I'm about to own a puppy. What do I need to know?

[YeahDamon]

We have three weeks to get prepared. I'm off to Pets at Home to start shopping. I have been given a crate but we need EVERYTHING else.

So, can you help me compile a list? I'm thinking blankets, cushion, toys, bowls, collar and lead, brush, treats, food....

What else, and do you have any recommendations? She's going to be tiny, dad is a small chihuahua and mum is a small jrt (and they are both adorable).

This is the first puppy we've ever had, and the first dog I've really owned (I've lived with people who had dogs) so I'm going to have a steep learning curve. Any advice is welcome!

[YeahDamon]

Oh, and I'll just leave this here...

[YeahDamon]

Well I've been.

And I spent nearly £100. And still haven't got everything. Yikes.

[MostAmused]

It's so exciting isn't it? Feel like I should say congrats [Never sure if that should just be reserved for new babies but a puppy is a furbaby right?! x)]

Have you got any spray for when she has accidents? It's handy to have as it neutralises the smell to stop them going in the same place.

Did you get any chew toys? Dpup never chewed up any furniture and I think it's cause we gave him lots of his own toys to do this with. But plastic bottles and cardboard are just as good!

[MostAmused]

Oh meant to say, she looks adorable!

[poppyseedbagel]

Take so many pictures! Ours wasn't the most photogenic, he was too much of a wriggler, but we got amazingly cute ones.
Ours really struggled with the toilet training! So be strict with the crate training, get her used to being in there, and happy to be in there. Our boy hated it, and it broke my heart having to leave him in there!

Congrats on your new arrival ;) They become such a big part of the family.

[MimsyBorogroves]

Kongs are good for stuffing with treats/paste when you're leaving them. I also give carrots instead of branded chews (dentastix etc)

Will pup come with some food?

Don't forget to register with a vet for health check and first injections etc. some vets offer puppy socialisation classes too, or see if there are others available in your area if you can, they are really useful.

[YeahDamon]

Thank you! I've got chew toys and spray. Will get a kong type toy as well.

I've found a good local vet so will register her before we get her, they do a puppy package with all the jabs and flea treatment etc.

I feel much like I'm expecting a new baby.

I'm taking a week off work as puppy leave (!) but then I go back to working three days a week (home for lunch, and dh is home at 3pm) so we have about ten days to get her used to being left for a few hours. That, or she'll have to come to work with me...

[BertieBotts]

Oh can I join you? We are getting ours in August, the plan is for her to be 3-4 months old. We know we're getting a girl and the breed (springer spaniel) but the mum dog isn't even pregnant yet so that's all.

DH has had dogs (it's technically his dog they are breeding) but I have never had one before. I'm a bit nervous! But excited too. We're going to have a crate, and should have a couple of weeks to acclimatise her before we have to start leaving her for short periods.

[StripeyCustard]

She is gorgeous! Big bin for the garden to put poo in, stair gates, poo bags (theme here!), name tag (needed by law).

[Florin]

A large bottle of gin! Our puppy is now 8 months but the first 3 months with her at home were seriously hard work. Completly worth it though.
It is hard work with the crate training but stick to it as it is so worth it. The crate should only be big enough for puppy's bed so you may need to divide it. You will also need to find a dog walker as you can't leave a very young puppy all morning.
Put an easy to slip on pair of shoes by the back door (i use birkenstocks) so they are easy to slip on for taking the puppy out in the garden extremely often. We did it every 20 mins for the first couple of weeks.
Stock up your fridge and cupboards as you won't be able to leave the puppy for the first few days.
A good spray to clean the floor with after accidents.
I wouldn't buy a bed yet as a hassle to clean if they have an accident in it. I would dig out some old towels and buy a couple of very cheap fleece blankets as they dry so quickly after washing. Preferably give one to the breeder before you pick pup up so it smells of Mum to help to settle puppy when you bring them home.

[MsMcWoodle]

The main thing you need to know is that puppies are bastards.
So far today mine has
Stopped walking in the middle of the high street and refused to move. I had to carry her even though she is seven months old and HUGE.
Destroyed the toilet roll.
Raided two different bins and spread the contents over the living room.
Jumped up at a random passerby.
Wailed all the time I was in a shop with her. She wasn't even left outside.
Bothered the plumber until dragged away.
Pushed at least 5 toys under the sofa and then cried because she can't get them.
There's probably more...
Still, she's our bastard now.

[littlepeas]

I am also getting a puppy in 3 weeks! We are getting a golden retriever. Very excited, but nervous too - I grew up with dogs but have never owned one of my own. Need to get so much stuff! I keep seeing conflicting advice about crate size - do I get one that will be big enough for him when he is fully grown, or one that fits him now?!

