Puppies #2

[Elle Woods]

What have you guys found is best to teach you puppy?
So far I’ve taught:
- sit - which I’d say he does 99% of the time when asked
- down (lie) - not perfect on this but does know it I’d say
- touch - id say he is good at this but sometimes jumps with his feet rather than just doing it with his make so working on that

Not sure what to do next. Been trying focus as I’ve been reading the notes from the puppy classes we are booked to start soon. I’ve in a group chat on WhatsApp so can see the current sessions documents so been following them a bit. But I don’t want to do too much of them just incase I’m doing it incorrectly so I’d rather wait and see to make sure I’m correct.
Touch is from them and that’s going well so I might leave the rest like focus until the class.
But need something new as I can’t just keep doing sit/down/touch.
I’d like to do leave it/drop but that’s in puppy class. Also going to do a 1-to-1 session with a trainer as he has been being a bit naughty when I’m doing certain things so I want to get on top of that and train him out of it - just not sure how is best to do this so would rather get advice asap.

We found "leave it" really useful. I know you say it will be taught in class but there's no harm in getting yourself a head start!

My dog loves picking things up on walks, I don't mind him picking a stick up and carrying it, but it bothers me when he quickly nabs a bit of food off the pavement etc because of course I don't want him eating that so "leave it" is so handy on walks. It's also useful round the house because he's an absolute sock thief so leave it is handy when he spots me getting a pair out my drawer

I also find "wait" really useful. Especially on walks when coming to a junction etc, as soon as I say "wait" he will stop and stand still until I give him the "ok, go on" command to carry on walking. We also make him "wait" at the back door as I don't always want him just running out as soon as the door is opened, so we'll often make him sit and wait at the door until we have gone through it first

 

[Former_Antelopee]

That’s so cute What breed is he? My dog started a new walk with his walker this week and he’s the only male in the group. Apparently he was loving the attention from all the ladies!

He is a small cross breed only 1.8kg at the moment 14 weeks. aww he’ll have a lot of girlfriends what breed is he?

 

[Hamburglar]

BIB - this is exactly what put me off getting a 2nd dog! I was absolutely desperate for another but then I looked after a family members dog for the weekend and I could not believe how much dirt a 2nd dog brings in! My hoover and mop have never been so overworked

We were contemplating a second and then looked after a family members dog for a couple of weeks whilst they were away, about 2 days in we were like NOPE the 2 dogs together drove me crackers winding each other up, then there was double the poo to pick up

 

[Lady1980]

Do puppies kind of regress a bit when they are 1? It's ours 1st birthday today and the last couple of weeks I feel like he has become a bit naughtier, chewing stuff again, running off more on walks and he has just tried to rip up my rug Is this just a teenager phase?!

 

[Hamburglar]

I'll probably post this on the dog thread as well as I guess people on there might've been more likely to already have done it. Has anyone done the bronze Kennel club good citizen training? My puppy classes finish this week so trying to decide whether it's worth to do the bronze award.
I've signed up for recall classes because at the time there wasn't any bronze awards I could make it to due to work, but now they've released more dates which will perfectly line up with when I'd finish recall class.

I haven’t, but if it helps I wish I had

I’d really like to do some volunteering with my boy, he absolutely loves people so think he’d be a great therapy dog (old peoples home type thing) but you need to have bronze good citizen for the charity I looked at. I couldn’t find anywhere suitable locally to do it when I last looked and now I’ve got a lot going on personally so I can’t commit, but may look at it in future.

 

[Tide'sout]

How are you getting on?? My pup had 2 weeks of being an angel and now he has turned into a devil again I'm so worried I've done something wrong.

Also question for everyone didn't anyone else for enforced naps for their pip and when did they srop doing them?

Ha ha I think they go through phases like toddlers and small children. Doubt you've done anything wrong. It's all a learning curve for me I'm a complete puppy mum novice x


It appears my sweet little girl (Dachsund Cross, nearing 8 months) has started bleeding today. I'm not surprised as she hasn't been eating as well and become quite clingy over the past week and the vet estimated August, so have been on the look out. She seems to be keeping herself clean and being very licky. She is drinking well, which is good. If anyone knows what she might find tasty to encourage her to eat a bit more. Or any tips in general, I would be really grateful. How long can I expect the bleeding to last? Many thanks x

 

[Orange456]

Stop leaving things out. Pretty simple. We can’t leave anything out or our Lab will destroy it

Can’t believe I didn’t I think of this myself

Is it for attention do you think? I swear mine knows which items are more valuable and what will get him more attention. We have a shoe cupboard which if he can get in to, he'll run off with something and probably get a reaction. If we leave shoes in the hallway, he's not interested. Maybe look at how/when she's getting hold of them and how you react? Mine is only 10 months old but I do now feel like he knows what is right and wrong, and is just being a 'push the boundaries' teenager.
I don't really have advice though so not at all helpful!

