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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Getting a puppy need tips!

23 replies

gothicmummy · 11/04/2021 19:05

Posting here for traffic....

Ive brought a puppy I collect her in the next few weeks.

I've never owned a dog as an adult but have grown up with the breed Ive brought except the breed I've brought is a hybrid dog whereas the breed I grew up with are pedigree (if that's relevant)

Anyway can you lovely people give me any tips and tricks you found helpful to smooth the transition and for training (in all areas) I'm looking at puppy classes etc I just want to be as prepared as can be I've googled alot of stuff but I feel real stories from real people would be more helpful than a monotone article that doesn't really have any personal experience

Thanks guys

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 11/04/2021 19:14

Decide now if you want to use a crate-love or hate thing. Keeps the pup safe if you’re out and stops it being destructive, also useful if it ever needs restricting eg post op, injury etc.

Decide on food, the breeder may be feeding rubbish. Most supermarket biscuits contain dodgy preservatives that are carcinogenic, as does Royal Canin, god knows why so many breeders seem to use it. Most food from the vet contains almost no meat. Hybrid=cross of 2 different species.

Are you going to go to puppy classes? If so, avoid the ones where the puppies are allowed to run wild under the guise of ‘socialising’. Other dog owners will not like your pup eagerly bounding up as you shout ‘It’s ok, it’s friendly’, particularly if they’re training or their dog is not friendly.

PS: Hybrid=cross of 2 different species. Makes no odds what type of dog it is, be consistent with training and you will get a cracking pet.

percheron67 · 11/04/2021 19:19

I would not use a crate. I hope you have checked that the breeder is a proper person eg, knows about giving the bitch extra food and vitamins when in whelp. Please find a proper trainer who will help to teach your puppy good manners. Please don't start by letting the pup wander in front of you on the pavement - this is dangerous when they get older and can rush into the road. Puppies are like children in that, if you instil good manners at the start, the puppy will grow up happy and safe and a pleasure to own.

gothicmummy · 11/04/2021 19:21

@Cherrysoup
Thank you so much for the tips
We are definitely going to be crate training as we feel that it will give her somewhere 'calm' to take herself off to when she gets overwhelmed or just needs to be alone.

What dog food would you recommend? I didn't know about the carcinogenic stuff in the food - it's shocking that they sell that sort of stuff!!

The one I've been looking the most at is the one from dogs Trust and that's 4 lessons for 65 quid however at the moment it's virtual and I'd ideally like to physically take her to puppy classes as that may be more beneficial but thank you for pointing out the ones who let them run around as even puppies can be aggressive so that's a good thinking point!

I totally agree, that's the last thing I want her to be doing as il never know another dogs background and I don't want her to get hurt in any way whatsoever

OP posts:
millymollymoomoo · 11/04/2021 19:21

Set rules and boundaries from day 1
Consistency consistency consistency
Train from day 1
Start getting your pup used to being alone and build up to longer periods

HikeForward · 11/04/2021 19:24

My main advice is: keep her on-lead at all times until she is fully trained. And by trained I mean she has impeccable recall, doesn’t approach strangers or on-lead dogs and can read social cues of off-lead dogs.

This includes keeping her on a short training lead and not letting her approach random dogs ‘for a sniff’.

Lots of people (and dogs) don’t like other dogs and may react with aggression if she bounds up to them.

Be wary of bull breeds (staffie types) as an unusually large proportion seem to be dog aggressive.

Establish boundaries firmly and kindly and stick to them, for example don’t tolerate any nipping or ‘mouthing’ or jumping up.

Cherrysoup · 11/04/2021 19:24

@gothicmummy re food, there’s a mad choice out there. This website gives you an idea. www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/the-dog-food-directory There’ll be a bit of trial and error til you find one that suits her. I feed raw, but that can be quite daunting to start with.

