Eek! I've just bought a puppy. What do I need?

[GeorgianMumto5]

I'm back, under my usual user name! After searching long and hard we found our puppy. We haven't picked him up yet, so I've got a few days to get ready. He's a toy poodle. Here's what I have already:

Puppy crate and bed
Borrowed cat box to bring him home in
Poo bags
Vanish foam carpet cleaner

In addition I'm guessing I will need:
Bowls
Food (have found out which brand he eats)
Chew toys (which I am anticipating he will reject, in favour of the furniture)
Vet check booked with vaccinations, microchip, etc.
Puppy socialisation classes booked

I would like:
Puppy pads
Own copy of Life Skills for Puppies book

In a few weeks time I will also need:
Collar and lead
Dog tag
LED collar (he looks like a ninja)

What am I missing? (Apart from my marbles.)

Thanks.

Ah a new puppy, lovely!

I would suggest getting a collar and lead now. We would put the collar on our puppy in the house for a little while, just to get her used to it. We also had a house training lead which we would clip on and she would walk around dragging it behind her. Seemed to help when we moved on to proper walks as she wasn't scared of the lead and didn't try to bite it.

Puppy pads were a waste of money for us, she just ripped them to shreds. We were just diligent and took her outside regularly for her to do her thing! We also began to notice the signs that she needed to go and it didn't take her long to go to the back door when she wanted to go out. In fact, we only had to clear up an accident about three times in the whole process, although we may just have got lucky!

Am sure others will be along with advice soon. Good luck!!

Patience and a sense of humour.

I'm 1 yr down the line and wish that I'd been more consistent.

I didn't bother with the puppy pads, as the pup would have shred them to pieces and I didn't want to have to retrain to use the garden.

Also, make sure the garden is escape proof! Check which plants etc are toxic to dogs too just so you are aware. My pup was a big plant chewer.

The other thing I'd recommend is a special spray that you can use on anything pup wants to chew and shouldn't, taste bitter or not nice. Make sure you get one specifically for dogs and therefore harmless to them.

Good luck.

Congratulations on your new pup.

You need special enzymatic cleaner, rather than Vanish. Vanish will just spread the smell and pup will still be able to follow the scent and will therefore be likely to go again in the same area, wheres the enzymatic cleaners actually break down and destroy the enzymes that cause the smell.

We have used Simple Solution for over 20 years and it definitely works. PAH also do their own version and there are plenty of other brands on the market.

Thanks! Have added enzymatic cleaner and collar and lead to my list. Might forego puppy pads then and see how it goes.

What bedding will you use? I cut up an old duvee and put it into 5 old pillowcases and these have been our puppy bed. I'm glad it's all old as we've had poo accidents on 2 pillows so far, just the edges but easy to wash.

Also loads of newspaper as our breeder was using newspaper for them to wee on and we've kept it going. Lots of plastic bags to put the newspaper in, especially for trip home. We had a long drive home, so needed to let puppy wee outside car so newspaper for the ground (very precious me!), plastic bags to put it in and a puppy size collar and lead for when he was standing on the newspaper. Loads of muslin cloths used for clearing up the sick during drive home and we placed him in a washing basket which was great as it was so easy to clean.

Good luck!

Oh, forgot to mention Vetbed, can be cut to size, soft, warm and super-absorbent. I line the crate and bed plus throw it in the garden for pup to sit on in sunshine, she loves it. Can be bought from loads of places, I buy the Bronteglen one as it's pretty cheap but great quality.

Thanks again!

Well, because I am now bankrupted by puppy purchase, his bed is to be cobbled together from old pillows and an old fleece, at least to start with.