Getting a puppy......

[{97702}]

I feel like that meme from Titanic.... “it’s been 20 years since I’ve had a puppy”..... ??? although I think I’m on rescue number 15 now?

So because it seems SUCH a long time until I can get Colin, tell me all the things I’ve forgotten that I’ll need to do? ?

He’ll come with his first vaccination so obvs I’ll book him in for his second, and although he will have been wormed I’ll ask about that too etc etc.

He has a crate which will be his safe space from greyhounds, lurchers and other terrierists so he will be crate trained by default!

House training - put him outside every time he wakes up, every time he has been fed, every time he moves..... ?

I’ll ask what he is fed on and get some of that in ready, 4 meals a day at 8 weeks then reduce down slowly.....

And finally ready to think about going for an outing at about 15 weeks??? Which won’t be with Millie (who barks) or George (who barks) or Ace (who is so tall he will hardly be able to see him ?) so I think Uncle Marty has drawn the short straw ?

What have I forgotten lol!

 

[Clodagh]

You need to get him out and about before 15 weeks, I believe most socialisation learning stops at 16 weeks ish? We always take them out on their own at least sometimes so they don't rely on the others all the time.

 

[Tiddlypom]

My advice is about 16 years old, since that is when we got our last pup, the late JRT.

Do leave any Lego out . How many Lego Storm Troopers can a JRT pup eat? Enough for a fair sized battalion.

(The lads were both primary school age then).

 

[{97702}]

My advice is about 16 years old, since that is when we got our last pup, the late JRT.

Do leave any Lego out . How many Lego Storm Troopers can a JRT pup eat? Enough for a fair sized battalion.

(The lads were both primary school age then).

???

 

[{97702}]

You need to get him out and about before 15 weeks, I believe most socialisation learning stops at 16 weeks ish? We always take them out on their own at least sometimes so they don't rely on the others all the time.

Sorry I wasn’t clear enough - that was for a walk, he will be out and about as soon as he can! But not with the noisy ones ?

 

[satinbaze]

If he is KC registered then it is cheaper to transfer ownership and transfer the microchip at the same time. If you do the chip first then the KC reg you will be charged twice.

 

[{97702}]

If he is KC registered then it is cheaper to transfer ownership and transfer the microchip at the same time. If you do the chip first then the KC reg you will be charged twice.

Thanks for the tip! I doubt he is KC reg to be honest but that is definitely worth knowing ? Typical Kennel Club bless them ?

 

[SAujla]

Ideal if your vet uses the same brand for the second vaccination as the first one. Get some extra worming tablets in case the pup eats some slugs or snails and you need to give an emergency dose.

If you feed some of his meals in the crate it quickly becomes a happy place for him, can feed some in the car as well for the same reason. Depending on where you keep him if the morning light comes in he might consider the day is starting then, not great in the summer months when dawn is early.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I think you seem to remember the most of the basic stuff.

Make sure he has plenty of gnaw bones, both to spend some of his puppy energy on, and for when he change teeth.

The more calm, and relaxed you are, the easier puppyhood usually goes.

 

[{97702}]

Oooo you are all coming up with some brilliant ideas, thanks so much! It’s those little tips that I’ve forgotten that make all the difference - feeding in the crate/car, bones to gnaw on, that kind of thing ?

 

[TheresaW]

Frozen carrots. They were a godsend when Luna was teething. Also, make sure he can’t get to the post. I ordered a new kindle charger, it was destroyed by the time OH got home at lunchtime to let them out and walk.

 

[misst]

I had not had a puppy for 14 years and although Ruby was 14 weeks when we got her (breeder kept them back so they did not go over xmas or early January) I had forgotten what hard work puppies are! You need to invest in some eyes in the back of your head .
You have forgotten the most important thing -ENJOY him!!!

 

[SAujla]

Try not to order stuff from Amazon just because you don't have any orders pending and you feel something should always be on the way for the pup, I'm having trouble with that one.

Get him used to collar/harness/lead asap, just let him play with them first then put them on him around the house. Try and always get a sit from him before giving him any treats, that quickly becomes a habit

 

[{97702}]

Ah I already have a post-chewer in the shape of my friendly hyperactive lurcher so he has no chance ?