I imagine puppy classes will start soon, but meanwhile, make her great other dogs calmly, no jumping, ideally sit her to meet friendly dogs.

hopeishere · 11/04/2021 19:28

Do people really take a puppy out off lead??

We are hopefully getting a dog and it all seems much more complicated than when we got one when I was a child! No one did puppy classes then!!

Still1nLove · 11/04/2021 19:31

I agree with consistency.
Never let a puppy get away with behaving in a way that you wouldn’t accept from an older dog (biting/nipping/jumping)
Accept that your puppy is going to chew everything, and just like a toddler, keep things out of it’s reach. Give it appropriate toys to chew and return those toys to the same place every time it’s finished with it.
Sometimes they don’t grow out of chewing!
My boy was crate trained when we got him. It was a lifesaver and we knew he was safe whenever we went out.
Be confident when first walking with it off lead, pockets full of chicken is your friend.
Never give it chew hide, very dangerous.

VerityWibbleWobble · 11/04/2021 19:35

Make sure you research insurance policies thoroughly to get the best policy for your dog. And don't forget about public liability insurance.

Research local vets, ours has a plan that you pay for monthly and get reduced costs and it includes flea/worming treatment in the monthly cost.

Procrastination4 · 11/04/2021 19:39

Get your puppy used to the sound of the hairdryer before he/she actually needs to be dried using one.

If you want to keep the adult dog off of the furniture, don’t take the puppy up on the sofa etc to cuddle. Go down to him/her to cuddle rather than cuddling the cute puppy on the sofa and then when grown, he/she will wonder why you don’t want him/her up on it anymore. (Some people don’t have a problem with dogs on the furniture though).

Don’t be tempted to give tidbits from the table or while prepping food. It’ll become a habit and your dig will absolutely plague you looking for scraps.

Never let your dog near chocolate, dried fruit or grapes. They all can be lethal to dogs.

Don’t put up with a “fussy eater”. You’ll be making a rod for your own back. If a certain dry food suits your dog, stick with it.

Procrastination4 · 11/04/2021 19:40

Excuse typos!

Beeme29 · 11/04/2021 19:47

Personally I would always say use a crate. I used to think it was cruel (I had dogs growing up and my mother always said it was cruel) but we bought one for our pup - who’s now 4 and she loves it. Wasn’t keen at first but she grown to love it in a short time. We only planned to use it short term but now it’s her cosy safe space. It’s never locked shut! She just goes in and out.

Also I didn’t bother with puppy pads. I wasn’t working when we got her (SAHM) and I just spent a lot of time outside with her. Accidents happened at times inside of course but we got her at 8 weeks and she was toilet trained with a very short time (I think it took 2 weeks not sure what’s normal) just by waiting for her to go in the garden and rewarding her. It was exhausting to start with but so worth it. DS was at school and Dd was pretty young but it was summer and time outside was nice. Dh would do it too.

I can’t say much about training. It’s something we should have done better on. She’s never been trained off lead but we have a massive garden for her to run laps in and she gets walked on lead so not a problem. We didn’t socialise her with other dogs enough and she also got attacked by a neighbours dog so she can be nervous around dogs but she’s very used to people and visitors so she’s super friendly with people.

I’ve always fed her kibble as that’s what the vet we seen recommend but a lot of people are raw feeding now. Never had a problem with kibble though. She’s very healthy!

We always set boundaries from a young age. She’s pretty much allowed everywhere downstairs including the sofa but we didn’t allow her onto beds from the start - people might disagree with this but she’s so used to it. She either sleeps in her crate or the sofa!

Also get them used to being left for short times. I’m not talking hours on end but little bits here and there so they get used to it. Ours has never been left for long but she can tolerate a few hours!

Cant think of anything else tbh. Good luck with getting him or her 🐶

KurtWilde · 11/04/2021 19:50

I wouldn't be without the crate for mine. Even as pups they're large and quite destructive and I learned the hard way that a crate was essential. Plus I feel happier knowing they're safe and snug while I'm out.

