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Puppy Survival Thread Autumn 2025 - all welcome!

904 replies

VanGoSunflowers · 10/11/2025 19:00

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

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VanGoSunflowers · 22/12/2025 12:13

He also loses his mind when any of us sneeze 😂 only if me or DS do it though. I can’t tell if he’s concerned that we have exploded or what but he always comes and jumps on us when we sneeze 😂

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CoubousAndTourmaIet · 22/12/2025 12:28

VanGoSunflowers · 22/12/2025 12:13

He also loses his mind when any of us sneeze 😂 only if me or DS do it though. I can’t tell if he’s concerned that we have exploded or what but he always comes and jumps on us when we sneeze 😂

Oh, that's funny!
Freija (our cat) chatters her teeth at us when we sneeze 😂 it feels as if we're getting a good telling off, so we have to apologise to her. She also chatters her teeth in much the same way if the wood on the fire crackles or pops. I presume it bothers her ears somehow.

Such quirky little habits they have, which is, I think, part of the joy of sharing our life with them.

I hope you feel better soon x

Struckbylightning · 22/12/2025 14:41

Oh I use cheese quite often, and sausage and other yummy things. It works a dream with training in the house, and waiting to cross roads. It doesn’t work for recall though! I have ditched the hated long line for some walks, because I found that if I take a toy with us, she focuses on that, she loves to chase, fetch, find. I’ve been trying to teach her some sheepdog commands like; lie down, come by, walk on, wait etc (I probably sound like a knob, but I really don’t care,) I feel like she’s exercising her brain as well as her body. However, as soon as she notices that it’s time to leave (maybe it’s my body language?) she starts to carry the toy/ ball further away from me and won’t let me close. Food has no draw whatsoever. So that’s the latest shithousery from Merry. Luckily my HRT must be kicking in because I’ve managed to not completely loose my shit Halo

In other Merry news, she has started to sleep on her own downstairs. I found it a bit weird at first, but I think it’s a good thing because she must be happy and confident to be by herself. I hope that’s it, anyway. She still has naps by my side in the day, which is a bit restrictive for me. And when she is awake, she still wants full-on attention and play.

I also found a weirdness about her loose lead walking, which I’ve been finding hard work so far. A couple of nights ago her harness was still sopping wet from the morning, so I just clipped the lead on her collar. She walked so nicely!! Is that odd? Maybe a fluke? Though I did the same last night. Maybe she just hates the harness?

Twiglets1 · 22/12/2025 14:49

@Struckbylightning sometimes a harness is useful to teach them to walk nicely but once they have got the hang of walking nicely they don't need the harness any more.

My last pup used to pull so I used a harness for a few months. After he was castrated I wanted to take him for a short walk so just clipped his lead onto the collar. To my surprise he walked along nicely with very little pulling.

Not saying they necessarily all do that, but it seems that some do.

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 22/12/2025 14:58

Brie will walk beautifully with loose lead on either harness or collar now @Twiglets1 My partner refuses to walk her on harness, he prefers a half check or martingale collar, but I need it there as a security blanket. She escaped the fixed collar twice during the summer, the second time it happened on the road and could have been disastrous. I also like to have it to hang onto because she weighs more than I do now. But I agree that once they properly get the hang of loose lead walking, it doesn't seem to matter if they are on a harness or just a neck collar.

Nella68 · 22/12/2025 15:37

@Struckbylightning harness and collar here for walking by me. The harness is for extra security as I’m paranoid about the collar failing. I hold the end that’s attached to the collar, so that’s where he’ll feel any pressure. I keep him in the harness for the car and also the long line.

With Merry sensing the end of play time, have you tried clipping her on and off the lead at random points? I’ll say grab as I touch the collar and treat, then clip on for a few metres before he’s released again. It’s helped with him not wanting to go back on the lead.

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 22/12/2025 16:36

Same then @Nella68 , harness for security in case collar fails. I also control with the collar end of the lead, but the other end of the lead is hooked onto the back of the harness not the front.

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 22/12/2025 17:35

Moving on.
Hope you all have a lovely Christmas.

Twiglets1 · 22/12/2025 17:37

Happy Christmas everyone.

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 22/12/2025 23:44

VanGoSunflowers · 22/12/2025 12:13

He also loses his mind when any of us sneeze 😂 only if me or DS do it though. I can’t tell if he’s concerned that we have exploded or what but he always comes and jumps on us when we sneeze 😂

OMG @VanGoSunflowers I think you have Billy reincarnated 😭. He jumped in us when we sneezed too, we had to say “I’m ok, I’m ok!”. They’re so similar.

On the subject of leads vs harness, I’m throwing a slip lead into the mix. Rory hated his puppy collar and has only worn a collar once in his life 🙈.

VanGoSunflowers · 24/12/2025 07:30

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding their little quirks are so funny aren’t they? Also - I thought of you on the winter solstice but forgot to post. Over halfway through now and the days will be betting longer before we know it!

