- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Haha!
Otter's Puppy Log
- Thread starter Beanwood
- Start date
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Oh, you are bad!! Good thing it's your birthday so you get a free pass.... so well rested
Beanwood
Administrator
The last two mornings Otter has treated me to a lie-in, and has woken up at 6 am, bliss! Then it's go, go GO! She really is a full-on pup compared to Bramble at the same age 
We are sort of falling into a (very) vague routine now, up early, a quick wee, back in then for a light snack while I sort the big dogs out. Then we have a short, training session in the kitchen whilst the big dogs have a kong. After that, we all take a stroll in the garden.
7 am is breakfast! Yayyyy! Otter gets fed in her crate, I don't ask for anything from her in terms of behaviour, for example, sit, or stay - just happy for her to bounce into her crate! I will be introducing a whistle recall soon, but right now it is pretty important we pair crate = FOOD! Big dogs also get a small brekkie. Otter then gets a kong to give me time to pop out and check on the chooks, or a quick clean up in the kitchen.
7 am - 8 am Otter just potters, depending on whether OH is out to the office, he comes down and I take the big dogs out for a walk around 7.20 am for 30mins. Then back a few mins gentle play all together, Otter starts to wind down for a longish snooze, until around 10ish in her crate. This does vary though, but I do like her to have a decent sleep around mid-morning. When she is winding down in her crate, but awake I wander past and drop a few pieces of kibble into her crate, popping out of sight for up to a minute, then back again, rinse and repeat. When she finally nods off, she sleeps well and is not anxious or worried by sounds ie: barking, the TV, noises from the garden (doors are wide open...)
10 am - 12 - More games, training, snuffle mat, toys, interacting with the big dogs - then midday she gets lunch and some downtime in the crate. ....
Right need to stop for a bit, need more coffee! Then back to talk about the rest of the day and habituation/socialisation so far!
In the meantime, Otter gets used to her new harness! 
We are sort of falling into a (very) vague routine now, up early, a quick wee, back in then for a light snack while I sort the big dogs out. Then we have a short, training session in the kitchen whilst the big dogs have a kong. After that, we all take a stroll in the garden.
7 am is breakfast! Yayyyy! Otter gets fed in her crate, I don't ask for anything from her in terms of behaviour, for example, sit, or stay - just happy for her to bounce into her crate! I will be introducing a whistle recall soon, but right now it is pretty important we pair crate = FOOD! Big dogs also get a small brekkie. Otter then gets a kong to give me time to pop out and check on the chooks, or a quick clean up in the kitchen.
7 am - 8 am Otter just potters, depending on whether OH is out to the office, he comes down and I take the big dogs out for a walk around 7.20 am for 30mins. Then back a few mins gentle play all together, Otter starts to wind down for a longish snooze, until around 10ish in her crate. This does vary though, but I do like her to have a decent sleep around mid-morning. When she is winding down in her crate, but awake I wander past and drop a few pieces of kibble into her crate, popping out of sight for up to a minute, then back again, rinse and repeat. When she finally nods off, she sleeps well and is not anxious or worried by sounds ie: barking, the TV, noises from the garden (doors are wide open...)
10 am - 12 - More games, training, snuffle mat, toys, interacting with the big dogs - then midday she gets lunch and some downtime in the crate. ....
Right need to stop for a bit, need more coffee! Then back to talk about the rest of the day and habituation/socialisation so far!
In the meantime, Otter gets used to her new harness! 
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
She’s amazingly gentle!
All my pups have been total crocapups with Tatze, hanging off her neck, ears and other bits - when they are little I often need to rescue Tatze!
.
All my pups have been total crocapups with Tatze, hanging off her neck, ears and other bits - when they are little I often need to rescue Tatze!
.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Aww, Benson just loves her, doesn't he? 
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
I can't decide whether I love Otter or Benson more.
They are both just adorable
I wish Lilly was like this with puppies......eh @Sophiedoodle ?
They are both just adorable
I wish Lilly was like this with puppies......eh @Sophiedoodle ?
Beanwood
Administrator
I'm back! 
