Pepper: 5 Months Update
Apologies if you’re not keen on the puppy posts, but just look at that face! I couldn’t not share it.
Pepper is 5 months old today, meaning we have now had her in our lives for 3 months! It feels like longer than that…
She has grown so fast, and it’s hard to even call her a puppy anymore, as she’s definitely more like a small dog now.
I’m sad that we finished her 8 week puppy training course this weekend, but I’m so proud of what she’s learnt there. If anyone is looking for a socialisation/training class for young dogs in Cornwall I would highly recommend Trudy Swann classes. They have them on lots of different days, either at Chiverton or Carn Brea.
She now knows ‘Sit’, ‘Down’, ‘Wait’, ‘Stand’, and is gradually getting better at walking on the lead without pulling and coming when called. Of course, most of these are only possible with a handful of treats, but hey, she’s still young!
I believe she’s lost most of her baby teeth now. Over the past three weeks we’ve had lots of bleeding gums on her toys, chewing on everything, and teeth appearing everywhere, but they should have mostly all come out now.
We’ve been working on a daily routine for her, too, as N was finding it difficult getting work done with Pepper on the rampage around the house. She now sleeps in her crate between 11am and 1pm, and 2:30pm and 4:30pm, allowing N to power through his work before I come home and take her out for a walk. So far, it’s working out much better than randomly putting her to bed when she seems tired!
If it seems as though I’m talking like I have a toddler, please don’t judge me! Having a puppy is ridiculously hard work, and certainly much more effort than we originally thought. It isn’t just about us being weird dog-parents; she honestly does require schedules like this, or else our brains would be mush trying to stop her from destroying the house!
Anyway, other than her constant desire to chew and mess up the sofa and garden, I love her very much and am thoroughly enjoying all the good bits such as runs on the beach, evening cuddles, and super-excited greetings when I get home from work!
If you have any puppy/dog experiences or tips, I’d love to hear them!
Never too many Pepper posts!! She is such a beauty :)
Lots of puppy love! xxx
Awh thanks! :) She is pretty but very mischievous! x
Oh my gosh WHAT a cutie!! I want to pick her up and give her a cuddle!! No puppy tips from me I’m afraid, just a whole lotta love for her!!!
Rosie xx
Haha awh thank you :) she’s been a bit of a beast today unfortunately, but re-reading this post reminds me she’s cute really haha x
Your dog is adorable!!
Hehe thank you! x
Such a beautiful puppy! :) Love that you’ve put her into a routine like you would naptimes for a baby haha x
Liv | http://www.maidenincornwall.co.uk
Haha I know it seems ridiculous, but trust me it’s necessary or she’ll drive N mad while he’s trying to work! x
Aw how ridiculously gorgeous!!!! Stevie x
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Thank you! Hehe :) x
Hi Anna, I’ve just come across your blog and I love this post! I’ve just got a new pup (we’ve had her just over a month) I did a weekly diary post on her first month with us – I have another dog but having a puppy is much harder work than I realised too! Your idea of settling her into a crate for a few hours to sleep is a really good idea, I work from home and it’s hard to focus as I’m worrying what she’s up to while I’m at my desk! Thanks for the idea :) xx
Now following your blog; your dogs are so cute! And the photos you take are gorgeous :)
I’m glad I’m not the only one facing the terror of the pup haha. We’ve been doing the daytime crate routine for a week now and it’s working really well, she makes a bit of a fuss some days but if you go into another room and put some headphones in it’s fine! It just means you can power through without having to watch them every second; and let’s face it, many dogs have to do that for even longer each day when their owners both work full time etc. x
Aw thanks Anna! Yes the terror of the pup is real!! I tried crate training yesterday – it worked super well in the morning but in the afternoon there was a lot of crying! I’m definitely going to persevere with it though as it was so helpful in the morning and allowed me to get on with work! I will keep my eye out for more pepper posts :) xx
Oh dear – best of luck! Even after a week Pepper apparently still makes a bit of fuss (I get updates throughout the day from N), particularly in the afternoons. Recently N keeps coming downstairs to find that she has pulled the blanket that covers her crate off and through the bars so that it’s in there with her…strange little mutt…haha x
My little sister also has a French Bulldgog and she kept a 6month-size eventhough she is now 3! She looks so small for a French bulldog! See by yourself! Love those dogs so adorable
X Céline
Aww how sweet! She is tiny :) Pepper is going to be much bigger than that judging by the size of her mum. Apparently she will weigh up to 14kg! x
I so very want Pepper!! Or onw just like – love Pepper’s ears!
Hehe! She is actually at the vets at the moment and has been there overnight :( I really miss her. She broke her elbow on Monday night and had to have an operation yesterday; can’t wait to pick her up later today! x
Oh my goodness Anna :( poor little thing. I hope it is all good at the vet when you pick her up – let me know, will be thinking of her!
Just got her back! She is fine; had to have a plate and pin in her elbow so has stitches and one bald leg, along with a list of meds as long as my arm! But she is fine now just very sleepy x
Poor baby :( keep an eye on that cast – my friend had a puppy that had a cast and its leg died beneath it and now her pup is a tripod :( there was no blood supply to the leg as it had grown so quick inside the cast. So sad.
Yikes that’s awful!! :( Pepper hasn’t been given a cast, not sure why (maybe they don’t give them to growing pups anymore for that exact reason!). They have given us a cone and told us to buy a baby-grow if she starts fussing at it, but it’s in a bit of an awkward place for her, so she hasn’t touched it so far x
That’s good! I know they don’t like wearing those cones :(
Aww she’s gorgeous (and her ears are awesome!) :-) xx
Hehe thank you! Her ears are super-big :) x