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The doghouse

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Original poster

What would you (now!) do from day one?

31 replies

Wishful25 · 23/12/2018 08:45

Hi, we’re due to welcome our puppy into our home in 2 weeks. It’s our first puppy and we have two kids, 10 and 8. I’ve read lots of threads on here which are really helpful, but haven’t found one that covers what to prepare in advance and what golden rules or routine would you recommend from day one?! Thank you.

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FlipperyGibbet · 23/12/2018 08:50

Don't feed food off your own plate. Leftovers are fine but put your plate away and put the food into the dog's bowl! Congratulations on your new addition! What breed have you gone for?

Rarfy · 23/12/2018 08:52

Not train with puppy pads.

Consider dog sleeping downstairs.

Not take him everywhere.

Try not to baby them too much.

MellyPapa · 23/12/2018 08:55

Have you left a worn tshirt with the puppy so it can get used to your smell? The breeder should be happy to accommodate that and will give it back to you with the puppy so that they then have something from where they were born at your home to calm them a bit as they settle in.

Have the puppies had any toilet training? Take the puppy out every 15 minutes to increase the chance of the first toileting to take place in the right place and then after obviously follow whichever toilet trining you've looked into already.

Have the puppy as close to you as possible for the first couple of weeks. They are babies and will miss their mum and siblings, you'll be able to comfort the puppy better if you're in the same room and this should help it adjust. Also helpful for the middle of the night toilet breaks!

Finally, take a look at the "Dog training advice and support" facebook page, they have loads of helpful files and lots on getting a new puppy, their first night etc

Also, post a pic! Xmas Grin

Wolfiefan · 23/12/2018 08:56

Join the FB group (if you’re on FB!) called dog training advice and support. They have brilliant files on bringing a puppy home and toilet training etc.
Make sure you know which vet and trainer you will use. And know the law. Eg tag on collar. Is pup microchipped?
Honestly? I would prepare a bit like I would for a baby. Prepare bed for puppy and batch cook too!!
Find out where is doggy friendly to get dog used to shops and people and even get out and have coffee in a cafe or drink in a pub as it gets older.
Boy teething appropriate toys like nylabones and kongs. Research best food options if you want to switch pup once it’s settled.
Buy torch and poo bags and enzyme cleaner for accidents. Stock up on kitchen roll. Ensure you have waterproof and warm layers you ca slip on quickly for toilet training. I have fluffy lined crocs.
Oh and enjoy some lie ins. They will be your last for a very long time. Grin

Wolfiefan · 23/12/2018 08:56

X post!!

Lucisky · 23/12/2018 08:57

Take your puppy out at least every 20 mins, and after eating, after waking and after playing. Use the same command, (hurry up, peepee time, whatever) and when they have gone, give lots of praise. They soon (with luck) associate the command with the deed.

MellyPapa · 23/12/2018 08:57

Oh also, take a look at this for socialisation
www.thepuppyplan.com/

Costacoffeeplease · 23/12/2018 09:04

Don’t let them chew old shoes or clothes and think it doesn’t matter cos they’re old - pup won’t know when a new pair of trainers gets left lying about. If they chew/destroy something belonging to you or the children, it’s your fault for leaving them within reach

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 23/12/2018 09:14

Socialise! Socialise, but properly (if you’re inexperienced find someone who can help you). Most issues that develop can be dealt with by good training but it is very difficult for a human to teach a dog how to be a dog, they need other dogs to do that. The first six months are key. I’ve rescued/fostered dogs with problems and by far the most difficult to overcome are those that were never socialised properly when they were young.

Floralnomad · 23/12/2018 09:20

The only thing I’d change is I’d take him upstairs to bed from day 1 , we made ours stay downstairs until he was fully house trained .

niceupthedance · 23/12/2018 09:55

Make him go to the toilet in one area of the garden rather than poo all over the lawn

Raw food diet

(Our issues are mostly poo-related!)

Original poster
Wishful25 · 23/12/2018 09:55

Thank you we’ve gone for a retriever! It will be microchipped and be 9 weeks old when he arrives.

