

Agreeing with Spaniels, it's not a small thing at all @VanGoSunflowers , your progress is amazing. You're more than justified in being proud of your boy and yourself.
Don't overdo things if you're feeling fluey. Hope you feel better soon x

Thank you @CoubousAndTourmaIet I really appreciate the encouragement from you all!
Ive taken some painkillers and am now settled under my heated blanket, pupper snoozing on my lap and watching some TV 😎

Sounds lovely and just what the doctor ordered 😀

That’s brilliant @VanGoSunflowers, no wonder you were proud. Be proud of him and yourself- you have obviously taught him well. (Please send tips for success!). Hope you are feeling better

@Struckbylightning thank you!
My main tip is cheese 😂 hadn’t used it for training for a long time!
Other than that I have no idea! I was saying on the other thread that I feel like it’s some sort of witchcraft 😂
I am starting to wonder if ‘releasing’ him from a command has made a difference too. I posted about that on the adolescent thread but it might just be a coincidence? Kind of like saying ‘you can do what you want eventually but please wait for me to tell you that you can’ 🤷‍♀️
I don’t know how dog’s brains work though so I maybe overthinking that one

@VanGoSunflowers I think there is something to that. Years ago, I was on a cocker spaniel forum. A dog trainer said his dogs reward for recall was being allowed to go play again. I couldn't understand why/how it worked. If they didn't recall, they could carry on playing anyway. 🤷‍♀️

I was told with my puppy that you should recall them several times during a walk & when they come back give them treats/praise/games.

So that they don't associate you calling them back with just being put back on a lead and the fun ending.

I don’t understand the logic either @SpanielsGalore - I guess with mine it’s the fact that he gets food and gets to go off again so it’s a win/win 🤷‍♀️ but I guess also being a lab and being really biddable maybe?

@Twiglets1 I have always done that with mine actually, recalled him several times on every walk even when I don’t need to because I can see him. It was harder when he was really little as he was practically tripping me up 😂 so I used to put him in a sit and walk away from him and then recall him.

In all honesty though, Pablo loves his walks but he’s never gotten really excited when I get his lead and harness out. He just accepts it and comes with me non-chalantly 😂

Yes. That's what I've always done. I also reward voluntary 'check ins' to encourage them to come back of their own accord.

@SpanielsGalore do you ever forget that there’s other people about and merrily vocally praise them
in ear shot of puzzled on lookers? Asking for a friend

Yup. Whilst strutting along looking like a cheap dry robe wanker. 😂

@VanGoSunflowers Conversely I have also shouted "Come here you little bastards!" in front of amused onlookers. (See recent heron walk on the adult thread.)

@SpanielsGalore yep, I think I have done both of those too 😂

I never stop with the "good girl" to Brie and get some shocked looks because as everyone knows, all really massive dogs are male 😉

I was reprimanded by the trainer for "rabbiting too much" because he said I was confusing her, so I dumped him and carried on giving my pup a running commentary. I talk to her all the time, I'm not fussed what people think because for me it works. I don't use food rewards for training because she only eats at home, so every command needs to be reinforced with praise.

But, as with kids, the more you talk to your pup, the more they learn, so carry on with the praise and the talk.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet I talk to Pablo all the time! I’m on my own most of the time so of course I prattle away to him 😂 sometimes I dance and sing for him too

I do comedy voices/impressions for Brie and she gives me funny looks. If I do a high pitched "squeaky scouse" accent, she thinks it's hysterically funny and starts jumping on me 😂

Sometimes it freaks me out slightly how much they understand. Yesterday morning, I was sitting on the sofa with my mug of tea, and said to my partner, in a normal conversational way "I'll go and get my jeans on in a minute and we can get out". I made no move to get up but Brie jumped up, looked right at me and went "ooo" then trotted into the kitchen. The experts would say she recognised the word "out" but we can say that word in a different context and she won't move. They'd say she read my body language, but I hadn't moved a muscle, was just sitting cradling my mug of tea and having a quiet conversation with my chap. But somehow, she knew what I'd said related to a walk.

Even after 48 years with these dogs they still have the capacity to amaze me with their understanding. And this is the breed that's ranked 64 on the intelligence list 😏 So I'll keep having very human conversations with her and teaching her stuff, regardless of what the training experts might say 😁

I think they understand more than most people give them credit for.

With our first Lab if we used to say "excuse me" he moved out of the way.

I always chat away to my dogs and it's nice because often they do seem to understand and do things like look out of the window if I tell them someone's coming to visit. Maybe they partly pick up on body language but I'm convinced they also pick up more words if you talk to them regularly.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet for me, Midge can sense really subtle changes in my body language- ones that I don’t realise I’m making. Either that or he’s telepathic. I can get up from the settee multiple times a day and M won’t blink an eye; sometimes he’ll potter around with me or carry on sleeping, but as soon as I get up with the intention of taking him out he hides under the table. If I get up to go out of the house (and don’t plan to take him) he carries on sleeping. How does he know? It’s not the same time every day.
He hides under the table as he has taught us to give him a treat if he does. He’s very cunning!

I chat to him like I did when the children were small, with a running commentary on the weather, other people’s front gardens, etc. I’m sure he’s taking it all in!

They are taking it all in - even if not understanding the actual words sometimes they are taking in all the little visual clues and also taking in that they are part of the pack which is why we are communicating with them in our own funny ways.

I say please and thank you - for example "Brie, could I have you in please?" whereas my partner will just say "in", as a dog trainer would. Rather than saying "up" if she's lying in front of the fridge I'd say "Brie, can I move you please? I need to get the milk". I suppose some would accuse me of anthropomorphism but it isn't really. I don't think I treat her as a human but it's difficult to think of her as a dog. I'm sure people must find it odd, but I've grown up with this breed since I was 13 - and I was a young, childlike 13 in many ways - so it's just the way I've always been with them. They're my creatures.

Sometimes, I agree that it's body language they react to. If she sees me pick up a Seasalt handyband to put on my head, she knows it's walk time. Yesterday I was 100% convinced that I had given no sign, yet to her, there was obviously something that gave her a clue about a morning walk. We vary our times greatly for walks, depending on weather and work schedule, so it's not that. I suppose it's all just part of the bond we have with our own dog. I love that.

I definitely think they take in more than they are given credit for. Mine moves out of my way now when I say “can you please move, pupper”

They get to know us so well don’t they? That’s what makes them such amazing animals to have around. They learn all the little quirks and vocal intonations far more than most other humans do. I’ve had Pablo being more affectionate towards me the past few days (lying across my lap) while I have been ill. Likewise, he gives me this ‘look’ if I say his name in a “you’re being naughty” way if he has something I don’t want him to have. It’s actually adorable what they seem to pick up on!