Pre Puppy Preparations

[Bluesmum]

Good morning all! I have trawled your All about Dogs section for the last few months picking up really interesting tips and advice, especially concerning the Raw feeding.
Keeping everything crossed and frantically knocking on wood, if everything goes ok then the litter will be born around April 8th.
Both parents belong to separate friends of mine, and are both working labradors.
I am hoping for a male pup, purely from what I have researched about the differences in temperament between the sexes.
But I want to make sure that I am fully prepared.
My domestic setup is married with 3 children, 14,11,10, a cat and a couple of gerbils. I am a predominantly very lucky with my time being able to come and go as necessary. Main commitments are the yard, where the dog is welcome (the stud dog, their other dog- neutered male, and, fingers crossed, a male litter mate will be there) and regular physio for my joint problems. My husband works from home 99% of the time.
We were planning to crate the puppy in the utility which has directly to the garden. And restrict him to from going upstairs with a stair gate.
Any particularly good books out there on raising and training a puppy? And how and when exactly do I go about the change from puppy mix to raw food? I haven't found anywhere yet that mentions transitioning a young pup.
Sorry for all the waffle! I do tend to be a bit of a worrier lol. Just want to make sure that I am doing the best for the puppy.
Even though I do feel weird mentioning it without their safe arrival yet in the bag. We're all counting the days til due date now!

 

[Merlin11]

How exciting. I got a female lab last year also from working parents. They are great dogs. 'The perfect puppy' is a good book. I would also look into training classes in your area. You mention crating in the utility. Will he see people from there? You might find him happier in a more public area such as the kitchen. I don't feed raw so can't help there. Best of luck!

 

[satinbaze]

The perfect puppy is good except that gwen Bailey doesn't do crates. Sophia yin has a complete puppy programme that is interesting but to follow needs a lot of commitment. Try billingshurst the barf diet for a good guide to raw.

 

[Thistle]

The Happy Puppy Handbook by Pippa Mattinson is good. Positive training methods.

 

[nikkitodhunter]

Puppy training classes are useful if you can find a good one, because they have the added plus of helping to socialise your dog and teaching them to be obedient around exciting new friends!

One thing I'd add from experience is consistency when training - make sure everyone in the household keeps up to date with what the puppy has/hasn't been trained, what the commands are, etc. (especially the kids). This was always a sticking point between me & my mum when we had dogs as she'd (unintentionally, tbf) undermine the training I was doing, and I've seen households where people are telling the poor pup to come/stay/sit when no one has trained him those things yet! If your dog will be around horses you want him to be well behaved

Either H&H or Horse & Rider magazine had a feature on introducing dogs to horses fairly recently, have you seen it? If not I may be able to scan it in for you if you like.

Good luck with it all - I'm very jealous!

 

[Bluesmum]

That would be great if you could nikkitodhunter! I haven't seen the article. The utility has doorways both to the hall and the kitchen, both of which I figure will need gates. But he would be able to see people.
Puppy class research coming up! My friend attends one with her husky malamute cross, but he's about 3 and seemingly untrainable, so perhaps not the best advert for that class! Do you train a working dog differently to a normal dog or are the puppy basics all the same?
Thanks for all the prompt replies and helpful suggestions!

 

[nikkitodhunter]

I will scan it asap when I've got access to a scanner again - probably not 'til next week unfortunately, but will post on this thread when I get round to it - or I can pm you?

 

[satinbaze]

The basics of dog training are the same regardless of breed, type or future "job" of the dog. My biggest tip regarding training classes is to go and watch without your dog before enrolling. This way you can see if the style of training will suit you and your pup. IMHO I would look for either an APDT registered trainer or look on the kennel club website for a KC registered club. Both of these guarantee positive reinforcement methods, no check chains no harsh handling.

 

[Oenoke]

I feed raw and 2 of my girls went cold turkey to raw from dry (1 Dr Johns, the other Skinners) at 7 weeks old, the next I bred and was fed half raw, half burns from weaning and my current pup was fed half raw, half csj by her breeder and I just stopped the csj when she came home. She's a 12 weeks old Border Collie, she weighed 7kg today and is on 4 meals of 110g a meal.

 

[3Beasties]

I will scan it asap when I've got access to a scanner again - probably not 'til next week unfortunately, but will post on this thread when I get round to it - or I can pm you?

Sorry to hijack this but I would also love a copy if you don't mind sharing please?

Our dogs have never been a problem around our horses but with a new puppy due to arrive I am panicking about getting it right! With our other dogs it just seemed to happen naturally.

 

[nikkitodhunter]

Here you go! It was in Horse & Rider a few months ago

 

[aintgotnohay]

book of the bitch

 

[Bluesmum]

Thanks very much!