First time puppy owner needs help!

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FinkleyAlex

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We have just bought our first puppy, an alaskan malamute bitch called Akasha/Stella (undecided). We are picking her up from her breeders (the Icetrax stud) on saturday after she's had her injections. As she's our first puppy I want to make sure we have bought all the right things, this is what we have so far...

An extra large puppy crate
A big bed
Feedbowl
Waterbowl
Puppy toothpaste and toothbrush
Leather collar
Webbing lead (there was no leather left)
Dog feed mat
Large squeaky bone toy

What do you recommend as good toys for puppies, we were thinking of getting her a ball but dad is worried she will swallow it (although shes pretty big for a pup) so that might wait untill she's older.

Have we missed out on anything? What is a good puppy food recommendation? Obviously we'd wean her off what shes eating at the stud and onto her new feed over time. Thanks!
 
I'd also suggest buying a really good puppy book - something like Ian Dunbar's "After You Get Your Puppy". I used it as my 'bible' when raising my puppy and I found it invaluable!

Regards food, we found our pup did best on either James Wellbeloved or Burns puppy food. We tried her on Bakers but that upset her tummy.

Toy wise they will play with anything you leave within reach - whether it is a hair brush or a bit of cardboard! Our dog loves those simple rope toys with a knot each end.
 
what about a grooming brush?

We made sure our puppy was used to being brushed and touched all over - helps save problems later on when you need to go to the vets and vet needs to examine them

please post some pics when you get her home!
 
Get a soft toy too - we have a rabbit and a phesant which our new puppy loves! We got him a ball, but he's not too fussed for that. He also loves his tugging toy - which is like a pice of twisted rope. And a puppy kong - you can fill them with treats/ pastes and keeps them amused for hours!

As for food... I would recommend Naturediet puppy wet food mixed with biscuits (either James Wellbeloved puppy biscuits or Burns) - this is the adice I have got over the last few weeks. Our puppy came on just dry food and went off it - he loves the nature diet though!

I also have fed him the occasional tin of sardines in oil - also advice I have been given.

hope that helps!
 
Get loads of toys - the indestructible ones made by the people who make Kongs are great. Take a t-shirt of yours to the breeder before you pick the puppy up, so the breeder can put it in with the litter and it will be something familiar for her when she comes home. Don't bother with expensive bedding, old blankets or sleeping bags with the zips removed are ideal for puppies as they will eat them anyway. Keep her off wheat in her diet for the first six months, dogs can develop allergies and intolerances if it is introduced too early. Be firm about where you will let her go - it is no good allowing her onto the sofa for a cuddle now when you won't want her on there in a year's time! Same applies to your bed or bedroom - decide where she can go, and stick to it. And most important - post some photos!
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Don't forget an ID tag as soon as possible.

They have some really funky ones here:

http://www.collarsandtags.co.uk

If you would like a free DVD: "Dog Training the John Fisher Way" PM me
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But puppy socialisation at training classes is great for the dog, and encouraging for the owner especially with a first puppy, so I'd look into what's available in your area. Your vet will probably be able to give you a list.
 
I would like to add a word of warning, to all dog owners here, but especially puppy owners. Please do not buy your dog one of those "rope" toys unless you only let them have it under supervision. I know of several dogs that have either died or had to have major surgery after chewing off bits of the rope which have then got tangled in their intestine causing all sorts of problems. Sorry to post this here but felt that as a first time puppy owner any info to avoid probs is useful.

Good luck with your pup when you get her
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kong on a rope are good as fairly indestructable and can be thrown v far for max exercise, only prob was when my oh threw it in the sea and dog (quite rightly) refused to retrieve it lol
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enjoy your new pup
 
Wise advice! I think it is important to distinguish which toys are suitable for supervised play and those which a puppy can be left alone with. I was always wary about leaving Gercha with anything apart from a Kong when we went out.
 
A KONG- its a staple part of the young pups life. Fill it with food, squirt some kong filler in top and freeze. They are a god send when leaving pups for a while- gives them something to concentrate on instead of destroying stuff!
 

An extra large puppy crate (what for? this is for travelling only and not a training aid or else someone has really miss informed you)
A big bed (ok)
Feedbowl (ok)
Waterbowl (get another)
Puppy toothpaste and toothbrush (feed her bones raw you'll give up after 2nd try)
Leather collar (remeber to buy another in 3 weeks once she's outgroen this)
Webbing lead (there was no leather left) - she'll outgrow this too
Dog feed mat

Wastev of time unless it's 3m2.

