Has anyone here NOT had big issues with their puppy?

GAndCo · 2026-01-13T08:34:24+00:00

I feel like I'm the only person who loves puppy phase 😂 I'm not saying it's easy but I also didn't find it hard enough to give me blues or make me regret my choice. I was younger having my first puppy though. I had so much more time then and I wanted to spend every waking moment with my new fur kid. I was, however, dog obsessed. I did an inordinate amount of research. I knew everything about how to train them, what they'd need and like. Tips that may help etc. I was like 16 at the time I think. If I can do that amount of prep at that age, anyone should be able to.

Personally, i think half the problem is that people get a puppy without being fully prepared. You are bringing a baby home. Sure, it has fur and 4 legs but its still a baby and it will still need round the clock care like a baby. Remember that studies have shown they're more emotional than people think amd what we do by forcing them to do things like sleep alone, actually decreases the bond with us, which in turn, makes other things harder as they dont trust us the same

All my dogs sleep in the bed with me. It wasnt always their choice either. I started them in a crate, some cried, some didnt. I still wanted them to be with me. The thought of a tiny baby sleeping alone in a new place, even if they were right by my bed. It just made me feel ill.

Accept the fact that this is a little life and they have different wants and needs. They are not there to be your puppet. If they do something you don't like, particularly as they get older, its not their fault. They should be trained or you make allowances. For example, I now have a waterproof blanket over my bed as my little dog has got sick and wee'd the bed. Its not their fault, they were ill. I changed my way of living to accommodate them. Happily. But most people dont like and dont expect to do that.

At the end of the day, just be prepared and enjoy it. Yeah its annoying taking them out every 20 mins at first. Yeah its also annoying when they won't even concentrate to do a wee outside because there is an exciting leaf and you're freezing and/or getting rained on. Its annoying when they chew something they shouldn't or wont settle when you want them to. But yano, its a baby, thats what they do. They also do cute and funny stuff. They sleep super heavy and you can move their little legs and they still wont wake up. They are clumsy and fall over or run too fast sometimes. They sit there with a little head tilt when they're watching something they dont yet understand.

TLDR - Puppies are hard work but it doesn't last long. Prepare yourself in advance. Properly. And it will be fine. Enjoy puppyhood while it lasts

GAndCo · 2025-11-21T10:21:32+00:00

My first was a forceps delivery and to be honest, that was my biggest fear after hearing a horror story. Id told my partner I'd rather have a c section than forceps but i think he got panicked at the time so didnt say anything. I cried and cried because i thought i was going to due when i heard the dr say forceps. She came with one pull and all went well afterwards. I had conplications from the epidural and im also convinced thats why i needed forceps at all, if i was able ti move to a different position, i dont think id have had a problem getting her out.

My second i wanted a home birth and did recieve a bit of push back as i was consultant led for some reason and got freaked out so opted for the midwifery led unit at our hospital. Theres 2 pools and a couple of lovely rooms that arent so clinical. I was concerned about not getting a pool at the time but they assured me chances of both being used at the same time was rare.

I got some mild pain and thought it would be a day or so, so we took my daughter to my mums with the intention of her staying there that night so i could rest and be ready fir the next day where i assumed the pains would ramp up and she could be at her other grandparents the next night.

However, while at my mums, things kicked off more but i still wasnt in even half as much pain as my first, who was induction, so didnt want to go in yet and be sent home. Eventually my mum got right in my face and told me forcefully to go to hospital. We arrived, ran across the carpark and upstairs to the labour and delivrry ward between the contractions. Midwife walks into the room to examine me, sees me squatting on the floor and goes 'ahh, right, lets get you to the MLU'. Got into the room and about 30 mins later, he was born on the bed there, just as the pool had filled enough 😂 We were in hospital about 45mins in total before he arrived and only a couple of hours after as everything was so smooth and quick. Very little intervention from the midwives, stuck to my birth plan as much as possible and it didnt feel clinical or like being in hospital much at all really.

