MelB
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Posts:1196
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| 02/14/2010 10:19 AM |
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He is one adorable puppy!! he looks like he's going to be a BIG boy too!!!!!!! Wait until he's chasing the vacuum LOL Xara thinks I bring it out just to amuse her I swear. She pounces, barks, and bites at it with her tail going a mile a minute.
Introduce him to anything and everything while he's young, it teaches him to be rock solid and scared of nothing. |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/14/2010 10:49 AM |
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That's what I hope to do.
This is him right now! Lazy pup!
Playing with his toy earlier:
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easyedwin
Birmingham, AL
MH
Posts:128
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| 02/14/2010 11:00 AM |
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| Great pics |
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Why do real estate developers ruin so many landscapes? |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/14/2010 12:41 PM |
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I'm soo exhausted!
He has been on one this evening - how many times will I have to say "leave" for it to sink in!!!!!!!! He seems to want to chew everything apart from his designated chew toys! 
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6748
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| 02/14/2010 1:29 PM |
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| Hmmmm! Somewhere around a million times might do it. LOL, I still have to remind Ringo to leave. Thankfully not nearly as often now. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
     
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/14/2010 3:09 PM |
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A bit of a random question...
Hogan appears to be "humping" - thin air, his bed, my legs....
He is only 8 weeks old, is this normal? Should I punish him? Ignore it?
Thanks!
Shelley |
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Rugergundog
Saginaw Michigan USA
MH
Posts:395
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| 02/14/2010 4:36 PM |
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He is prob just goof'n around right now, but as he gets older it is a way they will try to express dominance over you...and later he will actually try to "hump". I would treat the behavior just like chewing or anything else you don't allow. |
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Saginaw Michigan
Brittany- Ruger
GSP- Kilian |
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MJones
Mars PA
MH
Posts:128
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/15/2010 1:29 AM |
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Ok thanks for the heads up! At the moment I seem to be constantly saying "leave" in my sternest voice whilst pushing him off something - a few seconds later he is right back there! Ohh the joy of puppies!
The second night was a little better, he still cried but for a much shorter time, he is definately a willful little thing though - if he hasn't got his own way he is very vocal about it! |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/15/2010 3:35 AM |
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Well we just got back from the vets, for his first vaccination and puppy health check.
I have a healthy puppy 
He weighs 3.4kg. I did talk to the vet about his food, when I put it down he doesn't seem interested - I put it in his crate as I want to get "nice things" associated with his crate - but he takes a bit, comes out, goes back in, takes a bit more... leaves it for half hour... takes some more... this makes it awkward because I'm trying to give 4 feeds day, but this means he is eating constantly throughout the day which isn't practical. I tried taking it away after 30 mins as someone suggested on another thread, but he doesn't seem bothered - it means he just doesn't eat it, which I definately don't want with a growing puppy.
The breeder gave him cooked meat with the kibble, I give him just kibble -should I supplement it? If so, which meat is best?
Thanks!
Shelley |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/15/2010 3:51 AM |
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Forgot to add:
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CL66
MH
Posts:399
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| 02/15/2010 4:09 AM |
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he looks bigger..already!! ;-)
Um, i wonder if he's just being a bit fussy as he was used to having the meat too? if he's hungry enough then he'll eat i'm sure. when mine was little sometime's he'd eat and sometimes he wouldn't. If he didn't it got taken away and given back at the next feed time. he soon caught on.
I then made the mistake of adding some milk to his kibble one morning as i needed to use it up and didn't want to chuck it..he then wouldn't eat for about 2 days as he was disgusted when he didn't have the milk in it again!! Cheeky bugger, but once again soon realised he had to eat what he was given.
you could try adding meat, but i'd probably recommend feeding how you want to go on, don't want a fussy pup on your hands.
Do you soak the kibble in some warm water to make it like a gravy? |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/15/2010 4:25 AM |
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I haven't been soaking it as when I asked the breeder she said she was feeding it dry - do you think I should? I did wonder as it would make it easier to eat but didn't want to make too many changes.
Also, two of his feeds - the early morning and late evening ones - consist of warm goats milk and a wheetabix - this is what the breeder was feeding and I hope to phase it out in a week - two weeks - saying that he does eat that up quickly!! Do you think it will be worth dampening the kibble and if so, until how old?
Do you think then, I should decide on a set amount of time, for example, 30 minutes, that I am going to leave the feed down for - whatever he hasn't eaten in that time I remove, and he has to wait until next meal time?