I think it could be the reaction as it’s always if I’m in the shower or cooking! If she gets something and I’m not bothered she drops it within 2 seconds! I’ll try and not react! Thank you

 

[vanilla cupcakes]

Has anyone got any good suggestions for puppy chew toys? I've bought pretty much every one on Amazon but none seem to do it for him, he'd much rather chew the radiator/door/crate... anything but his toys

my puppy was a big biter and the best toys I got for it were £2 from home store and more. months later it’s one of the only ones he had that’s not totally ruined. he also liked rope toys with the rubber ball at the end, and toothbrush chews.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Hello you lovely lot,
I am going to Wales at the end of the month and we want to take our 10 month old dachshund - any recommendations for car seats / straps?
He currently has a seat similar to the one below, but he always tries to lean out and likes to be in the middle to see us, and as we are driving from Sussex we want to make sure he is comfortable!
Also if anyone has any recommendations of harnesses/ leads, and also a baby carrier for dogs too would be great as we're walking snowdon and want to make sure he's comfortable!
Thank you in advance <3<3

https://amzn.eu/d/0MSjv8o

Not a seat thing but I use a cheeko dome for my pup in the car. Also good for holidays if you crate you puppy at night/at all as it's lighter than a normal crate so easier to move around, folds flat as well. Either goes in the boot or the back seat with space for someone else to sit in the back.

 

[SonicTheSpikeyThing]

Said we wouldn’t get a puppy again…. Here we are with a puppy spaniel. What do you all do for teething? Our breeder said to freeze carrots but she just chews them and spits them everywhere

 

[Former_Antelopee]

It's a tricky one, they need to stick to it, and he's probably missing you to.

I don't think he does that much he goes there usually at least once every other week for a night. Been going a bit more this last month as I've had a few events. He runs straight up to the door barking to get in when I take him and doesn't bother when I leave. I'm hoping he was just very worked up today and after he settles overnight he'll be better in the morning

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Do puppies kind of regress a bit when they are 1? It's ours 1st birthday today and the last couple of weeks I feel like he has become a bit naughtier, chewing stuff again, running off more on walks and he has just tried to rip up my rug Is this just a teenager phase?!

Yeah between 6-18months they will become 'teenagers'

 

[Former_Antelopee]

We found "leave it" really useful. I know you say it will be taught in class but there's no harm in getting yourself a head start!

My dog loves picking things up on walks, I don't mind him picking a stick up and carrying it, but it bothers me when he quickly nabs a bit of food off the pavement etc because of course I don't want him eating that so "leave it" is so handy on walks. It's also useful round the house because he's an absolute sock thief so leave it is handy when he spots me getting a pair out my drawer

I also find "wait" really useful. Especially on walks when coming to a junction etc, as soon as I say "wait" he will stop and stand still until I give him the "ok, go on" command to carry on walking. We also make him "wait" at the back door as I don't always want him just running out as soon as the door is opened, so we'll often make him sit and wait at the door until we have gone through it first

Thanks I’ll probably start leave it then. My puppy loves my slippers so will be helpful for that. I think he is a bit strange he doesn’t like any treats I’ve tried with him, my dad tried a human biscuit (will not be doing this normally) and he refused that as well. I’ve been training him with his meals which he rarely eats out of a bowl as whenever I put the bowl down he isn’t bothered but if I pick it up and train him with the same food he loves it

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I've just started 1-2-1 sessions with a private trainer. Felt like the people from the group classes didn't have the experience to deal with large breeds and their needs, so found one that specialises in large and giant breeds.
We've had one session so far, and ive found it's been more helpful than all of the group classes we did put together.
Yes it's considerably more expensive than a group setting, but the tailored experience is more than worth it.

