Tips for first few weeks with puppy!

[ownedbyaconnie]

Hello all!

Potentially going to view (and most likely bring home as 200+ miles away) a puppy this week.

What are your best tips and tricks for the first few days/weeks?

Also any tips on introducing puppy to our cat? He has been good with friends dog (by good I mean not hissed, struck out and has generally been inquisitive rather than aggressive or scared).

Thanks!

 

[Chiffy]

Exciting for you!
Puppies are extremely time consuming and hard work at first but there is light at the end of the tunnel as they are growing and changing all the time....and getting a bigger bladder. Also fun and cute!
A safe place for sleeping, I like a crate but not everyone does. Puppies sleep a lot, usually very lively then crash out. Establish a routine, out for pees and poos on waking up, after meals and probably every half hour at first.
You need a cat that stands it’s ground, maybe even put a pup in its place with a bop on the nose, no claws hopefully. Nip any chasing in the bud.
Lots more help will be forthcoming. Everyone has their own way of doing things.

 

[FourLeafClover]

I’m two weeks in to life with a tiny fluffy assassin. She’s my first dog of my own ?
The most important things to nail straight away are toileting and sleeping. Put puppy straight in the garden when you get home and wait for them to go to the toilet. Reinforce straight away with ‘good!’ and a tasty treat. Sets you off on the right foot straight away with toilet outside = food and happy human!
I really rate crate training too. Have a blanket or bed that smells of mum and the litter and put it in the crate with toys, treats, and some fresh water. I’ve had pup in my bedroom in the crate overnight (so you can hear if they whine for the toilet etc) and had it downstairs during the day if at home or taken it out in the car with me. Very handy if they see it as somewhere nice to be and are used to spending time in it, so they can go in there if you can’t supervise them/they need to come with you to yard/on school run etc.
I recommend a book called ‘Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy’ for loads of helpful training information that’s a fun read too ?

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Thanks both.

Definitely getting a crate, heard lots of good things and think it’s good for puppy to have somewhere safe and their own to chill.

 

[windand rain]

Depending on where you want the pup to sleep you have to sleep near enough to hear it when it needs a wee. I didnt want mine upstairs as an adult so I slept on the sofa until she got to sleep overnight without a wee. Its a bit like having a new baby in the house when it needs a wee it needs it now. Small feeds and often and toileting just after eating. We have always free fed but most find it difficult to get enough feeds in and it does make it harder to work out poo times. Much better once older though as it usually stops overeating. I always crate train too

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Small feeds and often and toileting just after eating. We have always free fed but most find it difficult to get enough feeds in and it does make it harder to work out poo times. Much better once older though as it usually stops overeating. I always crate train too

I was thinking as I have the cat (who is obsessed with eating anything and everything) that I would have set meals where I can make sure the cat doesn't help himself! As you say, also helps monitor the toilet situ!

I'm torn between sleeping in the spare room with the crate and then taking crate downstairs during the day or sleeping on the sofa and keeping crate downstairs all the time. Guess I will end up doing whatever feels right at the time for puppy.

 

[Chiffy]

I had an eight to ten week old pup in my care for twenty four hours last week. I am a coordinator for a rescue.
She had travelled over on the ferry and the next day I was delivering her to her new forever home.
She was amazing, she went straight into the garden to wee and poo, I did have to be vigilant all evening! I put her to bed in a crate in my dog room ( I never have dogs upstairs, but I have a baby alarm! She slept from 11pm until 6am. I got up before she cried because it’s good to teach them that they can’t summon you! She was clean overnight and has continued to be the same in her new home.
The adopting family have a labrador that they trickle feed as they said it wasn’t interested in food. I warned them that this pup would pinch the food immediately. They are now feeding the pup correctly 4 feeds a day and are feeding the adult twice. Both are doing fine.

 

[paisley]

However you decide or whatever is best for your family and routine- stick to it as much as possible, eg the same command every time for a wee, the same boundaries such as not allowed on the sofa (if thats what you decide).

Don't feel bad if there are days when it goes horribly wrong- there were a few occasions where I had to put my pup out in the garden and go and breathe somewhere for a few moments

Above all- and apologies if this sounds patronising- its so easy to fall into the trap of thinking a cheeky or lively puppy is behaving to annoy you- so keeping the mindset of 'what am I doing to cause this to happen' is the best way ( I feel) to address any issues

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Take the pup everywhere you can if it’s small enough to carry. Get it used to horses etc.

Be careful leaving exciting presents where a puppy can find them and keep a close eye on Christmas foods that are a danger for puppies.

Most of all, be endlessly patient!

 

[scats]

The first few days are really cute and exciting but don’t be alarmed if you get the puppy blues after a couple of weeks. The last 2 we’ve had, I got really bad puppy blues. Puppies are amazing, but they are hard work and you will inevitably find yourself in the garden in the middle of the night, in the pouring rain, repeating ‘go pee pee’ over and over like a crazy person.

