German Short-haired Puppy, Murphy, is arriving home on the 23rd December! Advice needed.

[shoutymcshoutsmum]

I have so many questions and nowhere else to turn. Can anyone advise?

1. I plan to get him a crate. Any type recommended? It will be his place to be safe in our kitchen.
2. Is it right to just bring him home in the car on my knee or should I put him in the crate in the boot?
3. Are there any books on owning dogs which are recommended? My vet has recommended puppy classes and an excellent trainer for one-to-one training sessions to train me and Murphy.
4. what else do I need to buy?

Any help gratefully received.

Through experience I've found these crates to be the best, really robust construction and cheaper than Savic or similar. A GSP will need a 42" or 48", I reckon. I use vetbed in crates, it washes and dries quickly, wicks away moisture and is cheap, you can buy strips on eBay. When older and accident-free they get a nicer squashy bed in there.

In the crate in the boot for preference, I've got a bit of a thing about dogs being unrestrained in cars, in the event of an accident they'll be straight through the windscreen. A crate for a pup or a proper dog guard and tailgate for an adult is a must.

Essential reading: Don't Shoot The Dog, The Culture Clash, In Defence of Dogs and anything by Ian Billinghurst on raw feeding.

You will need a plain collar and lead, ID tag (these ones are good, deep-engraved, last ages), food and water bowls, poo bags, a couple of chew toys, probably a kong with which to stuff with food to aid in crate training if not raw bones from the butcher, endless patience and a good sense of humour.

...I've just noticed what date the puppy is arriving, I hope the breeder is suitably ashamed of themselves, no reputable one would plan a litter to be ready for Christmas.

Thanks toboldlygo. What were the name of the crates were you looking at - I go to a website with a number of different crates on it.

Buy kitchen roll, poo bags, rubber gloves, dettox and bio washing powder. Also lots and lots of tiny treats. A v light weight lead and collar and a few soft toys.

Also I make sure I have more than one set of bedding for night time accidents.

A book called 'the perfect puppy' by Gwendoline somebody - maybe Bailey - is pretty good to start with.

We have 2 sizes of Savic dog crate which have done 3 dogs and are still going strong. I think the newer ones can be divided for when they're tiny. The crate is supposed to be big enough just for a bed, nothing else to discourage wees in bed.

Cuddle him all the way home! I always do. Take towels and cleaning up stuff for accidents - he may be sick too.

How exciting!

I heard about that book daisydotandgertie and will definitely order it. I will also look at Savic dog crates. I feel like I did when I was about to have my first baby - that I need to read lots of stuff and talk to lots of people who have done it before so that I don't mess up!

Either the two-door silver or three-door pro crates from Dog Health - half the price of Savic (the prices they charge for these at Pets at Home are insane), as good as or better construction. :)

Ooh. And as he's arriving so close to Christmas, which will be hard, hard, hard, make sure you're prepared for all the management and attention he'll need. It will all be very overwhelming for him and he will either go a bit loopy and nip and leap or be very nervous. Neither are desirable!

Are you travelling anywhere? Remember he won't have had his jabs, so won't be able to do wee stops in public places or by roadsides.

He will probably wail in the night - and with that you use start as you mean to go on. If you crate train, you'll probably have to let him out for wees and stuff a couple of times in the night. Keep it business like with a quick trip outside and back to bed.

House training will be cracked in no time if you only encourage wees outside - so no puppy pads or newspaper - and outside every time he wakes up, after every meal, after every game and every half hour to start with. Praise like mad and treat for outside wees and ignore the inside accidents completely.

If I was getting a pup at this time of the year, I'd cancel Christmas and indulge in some puppy breathe, sloppy kisses and lavish all my love and attention on him. Not every house is manic at Christmas, we only have family of four here and could easily deal with a new pup, just another day here only with turkey and presents. May I suggest a torch and big umbrella for dark possibly wet trips to the garden, and start as you mean to go on, a special word and treat for toileting it speeds up the whole process. Keep to a routine and enjoy :-)

The timing is a tricky one. The breeder was also suggesting we take him after Christmas but my husband really wants to spend his holiday with the puppy, rather than the puppy arriving after my husband's 11 day break! We are staying at home for Christmas rather than travelling anywhere. I will go buy an umbrella and torch!!!

I have three kids so have learnt through experience that you should start as you mean to go on (my first DD was the worst sleeper, my next two brilliant) but does that mean closing the lid of the crate and walking away. Hmm....definitely need to look up crate training...

It means helping him learn that the crate is a good place to be. That it's cosy, dark and quiet and just nice. When your pup is new, he'll just crash out anywhere - scoop him up and pop him into his crate bed for the rest of his snooze. Give him treats and stuff in there. Help him learn what it's for.

Sounds like a place where i would like to be!

Sounds like a place where i would like to be!

When my 18yr old was a toddler she'd happily climb into the crate at dog shows, pull the door over and snuggle down for a wee sleep! Had some strange looks from the public but other exhibitors were used to it and plenty of kids loved to cosy down in crates.. Imagine it would be looked on as child cruelty now :(

Probably only if you then padlock the door multipoodles