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Padfoot

Active member
Got our girl spaniel on Saturday! She's been super so far! Apart from being so dramatic at the vets for a check yesterday cried in the car and at the vets and on the way home 🤣🤦weighs a healthy 2.6kg does have ear mites but that's common and getting that sorted. We are learning just as much as she is. As it's been exactly 11 years since we had a puppy. ♥ Love her so much already.♥
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Former_Antelopee

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Ohhhh I need to vent. I picked my puppy up today (well hes a year old) from his daycare to be told he can't return.
Long story short, the owner of the daycare had her kid sat on the kitchen counter (toddler aged) with a snack and my puppy (labrador) ran up to the kid, stole the snack and cut the kids finger with his teeth.
I'm absolutely mortified that he managed to do that and feel I've let him down in some way by not training him properly 😭
Does anyone have any advice on stopping him from doing this? He's absolutely fine with myself and partner at home, doesn't beg, doesn't snatch our food and I've never known him do this before 😭
I think it’s unfair on you, why would someone running a doggy daycare have a toddler especially with food anywhere near the dogs
 
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indigocat

Active member
Love, consistency, socialisation, routine and training classes are all you need.

We're on our 5th giant breed puppy in 12 years, the only downside of giants are their relative short lives but it does give lots of experience of raising pups. Yes, they are a massive amount of work for the first year or two. The first 20 weeks being the hardest with sleepless nights and housetraining.

We crate train every pup as they will not mess their beds but be aware that their bowls and bladder cannot physically store more than a very small amount. A 9 week old will need at least 2 trips out over a 6 hour night sleep in their crate. When they pee in the house it's because we missed his need never because he's naughty. No dog is ever naughty - they just behave in a natural way for their need at that moment on time. Our latest boy has been clean in the house since 12 weeks old because he was taken out immediately when he woke up from any length of sleep, after a long drink, after every meal, after a play session, on the hour every hour, except through the night with potty trips every 2-3 hours through the night, when he sniffed the floor and finally, when my spider sense tingled. When they have slipped, never ever shout or they'll pee in secret behind the settee, etc. Use an enzyme based cleaner to thoroughly clean the carpet or floor - Simple Solution is good.

Regarding biting, it's normal, all you do is make a loud yelp noise yourself and stop immediately the play, turn your back and cross your arms for 10-20 seconds and they soon learn they lose your attention (what puppies crave more than anything - even cross attention is better to them than being ignored). If puppy is really acting up then use time out for 10-20 seconds where you pop them outside on their own, often works to reset any crazy bitey tantrums. Again, don't shout.

I cannot recommend enough that you get booked onto a Kennel Club Puppy Class run by a kind reward based trainer - ideally someone who is in the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. We follow the Kennel Club Good Citizen training to at least Bronze with every dog we have and will be doing Gold with our female who loves obedience. It is great fun, informative, a good way to get troubleshooting advice from a professional and will completely improve your relationship with your dog.

Finally, get puppy out into the world immediately (carrying in a sling or backpack before vaccinations have been finished) to meet strangers, buses, trains, cars, prams, horses, cows, umbrellas, children, elderly people, people wearing hiviz, bin lorries,etc. Just Google puppy socialisation list for more ideas. Also work on introducing the vacuum, lawnmower, washing machine, etc slowly and with nice treats, there are excellent Calmsound audio tracks on YouTube to socialise to traffic, fireworks, power tools, take it slowly and build volume over time as pup is sleepy.

And despite all the work, enjoy your pup, take lots of pics and keep us updated. My dogs are the most important thing in my life as part of my family and I'm sure yours will be too. 🐶❤
 
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Mermer89

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He’s insanely clever and already sitting, fetching and paw when asked. Crate training is going ok apart from the poo at 4am in there this morning- he has not went out at 3! He then slept till 8 thought so can forgive his little face. He’s a bit bouncy for my boys atm and the cats don’t like him lol. OH isn’t well (we’ve all got this cough/cold) but so far not too overwhelming.
 