[Panicmode1]

That it will be the hardest thing you have ever done (and I have four children), that however much reading and preparation you have done, you won't have done enough, and that they will worm their way into your hearts so that you haven't the heart to be cross with them when they do something bonkers.

I have a 15 week golden retriever who we have had for coming up to two months - it's been a roller coaster of a ride, I have days when I think I am insane - but walking her yesterday with the four DCs in the almost springlike sunshine and seeing how happy everyone was made it all worthwhile!

littlepeas - my retriever chews and mouths everything - start stockpiling boxes, loo rolls, cardboard etc to have something to throw at the puppy when it wants to chew something.......! And I got a crate that would fit her when she's grown, but have partitioned it to help with housetraining - until I did that, she was weeing in her bed, but now goes on the 'other' side of the crate.

[ElizaPickford]

Yy to gin and bastards

Also I found bitter cherry spray very useful to spray on anything pups like to chew (furniture, your feet, HOLES IN THE CARPET etc etc)

Enjoy your puppy leave!

[BertieBotts]

Where can you buy bitter cherry spray? We live abroad so will have to pick some up next time we're home I reckon :)

[Dogs4life]

Steep learning curve? Yes. True. But I REALLY hope you have done a lot of research about owning, training and caring puppies/dogs already? If not then that is your absolute priority right now. You will of course have spent some time thinking about what dog is best for your family and researched this breed. Or rather both breeds. You won't know if the dog will have the traits of the chi or a jrt or will have both. Crate training may not be advisable as the chi's do not tolerate crates and breeders of chi's advise against them. Jrts are prone to anxiety so care will need to be given to ensure pup can cope with being left alone. It's good this dog does not look likely to be left alone for long periods. It appals me when I hear of people with dogs leaving for work in the early hours and not getting back til late evening. I also can't understand people who purchase dogs on a whim, or get a pup as a gift for a young child and are then shocked by the amount of work involved as they are very hard work. Too many people think of dogs as just animals and do not consider that they can feel joy and sadness. I wish you the best with your new family member. However, the best thing you can do for your impending rival is to research, do some dog sitting & find a good trainer. You have a mix of two independent minded dogs there, ensure you know what to do.

[APlaiceInTheSun]

Old clothes - puppies have teeth like razors. Sense of humour.
The gin has already been advised.
Good luck! They are like demented toddlers. Very cute though.

[BertieBotts]

Dogs4life can you recommend any reading? I'm trying to find some things but there are so many books I'm a bit overwhelmed and I've read bad things about certain training methods on MN but don't really know which training method is which.

[BertieBotts]

Toddlers I can deal with They're nothing like four year olds are they?

[Letsgoforawalk]

bertie ! Hi
My latest obsession is getting a dog. I have a big 2 week holiday/walking challenge planned for May but after that it will be full steam ahead dog hunting at our local rescue centres (I'm already a volunteer walker and registering with cinnamon trust)
I saw some books linked earlier on a 'rescue dog' themed thread that might be right up your street.
'Don't shoot the dog'
Something about 'the sky would rain bones' and another....
Hang on....

[BertieBotts]

Ha hello :) Anything on kindle would be great. Hard for me to get books here.

[APlaiceInTheSun]

bertie We found The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey really useful. Lots of practical advice, and back it up by going to training classes.

[BertieBotts]

Ooh I have found some videos on youtube by a guy called Zak George which look good - any good?

[Letsgoforawalk]

The culture clash by Jean Donaldson
bones would rain from the Sky:deepening our relationship with dogs by Suzanne Clothier
Don't shoot the dog is by Karen Pryor

I've not read them myself but they were linked to on Amazon on this thread
(Linked below sorry never learned to do tidy links...) and I thought the reviews sounded good.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pets/a926263-Anyone-with-experience-of-rescue-dogs-re-training-settling-socialisation

[Dogs4life]

In defence of dogs by john Bradshaw. This was the first book I ever read about dogs and is probably the reason I took the plunge into taking on a dog. I was lukewarm towards inviting a 'wolf' into my home before then! What he writes makes so much sense. Stay away from anything that talks about 'dominance'. Dominance in dogs, fact or fiction by Barry Eaton is also a must read. Clever dog: understanding what your dog is telling you by Sarah whitehead. On talking terms with dogs. Calming signals by Turid Rugaas. Dr Ian Dunbar, - any by him. Karen Pryor- don't shoot the dog. Clicker training is well thought of but I've not used it. I have heard great things so maybe research that? And definitely get a book on teaching dogs tricks/using their brains - exercise alone is not enough.