Puppy arrives today - how to survive it?

[BiddyPop]

Hi all,

DH grew up with dogs, and has wanted one forever, but our house/garden were too small when we were out all day. Now our teen really needs a companion, DH is coming to (early) retirement soon so thinks he will be home all the time (currently both WFH and unlikely to return for a long time - he will be able to continue WFH), and he has done his research to find a dog that shouldn't be a problem for my allergies.

So we collect a Mini Schnauzer this afternoon - 12 weeks old, had jabs, partially trained.

Are there any particular tips you have for the dog arriving and settling with us - either for getting him settled and happy, or that I should be aware of and ready to cope with (I am expecting puddles but anything else)?

Thanks in advance,
Biddy

Aww lovely

It can be a really unsettling period for them when they first leave their mum. Try to keep the house calm and provide lots of cuddles and reassurance. Don't be alarmed if they have a bit of a dicky tummy for those first few days.

TLDR - Join the puppy survival thread here. Praise the good, ignore the bad. Lots of cocktail sausages as treats, take him out and about to see and experience new things in a calm way. Enjoy the cuddles.

Long version - Decide where he'll sleep. And sleep near him for the first couple of nights.

We had ours upstairs with us so we knew when she wanted out in the night and took her out. A friend put hers in the kitchen - slept down thier the first couple of nights - and then once she was settled - let her wee or poop over night in the kitchen and quietly wiped up without a fuss in the morning. Eventually after a few weeks they sleep through so either method works.

Don't encourage behaviour that you don't want in a full grown dog. If you don't want a dog that jumps up - then no fussing of the cute puppy when he wants up. Fuss when all 4 paws are on the floor. Try and get visitors to be calm when they meet him.

In the day take out every half hour to toilet - or straight after they wake up, have been playing or if they start sniffing around. They get the idea quite quickly. Don't be angry if they have an accident indoors.

They need way more sleep than they think the do - so if they are being a bitey little shit - they probably need a nap,

Take them somewhere safe where you can let them off the lead - take high value treats - feed them (almost) constantly. Do this as soon as they have had their injections - they'll stick close and it really helps with recall.

Frozen carrots, tea towels, treats in cardboard tubes, snuffle mats, kongs. A bit of squeezy cheese in an old egg box. It'll keep them busy.

Buy the Happy Puppy Book or Easy Squeezy Puppy and read it!

Join the Facebook Group Dog Training Advice and Support - it's got some great puppy modules.

Puppy proof the house - if it chews something it shouldn't it's because you've left it out. Don't worry, you will be able to leave your shoes out again at some point - just not in the first few months.

Be prepared for the puppy blues. They are very real. It's a massive disruption at first.

Are you both working full-time at the moment, or has someone taken some time off to help settle the pup? I'm only asking because young puppies are very disruptive and don't tend to sleep quietly all day while you're busy working

It will feel very overwhelming - they're very needy! You'll need to toilet train, which involves letting them out every 20-30 minutes. They need regular feeding (4 meals a day at that age), crate training if you want them sleeping in a crate, and socialising.

I also wouldn't expect them to sleep through the night for good 2-3 months without needing the toilet. Some people use puppy pads but personally I think they're an awful idea - they just teach the pup to toilet indoors. So you need to be prepared to get up with them and take them out.

Eventually they fall into a routine but don't underestimate how difficult it can be. Puppy blues are a real thing and many new puppy owners end up in tears and regretting their decision.

It takes time to get to the fully mature adult dog you want - expect it to take at least 2 years, some breeds/individuals take longer to get to the 'fully baked' state. So don't despair when, a year in, your lovely puppy turns into a fearful, barking, running-away arsehole of a teenager.

Keep a sense of humour - it'll carry you along when all else fails .

Take videos and photos. One day you will want to see what you boring old dog was like when they were pesky and small(er).

Thanks all for these (I was working all day).

Yes to both working, but DH has already decided he will work downstairs in the kitchen (room dog will be based) for at least the next week to help it settle. And he and DD are organising a sleep rota between them initially.

Initially we're just using a bed, but plan to get a crate relatively quickly once pup is settled. It has its jabs so can start short walks once it has settled in here (we plan on just going to the back garden or green out the front initially until it finds its bearings).

I'll pop over to the puppy thread too thanks. I'm sure I will have lots of questions!!

Its fun to start training quite quickly. Just sit in a circle and call its name and they get a fuss if they respond. Sit, drop, wait can all be trained quite quickly and they like getting it right. Get them used to a lead and collar early even if just around the house.

Also a little brushing, start little and often with treats.

If you can get them used to a hairdryer that's brilliant when they come back soaking wet. Ours hates it.

My fil turned drying her with a towel into a great game - which was a bad idea. Every time the towel comes out she thinks its to play with.

Puppies are just lovely.

A lifetimes patience.

You will also threaten to send the puppy back around 100 times a day 😂

Lots of very deep breaths.

Enforced naps for puppy, just like children over tired puppies are a nightmare.

Don't feed lots of cocktail sausages, far too salty.

Well obviously not whole tubs of whole cocktail sausages. A cocktail sausage cut up into little bits to use as a treat while training turned out to be quite effective. We also used cooked chicken. At puppy training classes they used cheese - which is quite salty too.

I know some people have success training with kibble out of the daily allowance - we didn't.