Potential new arrival - questions about crate training and introducing raw diet.

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ecrozier

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Well we seem to have FINALLY agreed on a breed for our new pup, and have our names down with a breeder who has a litter due at the end of this month and emails out to a few more breeders to try and look at a few options!
I'm planning to crate train the pup, but does anyone have any particular hints or tips, or recommendations on methods for introducing the crate?
Also, I would like the new arrival to end up being on the raw diet, but older dog isn't, and I wonder if its a bit late to introduce that for him (9 year old rottie). If it would be difficult to feed seperately i guess i would be best to keep both on current diet til we lose our older boy (sadly he lost a leg to osteosarcoma so is unlikely to be with us beyond 2013).
But with the raw diet, how quickly do they tend to eat? I could feed a pup in its crate I guess? At what age can you start them?
Lastly does anyone have any recommendations of good reading on both crate training and introducing/feeding the BARE diet? I've logged interest with our old dog walker for puppy socialisation / early days training classes so as soon as we find a pup we will be allocated a start date for those, have a crate ready that my mum's pointer outgrew, and will get a car crate I think for the back of my landy. Have I forgotten anything? It's been 9 years since I last had a puppy and he was 5 months old when I got him so missed out on the very early days - can't wait!!
 
For crate training pm Cayla for her guide, it is excellent and should cover everything you need to know with regard to crate and puppy training. And yes she will kill me for saying it but a donation to her/her mams rescue is always appreciated in return.;)
There are plenty of raw feeding experts on here who will be able to help you with that I am sure, good luck with your pup.
 
I started my pup on raw as soon as she arrived at nine weeks.

Chicken wings are very good as you can smash up the bones or I feed thighs and cut into chunks for her with bits of bone in. She can demolish a bowl of chicken pieces at an amazing speed but has also worked out if she has something tasty that's going to take a bit longer if she goes under the table the other three can't get it - although they know they aren't allowed to!
 
I started my puppy on raw from the word go, she is a Rottie so doesn't struggle with bones at all.

I think she wolfed down the first couple of chicken wings she was fed, but soon realized there was no need. She is four months now and will happily eat chicken thighs/drumsticks.

I get my raw meat in frozen 1lb sausages, and some of them have offal and bones already minced in, so it makes it easier.

I personally wouldn't feed in a crate though.
 
Thanks all. LJR where do you get the sausages from? They sound ideal.
No I agree re feeding in a crate, I think I would just have to separate them to feed them as don't think we will change older boy onto raw food now at this stage. Good to know they generally eat it as fast as traditional dog food.

Thanks Jodie3 I think we will aim to do that too. And Murphysminder I will Pm Cayla next time I am on a PC :)
 
We crate trained our spaniel. We got her at 7 weeks and from day 1 she went in her crate at night with no fuss. The day we bought her home the first thing she did was be shown her crate and bed inside it. She cried once on the first night which we ignored and was quiet and clean each night after. In the end we took the crate away after 9 months or so, just because it was big and there wasn't a lot of space in the kitchen, and she was happy to go in and out of it all day/night. We let a young farmer friend borrow it for his 7 month old beagle that he rehomed, he used a similar method of no fuss, it was not house trained and the first night he used the crate the dog was clean and didn't cry all night...
 
LJR that looks like a very straightforward way of feeding!! Do you also feed any whole/part carcasses as well? Are there any negatives to feeding just minced diet?

TwizzeltoeandWine thanks - I have already put my name down to borrow my mum's dog's outgrown crate :)
 
I do feed puppies in their crate. This is parthly to encourage them to rest after they have eaten. (I have a bitch that had a GDV so MUST rest for 2 hours after each meal) I change bought in puppies onto Raw straight away, unless you manage to find a raw raised litter which makes things so much easier. Natural Instinct puppy food is a great way to introduce Raw. Try reading "The BARF Diet" by Ian Billingshurst as he has a puppy patty recipe
Good luck with your new baby
 
Raw supplier list:
http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/197702-raw-food-supplier-list.html

I use the Dog Food Company, fab and good value. My three are all raw fed. I switched the 7 year old to raw but two years later he still prefers commercial.

What breed you getting? (I'm just nosy!)

Satinbaze, don't suppose you're round my way? Met a fabulous FCR last week who is being a stooge dog for my aggressive monster. Don't know his lines, but he's gorgeous!
 
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OP, yes mine usually have piece of meat on the bone for their breakfast and then the minced meat for their tea.

I pop the frozen sausages in the microwave for a couple of minutes to soften them, and chop up. I usually add a little hot water and occasionally an egg, about twice a week they have some oily fish added.
 
Cinnamontoast, I'm in Nottingham so don't know if that is near you. I do have to brag that my flatcoats have excellent communication skills and are often used as introduction dogs for nervous puppies at dog club.
 
Satin blaze thanks, I found the natural instinct puppy food yesterday and that looks like a good starting point! Forgive my lack of knowledge, what is a GDV? I'm better on equine veterinary than canine!
Cinnamontoast, fab, thanks for the list will have a good look at that. We are going for hopefully a Portuguese Water Dog! Won't be trimmed like a poodle tho - will be kept in the pet/retriever trim!
Ah ok thank LJR that makes sense and sounds straightforward! I'm guessing chicken is the easiest thing to feed on the bone in the mornings then use a variety of meats for the PM feed?
 
As Confusious said "he who asks a question is a fool for 3 mins he who does not ask a question is a fool forever" so I welcome questions
Gdv is gastric dilation and volvus commonly known as torsion or bloat. My poor lily had a double twist both top and bottom of her stomach. Emergency vet appt, emergency surgery, belt loop gastropexy so stomach cannot twist again and my pocket £3500 lighter. However lily is the light of my life and I thank goodness everyday that she pulled through.
 
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