Oh that's so lush, mmmmm. I only buy it very very rarely
Getting desperate!
- Thread starter Georgesmum
- Start date
- Location
- Isle of Man
I'll celebrate with you with a cup of coffee - I'm Des for OH tonight - I have to pick him up from the pub later.
- Location
- Alfreton, Derbyshire
I bought it the day before Christmas Eve, and I’ve only had a few out of it, then my son bought me a bottle of JD original for Christmas, a bloke at work gave me 90%of a bottle of JD apple, lol I could get totally plastered, but I only have one every so often so it will last a very long time
- Location
- East Sussex
Cardboard boxes (big thick ones) make good chew toys. We found them really useful when Molly was a crocopup - they would keep her occupied for some time. And as others have said they do grow out of it - I was bleeding daily when Molly was small, but she's very gentle now. Oh yes and empty plastic bottles with a few bits of kibble in them are noisy but also keep puppies busy.
But be warned some puppies will eat the cardboard and make themselves sick, just see what they do and do not leave them alone with things that they could eat. Rory was one of those pups that ate everything.
- Location
- East Sussex
Yes I wouldn't leave a puppy alone with a box but it can buy you five minutes peace while you watch the crazy antics!
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Also, on the theme of boxes, if it's one of those Amazon-type boxes that have the cross-hatched cotton in the joint tapes, make sure you remove all that, as it can cause serious problems in the intestine.
But boxes are a brilliant distraction. You can also fill a box with stuff - scrunched up newspaper (or the packing paper you get with some deliveries), other small boxes, unopened food tins etc, then sprinkle some kibble in it, so he has to hunt around in it. If you put things in the box that might clatter a little bit (such as metal spoons etc) then it might help build resilience to unexpected noises, too.
But boxes are a brilliant distraction. You can also fill a box with stuff - scrunched up newspaper (or the packing paper you get with some deliveries), other small boxes, unopened food tins etc, then sprinkle some kibble in it, so he has to hunt around in it. If you put things in the box that might clatter a little bit (such as metal spoons etc) then it might help build resilience to unexpected noises, too.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Empty milk containers with some kibble inside and put inside an old sock were one of Cassie's favourite things as a puppy.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Actually, I think it still would be, she always looks a bit crestfallen when she sees an empty carton go in the recycling!
- Location
- East Sussex
Yes, Plum liked a plastic bottle with bits inside that made a noise as she pounced on it.
She hardly ever plays with her toys now
.
There was a time that every evening, at a certain time, she would play with a toy from her toy box or bring me a toy I could play with her (ball or tuggy thing). I’m not sure when she stopped doing this but she only does it a few times a month now and it’s very half-hearted even then. She’s just snuggles now.
She hardly ever plays with her toys now
.There was a time that every evening, at a certain time, she would play with a toy from her toy box or bring me a toy I could play with her (ball or tuggy thing). I’m not sure when she stopped doing this but she only does it a few times a month now and it’s very half-hearted even then. She’s just snuggles now.
Rory still plays,. He just likes to muck about. He invents games when we are out and we play often. Every evening we have to play find croccy etc. On walks we play I'm just his entertainer. He's always been this way he will often do stuff to get me to play and play tricks on me, it's just Rory he's still such fun. When he was a pup I used to take a rucksack full of toys on a walk to keep him entertained. It was a good way to keep him close and now he sticks with me. I love him and his tormenting I like it if that makes sense? Poised for action.
- Location
- Alfreton, Derbyshire
George is just not getting the click for quiet thing at all 
I bought a new clicker, which is louder than the one I found in a draw, I cut up some cheese and some chicken and some puppy treats, I got him to realise what the clicker meant by clicking and treating without him having to do anything at all. Then I sat in front of the crate with the door open and clicked and treated if he stayed inside nicely, which he did, I shut the door then opened it straight away, quite a few times, he just looked at me. Then I shut the door and I moved a bit away from the crate, clicking for quiet every couple of seconds, so far so good, then I left the room, literally for a millisecond and he practically threw himself at the door and screamed like a maniac, so I waited for quiet and clicked and treated, over and over again for 20 minutes, he throws a wobbly every time I leave the room even for a second to start with, then he’ll go to bed and carry on whining and moaning for what seems like an eternity, then he’ll stop, and I go in to treat him and he’s laying down in his bed, I can’t not treat him then, but as soon as I do he comes out of his bed and starts again, even if I’m still there arrrrrghhhhhhh
This probably reads like no sense at all, please tell me what I’m doing wrong if I am?or would it be better just to let him get in with it and ignore him till he stops screaming ?
