So an update one week on. Last Saturday I sat on the kitchen floor sobbing. I couldn't bear to be around Jasper. Things were a bit better on Sunday. We tried to be stricter with his nipping, jumping up, over-excitement, etc and used distractions, ignoring, and time out's. Pleased to report I've only cried three times in seven days. Tuesday was a bad day. It's been better the rest of the week. Perhaps he's realising slowly. Or maybe we just get a respite for a few days before he goes mad again. I have to say I was looking forward to seeing him Thursday night when I got in. OH felt left out! Six days till we can take him out for walks as we went to the vets last night for 2nd jab. 10.3kg at 12 weeks - big boy apparently but he did great and behaved at the vets and enjoyed his outing. We even had a play in a paddling pool this afternoon and had fun, just the three of us. I'm glad for this week being better. Everyone on here is super amazing and supportive. I know there is support.
That's it, keep going Just keep doing all the things people on here have advised, it takes time and you will see the benefits over the coming months. It's amazing what goes in when they are tiny and you can't see it straightaway. Lovely to hear you had fun with him this afternoon, it's the little steps that count.
I noticed that you can train stuff and think no its not gone in and then weeks later i realise it did . sometimes I just have to wait until they are old enough to access the things they have been taught
Red and Sky have been together all day - yay! Baby gate to kitchen has been open all day - yay! Of course DH is saying 'I told you it would happen' and of course he is right but it has felt like a long haul. I am noticing subtle little interactions with each other which is so lovely to see. They are walking now with DH first thing each day and this morning I saw them from the bathroom window coming up the road. Both dogs were walking side by side and looked so happy together . Impressed as DH had them both on loose leads in one hand and his camera slung over his shoulder - don't know how he managed both dogs and took photographs.
Lovely to hear Atemas. I have a quick question to anyone who could help, Beau had his 12 weeks jabs last Wednesday so his finally allowed out this week but how often/how long should his walks be daily? I've looked online but would rather get personal advise. Thank you
I try to stick to the 5 mins walk per month of age, especially when on lead Here is the best article on the subject - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppy-exercise-how-much-is-too-much/ .
Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum but needed to reach out. I need help! I have a 6 month old male chocolate (who is adorable) but I can't keep his focus while training or some other times. He follows me everywhere and looks for me if he can't find me but something is missing in our bonding. I love him loads but there is just something wrong and I can't figure it out. This is my second lab, my other female who was my dog soulmate, passed away last year. She was so eager to learn and was always focused on me. I don't expect to be so lucky twice and they all have their own personalities I know. I also have a 7 month old golden retriever pup female and she is a handful but very focused. I use clicker training and keep training fun so as to have better results but he will just walk off and grab one of his fav toys and ignore me. This happens a lot!! He also pulls like a train on leash no matter what I try. He isn't really food motivated no matter how tasty it is. Any advice??
Hello and welcome to the forum. If he likes his toys, you can use them to motivate him instead of food. It's not as convenient, but the important thing is that rewards are something he finds rewarding! My dogs will work for food, but would far rather work for the chase of a ball, or a retrieve. How does he like to play? Tug? Chase? Using a whipit stick is a really good reward for most dogs, and you can put his favourite toy on the end. It's also a great tool in itself for teaching some behaviours, such as impulse control, a stop whistle and many more. This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Squishy-Fa...8&qid=1500331033&sr=8-7&keywords=squishy+face The only thing I would say is he's really too young for using this much at all, more than for a couple of minutes once in a while, as it's very tough on joints. You could also use a tugger toy on a bungee (like the ones from Tug-e-nuff), again not over-doing the amount he's stopping and starting, or running in circles, it at this stage.
Thank you for the advice. I am taking him to a professional trainer for a session today and we will see how it goes. One of the problems is that he doesn't get very excited about anything at this point except for off leash excursions on hikes! I can't find his niche!
