Puppy power!

[rockybalboa]

So, we collect our sprocker pup on Sat. I have read The Perfect Puppy and some online stuff recommended on here about crate training, I have been in email contact with the proposed puppy trainer to get training sorted once Pup is ready to go out, we have a crate and old fleeces to go in it/over it, spaniel bowls, a grooming brush, a million toys, a little collar and lead (a bit ahead of myself on that front I know), an engraved ID tag, insurance in place, vet lined up...

What am I missing? I need puppy treats (lots of). Any recommendations? The breeder is going to give us a bag of the food she is currently feeding them to be going on with so that's all sorted. The bit I am most terrified about is the first day/night. I have never had a dog before (DH has) hence me trying to be anally super prepared and worrying that I've missed something crucial.

I also can't decide what command to use for toileting. I'm not sure about "be clean", have seen "busy busy" mentioned, that might work, easy for the kids to remember too. And do I pick the same place in the garden for her to toilet in? We have grass/decking/gravel/slabs so a variety of surfaces, is one better than the other not overthinking this at all I assume somewhere close to a door is best for night-time toileting?

I thought there was a new puppy survival thread on here but I can't find it so if anyone can link...

What else do I need to buy/do/read? I swear this is worse than before I had my first baby!!!

[StarsInTheNightSky]

We've always use "go potty" as a disclaimer DH thinks this is really naff, but I do the training so go potty it is . Treats, hmm, I've never used treats for training but I've just given bones or hide chews if the dog has been especially god, otherwise just lots and lots of praise.
Grass has been the preferred toiket spot for every dog I've ever had, and they tend to sniff around for a bit and then go.
It sounds like you've got it covered to be honest, I've always found that the first 24 hours with any dog/pup is the hardest, and after that things start getting more civilized!

[StarsInTheNightSky]

Good not god, sorry!

[Cheerfulmarybrown]

We use "Be quick"

I use loads of treats for training. I do not feed puppies from a bowl but use their daily food allowance for training.

I sleep with my new puppies on the first few nights. I do not have my dogs upstairs so move downstairs with the puppy for a few nights - this has usually meant they settle in quickly.

Don't worry too much and just enjoy the puppy days they don't last long.

A good book is Life skills for Puppies by Daniel Mills and Helen Zulch.
A good DVD is pups2perfection from Devon dogs. This does concentrate on dogs sports as well but some excellent ideas for training puppies

[StarsInTheNightSky]

I should have said, our dogs sleep at the end of our bed (on a mattress on the floor) that's always been the dog spot, so we've never had loneliness issues at night and they've always settled in really well.

[Floralnomad]

We use 'quickly' as the command word ,and at 5 yrs he still pees on command - I also stayed downstairs for the first couple of nights and my dog has always been really good overnight -he is also very good if left alone for a few hours during the day ( we used a puppy pen for a couple of weeks and don't crate ) .

[rockybalboa]

Yeah, we're not keen to allow the dog upstairs but the trainer had recommended starting off with the crate in our bedroom and then moving it further away night by night. I'm not sure whether that will make Pup think she's allowed upstairs and she'd be better off never knowing what upstairs looks like!! There is a sofa in the dining room area right where her crate will be and also our spare bedroom is right above it with separate stairs so that might work too. I just don't want to do the wrong thing and make life harder than it needs to be!!

[StarsInTheNightSky]

No, I would say that if you never want pup upstairs then start as you mean to go on. Try to keep is as black and white as possible, eg. It is ALWAYS OK to do x, it is NEVER OK to do y. If you're happy for her to go into the spare bedroom then that sounds like a plan.
Also consistency is absolutely key (cannot stress that enough), never let pup off the hook for something she's now supposed to do, always correct, even if its in the middle of the night (and boy that sucks, why do they have to pick then to play up?!). Praise for at least three times as long as you correct each day, praise even for the smallest things.

It's becomes habit very quickly, it will soon be second nature. Good luck and have fun .

[BirdyArms]

I think sleeping downstairs the first few nights is a good plan and wish we'd done that. We had ours in a crate outside the spare bedroom door (in basement) but he cried a lot. Then tried to put him on his own in the kitchen, cried a lot, then in crate in spare bedroom, then when we had guests to stay he went in the crate in our room etc etc, a total disaster. At 5 months he is now in the kitchen on his own but he comes upstairs which we'd rather he didn't. I think put him where you want him to end up and move yourself away gradually.

We used 'hurry up' as a wee command. Definitely good to have one, he goes on command which is handy if you are leaving him on or going on a long journey etc.

[Haggismcbaggis]

Just don't use "toilet" as your word. FFS why did I start that. The indignity of saying that in my back garden at 12 midnight....

Still the 16 week old and the 2.5 year old both go on command so it is worth it. Sigh.

[JustBeingJuliet]

I've always just said "go and have a wee" which has worked with both of mine. An ex used to screech "go PEEPEE!" at his dog, in a CBeebies-esque voice, and I used to cringe every time!