I bought a new clicker, which is louder than the one I found in a draw, I cut up some cheese and some chicken and some puppy treats, I got him to realise what the clicker meant by clicking and treating without him having to do anything at all. Then I sat in front of the crate with the door open and clicked and treated if he stayed inside nicely, which he did, I shut the door then opened it straight away, quite a few times, he just looked at me. Then I shut the door and I moved a bit away from the crate, clicking for quiet every couple of seconds, so far so good, then I left the room, literally for a millisecond and he practically threw himself at the door and screamed like a maniac, so I waited for quiet and clicked and treated, over and over again for 20 minutes, he throws a wobbly every time I leave the room even for a second to start with, then he’ll go to bed and carry on whining and moaning for what seems like an eternity, then he’ll stop, and I go in to treat him and he’s laying down in his bed, I can’t not treat him then, but as soon as I do he comes out of his bed and starts again, even if I’m still there arrrrrghhhhhhhThis probably reads like no sense at all, please tell me what I’m doing wrong if I am?or would it be better just to let him get in with it and ignore him till he stops screaming ?
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
I'm no expert. But I think you are expecting instant results. It might just take a little longer. With more repetition. Short frequent bursts of training.
Some of those with more expertise may be able to chip in more useful stuff.
I know if probably feels like you have had him forever. It's such an immersion experience particularly on your own, but he is still a baby x
Some of those with more expertise may be able to chip in more useful stuff.
I know if probably feels like you have had him forever. It's such an immersion experience particularly on your own, but he is still a baby x
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
When I did click for quiet it took weeks for it to “click” 
but when it did we progressed quite quickly.
We had to build up to just the other side of the room, then literally walk out and straight back in not even counting to one. Just straight out and in.
Then 2 seconds, then 3.
But then you get to 1 minute and you can go to 1 minute 15 seconds. And from 3 minutes to 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
By the time we go to 10 minutes he was absolutely fine. The whole thing took us about 2 weeks but we absolutely made sure he was not left alone (except at bed time) the rest of the time so he didn’t go back some steps x
but when it did we progressed quite quickly.We had to build up to just the other side of the room, then literally walk out and straight back in not even counting to one. Just straight out and in.
Then 2 seconds, then 3.
But then you get to 1 minute and you can go to 1 minute 15 seconds. And from 3 minutes to 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
By the time we go to 10 minutes he was absolutely fine. The whole thing took us about 2 weeks but we absolutely made sure he was not left alone (except at bed time) the rest of the time so he didn’t go back some steps x
@Jen ’s experiences are definitely useful, and I wondered if your training sessions might be a bit long? As @Jacqui-S says, little and often; for a young pup 20 mins might be too tiring so try 5 mins, have a break, do another 5 and try to end on a positive, even if it means a really easy (short duration) finish. Keep it up though, and in a week you’ll notice a difference 
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Just wondering how you’re getting along this week? Everything going ok?
- Location
- Alfreton, Derbyshire
Pretty shit actually, I’m seriously considering sending him back to his breeder, I feel a total failure and I should not (on reflection, hindsight is fabulous) have got a puppy, I enormously underestimated how hard it would be! You can all judge if you like, i dont really care anymore.I’ve tried really hard with him, but we just don’t click, Ive been on my own with him for 3 weeks now and yes he has his good points obviously but they are not consistent enough to focus solely on. So there you go, I’ve got to make the worst decision I’ve had to make in a long time, but at the end of the day, it’s my life and if I feel I can’t continue the way we’re going then it’s better for both of us in the long run