So back to the harness. A super soft harness from Puppia size medium, she really is a wee little thing! Weighing 7kg at 9 weeks old
More info on PUPPIA harness
We introduced the harness slowly, to enable her to become familiar and not stressed about wearing it. First I placed the harness behind my back, then showed her the harness and let her sniff, offered a treat, popped it back behind my back. Rinse and repeat. Then placed the harness against her head, gave a treat, rinse and repeat, stopped at that point and left for a day. Went back and started the whole process again, only this time increasing duration, then popping the harness over her head, then straight off again. Finally, popped the harness on, and let her play with Benson whilst wearing the harness. The aim all the time is to pair the harness with a positive experience, and not lots of unfamiliar "things" happening at once, for example, harness goes on, lead attaches, gets picked up, taken to the car, popped in a crate. etc....By breaking it down in bite-sized chunks Otter becomes familiar and comfortable with the whole process without any negative associations with the harness at this stage.
So back to the harness. A super soft harness from Puppia size medium, she really is a wee little thing! Weighing 7kg at 9 weeks old
More info on PUPPIA harness
We introduced the harness slowly, to enable her to become familiar and not stressed about wearing it. First I placed the harness behind my back, then showed her the harness and let her sniff, offered a treat, popped it back behind my back. Rinse and repeat. Then placed the harness against her head, gave a treat, rinse and repeat, stopped at that point and left for a day. Went back and started the whole process again, only this time increasing duration, then popping the harness over her head, then straight off again. Finally, popped the harness on, and let her play with Benson whilst wearing the harness. The aim all the time is to pair the harness with a positive experience, and not lots of unfamiliar "things" happening at once, for example, harness goes on, lead attaches, gets picked up, taken to the car, popped in a crate. etc....By breaking it down in bite-sized chunks Otter becomes familiar and comfortable with the whole process without any negative associations with the harness at this stage.
- Location
- East Sussex
I'm really enjoying your puppy diary and I just love Benson's response to Otter.
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Benson and Otter are going to be a force to be reckoned with , I can just see it 
They are both adorable x
They are both adorable x
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
Benson is a super star he really is. Little Otter is a minx!! xx
xx
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Benson is just gorgeous with the pups. Such a wonderful boy 
Beanwood
Administrator
This afternoon I was feeling a bit under the weather, so I popped upstairs for a nap, leaving @Mr Beanwood in charge. Had a lovely doze and came downstairs with that woolly head feeling you after napping in the day. Walk into our front room, patio doors open, and the scene is straight out of labageddon! 
FOUR labradors totally overexcited and flying in all directions..
toys EVERYWHERE! Otter spots me, and with laser accuracy, she flies in my direction like some mini but deadly Exocet missile her little sharp teeth find every exposed part of my body....jeez! I search desperately for anything for her to sink her needles into, I find a lone croc....that will do for now...really??? Nope, what was I thinking? A croc...she is back at me with renewed energy. Eventually, my saviour comes in the form of a squirrel stuffie.
It took a while to calm her down, but we worked at it with some clicker games, focus on my face was a good one, although with her excitement we kept the criteria very low to start. Then a plaice chew from green & wilds before a bit of downtime in her crate. Seriously though hyper puppies are not fun! They find it very difficult to self manage their arousal.
FOUR labradors totally overexcited and flying in all directions.. toys EVERYWHERE! Otter spots me, and with laser accuracy, she flies in my direction like some mini but deadly Exocet missile her little sharp teeth find every exposed part of my body....jeez! I search desperately for anything for her to sink her needles into, I find a lone croc....that will do for now...really??? Nope, what was I thinking? A croc...she is back at me with renewed energy. Eventually, my saviour comes in the form of a squirrel stuffie.It took a while to calm her down, but we worked at it with some clicker games, focus on my face was a good one, although with her excitement we kept the criteria very low to start. Then a plaice chew from green & wilds before a bit of downtime in her crate. Seriously though hyper puppies are not fun! They find it very difficult to self manage their arousal.
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Gosh, Kate...are you saying @Mr Beanwood had them all playing with wild abandon for hours on end? I would have never thunk it. 
Beanwood
Administrator
Playing mat games with Otter in the garden. Targetting the mat by initially throwing treats onto the mat, any move towards the target got a click and a treat thrown onto the mat. Later, the mat game will play a role in early separation prevention games, more on that later.
Anyhow, through the patio glass I spied 3 unhappy labbies looking out on us (Casper, in particular, was wearing an expression of abject misery!), so....well you guessed it!
Love to know what Benson was saying to Otter.....any thoughts?
Anyhow, through the patio glass I spied 3 unhappy labbies looking out on us (Casper, in particular, was wearing an expression of abject misery!), so....well you guessed it!
Love to know what Benson was saying to Otter.....any thoughts?
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Little one seems to have grown like a weed already and looks very thoughtful as she sits on her mat. I think she is going to be very intelligent.