Steph M

That's a little bit different. I imagine OP has her plate entirely full right now, and we only know what we've read, so the management in place sounds like it's been pretty darn impressive, and more than some people with no kids/attachments/etc have in place. Some people can't even seem to keep a dog behind a fence in a yard, so kudos to you. If OP feels like they can't trust the dog and have to be constantly on edge because of it they're going to miss out on some lovely stuff with both kid and dog, and both will pick up on this stress, I imagine. Everyone who's said the dog won't suffer old age and strain is on a similar page to me. Gosh, it could be worse, OP could have done what some other dropkicks do and dropped him off at a pound, or put him on gumtree as FTGH for the next person to deal with.

Yeah, I just texted next door who've popped their head over to see him playing with his rope bone on the deck. I knew he'd be ok, more worried about the other half fretting than the dog! Was really just checking to see I wasn't missing anything crucial. We do give him time alone, just probably not as much as he should get. He's happy to entertain himself when we aren't around but he always knows when we are and I think that's where the hissy fit starts. I've got some work to do on OH regarding being more of a hard ass, but the dog is fine

I put some of Gus being a drama queen after his first bath in the photos thread. He's such a monkey. Last night he found a squeaky toy in his bed and proceeded to honk at it every 2 seconds for an hour at 4am. I will look harder for the noisy ones tonight. I am so pooped today!

I know. The grass is frozen long after I leave for work. Last night he woke up for a pee at 4 and looked at me like 'are you sure I can't just do it here?' My wipers were frozen to the windshield. I find it hard to get joy from these mornings.

We play a mean game of soccer in the yard, which is basically me kicking a ball to myself while he chases it like a loon. But you're right, we could make the laundry more fun. Might get a special 'outside only' toy too. Something really fun. I can do the shirt thing, he does like to nap on OH's jeans. I think he'll cope fine and dandy, just trying to minimise the stress on all of us. Haha.

He's a flat coated retriever. Total monkey!

I agree, and we're slowly working on it (putting him outside for an hour at lunch etc) but there's only so many chances to be away from home when you work there. I don't think it's a matter of how cute he is or not, just that while we're toilet training and he's home all the time, it's not so easy. Personally I'd much rather leave him to his own devices and to do his own thing, but that is easier said than done in our house. Rest assured, we're getting there. But you've gotta start somewhere, and the first big hurdle is tomorrow. Just checking to see we're headed in the right general direction.

It's the reaction we all have...she can be comforted by that.

He's not getting much in the way of walks yet, being a large breed and not yet had his second vacc, but we play a good game of tug and do some quick training! I don't make a big deal of it, I just scoot out the door, more cause I am always running late than any careful planning! Who doesn't!? Lucky they took Jerry Springer off, never know what he might learn! You'll rot their brains! It's the ABC around here...largely because there are no fat blasting, tummy tightening, fabo vacuum cleaner ads to stress them out. And I'm not gonna get started on the insurance ads, they are too young to worry about me popping my clogs and leaving them with no income. :laugh: I don't want them panicking over the state of the world either, I'll be putting on a Disney movie (not Up! though! ) and that's that. :doh:I didn't think of this. (not being an ABC watcher myself.) I can picture Dory and Willow worrying about Turkey, growing unemployment and Tony Abbot. Haha.

We have a shell sandpit in the shed if need be. Will get it out once it stops raining. Would rather it not be a mudbath...

Nope, no digging so far. He's really very good. Likes to eat my Kale and Spinach plants, but hey, extra vitamins!

He's not getting much in the way of walks yet, being a large breed and not yet had his second vacc, but we play a good game of tug and do some quick training! I don't make a big deal of it, I just scoot out the door, more cause I am always running late than any careful planning! Who doesn't!? Lucky they took Jerry Springer off, never know what he might learn! You'll rot their brains! It's the ABC around here...largely because there are no fat blasting, tummy tightening, fabo vacuum cleaner ads to stress them out. And I'm not gonna get started on the insurance ads, they are too young to worry about me popping my clogs and leaving them with no income. :laugh: I don't want them panicking over the state of the world either, I'll be putting on a Disney movie (not Up! though! ) and that's that.

