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Contemplating a puppy.. What do I need

9 replies

Damonlufc88 · 01/07/2017 06:58

I had a dachshund as a child he passed away a few years back age 16.

Me and my wife work opposite shifts due to Childcare cost so the house is usually occupied,, unldss shopping etc

What is a basic puppy "starter pack" bedding, food etc + which insurance category covers everything? I've seen "accident only" "lifetime" "per condition" categories... Which covers me if my dog is ill or injured

OP posts:
Bumdishcloths · 01/07/2017 07:54

Research the breed you want online, thoroughly - behaviour, temperament, health issues.

Buy from a reputable breeder.

There is no such thing as a 'basic starter kit', food is dependent on breed and what the breeder has been feeding etc.

Mumsnet isn't the place to be asking this, imho.

BiteyShark · 01/07/2017 09:07

There are many threads on here asking what people might need to buy when preparing to bring home a puppy. Every puppy is different but there are general things such as food (need to continue with what the breeders starts them on before changing if you want them on something different), bedding, toys, poo bags, crate/play pen/baby gate depending on preference and needs. You need to think about flea/worming and vaccinations. Socialising during the early puppy weeks and months.

Insurance again is dependant on needs so what might be good for me won't be good for others. Look closely at the t&cs like you would any other insurance. Personally I opted for life cover in case he developed a chronic issue.

LumelaMme · 01/07/2017 12:56

Mumsnet isn't the place to be asking this, imho.
Oh, I dunno. There are some very well-informed posters on here.

But otherwise, I second what PP have said, and also advise the purchase of lots of Dettol spray and kitchen towel because, unless you take your puppy out every 20-30 mins round the clock (and possibly even then) there WILL be accidents.

You'll also want a collar and lead (and get a tag ready to go onto the collar once your pup is out and about). And way more tiny training treats than you think you will ever need.

And depending on the breed, be sure you are up for the exercise requirements, and the dog's need for company.

pigsDOfly · 01/07/2017 13:20

If you're still at the 'contemplating a puppy' stage you won't be needing to buy anything yet.

Firstly, as pp said, you need to do your research and find out what sort of puppy/dog will fit into your family and your life style and what you can offer a puppy.

You need to understand the needs of a puppy (can be extremely hard work) and decide if you can cope with that or if a slightly older rescue dog would be better for you.

If you decide on a puppy you need to research genuine, good breeders and ensure you don't end up buying a puppy from a puppy mill.

A good breeder will put you on a waiting list, will want to meet the whole family and possibly see your home. And a lot of breeders won't sell to families with very young children.

If you can get past all this, and are at the stage of waiting for your precious puppy to come home, then you can start looking at what you need to buy to accommodate the newest member of your family.

CMOTDibbler · 01/07/2017 14:41

If you are working opposite shifts for childcare, I'm guessing that your kids are still pretty young. Bringing a puppy into the mix when I guess life is pretty relentless really does have to be thought about really carefully because puppies are bloody hard work! Even my current foster puppy who is 5 months old, a complete sweetheart, and house trained etc takes a lot of management.

Basic stuff for a puppy is around £200 at a guess, my dogs insurance is £300 per year, and then theres things like boarding if we are away at £30 a day, day care for a long day out at £20, plus food at £10 a week, flea treatment, worming and so on

WomblingThree · 01/07/2017 18:05

If you are looking at buying a dachshund puppy from a reputable breeder, be aware they are very expensive, and most decent breeders will have a waiting list.

Whatever breed you decide will fit your lifestyle, you will need to do masses of research into potential health conditions, so you can check that the parents have been properly screened.

Anywhere that has more than one breed of puppy is a puppy farm. Don't be taken in by anyone who says you can see the mother/father/grandparents. Most decent breeders will only own the bitches and possibly one or two of their older puppies. They use a stud dog to keep the best line, not just a male that they happen to own.

If this is your first dog as an adult couple, I really really wouldn't recommend a puppy. If you want a specific breed, try a breed rescue. They often have young dogs who have been rejected when they stop being cute. They are much easier than puppies.

Be prepared to wait as long as it takes for the right dog. Don't just buy the cutest cheapest puppy on Gumtree. You are setting yourself up for a lifetime of issues and health problems.

Dogs are not babies. They don't need fancy collars or fluffy beds. Far better to spend the money on a decent brand of food and good insurance.

Lifetime insurance is what you need. It will cover a specific condition until it is fixed, rather than other policies which will only cover the condition for a year or up to a certain amount. This would be especially important with a dachshund, as IVDD treatment costs an absolute fortune.

Insurance doesn't cover regular healthcare like inoculations, boosters and check ups. The excess is usually quite high too. We've spent probably £500 over the last 6 months on things that either weren't covered or not worth claiming for.

CornflakeHomunculus · 01/07/2017 18:24

There's lots and lots of good puppy related resources linked to on this thread, well worth having a read through the relevant ones.

I'd you're considering a dachshund you need to be extremely careful in choosing a breeder as they are very prone to spinal issues. This website is an excellent source of information on everything IVDD related from the screening programme (which any reputable breeder should be utilising) to managing a dachshund to minimise the chances as much as possible for them having back problems. There's also some good information here on the UFAW site.

Summer1986 · 04/07/2017 07:28

I'd highly recommend crate training for when you are both out or at night. It's important that the crate is big enough for them to move comfortably but not so big they feel lost in it. We lined ours with vet bedding from the local pet shop as it's comfortable and washable.

nannybeach · 05/07/2017 17:31

crate, couple of bowls for food and water, they dont need anything fancy, a few toys, HARD ones for teething, and that they cannot destroy.I had my dog insured originally, it was £13 a month, he is 11, the insurance rocketed every year, w never claimed on it, because of the excess, have forked out thousands of pounds to date, found that with the renewals, it would be stated anything you had seen a vet for the previous year was not then covered, desided to cancell it, most of our dogs have been farmstock tough as old boots not many vet bills, annual injections, wormers, flea treatments, they are quite expensive now.find a good recommended vet, I tried several locally when we moved, not happy with any so an 80 mile round trip to the vet.

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