Teething
Thanks everyone!  |
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| First: CONGRATS on getting your puppy soon!
Puppies like kids loose the 'baby' teeth and get an adult set of teeth. My sheepie is five months old and she is loosing teeth and getting new ones. They nip, drool, chew and bite more than normal. Helpful hint: Your 8 week old puppy will bite, nip, growl and disobey you at every turn. Potty training is hell. And 'baby puppy' teeth HURT BAD!!!! But you will survive.  I haven't found this teething phase (lasts until they get the new set-from what I understand) to be anywhere near as hard as potty training and baby puppy. Looking back I have realized that she didn't understand us and we didn't understand her. Now we are better at figuring each other out. She's had no house accidents for almost THREE weeks    She passed puppy school and obeys a bunch of commands (for the most part  ). My experience with teething hasn't been all that bad.
First you have to survive all the niping and biting of a puppy. WEAR TOUGH CLOTHING and expect to have clothes ruined. But my older puppy friend owners assure me that soon I can safely buy a new wardrobe. 
I was a very frustrated new puppy mom but I have to say I just love her now. I love her personality. And sheepies are the BEST!!!!  |
 It is rather hard telling the difference between "being a puppy" and "being a puppy going thru teething."
The adult teeth start coming in around 4-5 months. You may never see the discarded baby, or deciduous teeth. I think all my dogs swallowed them. Chewing helps relieve the pain and work out the baby tooth, so have plenty of chew toys including 1 or 2 that can be frozen for more pain relief. Still, don't get too upset if your baby decides a diningroom chair is an ideal chew toy. A little wood putty will hide the damage. I still have a table with chew marks from a pup born in 1981 (obviously long gone) but I still treasure the evidence of her existence. Only time to worry about baby teeth and the incoming adult tooth is for the canines. If the baby tooth stays in too long, it can cause the canine to be misaligned. Might require a trip to the vet for that........I've never had to but read where it's something to watch for. Don't worry about this, you'll up to your knees in puppy antics, no use stressing about something that hasn't occured......yet. |
SheepieBoss wrote: Don't worry about this, you'll up to your knees in puppy antics, no use stressing about something that hasn't occured......yet.
I second that!  Post pics of your new puppy asap! |
| Oh man! I'm a little scared now of what I'm going to have to go through! Definitely more excited then scared though |
| I have had dogs all my life and sheepies for about 15 years now, you have absolutly nothing to worry about, as mentioned before chewie toys are ideal and one trick we use is we buy hoofs, fill them with finely minced meat and breadcrumbs and freeze then overnight. Our dogs have always loved this and even today they enjoy a frozen hoof in summer. Have fun with your new pup. |
dairymaid wrote: I have had dogs all my life and sheepies for about 15 years now, you have absolutly nothing to worry about.
I don't know, Stewart. I can't be the only one who wakes up periodically those first few months and wonders: "What possessed me to think getting another puppy was a good idea???!!!" (looking for hit self on head with hammer emoticon) Actually, it's generally not that bad. I've raised a number of litters, my one, but more so for my co-breeder, and I've never had to replace my entire wardrobe, but I do know I will have to get a new robe and any sweats, PJ bottoms will be goners: (Hint: don't walk around with bare legs until the shark's teeth are under control   And here's a visual for you, try walking across the yard with eight 7 week old puppies attached to your robe...  )
Only the occasionally puppy will continue to be a nightmare once separated from litter mates (I think they egg each other on: while they also teach each other bite inhibition, the process can be "OUCH!") Much standing still, screaming like a rabid banshee, and then quick giving them something they can chew on snap of them out of shark mode reasonable effectively. Flapping of arms and movement will just incite them into chase mode. High pitched screaming CAN backfire with some puppies as it can (also) put them into prey mode (oh, hear that? It's wounded! Now let's go in for the "kill!" - This is all normal, mock puppy play they go through.) For those puppies I quickly and not too harshly scruff accompanied by a deep and menacing "NO". Then quickly slip them something they are allowed to chew on. You just play it by ear. As much as I love little puppies, it's such a relief when they hit 5-6 months old and civility starts to shine through... (though know that they will regress at least a couple of times over the next 18 mos and just be prepared to deal with it. It's generally shortlived).
For all that, I've always looked back and missed the baby puppy stages, so enjoy it while you can. And remember that nature made them cute for a reason (the  effect few humans can resist) so they'd live to see their second birthday!!!! 
Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: I don't know, Stewart. I can't be the only one who wakes up periodically those first few months and wonders: "What possessed me to think getting another puppy was a good idea???!!!" (looking for hit self on head with hammer emoticon).
As much as I love little puppies, it's such a relief when they hit 5-6 months old and civility starts to shine through... Kristine sooooooo yeah! Chiquita is five months old and I am just really, really falling in love with her. Before this point was like someone quick find a tranquilizer gun (for ME not her ) |
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