CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Puppies => Topic started by: **purpleprincess** on July 23, 2012, 08:35:01 PM
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I saw that there was one of these a few years ago, so thought I'd resurrect if people don't mind.
I've had lots of tears today :'( :'(, purely because I'm tired and finding some of the puppy thing hard work. I hope I'm not alone in feeling like this, and thought it'd be nice to know that we're not alone!
Plus sides-
*getting quicker at weeing/pooing outside now when I take him out
*already knows 'sit' and working on 'down'
*sleeps in his crate from 10pm until 5am, after a wee will stay in his crate with a treat until 6am when we let him in bed, and then he sleeps til 7am
*so affectionate and loves cuddles
*can amuse himself for 2 minutes
*loves the cat
Negatives-
*can only amuse himself for 2 minutes
*cries and barks and whines when left alone
*bites, hard
So, come on, share your happiness and woes!!!
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Pretty much ditto!
Lack of sleep is not really something I was prepared for, as with previous pups we didn't crate train, had them downstairs in the kitchen where they could poo and pee to their heart's content and the nearest neighbour was far enough away that any whining/barking didn't matter. I know crate training is worth it in the end, but sometimes it can be very hard listening to their noise and looking at their poor little forlorn faces.
Mine's not so bitey - I stop him instantly if he is with me or shove a toy in his gob, but sometimes when I put him in the crate (like earlier) he yowls so unbelievably horribly! The neighbours seriously must think we're very very cruel.
I have to nap during the day, and often I do it with him lying on my chest on the sofa, which kind of makes up for everything.
It's really hot and I'm worried he won't sleep well tonight (and therefore I won't). Oh well, it does get better...
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we are the same ;) ditto tooo, one mad puppy full of beans betweem 7and 10pm :luv:
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we are the same ;) ditto tooo, one mad puppy full of beans betweem 7and 10pm :luv:
Crikey! Pearl is 15 months old and only just beginning to calm down - I don't recall her ever having a sleep if I was at home - a bit like a toddler, she was determined to stay awake.....it does get easier tho, it takes a while to "register" a full nights sleep and the first time they take themselves off to a dog bed for a snooze......OK it's only for 5 minutes now but I think I'd rather have a dog that is truly interactive than one that is totally independent......
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well need this group :lol2: also very very tired here, would love a lie in!!! & to watch tv without having one out for a sneaky wee
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we are the same ;) ditto tooo, one mad puppy full of beans betweem 7and 10pm :luv:
7am or 7pm?!
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20 x 7 :fear2: think I used to get about 4 hours down time at home.....over night
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My puppy has been crazy tonight - just lain down (please stay asleep!!). Sometimes they are quite infuriating!
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Here's the run down on Alfie
positives
1. He gets along great with the other dogs and cats but if he get a bit too boisterous they put him in his place ph34r
2. Toilet training is going quite well, but probably is due to the fact we take him out so often
3. He is sleeping a lot at the moment
4. Does ok in his crate at night but due to different people working different hours he only tends to be in there for 5 hours max at night
5. He seems content if left for a couple of hours in the day
6. he has the most gorgeous eyelashes and huge paws :luv:
negatives
1. Everything has to revolve around his 4 meals a day and then 3 meals :o
2. He is not very obliging about going to the toilet when it rains ph34r
3. He loves shoes and wires
4. We can't go on long walks until he is one.
5. The other dogs do love him but the dynamics have been upset somewhat. The other two have been falling out more than usual.
6. He doesn't do a thing that he is told :005:
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My heart goes out to you puppy owners nothing prepared me for the whirlwind that was 'Willow' :005: I had quite a few incidents with her in the early weeks that made me sob rather than cry thinking at times we had made a big mistake having her. :-\
I have to say the puppy biting, not being able to turn my back for one minute, her trying to eat everything in sight and occasionally having wee wee accidents inside are all distant memories now and am left with the most lovable and loyal cocker and I couldnt wish for more :luv: She is one in a million and my best friend :luv:
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thank you for posting this worst with Rosie is lack of sleep and then she wakes up at 5 in the morning and just wants to play and you feel the living dead the best is practically everything else :luv:
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I echo what Maddy said: I wasn't prepared at all for the whirlwind that was Molly. My OH and I have no children, so were used to our lie ins and going for days out and not needing to rush home or anything. That all changed with Molly :005: it was so difficult for the first few months, but I now look at her at nearly 1 year old and think she is bloomin amazing :luv:
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You all have my sympathy!
