Puppy, slugs, foxes & pebbles - help

[iloverhubarbcrumble]

We are puppy proofing our small garden before the puppy arrives next weekend. Two questions.

1. Our compost bin is full of slugs! They seem to stay in the bin, but the vets we were visiting yesterday basically said it would be better not to let the puppy in the garden at all until after her vaccinations have kicked in!

• danger of lungworm due to slugs
• and through foxes, which we've seen around but not specifically in our garden. We've checked carefully for signs of fox waste today - nothing. All holes blocked, though of course they could come over the fence.

Can we really keep a puppy indoors for 3 weeks? What sort of risk would we be taking? Opinions much appreciated.

1. Garden has some small decorative pebbles. Do puppies try to eat pebbles? Should we take then all away now?

Thanks for your advice. (Also how to get rid of the bloody slugs completely!)

I have never kept a puppy indoors when I have brought them home. I never use paper inside or those over priced puppy pads for toileting. I start training them to bussiness outside from day one. Taking them out and staying with them untill they do it whatever the weather may be.
Re slugs and foxes and lungworm dogs get lungworm from eating slugs and snails. If your outside while pup is out there no problem.
Re pebbles yes some pups will chew ANYTHING I have the first part of my garden concrete slabs. Then fenced off onto my grass its so easy to wash down every few days safe for puppies.
Enjoy your new puppy hard work but so worth it

Thanks Lpp, that certainly feels more do-able. So we'll just make sure we are always with the puppy in the garden for the first few weeks. And thanks for the encouragement too - we are really looking forward to her arrival.

Think I may be confusing two things - one is the slugs, other is the possibility of parvovirus etc already present in our garden. Am I now becoming paranoid?!!

I would definately take the puppy outside before all the vaccines are done. They wont stop the lungworm anyway! Do be very very careful that the puppy does not eat the slugs and do not leave the pups toys outside for the slugs to walk over and then the puppy plays with the toy and can get ill that way. Be very careful also of the slug pellets that say they are safe for pets they are not and several dogs have died and been ill from ingesting them.

Best way to get rid of slugs is to go out at night with a torch and remove as many as you can find. Then in the winter when it is freexing dig over the soil as the eggs are hidden in the soil but will die if they get cold. Does work but can take a few years to take full affect!

Up to you about the pebbles but yes the pup may eat them. Is it easier to remove them than to constantly watch the dog to make sure they are not being eaten - up to you.

Aww can totally relate to your worries re Pavo please put it to the back of your mind though. I would have puppy vacinated the day after you get her I always do this then second jab two weeks later. That way puppy classes can start sooner.
I always scrub the yard before picking up a new pup then on return home take it out into the garden for a sniff and see if they need to go. Then the fun starts every hour after that watching in case they bopped down. Its all fun and games oh how I enjoy it. Typing this makes me want to do it again mantra going on in my head at the moment LOL.
Its late now but I shall pop on again tomorrow bet i start dreaming of puppies now xx