He is getting a little better in the car too. He still cries, but no where near as much. We have him sat on a "lap" in the back now as that is where I plan to travel him. The kids are off school this week as it's half term so there is always a spare (and very willing!) lap to sit on. When he go out next I plan to put his car harness on but not attach it to a seatbelt, I need to get him used to it quickly as when the kids are back at school that's how he will have to travel.
Shelley |
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CL66
MH
Posts:399
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| 02/15/2010 4:32 AM |
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I think it's a great idea to get him used to the harness at his age, i left it too long with mine as he used to fit in the boot, and now he just tries to chew through it..pretty successfully i must add!!
I suppose it depends how large the kibble is, i was feeding science plan large breed puppy and the pieces were pretty large, so i'd soak it for a few minutes to soften it up, and did it for a good few months. I still add water occasionally if he's panting a lot after a walk for instance. As he chomps down the weetabix i'd say he's just being a bit fussy then. you could try softening it up, it doesn't hurt anyway, and see if he's happier with that.
I'd recommend taking it away, was advice from this board that made me do it in the first place, and it worked really well. 15-30 mins should be plenty. |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/15/2010 5:30 AM |
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Well, I soaked his 1pm kibble and he's currently in his crate gobbling it up!
Thanks for the advice! |
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lfb
UK
MH
Posts:183
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| 02/15/2010 6:17 AM |
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He is gorgeous! We did the weetabix thing with our two (with warm milk and honey no less!) and warm rice pudding for a couple of weeks. If you want to supplement his kibble with meat, Pets at Home stock a range of frozen raw meat of many varieties (green tripe was a favourite in our house - bleurgh). Boy dog now has the raw beef in with his kibble.
http://prizechoice.co.uk/
prizechoice.co.uk/
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6748
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| 02/15/2010 8:48 AM |
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I would wet the food until he is about 12 weeks. You can also buy a good canned puppy or dog food and mix some into his meals. You might also want to change to feeding 3 times a day instead of 4. When I get mine home at 8 weeks I start them at 3 times a day right away. Makes it easier because they eat when I eat. You can also use a broth to moisten his food too if the water doesn't keep him interested. Once he gets into his routine he will probably start eating better too.
He does look like he has grown already. I am glad he got a clean bill of health from the vet. Get some picts of him in his harness and in the car. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/15/2010 9:30 AM |
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I need help  Today he has run me ragged! Thank goodness he is now asleep!
When he is playing, he doesn't really understand the commands yet - I don't think. I tell him "NO" or "LEAVE" and then praise him when he does - but a few seconds later he's right back there doing what he was told not to. Earlier he was jumping all over me, trying to hump and mouth my hands and arms. I put him down on the floor and held him there - I was advised to do that (I think it's called an Alpha Roll) - the person said it would show him that I am the pack leader and he needs to be submissive.
It didn't work ! He howled, struggled and screamed and I felt so bad. Eventually I held him in a cradle position and he finally went quiet.
I'm worried this wasn't the right thing to do but i don't want him to be dominant over me. I know he is only 8 weeks but I don't want him to think he is the leader of the pack.
At the moment I can't put him in his crate when he gets too excited/over the top because he isn't entirely happy in there.
What do you guys suggest? After he had submitted by going quiet (he only went quiet for a few seconds but I took my chance to end it!) I had a cuddle with him and he fell asleep on me.
I don't want to be mean and make him dislike me (I know dogs don't feel human emotions but you know what i mean) but I also want him to start to respect me.
Comments appreciated  |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:2737
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| 02/15/2010 9:36 AM |
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Sometimes, you just have to put them in their crates, shut the door and go have a cuppa. We were lucky when we had Bo home week 1, since we couldn't take time off. Hubby and I split the time but there was always 2 to 3 hours during the day when he was in his crate and we weren't home.
They're like little kids in that they get over-tired and cranky. Enforced nap-time is sometimes the only solution.
I forgot about the humping and the biting ... thanks for reminding me why I don't want another puppy. If it makes you feel any better, Hogan sounds exactly like Bo did as a pup. I'm sure we did everything wrong (since he was my first pup) and he has turned out to be a fine young gentleman (almost 3 yo).
Hang in there, and remember it doesn't last forever. (And then you'll wish it did  |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 02/15/2010 9:42 AM |
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Thank you. I'm so worried I have done the wrong thing. I wasn't aggresive but I held him still while he was struggling and shouting. I felt so mean. Was it the right thing to do? Or next time should I just put him in his cage and walk away?
I just don't want him to learn that he is the boss! |
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