Meet Oberyn, my new puppy

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Sarah_K

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Hi all,

I posted a little while ago about not enjoying life petless. This has now all changed :) Meet Oberyn, or Obie for short. He's a Bichon cross and very, very small. In fact I hadn't realised quite how small until I put the collar on that I'd bought for him. Too big!

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Since arriving, he's done a lot of this:

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Yes, he's sleeping in a cat carrier. I have a proper bed for him but I think he finds this one a bit more snug.

For some bizarre reason, my sister thought he was a Labrador (no idea where she got that idea from). Thinking he'd grow up to be a gun dog she bought him a pheasant present. It's as big as him!

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It's still his favourite toy, maybe he can be a gun dog for someone who shoots sparrows :)

He's done a bit more of this too.

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He's had his first trip to the vet's but he didn't enjoy it very much. Weighed in at a stonking 990grams. He's also been to a puppy party, but everyone else there was 4 times his size so he was a bit shy. He's made friends with one of my parents cats, the cat's have realised that when he gets fed they have a chance to steal some. Obviously until he's had his second jab he's restricted to the garden, but when you're small a small garden feels quite big

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He's progressing nicely with house training- in fact he's learned to use my parents cat litter tray. Saves him from having to go outside when it's too cold (or so he thinks). :) I didn't train him to do that, he trained himself. He's a total chewer- I thought I'd puppy proofed the house but he can fit in places I can't reach my arms under. Thank goodness for a wardrobe delivery just before I got him. I've used the cardboard from that to block off the underneath of chests of drawers, wardrobes sideboards etc.

He's signed up for puppy training in the New Year. Although he's very sociable with people he's a bit scared of other dogs. The puppy parties are off for the next 2 weeks so he's only got one more he can go to. I'd like him to be a bit more confident with other dogs and I don't know anyone who has a small dog which is up to date with jabs.

All in all, he's a joy to have around. Even my mother who isn't a dog fan has fallen for him. Looking forward now to being able to take him for walks to try and burn off some of that puppy energy :)
 
He is lovely. Where abouts are you? Perhaps someone on here would have a friendly little dog who could help him. Puppy parties always look like disasters waiting to happen to me.
 
A very sensible lady I know says don't socialise, get your pup to be dog neutral. This is exactly how my older boy is, he just ignores. I'm not interested in having a sociable dog, I want their attention focused on me and for them to ignore other dogs, so I wouldn't go to puppy parties.

Love the pheasant toy, it's vast!
 
cinnamontoast said:
A very sensible lady I know says don't socialise, get your pup to be dog neutral. This is exactly how my older boy is, he just ignores. I'm not interested in having a sociable dog, I want their attention focused on me and for them to ignore other dogs, so I wouldn't go to puppy parties.

Love the pheasant toy, it's vast!
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My dogs are all dog neutral but have done it by socialising them, you could bring a strange dog into my house and my dogs would not react, they are so used to strange dogs coming they are not that bothered but they are dog friendly and have their own outside special doggy friends.
 
Even though he can't go out on proper walks, you can take him out on "carry" walks - show him things, go to a main road and let him get used to cars going past, walk around the park and see (but not have contact with) other dogs, take him in the pet shop or to the pub and let him get used to people petting him (as I'm sure they'll want to, he sounds adorable!). You can do lots of socialising without having to put him on the ground or in contact with other dogs. Let hoim see pushchairs, wheelchairs, people with walking sticks, suitcases, bikes, and reward with treats when he doesn't show any fear or reaction. If he is frightened by something back off and look at it from further away, and reward when he is settled again. Ideally you should do plenty of this before he gets to 12 weeks if possible, so don't let the lack of puppy parties over the Christmas period set you back - get out there and introduce him to the world :-)
In this instance socialising dogs doesn't mean "allowing them to play with each other" - that is something altogether separate, and something which I now wish I'd never let mine do, as I now have no recall when other dogs are about. My own fault and will take a long time to correct! Socialising a puppy just means getting him used to all the normal sights and sounds he will have to deal with in life, without being reactive.
 
Sweet pup. I don't really like puppy parties, it allows bullies to bully and the weak to be trodden upon. Lots of dogs cope with them perfectly fine. Others don't.
My dog ran in a pack of big strong dogs as a pup and combined with being jumped on by other strange dogs in his youth, I now have to manage him and like CT, I want him to be neutral to other dogs and people, not everybody's best mate. I thought I was 'socialising' him but it didn't work out that way. Genetics is also a factor...some dogs are more mentally strong/accepting of environmental changes than others.

Agree with Ponyparty's techniques, very sensible.
 
There's socialising and then there is socialising..... socialising does not mean a free for all and any good trainer will manage this.
 
Thanks everyone for the lovely comments and the advice. Been a crazy end to the week with making sure Obie is taken out every hour or two, year end billing and the inevitable Xmas present wrapping :) Have to admit, I'd totally forgotten how much hard work goes into looking after a young pup, but I'm really enjoying it.

I've been taking him out (carried) to as many places as I can. He's seen cars, bikes, horses and wagons although he's a bit worried about the wagons. He's also been to pets at home a couple of times which he seemed quite happy about. Think it was the smell of food- he isn't food orientated though for bits of training, prefers the reward of that bloomin pheasant toy. He's also got my OH wrapped around his paw :)

For those asking, the Mother is a bichon, Father is presumed to be possibly a chihuahua. He came via a friend of a work colleague who fostered the bitch for a local rescue charity while she was pregnant. She had 5 pups, all of whom had been rehomed apart from him.
 
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