I can understand why your partner is fretting. I used to shove my puppy in a crate when I was out. That was before I knew about crate training. The most important thing - is not to reward the puppy for "carrying on" so I play a game that is akin to a kids play ground game "what's the time mr wolf" or "creepy up" ie if the puppy is misbehaving - I back off turn and walk away, but if the puppy is behaving how I want, I approach and reward with treats through the top or let the puppy out. Puppy is supposed to sit and let me attach the lead first, but we're still working on that. She doesn't bolt out the door - which is my strict criteria. The other thing I do that I think helped - was I'd set the puppy up for me going out and then I'd go out and shut the door and then I'd go back cos I forgot my sunglasses, and then I'd go out, and then I'd go back cos I'd forgot my umbrella and then I'd go out and then I'd remember I'd forgot... repeat for coat, notebook, last minute pitstop, lunch, coffee thermos, chair, phone, turn the iron off (I have one that turns itself off and I haven't used it for years. .... And I'd also go out, walk around the block and listen for noise... and I'd tell my neighbours, and check back with them if they heard anything... Essentially - you do heaps of repetitions of what you want, only reward the good behaviour, and start with really short periods of time and build up by varying amounts more or less - but increasing the average time... And some puppies just don't get over it. And then you have to try other things or consider doggy day care or someone to visit at lunch time or maybe even another (calmer) puppy (though you'd want to be careful about this, sometimes a second dog can make things worse). He's a bit of a softy. I might invest in earplugs, sounds silly but he feels awful when he really gets going, which does sound like he's being eaten alive. I do a similar thing at night, he knows to go on his bed, so if he whines after a toilet trip, I send him to bed and he gets a treat and he's pretty good and will crash again. I think if we were considering another dog it'd be an older one. This puppy thing is exhausting! Eventually I'd like to adopt a pal for him, but we're not ready yet. He's way too impressionable! Thanks for the pointers, I might do just that. Start with some more trips to the shop and in and out of the house.

He's not getting much in the way of walks yet, being a large breed and not yet had his second vacc, but we play a good game of tug and do some quick training! I don't make a big deal of it, I just scoot out the door, more cause I am always running late than any careful planning! Who doesn't!? Lucky they took Jerry Springer off, never know what he might learn!

Sorry to sound so blunt, that was rude. I apologise! Feeling sick and sorry for myself!

I leave at about 7 and he's on his own til about 10 or so while the other half sleeps in a bit (works late ) He only carries on for a while and takes himself to bed, then he eats his lunch outside and plays for an hour. I honestly was just asking for pointers, not to be told how wrong I've been doing it.

Helloooo. Our lovely little monster is embarking on his first full day home alone tomorrow. By full day I mean from about 1-6 or so. My plan of attack is to leave him gated in the laundry with the door open to the backyard, his bed, lunch, lots of toys, water, tasty things to chew and a kong. Possibly leaving the radio on but not sure that's essential. What are we missing? What can we do to minimise stress? He hasn't had -lots- of time alone in the last few weeks, partner works from home 4 days a week but has been popping him outside on his own for an hour or so a day but he does carry on. Am I right to assume he'll get over it when he doesn't get a reaction or realises no one is home? I've left him home to go to the shops etc and find he just sleeps, but I am a bit tougher than OH. Anyone wanna try training him up? The ultimate challenge! So really, what can we do to make sure the neighbours don't hate us and puppy isn't a misery all day? (Might drop in next door on my way to work and give them the heads up)

Hoping no news is good news.

He should be put down. He's not a person in my books. How can you allow him back into society?

What a scumbag. Deserves every day he gets. Poor pup, takes a real man to do that.

We had a 'puppy warming', where my friends came to meet Gus and we had a bbq and he got spoiled rotten. Got some lovely presents and more cuddles than he knew what to do with!

It's just a fart if you're lucky. You know that! Baby poo faces are hilarious. Such concentration!

I'll get the monkey to sit still at some point! All the photos I have are of him sleeping/sleepy. Haha. His new fav game is to run full pelt up to his cat friend, bowl him over and groom his face (bonus points if he's just had a big drink). Hector just gives him a long suffering look and you can almost see him sigh. Haha.

Please don't hesitate to ask me (or anyone else I am sure) if there's anything anyone can do. You must be heartbroken, but if there is anything at all, even a chat, please ask. So so sorry.

Play can be used as a reward. My preference isn't to do that though. My preference is for puppies to be socialised with appropriate adult dogs. I guess the two dramas you need to watch out for is, one, the puppy learning that other dogs are way more fun than you and two, the puppy thinking that boisterous OTT rudeness is how to interact with other dogs. So JackC if you keep in mind that what you want pup to learn is that you are the most fun thing in the world, and that he needs to have manners and be able to focus on you then you will be fine :) Edit for autocorrect He gets a good mix of both, my mum has two dogs who have been quick to put him in his place when he's being too much, and I am quite happy with that. He also is very careful with the little pups who didn't want to play and totally steered clear, so I think he's just matching his new friends. He doesn't jump all over other dogs, but this little guy was inviting it. Can't blame either too much. And like I said, he still recalled with the promise of a decent treat, he's good on the lead on the street and we do lots of games and training at home, so we're very popular. I agree, but I love to think he can still get a lot of joy from other things. Lots of training ahead regardless, but so far we're all very happy.