Like Maddy, there were a few morning where I just shut myself in the kitchen and cried thinking we'd made a huge mistake. It's easy to put a lot of pressure on yourself, and sometimes things just don't feel like they're going your way.
Bingley's nearly nine months now, and we still have struggles. It does get a lot better. The time you put in when they're tiny pays off ten fold. We still have a way to go, but even now I can't imagine being back in the puppy place! He is our best friend, an utter joy and can't imagine life without him.
Take it a day at a time! They grow so fast. I see pictures on here daily that make me sooo puppy broody, but I'm glad we're out of that stage now ph34r
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I echo what Maddy said: I wasn't prepared at all for the whirlwind that was Molly. My OH and I have no children, so were used to our lie ins and going for days out and not needing to rush home or anything. That all changed with Molly :005: it was so difficult for the first few months, but I now look at her at nearly 1 year old and think she is bloomin amazing :luv:
Sounds like us - used to our long lie ins and no kids and lots of travelling too. But we've given all that up because our desire for a little cs was very strong (plus have parents who will look after him for holidays). He is so adorable though, and fortunately the adorable times far outweigh the monster times (thank god they need so much sleep!!). Just looking down at him now, sleeping on a blanket near my feet, and my heart melts :luv:
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The early days are difficult and you feel that the lack of sleep, the cockerdile teeth and the cleaning up of pees and poos will never end....but they will and then we all look at our little fur babies and know that it was worth every tear...every bite and every hole in your jumper :005:....and wonder what the hell we ever did without them :luv:....and then like Tilly is the now you go through it again with the secondary teething where they chew and eat everything and develop cloth ears in their teenage madness.....but would not swap her for the world.
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Good idea for a thread!
Here's the lowdown on Gracie...
The good!
1. Sleep! She has slept from 10pm until 6am from the first night with no crying and has never messed in her crate! (Sorry ladies who aren't getting much rest!!)
2. She eats well and having now been on JWB fully for a few weeks her poos have firmed up!
3. Learning commands well, she can now do 'sit', 'down', 'paw' and 'wait'.
4. OK being left in her crate when we pop out, usually she's asleep the whole time! The most we've left her is 2 1/4 hours.
5. She's met 3 family dogs and a cocker from my Mum's work and it was lovely to see her building up confidence and then playing happily!
6. She's got the hang of house training and hasn't had an accident inside for over a week. She goes to the back door when she needs to go out :luv:
The bad!
1. Biting! Of course this is just a puppy thing but it can really hurt! It's at its worst when she's over-tired or needs a poo haha, that's when she gets hyper!
2. Whining. Not a huge thing but sometimes she whines while I'm preparing her meals, or if she thinks someone's coming in the door etc.
3. It's still a week until her second jab (they do them 4 weeks apart)... time is dragging so much and it's so frustrating that I can't walk her yet! I think she's desperate for it too!
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Wow Peony, you sound as if you've got the easiest pup in the world! Lucky you!
Out of interest, does she have somewhere to poo or wee in the night, or does she just hold it in for 8 hours?
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Wow Peony, you sound as if you've got the easiest pup in the world! Lucky you!
Out of interest, does she have somewhere to poo or wee in the night, or does she just hold it in for 8 hours?
She's in a crate, and we've never used newspaper or puppy pads or anything so it's purely for sleep/quiet play. The first few nights we slept so lightly listening out for her, thinking at some point she would need to go out, but nothing. And then each morning I'd be checking her crate for mess and smells but again nothing! Think she must just have good control, we're really amazed... never expected it at all! (Perhaps our run of good luck will see a relapse at some point!!)