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Original poster
Wishful25 · 23/12/2018 10:01

Rarfy how do you train without puppy pads please and what are the benefits of not using them? Thank you.

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Original poster
Wishful25 · 23/12/2018 10:08

Melly yes the breeder has a T-shirt and a couple of toys for the smell. I would prefer for the dog to sleep downstairs from day one but understand this may be difficult at first, does anyone have experience of that working and how to approach night-time? Thank you.

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ggirl · 23/12/2018 10:12

One thing I'm glad I did was expose my puppy to firework noises regularly in the early days ..you can download apps for this.

Obviously it may be that she would never have been terrified of them anyway but it also could have been the exposure that helped.
She doesn't bat an eyelid when she hears fireworks .

My last dog was terrified and it's horrid to see.

Original poster
Wishful25 · 23/12/2018 10:13

That’s definitely something that I wouldn’t have thought of, thank you!

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Original poster
Wishful25 · 23/12/2018 10:18

Thanks so much Wolf lots of info thank you!

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katmarie · 23/12/2018 10:23

Lots and lots of lead work from as soon as they are old enough to safely wear a collar and lead, in the house, in the garden, wherever. The one problem we have is pulling on lead and we could definitely have avoided it with more work early on.

Original poster
Wishful25 · 23/12/2018 10:30

Thank you, are there any collars and leads which are best?

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GaryBaldbiscuit · 23/12/2018 10:32

try and encourage her to sleep on her own!

Rarfy · 23/12/2018 11:56

I don't know the benefits of not using them as we did but my parents never did and their dog trained quickly and never marks in the house or anything.

Our dog does and seems to like to wee on textured things which i assume is from his use of the mats.

Just take them out every 15 20 mins as suggested. Every time they eat. Every time they wake up. Uae a command and lots of praise. Our dog eventually got the hang of 'wee wees' but it literally took forever.

I would get a harness too. The k9 ones are apparently good. I think tje brand we have at the moment is doodles.

BiteyShark · 23/12/2018 12:33

The best advice I wish I could have given myself was that no matter how much research you have done on what to do and not do, your puppy won't have read the manual. Therefore you need to relax and go with the flow depending on how your puppy reacts and their personality.

The second bit of advice would have been that you don't need to cram in all the training, socialisation and everything else the manuals say in the first few weeks. Training is an ongoing process, a bit like a marathon rather than a sprint.

missbattenburg · 23/12/2018 13:15

Letting the puppy play with every friendly dog you meet is not socilisation. You want a dog that finds other dogs acceptable, not one that finds other dogs so exciting they ignore you...

Pigletpoglet · 23/12/2018 13:25

Sleeping downstairs - we have always had the puppy sleeping where we want them to sleep long term, i.e. in a crate downstairs, but we support them to do it. We make up a (human) bed downstairs. At first one of us sleeps right next to the crate. If puppy cries it gets a no attention trip to the garden for any potential toileting (no talking, no interacting - just outside, wait 5 mins and back in). If pup is struggling to settle, we use our voices to calm them, just like you might do a baby!
As pup becomes more settled we move the human bed further and further away. Usually we are across the room within a week, then outside the room (but close), and back in our own beds within 2-3 weeks (albeit usually with a 5am start). We do seem to end up with iron bladdered dogs though, so it might take longer than this.
It's worked for 4 pups now, with no real overnight toileting issues, and no separation anxiety.
Good luck!

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 23/12/2018 13:29

Buy a head torch for you and a reflective harness for your dog. I've just discovered both of these things after many years of dog-ownership and I've just begun to really enjoy quiet late-evening walks with my dogs. The head-torch keeps you hands-free and when you turn your head the harnesses light up so you can see where your dogs are.

Other than that, whatever you fancy. My dogs sleep on my bed, lie on the couch and get the last piece of every biscuit I eat. I don't mind, I brought them into the house to have a good life as my pets and I'm pretty sure they're happy.