New puppy tips

[newme175]

Finally after many many years of wanting a dog, I have a fluffy addition to our family! Am a proud new mummy to an 8 week old Pomeranian!

Now, I grew up with dogs, am currently a dog walker/pet sitter so met quite a few dogs and puppies and read a lot of books but still I feel unprepared for this puppy!

I want to start as I mean to go on, so does anyone have any best tips? The puppy is settling in very well, am actually surprised that he has been so brave and exploring the house already! Because of his size I have a playpen set up for him.

So my plan is - supervised play time out of the pen, put him on puppy pad to toilet (I know some are against them, but because of his size I don’t mind him going on a pad, I have a chihuahua puppy I look after who uses puppy pads and it works quite well for small breeds).

I will start on gentle training during his free range time.

Pen time to relax and sleep, I will ignore minor crying and “shush” when he gets too loud. He actually falls asleep after a few minutes so definitely needs a time out.

He had his first injection, am I right that he cannot go on the floor outside but can be carried out and about to socialise? Then a week after his second injection he can go on the floor.

Now, I have a 3 week break from dog sitting/ walking apart from the small fully vax chihuahua puppy who comes once a week. Should I cancel all my clients until after his second injections? Or can I resume work in a couple of weeks once he settled? All my clients are fully vaccinated.

Because I had few different dogs in my garden, can he go in there or wait until fully vax? Again all the dogs that went in my garden were vaccinated.

It is very important to me that the puppy is around all different dogs so he learns socialisation.

Please let me know your tips and if what I’m planning on doing sounds ok!

For night time, ideally he would stay in his pen downstairs, but if not I will either sleep downstairs with him or bring a small carry crate and he will sleep upstairs with us. I will let you know how that goes as will play it by ear!

Now I need to work out how to post a picture!

Pics

Also I currently have enough food from the breeder to last awhile (breeder makes their own kibble but I want to move him to a more main stream brand), so have time to reasearch the food.
I wanted to feed half natures menu raw and half high quality kibble so he gets best of both worlds. But the vet discouraged me from feeding raw... so which dry food would you recommend?

newme175 my best tips is that plans go astray very quickly . Having a plan is great and we all do it but it's worth being relaxed about it and changing it as and when it's not working for the dog. They are all individuals and sometimes don't respond like the books say they will.

I found myself getting a bit stressed when things I planned didn't seem to be working. Since I learned to relax, enjoy the puppy and take his lead a little bit on what he likes/can cope with then life has gotten much more fun for us both.

Oh, and take pictures LOTS of pictures. You literally have a tiny puppy for about 3 weeks before growth starts to change him.

All and allaboutdogfood.com for food recommendations. It's brilliant for an independent opinion on pretty much every food out there.

Just be aware that regular kibble can lower the acidity of their stomachs, making them more vulnerable to salmonella etc from raw.

Well the first night went well, or better than I expected with only 2 wakings and not too much crying.

Unfortunately due to my ownstupidity the puppy ate some cat food in the afternoon, very very stupid of me as I normally put the food away when I have my guest dogs, but didn’t think with my own!
Puppy had the runs of course, I’ve been keeping an eye on drinking etc, but because of this I had to clean his pen at 1ish and 4ish in the morning. Apart from that he was great, not cried and did go back to sleep after toilet.

He slept in the pen and I’ve slept downstairs with him, but I really don’t know what is best going forward. As he is a small breed I really don’t mind him in bed with us, so don’t know if to just start sleeping upstairs with him in the crate by my bed. The main thing that’s stopping me is the potential crying and when I need to clean his poop as it will disturb family upstairs?

Another thing he doesn’t seem to eat the food breeder gave me! But was obviously very hungry hence went for the cat food. I had a small tin of wet left over from dog sitting so mixed a little with his food from the breeder but he just licked it off and left breeders kibble! Don’t know what to do as don’t want to see him hungry :(
I’ve tried soaking the kibble as well.

Another question is would it be ok to bath him? He had first vaccinations on Monday and I didn’t think to ask if it’s ok. He is a bit dirty from the runny poo, I’ve cleaned him best I could with a baby wipe.

Sorry for so many questions! I literally feel so unprepared even though I thought I was ready!

I think if he is dirty from the poo you can try and bath him but I would be led by him so if he seems very distressed at being bathed you may just have to wipe him down. Give treats or make it a game so he thinks bath time is fun.