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you have my complete sympathy. The first month at least with Jethro we sat wiped out & hoping we had done the right thing. He was so much hard work. I was close to tears half the time, i seemed to always be sat on the floor with a dog on me. He couldnt consentrate for long enough to learn anything. Once he could it seemed like a weight was lifted & we could enjoy the affectionate rouge that he is :luv:
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We are a few weeks down the line with Jenson now. He is 14 weeks now.
The POSITIVES:-
Toileting doing reasonably well, still have the odd accident but mostly my fault for not being vigilent enough.
Will sit, stand, lie down, watch on command when Im training (not so good when I dont have treats though!).
Loves all people, especially children, has been around kids of all ages now and not phased by them at all.
Loves all other dogs although a bit too boistrous with them.
Takes all new things and places in his stride, been to the beach, pubs, refuse centres, shops etc with no problems.
Is fine in the car lies down and goes to sleep.
The NEGATIVES:-
Worst is the hyper behaviour. We have a few periods of mad zoomies every day which I know are normal with a cs pup but he seems to take it to the extreme becoming very bitey and even a bit aggressive e.g. after a walk I have to isolate him in the kitchen during these times, as quite frankly I dont want him near my son when he is like this :( Im hoping he grows out of this soon!
Chewing everything still even my skirting boards which are apparently far yummier than any of his toys or chews!
Chasing the cat, he loves her really and she tolerates him fine when he is calm but then he is off chasing her bowling her over and trying to nip her tail.. poor cat, he has had a few swipes now for it.
Pulling on the lead, I have now ordered a no pull harness to try with him as he is terrible on walks despite me doing alot of leash training with him (or trying to!)
Cloth ears, goes completely deaf when he has a scent or sees another dog/people, am really strugging with recall training with him, but keeping at it :)
Most nights is up every 2-3 hours... Im tired, really tired, but now and then he will go 6 hours which feels like heaven now lol.
Hmm negative list seems awfully long but truthfully he is a lovely dog, and great with kids which was a very important thing to me. I have sat down and cried a few times usually in the wee hours of the morning when Im just shattered, but its forgotten about the next day when I get puppy cuddles :luv:
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hello,
I am new here and Monty is now 5.5 months old - but i thought i would give my experiences of having a little'un - this is our first puppy and i was in for a big shock! In the early days I often had tears and thoughts that we had done the wrong thing....however i am happy to say that Monty has calmed down a lot now, and some of his issues are being to get better...
Monty has always slept throught he night and as soon as we stopped leaving paper in his crate at night he stopped using it as a toilet.....however he still woke up at 5am....this has now stopped (usual get up time is about 7 - the same as us) and i am pleased to report a 10 o clock lie in last Saturday......i was soooo impressed!!! :D
He is also less clingy and doesnt whine for attention as much as he used to (although this still happens a bit!) and he is getting better at being left alone during the day...
he is a super smart boy and always does well at his obedience classes, but most of all he is the most loving dog ever and i dont know what we would do without him now....he is totally part of the family...
Emma
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Oh this is fab guys, feels so good to be supported and know that we're not alone. I know that it'll all be worth it in the long run, and I really do adore him so much already!! :luv:
Today has been a good day :005:
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Bella - good points will sleep all night, won't wee in crate will wee on command, loves everyone/thing except light pull in bathroom, eats well, ok on lead not bad in car, loves my toddler, will sit on command, came when recalled even when cat and baby were around to distract her.
Bad points - totally hyper at times and bites like a maniac at these times and can now get on the sofa so my feet have no escape, has a dummy obsession and still working on pooping outside.
We love her to bits and she is adorable so all is forgiven lol
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while I'm enjoying the warmer weather, it's meaning peps having lots of naps & not eating to much & then becoming a nut case in the evening when it's cooler! Hoping her room will cool down before bedtime
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the entire Puppy Board is set up as an information and support network.
Please keep on posting individual questions on the appropriate board so you will get the best advice.
Threads like this tend not to get definitive responses as they go on and on and experienced members who have the answers either don't see them or want to wade through pages.