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S4buk

VIP Member
I’m sure you guys haven’t been following my story but I’ve just split up with my partner of 10 years , he’s blamed the dog etc it was literally a case of ‘me or the dog’
 
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epl000

VIP Member
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24 hours in it’s not been completely plain sailing, but she’s absolutely gorgeous and very affectionate so that definitely makes things easier. 🐾
 
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Haneyg

Member
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Little Ruben is home 🥰 put him in his playpen and he got into his crate (next to his bed think he is too small to get in it so might need a new one 😅). So I put him in the bed, locked crate and turned the lights off and left him to see what he’d do. No crying yet. Leaving him for 10 minutes and then I’ll go get him but I think that’s a good sign 😄
 
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AladdinSane

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A much better day today (so far!) We've created a schedule and wrote down everything that puppy is doing and when we should be doing certain things with him. We've also encouraged more naptimes with him to ensure that he isn't getting over tired or over stimulated. I think that is where we went wrong yesterday.
I'm currently sat on the sofa with a sleeping cat next to me, a sleeping cat under the chair in front of me and a puppy who is napping upstairs (not in his crate!!) and a partner who has been able to grab a shower and 10 minutes to himself.

Happy (ier) days!
 
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Apple In My Pie

VIP Member
Hi guys,
asking for some advice again…

my auntie has a puppy, he’s about 6 months old. Every single time she takes the puppy in the car to the vet he will vomit and poo. He came back from the vets this afternoon in a total state - vomited over himself, really badly drooling and shaking, had pooped in his carrier. It seemed really off to me. The vet said (according to my auntie) the dog has a protein deficiency but is otherwise well…

The problem is… she will not, at all, feed him his puppy food. He gets everything she eats - McDonalds burgers, steak, curry, pies, KFC, even birthday cake. I have told her time and time again he needs his proper food but she doesn’t listen. He’s become very fussy and refuses to eat his puppy food so she takes that as a sign he prefers human food. Whenever he sees new people (me, the wider family etc) with food he will start begging for it.

It makes me really uncomfy to see because he just isn't right. I wish I could take him and look after him properly 🫣

Do you think if she carries on feeding him as he is and his protein gets lower he will be severely unwell? Is it normal for him to mess in his carrier like that during car trips or do you think it’s related to his diet?
 
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VeryNiceVeryEVIL

Well-known member
Me and my wife lost our best friend of 10 years on the 17th. She was a Springer Spaniel and was the loveliest dog ever with the best temperament. We are heartbroken right now and the house is so quiet.

We saw some Sprocker pups advertised not far from where we live. We went to visit them last weekend and ended up putting a deposit down on a lovely chocolate boy who will come home to us on the 7th of next month.

We have so much love to give another Spaniel and we know it's going to be hard with grief but we need a dog in our lives and are willing to open our hearts to love another.

Would love some advice from people who have lost a furry best friend and then got another. Does it get easier than this?
 
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unidentified

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It is so much like having a baby isn’t it. She’s so worth it though. I’m only 5 days in and my last pup was completely toilet trained by now. We’ve only had a couple of accidents but that’s because I’m taking her out, she’s not letting me know yet. For all they’re the same breed, they’re completely different. I’ve taught her to sit though and here is her posing
 

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Our pup is 10 months old and she has been great, we thought we were progressing well then she chewed a hole in a wall while I was on the loo yesterday :oops::ROFLMAO: easy repair thankfully but think we have been lulled into a false sense of security during adolescence!
 
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Caffeine Fiend

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Our puppy is seven months old and I feel absolutely terrible but I feel we’ve made a massive mistake. He’s a good dog and house trained but are struggling with adapting to having our dog. I know people will call me selfish and I’m in a predicament. I feel guilty if we sell him but I want what’s best for the dog. At the moment we can leave him around 4 hours and he’s fine but we are out a lot and will need to leave him longer once we are at work full time. He just cries and cries. Unless he stops crying I feel we will have to sell him but I feel so guilty.
Please dont sell him on. Find a breed specific rescue and have him rehomed. They will ensure he goes to the right people. I also think its illegal to sell on a dog under 1 year now and they should be returned to breeder (if theyl take them back)

Whilst some dogs will adapt to being left alone for long periods of time, many wont. 4 hours is probably the longest I would leave a dog alone. My dogs are half cocker spaniel and the neediness is unreal. They are velcro dogs and just dont manage without human contact 🙈 my oldest one is the worst. My youngest is more independent.

If youd like to keep him when you will be working could you use day care and/or a dog walker or something like borrowmydoggy to find someone who would care for him.

Having a dog, if you dont have someone who can look after them, is a huge bind. We unfortunately dont have a family member or anything who will watch ours so unless we can take them with us it does mean outside trips are limited.

Also I say all of this with absolutely no judgement. I think if youve never had a dog, you honestly have no clue of how much they take out of you. I definitely didnt and it was a shock to my system. There is absolutely no shame in rehoming a dog if its not working out. Its worse in my opinion to keep a dog if its not working out for you, them or both. Much kinder for the dog to find the right home.

Be kind to yourself. ❤
 
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