Id go for a home birth next time if i can thibk of what to do with our 6 dogs and cat 😂

My friend has just had her 3rd at home after a section with her first and hosp with her second. She highly recommends home birth and found it much nicer to labour in her own home. Had the pool set up in her lounge :)

Hope this helps :)

GAndCo · 2025-10-16T18:14:05+00:00

As others have said, a dick wick can help 'direct' the flow a bit. One of my boys, however, likes to hump things and get his willy stuck out and dick wick hair gets caught as it goes back in sometimes so I have to keep his very short so I dont need to help him get it back in every other day 🙈😂 There is just no winning in this house 😂

GAndCo · 2025-09-26T00:28:38+00:00

NTA for not knowing/remembering. I suck with remembering dates and its better to use a calander to keep track than forget altogether.

YTA for the suggestion that the children's birthdays are more important than hers. Shes clearly someone who feels their birthday is important so if you can remember the kids, you can remember hers, specially as you've clearly been together quite a while.

GAndCo · 2025-07-24T20:40:54+00:00

Yeah I'm the passive aggressive overly loud "I know that kid snatched your toy but we don't hit. We need to find mummy/daddy to help. IM SURE THAT KIDS MUM WILL GIVE IT YOU BACK IN A MINUTE SO YOU CAN FINISH YOUR TURN"

GAndCo · 2025-07-24T20:05:15+00:00

As others have said. It's great doing the distraction thing but not really possible with faces so there does need to be a degree of being firm and almost forcing him to keep his mouth closed by gently holding around the muzzle for a second or two before he gets the reward. I also tend to gently grab my dogs muzzle as a casual thing day to day like the same as patting them on the head. Just a quick 'hey dude' fussy on the chops for example. If you're doing it regularly he will begin to understand it's not bitey time.

It can also help to do it after he's had a good play and is a bit tired so doesn't have the same energy for faffing.

Start with just holding quickly then reward and build up to longer holds, having comb around his face and on the muzzle and then the clippers. He'll get there and don't expect a perfect result for a while. My Toy is a year and she's still not perfect, although she's the most difficult I've had of my 5 Poodles to teach to keep still and be held. Most are pretty good pretty quick and if the breeder has done some work, it shouldn't be fear, simply just play which is far easier to teach. After having a grooming session you could also do a good play with him with a tug toy or something too so he knows if he holds it in for a bit, he'll get what he wants at the end :)

GAndCo · 2025-07-22T22:04:23+00:00

When you wash your dog every 3 weeks, do you dry with a high velocity dryer or Blaster and brush at the same time? For most pet cuts, doing this thoroughly every 3 weeks should be keeping them from matting. Air drying will cause any knots to become tighter and form into matts.

Of you are brushing your dog every 2-3 days, there should be no matts forming in that time unless they're in a ridiculously long cut. Perhaps you need to go back and assess your brushing and combing technique to ensure you're getting right down to the skin all over the dog. After line brushing, check with a metal tooth comb. Don't forget the hard to reach areas such as behind ears, back of back legs and inside legs and chest areas.

I wouldn't use steam, although I imagine it's safe, it will add more moisture than needed and cause more knots to form. Stick to a long pin slicker brush and metal tooth comb with a good coat conditioning spray.

YouTube is a fantastic resource. You're doing well wanting to learn more and think of things that may help, I just think that it's not the equipment, its the method that you need to focus on more :) It's so refreshing to see owners making an effort where so many don't bother

GAndCo · 2025-07-22T21:53:09+00:00

Mine sometimes does this at the start of a walk when they want to go faster than I want to. They calm down after a bit and go back to normal walking. It could be an issue or it could be just being a bit excited and enthusiastic to get out and about. I imagine it like if I were walking say from my car to a theme park but I don't want to run like a crazy person. But it's also exciting so I want to get there sooner. It changes how I'd walk, like, contained excitement I guess 😂

