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Original poster

Getting a Puppy Today ?! Girl or Boy ?

90 replies

mellowma · 26/08/2006 09:38

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magnolia1 · 26/08/2006 10:10

Not going against Chandra at all but would give food twice a day to any adult dog that is excersised regularly. Less energetic breeds can cope really well with once a day but I find that because mine get twon one hour runs morning and evening they need food twice to keep their energy up

My mums dogs on the other hand are pretty layed back and less energetic and would never eat 2 meals a day.

Chandra · 26/08/2006 10:12

Oh, but I agree with that, I have a couple of couch potatoes so they do fine with one big meal. However, as young puppies they were fed 4-5 times a day.

Original poster
mellowma · 26/08/2006 10:13

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vnmum · 26/08/2006 10:19

crate changing is the same as cage training. some specialist boarding kennels that have shops sello them, pets at home might. a local vet may well know somewhere or look on the internet and see if there are any stockists in the area.

i would definately use dried food, make sure when changing from one food to another you do so over 7 - 10 days.

make sure you get the vaccinations done, one at 8 weeks then the second at 12 weeks and dont take puppy out for a walk until after the 2nd vaccination as they can still pick parvo up, and it is nasty.

Chandra · 26/08/2006 10:20

I got a very good one for a very good price in e-bay, problem is it took ages to arrive. They are available from Argos too and other pet supplies stores.

There is a book for toilet training dogs within a week. It really works miracles.

magnolia1 · 26/08/2006 10:23

Get the cage from Ebay. There are some great buy it now and a lot less than anywhere else. Normally next day delivery from some of the good sellers.
I wouldn't get one too big to start with, they can tend to use one end to sleep and one end to pee if its too big.

Mine were homed by the time they were 3 weeks old (obviously they didn't leave till 8 weeks )

They are such a fab breed to have but be strong from the start, they will jump, bite and have a tendency to headbut when excited!!
When ours got bigger we used a pin down tecnique which basically meant if they get too excited we would hold them down head and bum on the floor and it puts them in a submissive.
Sounds harsh but it isn't and it is exactly what mother dogs would do if pups got out of hand. In fact our elder one often puts her whole body weight on the younger one to pin her down.

You are going to have so much fun

The other thing is with staffies they have such strong neck muscles, collars for lead walking are wasted on them so a harness is better. We got an easy walker which is like a training harness that tightens under their front legs if they pull and it stops the pulling. No amount of tugging on a normal collar and lead will stop a Staffie from pulling!!

Chandra · 26/08/2006 10:29

I think I still have one of those harnesses, if I find it (and you want it) you can have it.

Original poster
mellowma · 26/08/2006 10:29

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Chandra · 26/08/2006 10:30

Oh no, mellowmama, tell you DH please that the most you deal with dogs as babies the more likely you end up with a dog with behavioural problems (agree about not shouting but you have to be kind but very firm)

magnolia1 · 26/08/2006 10:32

Oh dear, please tell Dh it is nothing like having a child!!! More like having 5 children at once

Shouting isn't neccessary but a firm voice is

Original poster
mellowma · 26/08/2006 10:42

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Chandra · 26/08/2006 10:47

The crate has to be small enough for the dog not to use a corner of it as a toilet, it's just a place to sleep, not to stay through otu the day, I would say that's a good size.

Chandra · 26/08/2006 10:47

The 18x24 I mean.

I have one of the biggest but I keep the two of them in it (and probably still a bit big)

magnolia1 · 26/08/2006 10:48

Definately smaller for now, I know its apain coz you will need the bigger one in a few months but you can sell the small one back on ebay or keep it for next puppy

Original poster
mellowma · 26/08/2006 10:55

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ScummyMummy · 26/08/2006 10:58

but I'm SOOO jealous!

magnolia1 · 26/08/2006 10:59

we used a throw over for a bed. Bought a lovely fleece lined padded one that got eaten within a few weeks
In fact our 1st dog had Dh's padded jacket for a bed to help her sleep lol
Ceramic bowl if possible, stops them pushing it around the kitchen or taking it to bed to chew!!
keep an eye on trainers, mine often steal one each and take it to bed

Original poster
mellowma · 26/08/2006 11:05

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Original poster
mellowma · 26/08/2006 11:12

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magnolia1 · 26/08/2006 11:16

Yep, don't panic about it having to be from the vets though. If money is ok I would say get pedigree chum puppy complete. We used this for the 1st six months and now we use Wagg complete in Huge bags from Pets At Home.

Original poster
mellowma · 26/08/2006 11:19

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Chandra · 26/08/2006 11:24

We used IAMS, apart as being very nutritious it has the advantage of... quick drying small poos!

As for the bed... anything will do really. I use normal economy range pillows with normal white pillow cases (DS has asthma and this is the only way I can be sure when it's the time to wash the cases or bin the £1 pillows in case of an accident). But then... I might have taken Flylady too far!

magnolia1 · 26/08/2006 11:25

Lol Chandra, you don't have staffies do you

Staffies wouldn't last 2 minutes with a pillow

Chandra · 26/08/2006 11:28

Oh, but those pillows only work since they are well trained!

(have to say that when we got the bitch, she was a right one, first weekend home and she ruined all the dining room chairs, we had to change 2 doors and she even managed to dig a hole in a wall! . I though I had rehomed a tasmanian devil!)

magnolia1 · 26/08/2006 11:31

Lo, My staffies are 1year and 2 years and I don't think I would ever be able to give them a pillow They would be great while I am in the room but If i left them with it they would destroy it in seconds.
At this very moment they are arguing over a deflated football