Getting nervous (and excited!) about getting my puppy

[cheeseisthebest]

Have been looking for a puppy for nearly 2 years. We are getting our shitzu in 4 weeks time and I'm starting to get nervous. He will have had both sets of jabs by the time we get him so when can I take him out properly?
My kids are teens and excited but I know I will do the bulk of the work! I work at home thank goodness. My husband isn't that keen but is coming round to it.
What are your top tips?
Thanks

He will be ten weeks when we get him. No name yet!

Bump!

Start as you mean to go on so if you don't want him upstairs don't let him or take him.

Top tip if you have Facebook is join dog training advice and support. They have loads of advice on dealing with new puppies especially with children (they bite !) and it will help you to be prepared!

I think similar welshsoph!

This checklist is a good starting point for what your puppy should be socialised to in the first 16 weeks of his life. “The goal is that the puppy has positive experiences, not neutral or bad ones. It’s important to watch the puppy’s response and note what it is and to also give treats to help ensure the exposure is a success” drsophiayin.com/app/uploads/2015/12/Socialization_Checklist.pdf

During his first 16 weeks, I would also try and ensure that he has positive experiences at the vet and groomers, e.g., sit in a vet’s/groomer’s waiting room and feed him treats without actually receiving any treatment from the vet/groomer (though that might not be possible due to Covid). Because he will need a lot of grooming throughout his lifetime, I would also spend time conditioning him to enjoy being groomed, i.e., pairing short amounts of grooming with treats. Shih tzus tend to be very food motivated so use this to your advantage during these formative weeks!

Do you know what the breeder is doing to socialise him during the first 10 weeks of his life?

If you haven’t already, I would read about dog fear periods and the canine ladder of communication/aggression: www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/canine-ladder-of-communication It’s important that everyone in the house learns how to read dogs and recognise when they are asking for space.

Oh, and never punish a growl!

Thank you

@welshsoph How's it going?