Do you know what type of food the breeder is using? Keep up with that for starters then gradually introduce whichever alternative you've chosen - less chance of an upset stomach that way.

HikeForward · 11/04/2021 20:04

Do people really take a puppy out off lead?

Many people seem to remove the lead when they get to a park or field. Then let puppy run up greeting and jumping on strangers and their dogs, knocking kids over, tripping people up and using the excuse ‘well he’s only a pup!’

I think a lot of people have no idea some on-lead dogs will attack other dogs, even puppies, if the puppy leaps on them or runs into them.

gothicmummy · 11/04/2021 20:46

Thank you all for the tips! I'm reading them and taking it all on board, this may sound silly but would you recommend a radio on at night for the puppy so they don't feel so alone at bedtime as will be sleeping away from us as I'm not keen on the idea of sharing a bed with a dog 😂

OP posts:
KurtWilde · 11/04/2021 20:58

@gothicmummy I leave Netflix or YouTube on for mine 😂

gingganggooleywotsit · 11/04/2021 21:01

Expose your pup to as many different situations and experiences as possible.. Take them on buses trains let people stroke them, walk on busy streets walk on grass, let them meet cats children anything you can. If you do this from an early age your dog will grow up to be super confident and relaxed. (well that's my experience anyway!)

CoffeethenCrochet · 11/04/2021 21:02

Get a copy of the book "Easy peasy puppy squeezy" by Steve Mann - read it, then read it again. It's brilliant.

DoubleTweenQueen · 11/04/2021 21:11

Join “Dog training advice and support” group on FB, and look at their puppy files. Also, Puppy Survival Thread here on MN.

You will need to sleep near your pup for the first couple of weeks for reassurance, cuddles, night-time potty training (taking to to the garden when they wake every couple hours). We had crate in sitting room and me on sofa, then crate in kitchen and me on sofa in adjoining room, then me back in my own bed, with alarm set for every three hours, then once in the night (4 hrs after last wee) - 3/4am, then 6/6:30am. Now, pretty much sleeps through, with the odd night she wakes and needs to wee, @7mnths old. Otherwise, settles really well, knows I will be there if she needs me, will pop out for a wee in early hours then straight back to bed, no fuss. She in her crate in the kitchen, me upstairs in my bed. I may have been lucky, but I also think it’s because she feels safe & secure.

I have never allowed her upstairs, not on the furniture - she has jumped up a couple of times, but got off reliably when told.

Not off-lead until properly and reliably trained also means that if something unexpected or scary happens, pup doesn’t run off frightened and potentially under a vehicle, or disappears in the pursuit of something small and fluffy and disregarding the distance from you until too late, or runs off to worry livestock.

Shouldn’t need a radio on at night - just be close. A gentle stroke, or a shush, or cuddle may be necessary during the night. Wees definitely will be.

Make sure pup rests/sleeps a number of times during the day. Sleep really important.
Look at socialisation :)

KurtWilde · 11/04/2021 21:36

I never slept near my pups at night, never had any issues. Each to their own, but I found it unnecessary plus with young children (single parent) I couldn't be on a different floor to them at night! Wasn't feasible for me.

gingganggooleywotsit · 11/04/2021 22:09

I didn’t either. We used to just stay up really late to midnight ish, take him out for a wee, then get up super early in the morning say 5.30/6. He just held on from day 1. Could have just been luck/laid back dog thoug

DoubleTweenQueen · 11/04/2021 23:22

I'm sure you're right, and different approaches work for different people and different pups. Just what I found worked for us - with an ess so quite high energy and needy, at first. Calmed down a lot now though.

Enidblyton1 · 11/04/2021 23:34

Introduce your pup to as many people, dogs and sounds as you can in the first 6 months - that was probably the best advice someone gave me and we now have a very chilled out dog. Also important to get the dog used to the car if you’re going to be driving it around. I have a few friends who didn’t introduce their pups to the car enough during lockdown and now have problems.

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