At least he will be small, it’s hilarious when I go and visit my mum (who has cavaliers) - I spend my whole time taking things off the kitchen work surfaces or pushing them to the back out of the way where the greyhounds can’t get to them....... she is used to small dogs = no problem leaving stuff around ?

 

[{97702}]

Try not to order stuff from Amazon just because you don't have any orders pending and you feel something should always be on the way for the pup, I'm having trouble with that one.

Get him used to collar/harness/lead asap, just let him play with them first then put them on him around the house. Try and always get a sit from him before giving him any treats, that quickly becomes a habit

He already has a smart rolled leather collar - eeek that has reminded me, I must order him an ID tag! I like the idea of ‘sit’ very much, even George can do we that - someone clearly taught him manners at some point in his 12 years even if he chooses to ignore most of them sometimes ??

 

[splashgirl45]

i would add, go out with him and make sure he does something otherwise he could come in and wee or poo. my little terrier was quite difficult to housetrain as i dont think he had been outdoors at all so seemed to think he should do everything in the house. in hindsight i think he was a bit scared of being in the garden and felt comfy indoors. i ended up spending an awful lot of time in the garden and started giving him a treat when he did anything, and he got the idea much quicker, greedy little monster!!!! i had forgotten how much work a puppy was so good luck

 

[spugs]

My puppy has been here for a whole week now, best thing I’ve bought is a puppy sling (£15 Amazon) she’s been every where with us and it’s meant I can walk my other dogs as far as normal when I don’t have anyone to watch her.

 

[palo1]

Frozen carrots are fab! I bought Red IT about 3 different Kongs assuming that he would need them to distract him from me leaving the house (even though he is not an only dog). The only thing that he enjoyed about the Kongs was the smear of Bovril I would put in them -him and Bess having politely refused all manner of other recommended fillings...I am sure you will remember or have everything in hand. I think I must have bought about 6 different really cute collars - probably overkill...!! Something that really shocked me but will probably not trip you up was the vet automatically giving Red a Lepto 4 without discussing it first. I deffo wanted him to have a lepto jab and although he was a bit off colour afterwards, no problems BUT I wasn't on the ball enough to check what/which vaccines the vet was giving. Gawd I felt dumb about that!!

The only really important thing is for you to love him and enjoy every mad, widdle stained, paper shredded, gorgeously cute moment and for the others to tolerate him!! They will soon love him too.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Jrts can be hellish to housetrain, take him out all the time, double what you would do for another breed, and mind the chewing as mentioned lol.
Desensitize him/get him to ignore everything you can think of, things like nail clipping, the sound of clippers for shaving, vet visits, loud noises, etc etc etc.
One major mistake I made with mine, the first time he ever needed shaved for a blood sample he went absolutely spare. The needle was fine, it was the clippers he objected to.
Being touched and handled all over, by others etc.

 

[splashgirl45]

Jrts can be hellish to housetrain, take him out all the time, double what you would do for another breed, and mind the chewing as mentioned lol.
Desensitize him/get him to ignore everything you can think of, things like nail clipping, the sound of clippers for shaving, vet visits, loud noises, etc etc etc.
One major mistake I made with mine, the first time he ever needed shaved for a blood sample he went absolutely spare. The needle was fine, it was the clippers he objected to.
Being touched and handled all over, by others etc.

thats interesting as my little terrier's dad was jr/chi and i had heard that chis were difficult to housetrain so assumed it was that part of him that was the problem,

 

[FinnishLapphund]

thats interesting as my little terrier's dad was jr/chi and i had heard that chis were difficult to housetrain so assumed it was that part of him that was the problem,

I've heard that about a few breeds, besides Jack Russell, and Chihuahua, I've also heard Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, Pugs, Shih Tzu, Dachshund, and some other Toy, Hound, and Hunting breeds being mentioned as being harder to housetrain.

I always took it with a pinch of salt, thinking it might be correct, or maybe it just as well could be caused by individual variations, and perhaps also owners behaviour, different living situations etc.

About some breeds in the Hound, and Hunting group I've heard they're harder to housetrain because they're easily distracted by their hunting interests. Not sure how much such distraction occurs indoors, shouldn't that lead to them going to the door, and wanting to go out to the fun things outside more often? Maybe they mean the puppy easily gets distracted outside, forgets to pee, and doesn't remember it again until they're indoors, but which puppy doesn't that happen to? Stubbornness, independent personalities, and sometimes slow development, are the other most common reasons I've heard.