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correct me if i am wrong but what i found from this group was that i went on not for advice but just for support the stories of others peoples new puppies helped me not with specific problems but just general moral support :D
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correct me if i am wrong but what i found from this group was that i went on not for advice but just for support the stories of others peoples new puppies helped me not with specific problems but just general moral support :D
Thats what the whole puppy section is, after all they are puppies till they are a year old,
I felt that I couldnt comment much on this one as Riley is 5months so a bit older than the new puppies, but still a pup none the less and the full puppy section covers all new and nearly new owners of puppies.
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still very sleepy here but so glad to read I'm not the only one! Even enjoying training classes, don't know what do without them- really look forward to them in the week
One positive is she let's me brush her without wiggling, it's so calming, for me anyway
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Ooops, sorry guys, feel free to close this if you like :blink:
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Good to know others have hyper pups in the evenings too! And very bitey ones also! We have one here... plus we have to make sure she doesn't chase our cat so we have her on a houseline which makes the cat more secure and relaxed; I wish we could let her off in the house, but it is not worth the risk of one of them being injured. How long we will need to do that for I don't know - we were hoping she would get used to seeing the cat around and just not bother but it's not happening yet.
Georgia is 11 weeks old nearly and hasn't messed in her crate once; she goes to bed at about 11.30pm and we get up at 5 or 6am to let her in the garden for a wee. She does it more or less immediately and then we put her back to bed in the crate for an hour or two.
She is very good in her crate and has several 'time outs' during the day. She is quiet and doesn't complain - just goes to sleep.
Bad points - ahhh the biting of course..... wanting to chase the cat and also ... (hope you haven't just had a meal) digging up cat poo out of the garden!! She had a mouthful of it this afternoon. Ugh.
I know cat poo is attractive to dogs but I think she is a bit young to be eating it so it does worry me.
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Sorry to be slow posting on this thread.....I've been busy with a puppy. :luv:
Good points
Toileting - Madoc has occasionally gone to the back door spontaneously when needing a wee. It's a start!
Night time - he can go 6 hours between wees. Unfortunately that can be 9.00 - 3.00 rather than midnight to 6.00 but again there's hope!
He comes when called, sits and is learning down providing there are no distractions
Eats well & no tummy problems
Howling & crying when put in puppy pen or crate or car are getting less each time
He's so cute when he runs. He bounds around the garden, being frightened by blowing leaves, falling over his feet & loving life
Bad points
Toileting - still very hit and miss. OH & I are getting much better at anticipating Madocs needs and getting him outside but he will still do a small wee outside then come in to do a big one!
Night time. Given half a chance is wide awake and raring to go at 5.30 - way too early for me
Mad half hours - quite funny when he's tearing around the coffee table in circles but he's started barking & biting wildly, mostly at me. He calms down after time outs so hoping to nip this one in the bud
Still howls & cries when he doesn't get what he wants
Doesn't like being groomed
Overall we're very happy though working hard at training Madoc and preventing him training us! Most importantly he's gorgeous, cuddly & I love him :luv: :luv:
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its time to do a proper one
GOOD POINTS
sleeps from about 12 to 6 or 7
toileting is improving accidents are becoming few and far between
she will go to sleep in her crate if i put her in in the day
loves grooming
training going fantastic easiest dog i have ever trained she knows sit, lie down, roll over, stand on her back legs, paw, and wait for her dinner !!!
BAD POINTS
biting she bites at my heels my hands and even my face >:D
chewing she chews everything my shoes my hair EVERYTHING
barking she barks a lot now, especially at my feet
growling it is play growling but it makes her hyper and then she bites harder !!! >:D
but no matter how bad she gets i love her to bits but when i tell HER that i say i love you to bitsets Rosie Posie baby ooooooh little baby ph34r :005: :005: :005:
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good points
independent, deosnt mind hanging out by herself
Will happily sleep 11 till 7, then be let out for a wee & go back till sleep till 10 (bliss this morning!)