Took Pablo for a 6 month health check the other day and he actually seemed nervous for the first time since I got him! Obviously rat gate has left a mark! It’s a weird one because the nervousness came out in being unable to keep still, if there weren’t other signs you could have assumed that he was just over excited! His tail was wagging but his bum was low and his ears were back bless him 😞

The vet also asked whether I was going to neuter him. I said I havent done any proper research yet but I am leaning towards leaving him be as long as he doesnt need to for medical or safety reasons. She seemed very keen and said that they recommended to do it when they hit 12 months

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Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 24/12/2025 07:52

@VanGoSunflowers I’d be suspicious of her intentions as they recommend at least 18 months for labs! Talking of which, I noticed the first spots of green willy goo when I was doing the big Christmas clean yesterday ready for PIL’s annual visit today 🤢 (🤢 is for the willy good not PIL!) so he is definitely entertaining adolescence. Rory will be neutered after 18 months like Billy as it does help with calmness, lack of willy goo and people round here seem to think it’s fine to walk their in heat females.

Just a random question, have you tried “falling” on the floor to see what Pablo does? Billy was a natural rescuer and would “save” us by pushing us back up. He used to love rescuing us off our paddleboards by using the ankle strap to toe us back to shore 💔🥰. Rory couldn’t give a crap 😂😂.

Thank yo for thinking of me, I actually do love Christmas so that carries me through to January but the worst time is January to April for me. I have had a change of medication though which seems to be helping.

VanGoSunflowers · 24/12/2025 08:08

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding would you say Rory is submissive around other dogs? Pablo definitely is bless him. No idea if castrating would
make that worse or not? I definitely understand the need to not have to put up with Willy goo 😂 does he hump much? I hope you don’t mind me asking but what were the main changes you noticed in Billy before/after?
To my knowledge, we haven’t been around a female in season. At least, I haven’t noticed Pablo acting strangely but as you know, we aren’t around other dogs all that much!

Haha I haven’t tried it, I will try it later and report back 😂 my prediction will be that he will jump all over me 😂

I’m glad you will enjoy the Christmas period! And that the medication appears to be helping. Fingers crossed for an easier time for you until spring ❤️

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Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 24/12/2025 08:27

@VanGoSunflowers absolutely not 😂😂 I thought he’d be submissive with being so gentle but he’s very 50/50. Billy was very submissive always and neutering made no difference. The only real difference was the lack of Willy goo and there were a few times that he went running off after females in heat 🙈 (in the middle of the day, on the most popular dog walking route in the village with their female dog off lead 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️). Billy never humped not once, I don’t think he actually knew what to do when he did get close to a female 😂, Rory humps his bed while I pole dance, I’m not sure how appropriate that is but I leave him to it as otherwise he lies directly under my pole 😂😂.

Haha let me know what Pablo does!

Twiglets1 · 24/12/2025 12:24

Eugh that willy goo isn't great @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding my friend took her adolescent Lab to the vet thinking he had a willy infection and got the reaction, "er... it's normal" ... bit embarrassing...

VanGoSunflowers · 25/12/2025 08:19

Good morning and merry Christmas to all. Hope you and your families (which include your dogs, of course!) have a wonderful day ❤️🎄

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Twiglets1 · 25/12/2025 08:37

Happy Christmas everyone!

My husband has agreed we can get a puppy in the summer so I will be tearing my hair out again & wondering what possessed me.

Can’t wait 😀

Nella68 · 25/12/2025 08:53

Happy Christmas!

@Twiglets1 very exciting! Will this be another guide dog puppy or one to keep?

Twiglets1 · 25/12/2025 09:24

Nella68 · 25/12/2025 08:53

Happy Christmas!

@Twiglets1 very exciting! Will this be another guide dog puppy or one to keep?

One to keep!

SpanielsGalore · 25/12/2025 09:29

@Twiglets1 Best Christmas present ever! 🎄🐕

VanGoSunflowers · 25/12/2025 09:44

@Twiglets1 that’s great news!! I’ve been considering starting research for my next pup. I know, mental!! But I want to be surrounded by dogs so badly 😍

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Twiglets1 · 25/12/2025 10:15

I know - they drive us mad when we have them but we miss them when we don’t 😀

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 25/12/2025 19:26

Happy Christmas everyone, Rory has had the best day ever opening presents, eating, running on the beach and a quick stop at the pub 🥰.

Puppy Survival Thread Autumn 2025 - all welcome!
Struckbylightning · 27/12/2025 17:35

Happy (belated) Christmas everyone! We have had a lovely one. Merry has coped very well with extra humans being around, in fact I think it helps. Helps me, anyway. My folks last saw her 3 weeks ago, and they say she is improving in leaps and bounds, so that’s a relief.

We did have a mince pie incident, but either she is lucky enough to be one of those dogs who don’t react to raisins, or she didn’t actually eat it…

Our old dog used to LOVE opening presents, but Merry didn’t get it at all. She just enjoyed eating the treats and playing with her new football.

Those of you who are planning on your next puppy are nutters, sorry. (I think I am still traumatised by my summer with the feral beastie..!)

Puppy Survival Thread Autumn 2025 - all welcome!
VanGoSunflowers · 27/12/2025 17:49

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding & @Struckbylightning so glad you both had a nice Christmas! And great news on Merry @Struckbylightning - I am definitely a nutter! Wouldn’t be getting another until Pabs is at least 2 but doesn’t hurt to start researching now and finding breeders and maybe getting on some lists if I do decide to go ahead!

We had a lovely walk this morning. It was so sunny and still and barely a soul around. I met a lady at the end who had a 6 month old female Lab and we got talking, she has exactly the same issues I have had with hers being so overly friendly and playful! So we swapped numbers and said it would be good to get them both out together to play but also to train them around each other. Controlled distractions!

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