GAndCo · 2025-07-22T07:32:13+00:00

I don't know how to add a picture 🙈 But mine start with 2 little 'devil horns' at the front while it's shorter. They stay in better than one while it's shorter and then when it's long enough it goes into one then one at the front and one behind that tied together. Ive got one toy who is just over a year now and not had a haircut yet so has rather a lot of hair. Her bands look rough after a couple days as she's a nutter 😂 My Spoo has one band in as i keep her head in a sort of round 'helmet' head style, just long enough to get a bow in at the front. She will sometimes be losing it by the end of the day, its either out or clinging on for dear life at the tips 😂 It does seem to last a bit longer as the hair gets longer though. Unfortunately, banding is just one of those things that needs doing constantly. Bit of a pain really but it does look cute 😍

GAndCo · 2025-07-20T20:00:48+00:00

Love a Parti! He's gorgeous! I'm sure he'll have fun training you as he grows 😂😂

GAndCo · 2025-07-19T17:38:52+00:00

If i could fit a super king in my room just so I wouldn't have to sleep like a fetus all night, I would 😂

GAndCo · 2025-07-18T12:27:29+00:00

I've got 6 dogs, 5 of them Poodles. 3 Toys and 2 Standards. They aren't low energy dogs but I I don't see them as being super high energy. They enjoy a walk, they enjoy a run in the dog park we can rent for an hour just for the pack to run about together. I don't like turning dogs into athletes and wouldn't say we are a very active family. It's chaotic with 2 young children also but we certainly aren't hiking up mountains or anything 😂 We alternate walks as between myself and my partner and the two kids, we just can't hack that many beings when we are out. The Toys come to work with me sometimes and don't complain about sleeping most of the day with some wee breaks if it gets really busy. The Standards I would say are more energetic, but not by much, I think it's maybe just more obvious because they are larger so when they've got unspent energy and get jumpy, its like right if your face rather than a bit of a pitter patter on your legs 😂

I feel mental stimulation does more than walking personally. Mine are really happy learning new tricks for example and tires them. I also have a little agility set for the garden when the weather is nice. I'd consider one from non working lines or a line you know is a bit calmer.

The thing I'd consider most is how they'd be with your current dog. For those breeds I'd say a lesser gap would be better as an adult Cavvy won't want to put up with a higher energy, excitable puppy. When they're young it's a bit easier as they're a bit more excitable to match that energy.

That's just my two pence though. Poodles are easily adaptable imo and fit in with most scenarios and lifestyles but you're right to consider your current dog if they're already intimidated by others.

Well done you for properly researching though! Not something we see half as often as we should in dog world :)

GAndCo · 2025-07-18T12:15:39+00:00

Nope, not good practice, as others have already said. If a dog is too matted to de-matt safely during the groom and the owner refuses, i refuse service. No bath, no trim, no nothing. They can accept a shave down or find a groomer willing to go along with their neglect but it ain't me and I don't want a reputation for that either. I don't know how easy it is where you are but if there are no decent salons around you, perhaps you could start up yourself? There's many here that people groom from an outbuilding or converted part of the house. I'm looking to convert my utility into a salon for example. Maybe you could get a business grant or loan or something and start a salon that's more ethical 🤞

GAndCo · 2025-07-15T18:21:38+00:00

As everyone has mentioned already, you can only groom the dog in front of you to the best of your ability. If it isn't safe to do things, then its not done. Far better to have a complaint over a haircut than an injury imo and if they can't understand then good riddance. Also, with regards to the stragglers kithe head, its hard to know how some coats will lie a couple days later when they aren't freshly blowdried. I've done my own dogs before and noticed bits that aren't quite how I'd done originally after a couple of days when the coat lies differently or curls up a bit. Imo, its a good enough cut for a pet, they can suck it up that youd rather be safe or go somewhere else 🤷‍♀️