Large squeaky bone toy She'll need more than 1 toy (think of it like a kid dogs love toys, if you don't provide they'll find their own in the form of cushions, tables, charis etc

Go to puppy classes, read a book on hoe to train and don't don't rub their noses when they mess in the house, keen eye ditch the TV and watch for the signs (circling normally).

Socialise as much as possible, walk through busy places etc

Never smack the dog, change water everyday, play /interact as much as possible and don't comfort them when they start crying at night it'll pass - and get bigger work surfaces so they can't steal your food!!! - good luck

What do you recommend as good toys for puppies, we were thinking of getting her a ball but dad is worried she will swallow it (although shes pretty big for a pup) so that might wait untill she's older.

Rubbish balls come in all sizes, get a football as well & never leave alone for longer than 4 hours at a time - it's cruel.

Have we missed out on anything? What is a good puppy food recommendation? Obviously we'd wean her off what shes eating at the stud and onto her new feed over time. Thanks!

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Can't advertise but if you can put together a (dog web)site you'll get all the help and advice you'll need in this department

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Crates are invaluable and IMO should not just be used for travelling. Puppies should not be shut in for punishment. It should be seen as their bed and safe, quiet place.
Properly used a pup should be happy to use it's crate even if the door is left open, as it will associate the crate with food and bed.
 
I agree with you totally, Thistle! I found a crate invaluable with my puppy - it helped with house-training and also meant I could be sure puppy was safe when unattended. But hey, I'm just misinformed ...
 
i have a crate for Dandy and it is a god send!! I wouldn't be sane now without it (although it is debatable whether I am actually sane). It is great for Dandy to sleep in at night and nap in during the day. we have an open plan house so if he is naughty ie bites, we can not exclude him to teach him a lesson with out the crate. I think it is a very valuable training aid personally.

i no wwe use it for punishment and Thistle will disapprove but he just gets shut in it for 2 minutes when he's bad. it is a safe place for him and he chooses to go in and out but he nows he's done wrong if we shut him in when he would normally be out and so it does help with his sometimes ASBO-able behaviour!
 
Agree Thistle/ TGM - We've been using our crate for overnights as well as for travelling and our puppy loves it. He has the door open all day and uses it as a bed/ safe place whenever he wants then we close the door at bedtime. Has been an amazing toilet training aid.

Obviously you have to ensure if they really ask to get up in the night, you need to see if they need the toilet, but ours has been fine sleeping there....

Took alot of expert advice before getting our puppy and many people really recommended crates - not sure how they could all be misinformed?
 
I bought Kodi a crate, 5' x3'6" I have found it to be a god send and wished i had got one for my other dogs.
He loves it, it's his space, he eats and sleeps in it completely off his own back.
my only question is, my vet told me to shut him in at night, to help with his house training, but at 3 mths old i am of the opinion that his bladder shouldn't be made to hold his wee for that long and that if he wets he will be upset.
Am i completely off on this one?
regarding toys, make sure they are very tough, Spitz type dogs can be quite distructive!
Jo
 
You see I was really worried about this one, but apparently the whole point is make them hold (our puppy is 13 weeks). They will let you know if they need to be let out at night - you have to make sure you can hear them in the night if they need you as it would really upset them if they soiled their bed.

Am going to PM you the advice I got!
 
Make sure you stay up as late as poss and put puppy out and stay with it until it empties both ends. Then put pup to bed in crate, I put some newspaper at one end in case of an accident.

Set alarm as early as you can and let pup out into garden immediately, do not make a fuss of puppy on the way, or it will get excited and pee!

Ignore any mess pup has made in crate and clear it well with an odour destroyer.

Repeat each night, gradually making your sleep a little longer.

Don't forget you have to do this every day, no lie ins for puppies!

Puppies like their bed area to be clean so will learn very quickly, at least if they have an accident the mess is contained too.
 
Very true - we take our pup out at 11pm (and stay till he does everything!) then get up at 6am and take him straight out - we are lucky as he can manage this - I imagine some puppies couldn't last this long.

(ps. I tried getting up at 3am to let him out for a few nights as was worried that he wouldn't be able to make it through the night - he refused to get up as was too tired!)
 
Agree with you totally crates are worth their weight in gold however, folks have taken to keeping their dogs in them whilst at work, sorry if you have a puppy you're going to have accidents.
 
I second TGM's suggestion to buy a book or books by Ian Dunbar. They are very comprehensive and you can keep going back to them again and again as your puppy grows and changes. If I remember, Ian has a Malamute of his own. You can get them on Amazon.co.uk if your local shops do not stock them
 
I use a grate/cage. I keep my jack russle in doors use the cage at night and during the day when i cant keep my eye on the her when i see to my ponies...
 
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