Loves her food
Let's me play with & brush her ears
Enjoys fetching a ball
not so good points
Thinks cuddle time is play so tries to eat you alive, so no snuggles unless she's asleep & completely pooped
Deos sneaky wees & poos in house
Watches you on the toilet
Has started shredding her training pads
Eats every leaf, stone & every bit on nature in sight
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Ozzy is 12 1/2 weeks old and we've had him at home for 10 days now
GOOD POINTS
Doesn't wake us up at night - sleeps in his bed in his puppy playpen from about 10.30 until we get up about 6.30
The first two nights he neither peed nor poohed on the paper we put down (but think that was a fluke as he didn't eat much the first couple of days!)
Is happy to go in his playpen to sleep during the day
Seems to be getting the idea about poohing outside, and sometimes peeing.
BAD POINTS
Biting and hyperactivity are our biggest problems - he just doesn't react to the usual ploys to get a pup to learn not to bite - at our wits end to know what to do next, the more excited he gets the worse the biting is!
Pees and poohs on the paper at night
Eats everything in the garden - we've had to take a lot of plants out because we don't know what they are and whether they are poisonous or not
All in all, normal puppy behaviour, though. This is not our first puppy, but our first cocker spaniel, and it's a bit surprising to see how much more difficult he is to handle than our last two, which were golden retrievers.
The play-pen was our best buy - at least we can control his movements when he starts the zoomies, and we have got into the habit of putting him in there when he gets too excited - he calms down immediately, and usually just goes to sleep although sometimes he whines and whinges for a few minutes first.
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Ozzy is 12 1/2 weeks old and we've had him at home for 10 days now
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BAD POINTS
Biting and hyperactivity are our biggest problems - he just doesn't react to the usual ploys to get a pup to learn not to bite - at our wits end to know what to do next, the more excited he gets the worse the biting is!
Have you tried time outs? When Madoc gets hyper we've found that saying ow, trying to distract him or ignoring him has no effect. He gets a 20 - 30 sec time out in the downstairs loo then is let out without any fuss. We use the loo as there's nothing in there for him to destroy or play with and he doesn't go there otherwise. We've only used it about 4 times in 3 weeks but it seems to do the trick & stops him getting more and more excited
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Ozzy is 12 1/2 weeks old and we've had him at home for 10 days now
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BAD POINTS
Biting and hyperactivity are our biggest problems - he just doesn't react to the usual ploys to get a pup to learn not to bite - at our wits end to know what to do next, the more excited he gets the worse the biting is!
Have you tried time outs? When Madoc gets hyper we've found that saying ow, trying to distract him or ignoring him has no effect. He gets a 20 - 30 sec time out in the downstairs loo then is let out without any fuss. We use the loo as there's nothing in there for him to destroy or play with and he doesn't go there otherwise. We've only used it about 4 times in 3 weeks but it seems to do the trick & stops him getting more and more excited
please post this on the behaviour board as a separate thread if you want all members to see this problem and assist.
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Getting scared now... :005: Picking Gracie Mae up on the 20th of this month. I had forgotten all the 'not so good' times of adapting to a puppy in the house. Hey ho.....will be adding to this
post myself soon.
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Ozzy is 12 1/2 weeks old and we've had him at home for 10 days now
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BAD POINTS
Biting and hyperactivity are our biggest problems - he just doesn't react to the usual ploys to get a pup to learn not to bite - at our wits end to know what to do next, the more excited he gets the worse the biting is!
Have you tried time outs? When Madoc gets hyper we've found that saying ow, trying to distract him or ignoring him has no effect. He gets a 20 - 30 sec time out in the downstairs loo then is let out without any fuss. We use the loo as there's nothing in there for him to destroy or play with and he doesn't go there otherwise. We've only used it about 4 times in 3 weeks but it seems to do the trick & stops him getting more and more excited
Yes, we put him in his play pen, where he usually goes to sleep, but would prefer somewhere else! Still starts again next time he wakes up though! Will try the downstairs loo, sounds like a good place! Do you pick him up and take him to the loo?
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Yes, pick him up put him in, shut the door and time 20-30 secs on a watch. Open door but largely ignore him a minute or two after, he usually lies down and goes to sleep. If he wants attention get him to do a couple of sits & treat but nothing exciting