Seriously though, try and get toileting sorted as soon as you can. You have to watch them like a hawk and recognise the signs they want to go.
Take them out after every meal and every half an hour during the day. You effectively do become a bit of prisoner in your own home for a while, but it’s worth it in the end. Once they get some bladder control, life becomes so much easier.

Be aware of things they can chew. Don’t leave shoes lying around unless you want them removing, hiding or destroying.
Also, (coming from a dog groomer) get your pup used to being brushed and having it’s paws picked up (in preparation for nail clipping).

Don’t forgot puppy pictures!

 

[splashgirl45]

i would take a soft toy and /or a blanket so you can get the smells of the litter and the mum on them ...i have crate trained and found it very useful, i live alone so didnt want to leave a young puppy loose in the house while i was showering etc ..i also put a cover over the crate so it was more like a den for them...i used to put the crate in the car as well so pup felt secure and not afraid..my last pup, a terrier has been a nightmare with chewing wires so i have had to be very careful to have all wires covered and out of reach...he is 2 years and 9 months now and i still worry about him chewing wires, he has never chewed furniture or shoes just wires!!!!!

 

[Clodagh]

I shut mine downstairs and go up to bed, and ignore anything I hear. (In a crate, so safe). I need my sleep! They also need to learn to be OK on their own.

And pics needed immediately on collection , what breed is it? I love the idea of puppies, but just remember that thank goodness they grow up fast.

 

[hihosilver]

Definitely a crate! a good dog walker you can trust, I am out all day so my neighbour and dog walker are essential. Good luck I will be thinking of getting another puppy at some point. For now though I am happy with one!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I shut mine downstairs and go up to bed, and ignore anything I hear. (In a crate, so safe). I need my sleep! They also need to learn to be OK on their own.

And pics needed immediately on collection , what breed is it? I love the idea of puppies, but just remember that thank goodness they grow up fast.

I'm with you! I do happen to sleep right over the top of the crate but I have no intention of getting up in the middle of the night to let puppies out as a matter of routine. IME, if you do something twice most dogs think it's a habit!
Our Labs are crate trained and they were the easiest dogs we've ever had to house train. They were reliably clean day and night from 10 weeks. The Rotters were also crate trained and were easy to house-train, although not quite as quickly.
My top tip is 'start as you mean to go on. Consistency is key to having civilised dogs who are well-mannered members of the family. It's up to you what you allow them to do, e.g. sitting on the furniture, going upstairs, begging at mealtimes but whatever you do, don't allow it one day because it's cute and then get cross the next because you are fed up of it.

 

[Nudibranch]

Socialise, socialise, socialise. And then some more socialising. Little but very often. I read somewhere they should meet 100 new people before 12 weeks, which can be tricky as they haven't had all their jabs.
Our now 6 month old collie came home at 8 weeks, 2 days before I had family due to stay - meaning a total of 6 under 6's running about. I was worried pup would be ruined, but she had her own room with a baby gate and stayed in there while everyone arrived. Within 10 minutes she was tearing round with them, fully part of the pack, though with lots of down time to sleep as well. She is now a thoroughly child loving, confident little dog who great with my 3yo son, which is fantastic as rough collies can be very sensitive.

 

[Landcruiser]

One tip I'd always use, which has proved invaluable, is to teach them to toilet on command from an early age. Pick a command and stick to it - mine is "Tiddle time" . I start by saying it as they toilet outside, every single time , and voice rewarding/stroking straight after. As they get the hang of it you can start saying Tiddle time (or whatever) as they are going out the door, as well as while they are doing it. Later, you can drop the "while" if you like, and just praise when they "obey" and toilet when you have asked them to. It's useful for housetraining but also later when you want them to go before getting in the car or whatever,. My 8 yr old sproodle cocks his leg on this command even if he doesn't need to go!

 

[Ranyhyn]

My best advice is to only show them the parts of the house you want them to be in. Start a routine asap, outside at the end of every meal, as soon as they wake up and after a play session.
Plenty of praise when they get it right.
Do not let them bite you, offer a substitute and if they continue, leave the room.
Crate is always a safe place, never a punishment. I never crated my GSD, but he did have a pen which slowly opened up to being our utility room. We NEVER disturb him while he's sleeping with play or anything.
Dont let him jump up, unless of course you're happy with that, what seems cute as a pup will be murder to change once he's bigger.

As for introductions I kept them short and sweet and I never paid any overdue attention to the animals they were meeting (in my case, chickens, sheep and horses) plenty of HIGH value treats (and i mean high) and as soon as they ignore - reward.

And puppy classes, invaluable the right ones are

Enjoy, what are you getting?

 

[oldie48]

Loads of good advice already. I used a crate for Stan attached to a pen so he could be with me in the kitchen but not under my feet. He was clean and dry within two days but it was the summer and I always wake up in the night so I'd just pop down and take him out for a pee. He did chew my kitchen chair so I painted where he chewed with a paste of chilli powder and water, which stopped him and was easy to wash off. I started clicker training as soon as he came home at 6/7 weeks and although he's a terrier he's got v good recall etc. What you put in when they are little, repays you when they are older. Have lots of fun with your new pup!