About the Toy breeds I've heard that they're harder to housetrain because their owners more often carries them out- and back indoors, so it is harder for them to get the hang of going to the door to say that they need to go out for a pee. That smaller bladders means they need to pee more often, I've also read that someone said they have faster metabolism, I have to admit that I'm a bit sceptical to this.
Stubbornness, that they simply need more time to understand this sort of thing, and with Toy Terriers, I've also heard the reason They don't like being told what to do.

I do believe some dogs/puppies are more difficult/needs more time to become housetrained, but if it is to do with their breeds or not, I'm not sure.

Anyhow, back to what Colin will need. Have lots of megabits or what it is called on your memory cards, broadband or whatever to ensure you can upload lots of photos + videos on HHO been mentioned?

Your bed? Your soul?

 

[splashgirl45]

i have had lurchers and a deerhound and never found any of them hard to housetrain. my collie cross just followed my lurcher out to the garden and copied her. i thought it would be similar with the terrier as i had the collie cross but was it because of his breeding, because he is a boy? who knows, my theory is that the small dogs may be a bit overawed by the big outdoors and feel safer indoors. anyway i got it sorted in the end and will never know the answer...

 

[YorksG]

Our Jrts were the worst dogs we've ever had for house training! They were dire and had plenty of role models to follow, but didn't bother. They were also the most difficult to do just about anything with, despite being brought up just like every other dog we've ever had!

 

[splashgirl45]

Our Jrts were the worst dogs we've ever had for house training! They were dire and had plenty of role models to follow, but didn't bother. They were also the most difficult to do just about anything with, despite being brought up just like every other dog we've ever had!

i feel your pain, i called my terrier cross a little shit this morning, he is such a foodie that he rushes to where the people are feeding the ducks and tries to eat the stale bread, most of the time he is good off lead, comes to call and sits to have his lead on or just to get a treat, then on other days he seems to have very selective hearing, like this morning. my collie cross, bless her, is almost deaf so i have to be very careful with her and he just pretends to be deaf!!!!!! in my 50 plus years of dog ownership this one, although a lovely friendly character who i wouldnt be without, is the most difficult one i have ever had... good luck squee

 

[blackcob]

Mine practically grew up in a veterinary practice and still had to be stuffed under my arm, swearing and bristling, for his first booster, so do everything you can in terms of socialisation/habituation but accept that you might still end up with a wee shite. ?

My best purchase was a puppy pen, I used trigger clips to attach it to a crate to make a big safe zone in the kitchen. Saved him getting eaten by wolefs in the first few weeks.

 

[Clodagh]

[QUOTE="blackcob, post: 14345424, member: 47014]
My best purchase was a puppy pen, I used trigger clips to attach it to a crate to make a big safe zone in the kitchen. Saved him getting eaten by wolefs in the first few weeks.[/QUOTE]

Looking at his pics, weren’t you more worried about him eating the wolefs?

 

[{97702}]

This is so interesting - I’m really expecting him just to be like the 15 rescues lol, it’s going to be such a culture shock to have something so different ? Theoretically none of them are house trained when they come to me as they’ve always been in kennels but I guess they do have that essential bladder control that a puppy doesn’t ?

BC didn’t you find the wolefs just jumped into the puppy pen? Or did it have a lid? I know that’s what Millie would do ?

 

[paisley]

Blanket/ cover for the crate, in case someone likes 'early' as in once there's daylight . Close the crate door now and then, and do stuff round the house, as a start for going out without him. Fireworks CD/noises, before autumn. Routine paw and teeth inspection, so you can clip nails, brush teeth. And wave goodbye to sleep for at least the next year! ?

 

[Blanche]

You could always ask Cayla for one of her puppy guides. She did send it to me years ago so I could give to someone getting their first dog. I can’t actually remember what it covers though.

 

[blackcob]

BC didn’t you find the wolefs just jumped into the puppy pen? Or did it have a lid? I know that’s what Millie would do ?

Not once, and it was only a low one, but evidently just enough to deter a casual chomp. ? And yes, once he'd got his feet under the table and turned on full Tasmanian devil mode it was more to protect them from him...