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New puppy

7 replies

Ladywillpower · 02/03/2018 04:49

Our dog was PTS last summer. A new puppy is arriving in a couple of weeks. There will be someone at home 24/7 for the first 6 weeks or so & we are signing up for puppy training classes.
Any other practical advice welcome!

OP posts:
mimibunz · 02/03/2018 05:17

My only advice is to be patient. Grin Puppies are adorable and all, but they are basically babies and require all the care and attention. Also, carry it upstairs. Climbing stairs before they are grown enough can cause hip problems. Good luck and enjoy your little one!

CannyJB · 02/03/2018 08:19

How exciting. I would say- Have a deignated space for pup, so I moveable, playpen arrangement with their crate inside. Gives them a retreat when they want to chill, gives you a safe space to put them when you've got stuff to do, promotes independence.

Start crate training early but go very gently and make sure they're completely OK with it before any reliance on it.

Consider alternatives to bowl feeding - KONGs, Snuffle Mats, Slow Feeders, Puzzles, Snuffle Balls, there's loads of products, which are great aids to enrichment and promote relaxation, BONUS! Never leave pup unspervised with them though.

Start training from day one. You can give socialisation activities before second vaccination. Some ideas: have visitors come around, not too many at once, ask them to take their shoes off in your house. Take pup out in the car, park up and let them watch the world go by. Bundle them up and take them out for a carry-walk. Lots of people will want to pet him/her - protect your pup from unsolicited attention and too much touching. Make sure they're completely comfortable before you allow it, otherwise smile and keep walking.

Once vaccinated, begin exposure to new locations and make friends with people with calm, friendly, gentle ADULT dogs for your pup to have brief walks (10 mins) with/supervised play. By all means hang out with puppies too, but keep sessions very brief and always supervise interaction.

Have you already chosen your Class? I'm currently doing some research on peoples experiences of group dog training class (I'm a Trainer) so would be interested, in how you get on.

What Breed are you getting?

Have fun

mollied · 02/03/2018 14:19

Super exciting! Be patient but also don't be there 24/7 they do need to get used to being on their own if that will be the case after the first 6 weeks, but do it gradually just leave it for short periods first.

GertrudeCB · 05/03/2018 18:48

Read the puppy threads in The Doghouse, they are brilliant. And remember, whatever the bad behaviour is THIS TOO SHALL PASS Wink

CMOTDibbler · 05/03/2018 18:58

Be prepared for it to be hell. It might not be, but being prepared that you might be having to sleep next to the crate/ stand in driving snow at 3am while they decide to wee/ clean poo off the wall/ have a puppy that screams every time you leave the room does make the hard process easier.

My biggest tip (after: buy lots of Simple Solution, Regina Blitz kitchen roll - nothing is as good for mopping up in my extensive experience, and a really good, warm dressing gown) is to not let anything happen that you won't be happy for an adult to do. So no play fighting, nothing human goes in their mouth, no carrying your shoes/socks around, no jumping up and so on.
Also, its never too early to work on recall and lead walking - only tiny amounts of time in a go - and lots of socialisation.

Ladywillpower · 06/03/2018 21:12

Thank you all. Puppy is a female Bernese Mountain Dog. Smile

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Aprilmightmemynewname · 06/03/2018 21:14

Choose a name now and ask the breeder to use it ASAP and regularly. When we got our puppy she knew her name and made early days training so much easier!

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