I've just booked some thank you. 5 1hour sessions for £225. I've spent probably about £400 on group classes and don't feel I've learnt much. I'm not that good at remembering what we learnt though as I find it more difficult in the group ones to get him to focus as he just wants to smell the floor so I don't get much practice on what we are learning. Got a group session today and I can't be bothered to go but might as well he definitely won't pass the test next week. I've been busy these past few weeks but my shifts are changing at work which will give me more time to train

 

[Former_Antelopee]

The majority are 2-3 weeks apart, but due to holidays etc, I've got one on Thursday, then don't have another one until the first week of July.
I think that's good, gives us time to bed in what we have learned in the session

I have one tomorrow then thinking next maybe mid June but also have a holiday booked end of July/august so will have to wait longer between then. The block gives me 6 months to book the 5 sessions
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Re castration. We have a rescue from 5 weeks old, 6 months old now. A giant of a dog. We were told they would call us back at 9 months to neuter him and it was part of the agreement we signed when adopting him, but our own vet said they're is no way they would neuter him until he was 2 years old. Because of his size. Any thoughts/ experience of this?

I'd maybe speak to the rescue and say the vet advised you to wait longer and see what they say?

 

[Tide'sout]

What about just mixing something like chicken into her normal food? Or warming up her normal food as well if it's wet. Adding hot water to dry food?
My pup is mini and is 10months now so I'm trying to swap him to adult food since I ran out of his puppy stuff nearly and the pup stuff says till 10months.
He is so fussy though and I did end up having him in raw food for probably the last two months but don't want him to be on raw really. Been trying to find a dry food he will eat but that includes grain , so many are grain free

Yes I think chicken topped kibble is the way to go at the monent. We use a kibble called Little Champ, it has wheat and maize listed in the ingredients. Interspersed with supermarket pouches. Definitely think they get bored with their food. I've ordered a home cooked dog food recipe book off Amazon to see if I get any inspiration.

 

[Orange456]

Hi all, I'm going to be bringing a new puppy home at the end of November . It's been a looong time since I have had a puppy (over 20 years) and things have changed a lot so I feel like I'm going to be brand new at it! I remember last time I kept wondering why I had destroyed my life by getting a puppy it worked out okay in the end though but miss my girl so much

Good luck and enjoy the puppy cuddles!

 

[Orange456]

Hi! Hope everyone is doing well with their pups! Mine is now 10 months old, and doing soooo much better! The first few months were a steep learning curve for sure!

In the first few months of having him, I really liked writing down all of the stuff I was doing with him; his pees/poos, vaccines, weight etc... but cobbled it all together in note pads. I've since started looking for a journal or planner that would do this and can't quite find anything suitable. I've seen apps etc that do this but i was thinking of a physical diary, to actually write in along the lines of the weight-loss journals you can buy on etsy. So... I've started looking into maybe creating and selling my own. My question for you is is this something you have found or used previously? If not do you think you would have found it useful? Is physical better than online? Am I barking up the wrong tree ( sorry )

Omg!! I was crying out for something like this when I got my puppy as I’m so forgetful! I think a little section everyday to say what training you’ve done would be great as then if it hadn’t been filled in my partner could do it to stay consistent and in a routine? Deffo would rather a physical thing over an app as then everyone has access to it! Good luck! I think you have a great idea there x

 

[Former_Antelopee]

What have you guys found is best to teach you puppy?
So far I’ve taught:
- sit - which I’d say he does 99% of the time when asked
- down (lie) - not perfect on this but does know it I’d say
- touch - id say he is good at this but sometimes jumps with his feet rather than just doing it with his make so working on that

Not sure what to do next. Been trying focus as I’ve been reading the notes from the puppy classes we are booked to start soon. I’ve in a group chat on WhatsApp so can see the current sessions documents so been following them a bit. But I don’t want to do too much of them just incase I’m doing it incorrectly so I’d rather wait and see to make sure I’m correct.
Touch is from them and that’s going well so I might leave the rest like focus until the class.
But need something new as I can’t just keep doing sit/down/touch.
I’d like to do leave it/drop but that’s in puppy class. Also going to do a 1-to-1 session with a trainer as he has been being a bit naughty when I’m doing certain things so I want to get on top of that and train him out of it - just not sure how is best to do this so would rather get advice asap.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Thank you so much. I was put off licki mats because I thought he would finish it in seconds and just chew it (he's very food motivated), but I didn't think to freeze them!
Thank you for the advice, you're right, online is going to be generic and rigid. I think I will get a long term trainer lined up for after this short intro course we've got booked

I started to freeze licki Mats for my dog. He is very fussy with food though so I blend fish/meat with water and put treats in it and freeze it. Or if he has wet food blend that with water so then he isn't getting extra treats. What actually worked best was a slow feeder bowl as it was deeper so was more stable in the freezer