Puppy tips

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Hi, have been reading this board for a while now. We're bringing a cavapoo puppy home in just under 2 weeks so I've been frantically reading up on training tips etc. Just thought I'd pop on here to ask for your best puppy tips/things you wish you'd known before you brought home your little fluff ball. We have all the gear....I think....toy has been sent to breeder to bring home with familiar smell on it etc, but please hit me with your best tips!

Thanks

Check that FB group posted above. Dog training advice and support. Look for the name Sally Bradbury.
Puppies won’t hold it all night. You need to sleep near enough that you hear when it needs to go out.
The early weeks can be intense.

It’s a baby. Same as a human one. You are taking it away from its mum, siblings and everything it has ever known. That means you have to replace them. In the first few weeks puppy needs to be with you constantly. At night, have it in a crate in your bedroom. Don’t use pads at all. Puppies don’t like toileting where they sleep so puppy will wake and cry when it needs the toilet. Get up, carry it outside. As soon as its feet hit the ground he’ll wee. Straight back in and in the crate. Normally they’re sleeping through within a month or so.

During the day, you want to avoid the puppy toileting in the house as much as possible (accidents happen). At first take it outside every ten mins, after waking, after eating and after playing. Mooch about in the garden and wait for it to go. Quiet praise (don’t treat). Then back in. If pup doesn’t toilet, go back in but keep them in your arms and off the floor for ten mins, then back out again. Repeat repeat. You will be spending a lot of time in the garden at first and it feels bloody relentless but they soon learn that’s where they need to go.

Don’t leave him to cry. Ignore people who tell you to do so. You will have a less needy pup down the line if you create a strong bond now.

How old will she be? If eight weeks, that's really little (yes, normal in this country, but really, very young). They are only recently weaned and are still learning the basics of Dog101 from their mum and littermates.

I slept downstairs with my pup for several weeks. She was 10weeks when she arrived from mum but still needed a lot of reassurance and wanted a cuddle at night right from the first night. Within about a fortnight, she wasn't having overnight accidents and was sleeping 10pm-5/6pm- with occasional exceptions.

Daytime is a bit harder IMO as you have to take them out pretty regularly. Even though my pup has generally done well, it will be months before I can relax vigilance. They aren't always able to let us know they need to go and while they may get restless or sit by the door , they probably won't be ringing the bell to go outside for a while yet!

If you think you may EVER want to leave your dog in Kennels, start introducing them to this type of environment early, as part of your puppy training plan.

I say this from bitter experience.

Last week lidl had dog/pet things on sale. I got a snuffle mat for half the price of pets at home and some other bits. You might still find some bits there this week. I've also found good quality dog toys, balls, harnesses from aldi before.

Alternative toys and chews. Hide them away and bring them back as a surprise.

You will find very strong opinions regarding raw diets, home cooked, kibble vs tinned etc etc. Do your own research. One of many sites I used was this one below to compare. I was shocked at what low scores popular brands like pedigree and most supermarket brands got.
www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/

I agree with enjoying going out together/as a family before pup arrives. DH and I can't shop together because our pup would be hysterical left in a car alone. We obviously can't tie her up outside a shop either nor leave her at home yet. Love having her, but makes sofa shopping, bed shopping etc tricky. We are renovating, so this is even harder now.

We also a poodle cross. Get it used to having paws touched, handled and things infront of their face so they get used to grooming. Someone suggested using the back of a metal spoon to 'pretent' to be clipping the face, body and paws because its metal and gets them used to scissors. We also got her used to the hairdryer- long before she needed her 1st wash. Its paid off and she seems to enjoy it now.

I'd never realised that poodle and poodle crosses can have very sensitive stomachs. At 5mths I gave mine a small piece of dried pigs ear. It was vomited up an hour later. Some dog chews from aldi had the same effect.

Another one. Land shark is SO true! Suddenly launching at you with tiny, sharp teeth. Sometimes they are overtired and don't know they need sleep. This is when the zoomies happen! Sudden running around in circles, running an obstacle course around the room or seemingly gone mad! Sometimes you just need to pick them up and hold them till they calm down- and promptly fall asleep!

Thanks, I do appreciate all of the tips.

I’d say the more effort and time you put in during the early days then the easier it is in the long term.
My last pup was accident free in two days and I’d say fully house trained within a month (where we didn’t have to watch him like a hawk) but we were full on in the first 2 weeks. I know others who took a more relaxed approach, and it then took them much longer.
Go to puppy classes with a decent trainer.
Don’t let them play with every dog they meet
Don’t tolerate behaviour in a young pup that you wouldn’t want in an adult dog
Good food manners from the start are important and never feed from the table
Take more photos than you think as they change so quickly
Enjoy it, it’s bloody hard work, but so worth it
And there are no right ways and wrong ways, it’s your pup so do what’s best for you. Some will say you must use a crate, others will say they never have- there isn’t a right or wrong-just do what suits you