Update on my first puppy!

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RedVendetta

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So I now have my new puppy and she is gorgeous! She's settling in well.
We picked her up last night and she slept all the way home and wasn't sick and didn't poo or wee in her carrier, I was really impressed.

When we got her home she was really nervous and she does still seem a little nervous but I stayed with her until she fell asleep last night and she didn't wake me up until 7am with her crying - how good is that! She has pood and peed on a mat and not had any accidents off the mat yet. I am working at home today and she is currently asleep on my feet! How brilliant, we are already great friends.

She does cry a lot but then she only got taken from her mum last night. And she barked a little this morning and growled but I think she was just trying to get our attention. Should I be worried?

Thank you all so much for your help and comments, Ive got lots of books and CAYLA's puppy guide so hopefully she is in good hands!

Will keep you updated and get some more pictures.
 
Start early with getting pup used to being separated from you for short periods of time :) thats my biggest and best tip and crate train her!!
 
I hope you don't literally mean just taken from her mum. Pups should be fully weaned for at least 2 weeks if not more, the most contact they should have had with the bitch is her popping in to check on them. I would never let a bitch spend too much time e.g. sleep overnight with pups at that age. She will however be missing her litter mates so crying is understandable. You do need to get her used to spending time on her own, even when you are at home, I am sure Caylas guide will cover it all, and crate training is definitely the way to go.
 
We got her from a reputable breeder in a family environment, so I'm sure they will have made sure she was weaned properley - this is my first ever puppy so I really know nothing about breeding!

She has been on her own for about 3 hours at a time now and doing really well. She cries at lot early in the morning but I ignored it this morning as Im working at home, so she just had to wait until my husband got up for work for some company. She is now lying at my feet again after a playful hour, so she's tired herself out!

I cant wait til she has had her jabs and can go out and socialise!
 
RedVendetta said:
We got her from a reputable breeder in a family environment, so I'm sure they will have made sure she was weaned properley - this is my first ever puppy so I really know nothing about breeding!
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She is most definitely NOT from a reputable breeder - reputable breeders don't breed mixed breeds to sell and toy breed puppies usually stay with the breeder till nearer 10 weeks.
Sounds like someone after a bit of cash = puppy farmer (albeit on a small scale)

What were the parents like?
 
Parents were both very nice dogs. Reputable means their reputation is good - which it is. They breed pure jack russels and the mix that we have chihuahua x cavalier. They have one set of puppies a year from each mother, so I wouldn't really call it a puppy farm!We didn't buy her because she was a toy dog, we know we have bought a mongrel but she is lovely and of the correct temperament and type for us.

I'm not really looking for negative comments, I am looking for some positive help with my puppy. I have her now, so no point in chastising the breeder! Most puppies for sale, even from reputable breeders, seem to be 7-8 weeks old, and all the books I have read (of which there are many!) have said 7-10 weeks is ideal depending on the breed. Not that I am claiming to know anything, as I have never had a dog before, but we all have to have a 'first' dog just like I had a first horse, and mistakes get made.

Anyway she seems to be doing really well, so Im really happy.
 
Good for you, its sounds like you are enjoying her. She is just expressing normal nerves / settling in behaviour and will be fine. Mine was clingy and cried a lot when he first arrived home and it soon subsides as they get used to their new routine.
 
Thanks LHS. Glad to hear its relatively normal behaviour.

I am just looking into puppy training classes for when she has had her vaccinations, which I'm really excited about! Cant wait to understand more and try to have a well trained dog.
 
She sounds like she is settling in well:). Ignoring their crying is hard when all you want to do is cuddle them but it is the right thing to do.:o

Your vets or dog training classes usually do puppy classes :)- the sooner she starts meeting other dogs (after vaccs obviously) and just starts doing things the more familiar she will become - going out in the car so they get used to that is good to and you can do that before her vaccs obviously.:)

My last puppy was Sweep and from the day I picked him up he went everywhere in the car with me - has never been sick and is a great passenger. :D

More piccies..........:D
 
awww i want to see more piccies too, it's soooo exciting having a new puppy! I agree with the post above about getting her out for trips in the car as soon as possible, stan has been all over the place from day 1 (we got him at 11 weeks tho, so his vaccs had been done) and he is a fab passenger.

The best thing i learnt when we got Stan was about the way dogs learn: they will try something out and if it brings a reward, they will repeat the behaviour, so if it's a behaviour you don't want to see again, ensure you don't reward it at all (ignoring is best!). I know it's really simple and obvious, but useful to keep it in mind. When I started leaving him in my stable at the yard while I rode (which was in the 1st week we had him) I put a sign on the door asking people to completely ignore any whining etc...by week 2 he was sleeping in there happily while I rode - he had learnt that whining did not bring a reward.

Give your vets a call and ask if they do any puppy parties, and they might also be able to recommend a training class for you too :)

Another really useful thing I learn was about tone of voice...if you sound positive and happy about things, chances are pup will believe you that it's a good thing.

Enjoy every minute of it :)
 
She sounds lovely, I really envy you having a puppy around!

Personally I don't use mats for house training, as they then have to unlearn the mat and learn to go in the garden, but if it's working out for you that's fine.

Puppy classes are great fun! They should include a mix of socialisation (puppies being introduced to other people, children, different things, handling), puppy play time (where puppies in small groups are allowed off the lead to have fun) and the basics of obedience. It's well worth starting with some basic obedience at home, as it does take a while before vaccinations are done, and pesonally I take mine out to socialise before the vacs are finished (there is a small risk in this, but if you avoid other dogs and dog/fox poo, I think the risk is worth taking for the benefits of socialisation). A good recall is invaluable and it's never too early to start learning. It's worth rewarding her everytime she comes to you, so that she knows that returning to you is always a good thing.

Photos????
 
What, no photos? :eek: :confused:

Sounds like you are getting on just fine and I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the pads. i've never used them but i did wonder whether to try them with our last puppy.
 
Aww sorry I havent put more photos on yet, I will upload them if I get time today, just with moving house its all a bit frantic here! We are using the pads for now and doing well with them - they are very useful as we are in a flat. When we move to our new house (complete with enormous puppy friendly garden) we will start the toilet training in earnest. We are also having a few private lessons with a dog trainer to start us off, and starting puppy party training classes in September, which is when she will be fully vaccinated and ready to meet other puppies.

She has met a few dogs at the farm where I keep my horse (they are all vaccinated) very very briefly, and I will keep taking her up there as its a fab place for her to meet loads and loads of dogs, chickens, horses etc.

I LOVE the idea of putting her in my stable whilst I ride - although with a broken horse :( I havent done much riding lately but I might start practising that with her anyway for when I start riding again - Im allowed to lunge him today (my horse) so fingers crossed he will be better soon.

Thanks for all the tips and positive comments, keep them coming! I will go and download some pics now!
 
Boobos, I recommend pads/paper for the purpose of placing it near the door (where you want to puppy to head for when in need:D) and simply pick the puppy up and place it outside but NOT to allow the puppy to actually reach the pad and pish or poop on it, they should be used for a guide (to teach the puppy to head for the door) pups are def more likely to try and reach the paper/pad for a wee which cuts out all the urination/faeces ebing passed all over the room that will sometimes go un noticed, but they should not be used as a temp toilet for the bone idle:D:D
Eventually remove the pads and paper and be vigilant for the puppy heading for the door, and simply start to open the door, or leave the door a jar at times with pads and paper on the outside.
It's actually a really quick way to teach them, but I am aware esp with smaller dogs people actually use the pads all the dogs life:eek:
 
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