Getting a Cocker Spaniel puppy this week

[ConsternationStation]

After months of research, searching for the right breeder and finding a pup we finally get to bring our 8 week old Cocker Spaniel home this week. I'm so excited but I also feel like I've forgotten absolutely everything I've read!

Tell me the most important things about having a pup (and WCS) in that first week when you bring them home.

This pup following you around malarkey ... do they tend to just do with their favourite human or anyone who happens to be in the room? And how do you not tread on them?

I spend a lot of time apologising to the dog for treading on her. Give it another few years and maybe she'll learn to step out of the way?

I scatter feed sometimes and also use snuffle mats - my dog is released to do it. Shock horror - she is an untrainable terrier who is one of the foodiest dogs I have ever come across, even as a trainer. She has learnt the self control that if she waits she gets something cool. My cat eats his treats on the floor. She will just wait and make no attempt to take it as she will get something better. Even if we walk away. She doesn't scavenge at all. My last dog was the most awful scavenger and we did none of this with her.

Problems are not problems in isolation. They're usually part of a bigger picture.

@oakleaffy I always say our spaniel has more catlike tendencies – the way she lies on us, you half expect her to start purring any minute!

And agreed @Killingoffmyflowersonebyone. Seems to me that kongs and snuffle mats have their place – to make their meals last a bit longer, perhaps, and to encourage them not to gulp their food, but not to tire them out. Nothing more energising, surely, than chasing a kong around a room trying to get the contents out and becoming frustrated when it doesn’t work. We used to use lickimats with great success when pupsy was small as a kind of warm-down activity after dinner, as I understood the licking to be a calming exercise, and that worked well.

Honestly, different things work for different dogs. One of mine would be bored witless by a Kong (not very bright, not very food motivated) while the other would pursue it around the kitchen to get out every last tiny morsel, and probably wind herself up in the process.

The reliable way to tire them out and get them to chill is to wear out their brains and teach them to settle. Aforementioned not-bright dog was a manic youngster, and I put her calmly back on her bed more times than I care to remember. She would be reinforced for staying there and slowly the penny dropped.

Nothing more energising, surely, than chasing a kong around a room trying to get the contents out and becoming frustrated when it doesn’t work

It really does depend on the dog, for one of mine a kong is calm activity, the other is as you describe.

Thanks guppy he's not here yet, joining us end of jan we hope

This is a very good book that will take you through all the basics, by an experienced, force-free positive trainer.

Another good one

Soak up all the puppy snuggles!

Wee wee pads were fantastic when training our pup. They're impregnated with something that make them want to go on them. Started with one in the crate, then gradually moved them to the back door, and then eventually outside. It took about 5 or six days to train her. Good luck, and enjoy having a puppy in the house for Christmas. Also, and is is VERY important. Dogs are massively to dried fruit (ie: mince pies, Christmas cake etc). It can send them into kidney failure. Keep all of this stuff well away!!!

Congratulations! I have a Cockapoo and one of the things I taught him was hand signals for sitting etc so if we are somewhere busy I can give a signal and he knows what to do.

Ah, yes, the Perfect Puppy book! I gave ours away lightly chewed to the next puppy victim on the street.

It's a good book, but Easy Peasy is easier to absorb in ten minute chunks when you've had very little sleep.

Oh go on then, here's mine being a goof.

I'd better go and name change after this

@snoopysnoooper he's one beautiful boy.

Well we got our little terror earlier in the week. She's cute, excitable and I'm already besotted. She's taken well to the crate, both during the day and night, only having us up a couple of times in the night when she needs out to the toilet. Toileting is a bit hit or miss but I'm taking her out frequently and she's loving the garden. She's even starting to respond to her name.

@ConsternationStation - congratulations🎊

But you know MN it's not true without the obligatory picture!

Yes - pics or it didn't happen