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The doghouse

New pup in 3 weeks-anything I should know/do/buy?

6 replies

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 24/01/2012 22:46

Apart from the obvious things, what would you recommend buying, doing to prepare us and home for pup?

And any name suggestions would ge great too!

She's a black cocker spaniel.

Any help or advice on anything would be great. Thanks!

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daisydotandgertie · 25/01/2012 08:22

Make sure you're at home a lot when the puppy is very new, and expect a good number of nights with very broken sleep.

Buy lots of kitchen roll, poo bags, disinfectant and some biological washing powder for accidents. There will be many of them. Also, a very light collar and lead.

If you can manage to find 2 beds - a cardboard box with blankets/towels would do as a back up just in case there's a wee/poo/sick accident in the middle of the night - the spare might be very useful. A hot water bottle and a big soft cuddly toy will help settle her at night too - and a crate if you're crate training.

She'll also like a few little toys - soft ones mostly at this age to carry round and play with. Empty milk containers and bottles are a favorite thing, tennis balls too.

Puppy proof by crawling round and looking for enticing things to chew - cables are a good one to keep out of the way. Have a check of the garden too for things like slug pellets or ponds/pools and fence them off. Although puppies can swim, they can't get themselves out of water reliably. I have a friend who lost her flatcoat pup because he wriggled out of a teeny gap in a sliding door and somehow got trapped under a pool cover. I don't think she'll ever get over it, and certainly won't forgive herself.

I'm trying to say, make sure your house is puppy proof, because even if you are quite sure you know where your dog is every second of the day; you might not. They move very quickly, are massively inquisitive and very quiet sometimes. At least if you loose sight of her and you've puppy proofed, you'll know she can't come to any harm.

The book a perfect puppy by gwen bailey is a good read and can be very helpful.

Investigate pet insurance and assuming you get the 4 week free insurance from pet plan with your breeder, make a note to take out the policy 2 weeks after you get her so you're not exposed to the risk of a 2 week exclusion for claiming which happens at the start of every policy.

Then get excited about it!

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BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 25/01/2012 10:03

Ooh, great points about spare box, soft toys and pre puppy proofing.

We are getting a crate, so will fill that with blankets and hot water bottle. Will she not chew the hwb? Well, I suppose she'll only have little teeth for the time being.

And I'll look up the book you mentioned.

My DH has just booked a week off and I'm a SAHM, so I'm at home anyway.

So sad to hear about your friends' pup. You just don't imagine something like that. We have no pond, but I will be looking around at pup height for things to be moved!

Thanks so much for your advice. Grin

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yummyoldbag · 25/01/2012 10:11

Fill the freezer! It is harder to leave the house than it is with a new born baby by far!!!!

Enjoy! I know a beautiful black cocker called Flora who is one of the loveliest friendliest dogs in the world (apart from my cavie of course!).

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ThunderboltKid · 25/01/2012 11:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at poster's request

cravingcake · 25/01/2012 20:36

Daisydot has pretty much said it all but a couple more things....

Dont be afraid to call your breeder if you are unsure about anything (I'm assuming this is your first puppy). They should give you a puppy pack, which will have a bag of food which your pupp is already eating. DONT change her diet too quickly, i.e. dont finish that bag then just start her on a different brand of food, you should mix them over a few days, ideally a week though (70/30, then 50/50 then 30/70 as an example).

Dont change what you do - if you intend to leave the puppy at home when you do the school run then do this from as close to day one as possible. The puppy will learn that when you go out she can curl up in her safe place that you have left her and that you will return very shortly.

It is hard work - you wont be able to walk the puppy until they have had their jabs.

I have a 3 month old baby and found my now 2 year old cocker spaniel puppy harder work!

Oh, rather than buying specific 'dog poo bags' supermarket own brand baby nappy sacks are much better value - and a handy size.

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ChickensGoMeh · 25/01/2012 21:06

Be prepared that at some point, probably a couple of weeks in, you will think 'WTF have I done?!'. You will question your ability to train her, your ability to cope with the toilet accidents, you'll question whether you have the patience or resolve to turn the snappy, chewy demon in to a nice, friendly dog. If you know it's coming you won't be surprised, and you can also be assured that if you power through it you will adapt and find your puppy marvellous

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