Puppy tips!

[Thing101]

Hello, we're getting a cross breed puppy from a friend in the next 3 weeks. I've had dogs before but not for a long time, and never such a young pup (9 weeks). Could you please give me your top tips on anything!! Also any recommendations for insurance, whether baby gates a good idea at stairs, simple to follow training programmes, food etc.

All advice very gratefully received - i know it will be like having a baby for a few (6?) months, but want it to be fun and the dog to be trained and happy.

Hi @Thing101
My tips would be to have plenty of toys on hand to redirect when the puppy starts to chew chair legs etc.
Stair gates would be good. I kept my puppy in the kitchen over night and at times I couldn't supervise 100%.

Treats work for training, but don't reward going to the toilet outside with treats- excited praise is enough.
I caused an issue using treats at first because my pup would wee, get a treat then have another wee inside for another treat!

I had a cage for bed and feeding. As my kitchen was so small I never actually locked her in it, but she really liked the security. I would put a towel over at night and it kept her settled for longer (still had a lot of early mornings though!

The other thing I think that's important is consistency from everyone else in the family.
My exH would ignore signs she needed to go into the garden. This meant far more accidents in his presence. It also taught her not to bother making a noise when he was around whereas for me she would bark when she needed out.
You have to be vigilant to the warning signs at first though.

Good luck!

What’s the breed/s?

I have a little treat pouch for my dog. It just has her ordinary kibble in it, so when she gets a 'treat', it's not an unhealthy addition to her ordinary diet. She still gets a 'treat' every time she comes back to me, off lead. She's middle aged (and very good at recall)!

Also, have you heard of Quassia? It's wood chips. You boil a handful in water and then put it in a spray bottle. It's VERY bitter, totally natural, and makes anything you spray with it taste revolting. Very good for dealing with a tiny teething somebody who likes to chew chair legs, etc.

Ooh these are great, thanks. Just what I was looking for. I will be using a crate as it's a very busy household so I think a bolt hole will be good (could do with one myself)

He's a terrier staffy crossbreed. I've seen both parents and they are calm and controllable so that gives me hope!

Mine would be don't buy puppy pads just commit to taking pup out every 20 to 30 minutes to toilet instead.
Frozen carrots or twisted strips of frozen towels will soothe a teething puppy.
Expect it to be difficult and expect to wonder what on earth you have done and then you won't feel shocked when it happens.

Start lead training early. Even before your pup can go out, pop the lead on and let it drag it around the house to get used to it.

If you have a big enough garden, start lead work out there. Just do a little bit each day and never let the puppy go forward if it pulls. Find a good trainer for advice.

Start recall the same way, in the house and garden, with loads of praise and rewards.

If you can sort out a good recall and have a dog that is pleasant to walk on the lead, you will have made your life as a dog owner so much easier. if you can establish sit and stay as well, you won't get barged aside in doorways, or have a dog that squeezes out of the boot the second you open it.

It's arduous and can get quite wearing to continually reinforce it, but it's 100% worth it. I've had both semi-trained dogs and a decently trained dog and the well-trained one is so much easier to manage.

Thank you guys, that's really helpful. I've been reading puppy blues posts and have friends who have had puppies recently so I'm relatively prepared. Just want to get some good habits started early but I know that's really hard when you're sleep deprived!

I have wooden floors so that makes puddle mopping a little easier than carpet, but I know they can get smelly. I think I will try and avoid pad apart from maybe at the door to the crate?

The lead tip is great, i will definitely do that and it will be good to let the kids do that a bit with him too.

No pads in crates, you don't want to encourage toileting inside at all. Get vet bed to go in the crate so you can wash it with biological powder and it dries superfast and doesn't smell.
You'll want some crocs so you can scoop up puppy, run to the door, shove them on and then stand on your lawn waiting for them to wee. At this time of year you'll appreciate a hooded warm coat thats easy to put on so you can stand in the rain at 2am doing this too.
Don't let anything happen that won't be funny when the dog is full grown. Its hilarious to kids when they steal a sock/slipper/shoe, but it really isn't funny when the dog has eaten their football boot or your best heels. Similarly, roughhousing with a cute puppy is fun, but you are telling them that its ok to put teeth on humans.
If you have a busy household, absolute zero tolerance on children touching the crate, putting things in it, touching the puppy when they are in the crate.
Remember, puppies are bitey, nippy little gits. When they are overtired and overstimulated they are even more so. They can't help it, but it is bloody hard going

Make sure they get used to being on their own. Just a little bit, every day. Tiny amounts to start with. Look up flitting.

Remember, puppies are bitey, nippy little gits

With needles for teeth!

Actually that's reminded me of another tip. When they do use their teeth, pretend they've hurt you, say a word sternly, and turn away for 30 seconds or so.

I still say 'teef!' to mine if she accidentally catches me whilst playing, or tries to snatch food from my hand. She goes all gentle.

Our pup is 12 weeks old. Following with interest. Make sure your entire household is consistent in the training. I must lift pup off our couch about 67388 times a day because I don’t want him on it. Came home today and partner and dog are snuggled together watching tv on couch. we bought an antler chew thing from pet shop. He absolutely loves it. Great for his teeth as it’s very hard and keeps him quiet.

Oh, god, I'm so glad I've found this board/thread. Sitting here seriously questioning my life choices. (8 week old pup, lovely sweet girl, but bloody hell, I'm too old for this.)

Expect it to be difficult and expect to wonder what on earth you have done and then you won't feel shocked when it happens.

Thank you.

I cannot stress enough that u spend the first few weeks doing socialisation. I know they can’t go on the floor. But take them in the car. Watch the world go by. See as much as u can. Very important

We always sleep and transport our dogs in Crates, safer for you safer for the dog.
The breeder had had ours out and about in the car so no surprises on the trip home.
Make play times and sleep times, routines are very important.
When we get up the dog stays in its crate until we have mad a cup of tea etc then decide to let it out, other wise every time you walk in the kitchen it may think its time to play etc.
Treats for a toilet out side.
Food ( Just feed it what the breeder did)
WE use Burns pouches mixed with burns Dry, Breeder and Vet both recommended it and she thrives on it. Same flavour all the time, none of our food or left overs, cheese as a treat
Stair gates are great until it learns the house rules.
Kids be vary weary we tell kids ours is a biter as they can mob her, even caught toddlers trying to poke her eyes, so be aware.
Now dont be put off they are a great life changer, just had 10 minutes sleep in the chair with the dog nothing finer!

Hello again helpful dog people!

Well puppy has arrived and he's divine. Some mad moments and too much biting but hopefully that is lessening. Such pain from such tiny teeth!!

He's sleeping in a crate in my room at the moment and being fantastic just one wee trip in the night. I want to move him downstairs soon but had a try last night and he yelled and barked terribly. When he quietened for a few seconds, I went and got him and brought his crate back to my room, he just seemed scared. Have you any advice on what to do next? Or recommend any books or resources that cover this? He's mostly good going into the crate in the day and naps in it and is chilled being in it in the car.

Any advice welcome, thank you

Routine, we have always put any dogs crated in the kitchen from day one, first couple of night can be noisy!
Place a blanket over the crate but leave one side open its more like a den
Is he house trained? Read about crate partition if not.
Make play times and back in crate for snooze times.
Dont let the dog train you.