New puppy

[Stringy]

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hi everyone, I have a lovely new puppy, 11 weeks next week. Im a first time owner and have read lots of dog books etc but feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment with everything. I thought it would be good to link in with other doggie people for help and advice.
Stringy x

 

[JoanneF]

Anything specific? There is a lot of knowledge here, usually one or more of us will have advice.

 

[Josie]

Welcome @Stringy to the forum!
You will get lots of great help and advice here - all you need to do is ask

Would love to see some pictures also!

Good luck with being a dog Mum

 

[Stringy]

Anything specific? There is a lot of knowledge here, usually one or more of us will have advice.

Hi Joanne Archie is a real sweetheart but in the evening he seems to turn into a mad, bite dog. We give him things to chew on and try and play with him but it's almost like he's over tired (like a small child). He loves his crate but if he gets really difficult to calm down, we give him a calm (not cross) few minutes in his crate to calm down. Does anyone else have this kind of problem? Is it normal?

 

[Stringy]

Welcome @Stringy to the forum!
You will get lots of great help and advice here - all you need to do is ask

Would love to see some pictures also!

Good luck with being a dog Mum

Thank you

 

[JudyN]

Ah, the puppy zoomies - yes, it's absolutely normal and my lad was just the same. It sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing by trying to get him to chew on toys and not limbs and encouraging him to settle down when he gets too silly. Try to enjoy it, because it won't last forever!

 

[Stringy]

Ah, the puppy zoomies - yes, it's absolutely normal and my lad was just the same. It sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing by trying to get him to chew on toys and not limbs and encouraging him to settle down when he gets too silly. Try to enjoy it, because it won't last forever!

 

[Stringy]

Thanks Judy, I think its going to be quite a journey through to adulthood. X

 

[Starbaker66]

Hi Stringy - I too have a new puppy (just 9 weeks old). I'll be interested to follow your journey. I don't have too much experience, although I have owned a dog before it was nothing like the one I have now. He's super-chilled, dry at night and not too many accidents inside, we try to take him out as soon as he wakes or immediately after play time. I've also learned over the last few days that he needs to poo half way through his breakfast! His breeder told me that his parents are super-chilled too, and that she bred from them for dogs intended for people with special needs ie., people with epilepsy. I'm not sure if he'll always be this calm or if this is the quiet before the storm - but I'm happy to learn as I go. What breed is your dog?

 

[Stringy]

Hi Starbaker, sounds like you have a little treasure. Ours is a show type cocker spaniel. Mum and dad have lovely temperaments and he was raised in a family home so lots of socialisation and children handling. He is a lovely little chap in the daytime but we are going through the puppy zoomies in the evening with him which is tiring. He sleeps well at night but does generally have a pee in his crate overnight but nothing major. Lets keep in touch about progress. He starts puppy socialisation classes after xmas.

 

[Starbaker66]

Great! I'm taking Luca to the vets today for his first puppy check. I think they're going to sign me up to a puppy party? Apparently all the new owners are invited for a meet and greet type thing. I'm keen to start training too. I've made a start because I wanted to start as I mean to go on, so I've introduced him to his lead, which he wasn't keen on at first, but he's getting a lot better (only for about 5 mins each time). He comes to the office with me so I take him out in the car park every 45 mins or so, on his lead so he gets used to it. He's happy to lie under my desk for most of the day, interspersed with a few bouts of careering around the office with his toys!

What time does he usually have his puppy zoomies? Is it worth considering "anticipating" them - and maybe chase him around a bit earlier so he has his outburst at a more convenient time for you? (This advice isn't based on ANY experience or knowledge...just trying to help)...

Good luck with the socialisation classes too!

 

[JoanneF]

think they're going to sign me up to a puppy party

Just a word of caution - these can be good but sometimes they are really chaotic and the puppies get totally overstimulated so it's not such a positive experience. It might be worth checking first.

 

[Starbaker66]

Ah right. Thanks for the heads up on that! How should I check it? Ask about numbers etc? He's quite a confident little chap but I wouldn't want to knock that.

 

[JoanneF]

Just ask the vet what happens. Are they all off lead having a free for all or is it something like a member of staff gently checking teeth/ears/feet and demonstrating handling and so on.

 

[Starbaker66]

OK will do. Thanks.

 

[JoanneF]

He sleeps well at night but does generally have a pee in his crate overnight

Just noticed this. At his age his little bladder and bowel are not big enough or strong enough to last overnight. It's a good idea to set your alarm for overnight to take him out because the better you set him up for success in toilet training, the quicker it will come together for him.

 

[Starbaker66]

Ok - thanks.

 

[Josie]

@Starbaker66 and @Stringy we would love it if you started your own puppy diaries! Then we could all follow your journeys I've started my diary about Dennis but I think looking at puppy pictures would be more exciting!

 

[Stringy]

I

Just noticed this. At his age his little bladder and bowel are not big enough or strong enough to last overnight. It's a good idea to set your alarm for overnight to take him out because the better you set him up for success in toilet training, the quicker it will come together for him.

get really confused with dIfferent advice. I have been told by lots of dog owners not to take him out during the night.

 

[JudyN]

I get really confused with dIfferent advice

I remember the feeling well You'll find this in relation to training, dealing with behaviour issues, what to feed, whether/when to neuter. If your dog does develop issues, for every person who says you caused it by doing X, another will say you caused it by not doing X enough. The only thing two dog trainers will agree on is that the third is doing it wrong

For what it's worth, when my boy slept downstairs in the study (with me, because he howled all night otherwise), I covered the floor with newspaper and then each day would remove one bit of newspaper (it was January, and he couldn't hold on long enough for me to put a dressing gown/coat on). It worked for us, but that's not to say it might not have done. In your situation, him peeing in his crate could become a habit that is hard to break once formed.

Why do people tell you you shouldn't take him out at night? If you make sure there's no playing, and the absolute minimum of interaction, he shouldn't start asking to go out 'just because', so IMO it's best to take him out in the night (do what I say, not what I did). But really, when it comes with all the conflicting advice, all you can do is read, listen and learn, and then decide which advice makes most sense and sits most comfortably with you. The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell is an excellent training guide (again, IMO).