Bored puppy

Londonwriter

k.o.d wrote: »

I don't think you want a dog, you want Sherpa Tensing!!!! :eek:

You see my problem. Both of us want to be splashing through mud on the moors but, at the moment, we can't even go to the park together because he might get Parvo!

So he's stuck in our stupidly small house going bananas to burn off his excess energy, and I don't know what to do to ensure he doesn't pick up bad indoor habits.

The only thing I can do is think up increasingly involved games, but I only have so much time and imagination because I have to work, even if I'm at home!

Spudette

Get him a brain train game to keep him mentally active and warn out. lol.

suki1964

Londonwriter wrote: »

You see my problem. Both of us want to be splashing through mud on the moors but, at the moment, we can't even go to the park together because he might get Parvo!

So he's stuck in our stupidly small house going bananas to burn off his excess energy, and I don't know what to do to ensure he doesn't pick up bad indoor habits.

The only thing I can do is think up increasingly involved games, but I only have so much time and imagination because I have to work, even if I'm at home!

When is he due his second injection?

Now most vets and posters to this board will say dont take them out for a week after the second injection. I have always just waited 24 hours.

Now Im not telling you to follow suit, just going to say why I only wait the 24 hours.

Parvo can live on the ground live for months. You or anyone else who is coming back and forth to your house could have it on your shoes where it can live quite happily for months - infecting pups. My way of thinking is that MOST people who walk their dogs in parks have had their dogs inoculated, so a few days early (in my mind) is not going to make much difference, the risk is a lot less then it was say 20 years ago.

Yes Parvo is nasty and no you dont want pup to catch it. I certainly never want any pup I have the care of to catch it but in an urban area I would say the risk is a lot lower then people think

However thats MY thoughts and reasoning. Im not advising you in any way. Its up to you to do your own research and decide whats best for you and your pup.

Dont forget, when pup is ready for the big outdoors - its 10 minute walks at a time only. That should get you to the park and back but one there off lead is fine for 20 mins or so - as long as pup can stop and rest when he needs or you are prepared to carry soggy pup home:D

My spaniels I usually walk twice a day at that age for about that length of time. Once in the park I do say 10 mins of recall training and sit and stay etc - its usually enough to wear them out for five mins:D

As for wearing them out when older, I can easily recall 5 hour walks as adults and straight to the toy box the minute we are in through the door looking to play tug

Londonwriter

suki1964 wrote: »

When is he due his second injection?

A week before the vet will vaccinate him. I asked if, because he had his first set at seven weeks, it was enough to simply have a two-week gap and do the second set at 9. However, they insist 10 weeks...

I'm not sure about safety. It's an urban area, but the park has deer in (SW London), which I know carry some diseases.

Thanks for recommending a ten-minute walk and then extra unstructured play time. I'd been told he should only walk for 15 minutes and was bemused. He rushes about our living room non-stop for more than 15 minutes now - I was worried he was hurting his own legs!

Spudette wrote:

Get him a brain train game to keep him mentally active and warn out. lol.

He has three - a Dog Fighter, a Dog Brick and a Tornado. There's no point now in the dog brick and tornado - he empties both really quickly so they're only useful for serving his meals in.

He still uses a bit of trial and error with the Dog Fighter, but he mostly has the hang of it now. As such, it keeps him entertained for minutes at the most.

Kimitatsu

Whilst he is rushing around though he has the capability to stop at any time - spaniels only have two speeds full on and full off!!

If you take him out for a walk for any longer you may push him further than he would normally go and he may end up straining himself, or as he gets bigger you will have to carry him, ok now whislt he is little but he will grow quickly and they are heavy.

A healthy puppy will eat when he is hungry and sleep when he is tired he wont hurt himself by playing too much

suki1964

Londonwriter wrote: »

A week before the vet will vaccinate him. I asked if, because he had his first set at seven weeks, it was enough to simply have a two-week gap and do the second set at 9. However, they insist 10 weeks...

I'm not sure about safety. It's an urban area, but the park has deer in (SW London), which I know carry some diseases.

Thanks for recommending a ten-minute walk and then extra unstructured play time. I'd been told he should only walk for 15 minutes and was bemused. He rushes about our living room non-stop for more than 15 minutes now - I was worried he was hurting his own legs!



He has three - a Dog Fighter, a Dog Brick and a Tornado. There's no point now in the dog brick and tornado - he empties both really quickly so they're only useful for serving his meals in.

He still uses a bit of trial and error with the Dog Fighter, but he mostly has the hang of it now. As such, it keeps him entertained for minutes at the most.

Richmond Park - many happy walks and swims my dogs have had there. And Wimbledon Common. Once took my last lad there for three hours, walked him the five miles home and still he had his toys out when we got in:eek:

I think you have more to worry about with Tics and Fleas - make sure you speak to the vet about what flea/tic treatments are suitable for a young pup if you intend walking there. Im not sure you can use a tic treatment so young so you may have to arm yourself with a tic hook

Do you use dry food? Dont know if you have tried it yet but hiding the food around the house to let him find his dinner can keep him occupied for a while.

Im at a loss as to what else to suggest. Ive never had to work from home with young pups so have been able to spend all my time with them and usually them following me about and attacking the mop and broom and shredding newspapers and playing with empty coke bottles has always been enough - between the bouts of training

Anyways , one week down - one week to go - theres light at the end of the tunnel. And we cant always have everything perfect, you are doing your best and thats good enough

k.o.d

These are our Cockers, can you imagine them going for a 74 mile hike? :eek:

Also how true is it that they have never been told they are not human? That is MY side of the bed!!! :rotfl:

Rosie75

I have two working cockers as well. They are great dogs, but I do remember those couple of weeks before the youngest was old enough to go out for walks as being complete hell. For a while, I thought there was something wrong with him - canine ADHD, or something. Thank god for the puppy pen, or the house would have been wrecked. They do calm down, eventually, but not until they're about two years old. You'll find that the first few weeks of having walks makes him a bit quieter, but then he'll start behaving like a loon again, and that will probably go on for a few months (I remember 5 months old as being particularly bad).

The thing we like about working cockers is that they love sitting on your lap / the sofa / sleeping on the bed, but they can also take a 40-mile hillwalk in their stride.

mum26

Such perfect descriptions of Cockers

My mum and dad bred working cockers and they are such wonderful dogs but yes, whirlwinds who think they are human hits the nail on the head.

They are also houdini dogs, one of my mum's could scale 6 ft metal kennel run fences, easily.

They also seem to go full pelt for a long time if kept in good condition, My mum and dad's eldest is getting on for 13 / 14 now and is only just starting to slow down now, she will still decide to take a detour on a walk if she feels like it

Hopefully things will be easier when he can go for walks but they really are not a great breed to expect to sit on a bed sleeping all day.

mum26

Mum's eldest one likes to sit on the kitchen stools at the central island unit