Mine really didn't like the breeders kibble but it's all new so he may just be a bit shell shocked by it all so offer the kibbke with some puppy wet food as you did is probably the best thing for now.

Re the bathing, mine, when she was a pup, was dirty round the back end, so I just stood her in the utility sink and washed this area. She was a bit 'oh my god', but it didn't take a minute. The upside is that she now takes being washed as totally normal and makes no fuss at all. I was a bit nervous because she was so tiny (like yours),but they are easier to hold onto at that age.

There’s no real reason not to give him a bath unless he gets really stressed.

Btw, cat food is always more attractive to dogs than other food, it smells stronger.

He’s fine meeting vaccinated dogs.

I’m not really understanding what you’re doing with the pen or why tbh?...

I had a plan, then the puppy got in the way of it!!

I let mine sleep in his crate next to the bed. He has done since he arrived. He has slept 10:30pm to about 6am most nights. If he does wake and whine I take him out and he does a pee or a poo and I take him back to his crate and he goes in and straight back to sleep. Normally he doesn't wake but I don't think his control is perfect so we have done a few 4am trips to the garden but I don't think he is anything other than a dog needing the loo.

Your dog can mix with fully vaccinated dogs.

Take him in the garden far more often than you'd think necessary to pee and poop (and he'll still wait until your back is turned and crap on the rug!)

Because they cannot be trusted not to fall off the bed (yes, Battendog - I am looking at you, you clumsy great monster!) it'll be a while before he is up there with you.

I'm not sure there is a definitive answer on what is best overnight, other than what suits you and your family. However, if it were me I might be tempted to sleep downstair for another night or two just to get a good idea of how much crying he does when he needs the toilet. And to make sure he is clear of the runs. Mine just whimpered a little bit - it woke me up but if I wasn't the one getting up for him, I don't think it was very disturbing. Alternatively, you might find he has a regular routine and so can set a quiet alarm to wake him up rather than the other way around. I never did this, but for the first week or so mine woke at about 2am and than again at about 5/6am. By week 3 he was going all through the night.

In terms of poop cleaning, I found having a couple of clean, dry vet beds ready to go were the answer. That way, I could simply swap the soiled one for a nice clean one and leave the dirty one downstairs out the way until morning. That said, with mine there was very little mess and it was just pee.

Bathe him. Just use body-warm clean water and don't worry about shampoo too much Unless his back end is very dirty and you don't think water will get it clean). The sink is a great place as he will be chest height so you can keep him close and reassure him.

In terms not not eating the kibble, I might be tempted not to force him to. You are going to change it anyway and if the wet food you used didn't upset him tummy then maybe get a few tins of that while you decide what raw/kibble to move him to? I think with such a young dog, I would be more concerned about him not getting enough food than stick to what I was given.

All dogs are different and react differently but I fed mine a massive variety of foods almost straight from the off. He was fine with it and it has meant he eats almost anything I give him - very handy if you are away from home longer than planned and need to put together a hasty meal.

The runs could have been the cat food, or just the stress of moving so don't kick yourself too much over forgetting to pick up the cat food.

More photos please!

I absolutely love pomeranians and I am looking to buy one next year!

I'm so jealous! You've got 6 weeks to cram in as many positive experiences as possible, so yes to bathing and meeting vaccinated dogs, just make them relaxed and short times. I always take pups out when I walk the others, I bought a second-hand papoose type thing because whilst a little pom seems to weigh very little after an hours walking your arms will be fit to fall off - it has been used for bichons, beardies & tibetan terriers. They rarely stay awake for the whole hour, the cuddling and the rhythm tends to lull them asleep. Try to find as many (200 is recommended)different (old,young,male,female,white,coloured etc) people to handle her and expose her to different accessories such as hats, umbrellas, motor-cycle helmets, white coats and things she might encounter outside like shopping trolleys, pushchairs, crutches. I'd also concentrate on noises, bangs/motors/air brakes. I used to catch the bus (where they'd end up being passed around so that was more people crossed off the list) and go and sit by the market which is always busy, noisy and smelly. If the dog freaks out you might have to go somewhere quieter but if you act like everything is normal, even a little boring, they tend to take it in their stride. After all this attention you also need to get her used to being left. Don't allow her trail behind you everywhere, start getting her used to being left in another room for 5 minutes. Personally I wouldn't worry too much about her disturbing other people if you have her in your room as apparently I'm the only person in the house who hears when the puppy needs something! Every time I get another dog I have great plans about what I am and aren't going to do to avoid past mistakes, conveniently forgetting that they are all individuals and this one will have individual issues.
I'd relax about the food, poms have tiny tummies so what you might think of as 'picking' at her food might well provide all she needs. If desperate you can drizzle a bit of the fluid from tinned fish on the kibble but its very easy for that sweet little bundle to train you to up the prize. "Oh no I can't eat that! Maybe if you add a bit of chicken? No I think smoked salmon would do it? Hand-feeding might work. I reckon a jus and a glass of champers would do it. You're not honestly expecting me to go to the bowl when I'm comfy here?..."
Have fun, puppyhood doesn't last long but hopefully you've got a good 15 years together.