It sounds awful but I'm really glad that other people are experiencing this level of puppy blues too just because it means I'm not the worst person in the world. Poppy is great. She really really really is. She's just turned 10 weeks, doesn't have accidents in her crates and only has accidents in the house every couple of days and then only if I make a mistake - she actually has started going to the back door so it's my fault I'm working and don't notice. We can put her bowl of food on the floor and she'll wait for a second or two before "take it", same with treats in hand. Poppy will happily join me at "heel" and trot alongside me for a while (although I'm assuming this is probably because she knows a click and treat is sure to follow). She has puppy crazies and nips/bites during those but otherwise the vet complimented her gentle mouth. Her level of noisiness has decreased remarkably and is really happy in her crate - in fact she puts herself to bed most nights and during the day goes in there for naps. She'll pick up stones and chew bark but will give them up for a bit of kibble. We go out most days with her in a bag so she can be properly socialised and isn't phased by pubs or trains or busy town centres. So why do I feel so blue? I think the reason I feel so down is because I know whenever she does pick up a stone or has an accident or starts to put her mouth around a chair leg it's because I'm not a good enough owner and paying enough attention. I work from home so I'm here all day everyday with her except when I have to go to meetings, and in which case my partner takes the day at home. I feel guilty that I look forward to those days because I don't get to leave the house otherwise. I feel guilty that I can't give her my full attention 100% of the time and I'm hampering her progress. I just feel like the worse human being in the world because she's great and yet I cry most days about it all. Does anyone else have a relatively perfect puppy and still feel completely overwhelmed/unable to cope at times?
Puppies are a huge commitment. You may have read some of this thread which is all about how I struggled with my puppy Red. Those early days were very dark and I think I was depressed. Tiredness was a big part. You are not alone feeling this way. It will get easier and it sounds like your puppy is doing very well. Try to enjoy - they are little for such a short time. You wil find lots of support on this forum. Take care of yourself.
You are a good enough owner and you mean the world to Poppy, that all that matters - the rest is detail. Keep working on having a strong bond with her and all will fall into place xx ,
Thank you. I've read your early posts and I know especially want you mean about anxiety and writing lists etc. You're right about enjoying it, that's what getting her was all about after all
Hi, me again. Spencer is still not doing well on leash. He pulls like a freight train and using the freedom harness is torture!! Took him to the professional behaviorist/trainer and she recommended this after the other harnesses didn't work. This so called freedom harness is the same really as the easy walk! He still pulls me using it and walking is a chore-it feels like I am punishing him. He absolutely hates it and runs away whenever I bring it out. Or any of the others as well. What am I going to do? It's so stressful and not worth putting us both through it. Took him to the local park yesterday to "practice". It was awful. We did finish with a swim in the river which he loved!! Want to take him more often but he practically drug me down the hill to get there. Really, I was lucky not to go face first into the dirt. What have any of you come up with to get past this pulling issue? I can't not walk him and I can't let him drag me everywhere. I need serious help! Please give me some advice!
Do you drive? Could you drive to an off-lead area ( but one where there aren't other dogs), let him have a run, then put him on lead and lure with really tasty treats for just a few steps. Then let him off and play with him. Then repeat. Gradually you can increase the number of steps and replace the lure with frequent rewards, which again gradually tail off. I know this is quite long-winded (and it means not actually getting anywhere) but it does work -it's how I trained Molly to walk by my side.
To Hannah and Poppy, It's normal I think to feel this way at first. Puppies are such a huge commitment and so time consuming. It can feel so overwhelming at times also because of the fear of making mistakes with training. I'm also home all day and spend most of my time with Spencer and his 'sister" a 7 month golden retriever who is a handful. I look forward to the nights that my husband will take over and let me go to another bedroom to have some time away for myself!! Then feel guilty that I'm not with them!! It sounds like you have a wonderful little girl to share life with. Just give yourself a break for feeling the way you do, it's ok and will get better. Soon you will be thinking how you ever lived without her.