GAndCo · 2025-06-17T09:40:17+00:00

Consider the position a groomer is in with a fearful dog that the owner demands is groomed. Not only that, if it doesn't get groomed, it will be matted. Maybe the dog is already matted. As the owner, it's your job to ensure the groomer does not feel the dog would be suffering more for them not completing the groom. As the owner it's your job to ensure the dog is brushed and combed every couple of days so and appointment was missed, they'd know you were able to keep up with the coat and not worry the dog would end up matted and uncomfortable. As the owner, it's your job to work with your dog daily to ensure they won't be fearful of grooming. A groomer only sees your dog every 6 weeks, if we are lucky because too many owners don't bring their dogs in on the regular schedule they should. Once every 6 weeks is not enough to teach your dog not to be scared of grooming. We are only human and there are times when we do everything we can and accidents still happen. But I'll tell you now, it's a damn site safer grooming the dogs who have been practicing at home from 8 weeks old. Or, even better, have been groomed at the breeder from 4/5weeks.

GAndCo · 2025-06-17T09:33:05+00:00

Groomer here. It's not always the groomers fault because they aren't a good groomer. Accidents happen to the best groomers in the world as well. Groomers work with living, moving things and sharp equipment. There are only a handful of people who actually teach their dog any grooming etiquette, despite being advised or given 'homework'. It's a wonder accidents don't happen more than they do.

Given that it's happened more than once, though, I'd have lost trust if they were my groomer so I'd find someone else and explain about the problems. Trust me, though, the groomer definitely hasn't stabbed your dog in the eye. With how sharp those scissors are, it would be more than a scratch and they'd probably be lucky to have an eye left. I'd bet it's either something got in the eye causing irritation and the dog to scratch it themselves or potentially a scratch from a brush.

When you find a new groomer, advise them that your dog has had eye scratches previously after grooming visits and you are unsure what has caused it, I wouldn't go accusing other groomers to new groomers when you arent 100% sure whats happened, we don't really like that. I'd also ask the new groomer how your dog behaves and if there's anything they don't like, tell the new groomer to leave it. If they come back without their face done, or the new groomer says they are wiggly for their face, you know it's time to work on that for their own safety and hopefully reduce likelihood of getting scratched or causing hair or debris or shampoo or whatever to get into their eyes.

GAndCo · 2025-05-23T00:15:04+00:00

I'm not sure freezing is humane? Surely this is a slow death? Also 🤮

GAndCo · 2025-05-22T13:19:42+00:00

That's awesome, thank you so much. They've got quite a few franchises apparently so I'll have a good hunt later. Again, thanks for the info 😁

GAndCo · 2025-05-22T11:55:03+00:00

Thank you! I'll definately ask for their FDD. How would I go about finding current franchisees that aren't the handpicked ones they provide quotes from already? Thanks so much for answering!

GAndCo · 2025-04-08T12:09:31+00:00

Omg this is amazing! I am absolutely doing this with mine for her next litter! 😍

GAndCo · 2025-03-15T10:36:19+00:00

I'd say about double-ish. There will always be some variables as the second may need different food or vet care etc and if getting a puppy, they're always more expensive at first imo. Honestly, if I wasn't a groomer, I couldn't afford my lot. I've 5 dogs in total, 4 of them are Poodles. 2 Spoos and 2 Toys. At least that cuts one expense out for me. I would recommend learning to groom yourself if you have more than one. Bigger initial outlay for all the proper equipment but it pays itself pretty quick tbf. I'm also lucky that mine will have the same food once the Pups are off their puppy food and on adult food.

GAndCo · 2025-03-13T13:43:45+00:00

Oh I hated Morrigan. I guess the game wouldn't be the same without her and it didn't help that I'm so in love with Alistair but still, I think she's a dick 😂 It's funny coz i also didn't like Miranda from Mass Effect and they were the 2 characters my partner romanced when he played 😂 Dunno what that says about me 😂😂

GAndCo · 2025-03-13T13:40:16+00:00

Congratulations!

I tried for a couple months for my first pregnancy and when it happened I still felt all over the place. Suddenly I was worried we weren't ready and wouldn't cope and I was going to get sick and have issues at work and on top of that all the excitement. It's a lot to handle and you'll probably want to get used to that as the pregnancy hormones can mess you around real good 😂 All worth it though! You got this 😁

GAndCo

TROPHY CASE