Thank you everyone for some many tips and suggestions! I had a busy day with the pup, he seems to pee and poo in one particular spot, very happy with that but still have pads everywhere.
Still has a bit of an upset tummy, but I’ve spoken to the vet and they don’t seem too worried just to keep an eye.
With regards to the play pen, I put him in there when I can’t 100% superwise him, I’m scared to lose him in the house! He trying to go upstairs already as well!

He sleeps in the play pen quite happily but it’s on his terms, as when I’ve put him there to cook dinner, he was screaming! Making so much noise for such a small baby. I’m trying not to go and reward him, but it’s super hard. I pop in and out of the room not looking at him and he stopped.
Dinner on and he’s out and about now! He is a handful already ;)

Forgot to say he’s been in the garden today too!

“With regards to the play pen, I put him in there when I can’t 100% superwise him“

Ah fair enough...just the way you’d put it confused me a bit, not hard to do to be fair, lol

Busy day here, but on a very positive note no upset tummy! And number two twice a day :)
Good news he is eating very well! Bad news it’s the applaws wet food and not kibble arghhhh can’t believe I’m creating a fuss pot already, but I tried and he just wouldn’t eat it, and with his runs I was so so worried.
But I will get him back on kibble, I do keep giving it each meal but he just eats around it!
Update on toileting, he’s been so good going to his pad yesterday, but today a step backwards he started to do little tiny wees everywhere!
So back to watching him like a hawk!
But other than that he’s been good, lots of playing, garden time, took him in a sling to school pick up.
Not managed to leave him alone much (I wanted to start as I mean to go on and to be able to leave him without him screaming). Like previous posters said all my plans are going out of the window haha...
But I am enjoying him lots and lots :)

Little update from me :)
The pup is doing very well, eating great and no more tummy upset! Also I’m very happy to report he’s finally eating kibble!!
I started to give him one or two as a treat and slowly moving from applaws tins to just kibble. It will take awhile to move him over as I don’t want any more tummy trouble, but so far it’s been brilliant and the kibble really agrees with him (Lily’s kitchen, I actually wanted applaws dry puppy food as it’s scored better in all about dog food but the shop didn’t have! I’m sticking with this now).

Does all the big wees after waking, and poops on the pad BUT he still try to do tiny little wees all over the house, even if he just done a massive wee on the pad! Is this marking??? Grrrrrr

Sleept upstairs in a little crate, mostly sleeps ok, I take him to the pad if he starts crying and then back to bed :)

If he falls asleep during the day and I leave the room he immediately wakes up and follows me! So I do put him in the play pen and he seems to know he can’t get out so stays asleep. I use the pen for 2 biggish sleeps a day and try to use this time do as much as I can (cooking, cleaning etc). I can leave the room and he doesn’t cry in the pen, jus sleeps.

Hope I’m doing the right things :)

Hi OP, glad things are going well and it sounds like you are both having fun

He is still far too young to be marking so the little wees are just his normal wees. Dogs have very limited bladder control until they start to get to about 12 weeks old - so they have only a few seconds warning that they need to pee before having to go.

The challenge you have is that every single time he pees somewhere you don't want him to he is being reinforced for peeing there (the feeling of relief is natures own reinforcement). You need to absolutely minimise his chances of peeing anywhere you don't want him to for that reason. It's not just about praise when he does it in the right spot. It's about minimising his chances to learn to pee in the wrong place.

At his age, I was taking mine outside every half an hour during the day (more frequently if he started to pace or sniff) religiously. At about 12 weeks we could cut it down to every hour or so but it wasn't until 6 months that he would start to ask to go out and so we could relax a bit.

Thank you for your tips missbattenburg