Some probably silly questions from a newbie dog owner.

[TappingTed]

When you can take your dog out (pup is too young) do you waken up and go right out? So he has his wee and poo on the walk? Or let them in the garden first, breakfast and then walk later?

For those who have crate trained do you ever then let them sleep on your bed (eg if you’re poorly?) or is that a slippery slope?

For those that have taught settle, when might this be reliable and any tips? We were thinking of a specific mat but is that silly?

is there a best travel system you’d recommend? Soft seat thing with harness? Just harness and seatbelt? Boot thing (though I have no space in my work car in the boot, so would always need an alternative).

Any other things you wish you’d known about dog ownership? All tips gratefully received.

We do garden toilet first thing in the morning most days, on a weekend we’ll do a morning walk straight away.

Car, our dog has a boot crate for car travel, when the dog isn’t with you can you can put your shopping etc in it rather than it being dead space.

We didn’t crate train, house crates aren’t allowed here, but he does sleep on his own (well with the cat) downstairs, if he is ill we bring him into our room to sleep.

i couldnt afford a crate but did consider it
and was stupidly talked out of it.
ddog sleeps on my bed.
out first thing into the garden

In terms of walking and breakfast, do bear in mind that they shouldn’t walk for about 3-4 hrs after being fed, due to the risk of bloat.
I get up, let mine out to the toilet, have a coffee myself then walk them. Breakfast when we get back.
I think letting them on the bed is a slippery slope if you want them to sleep in a crate! The vast majority of dogs will prefer to be close to their owner, so if you let them on the bed, they’ll push to keep doing that.
The “settle” command depends on the breed of dog and how good you are at training! Personally, I use “bed” when I want them all out of the way, so they will retreat to their respective beds. Takes a few weeks for them to get it usually, IF you are consistent.
Mine have always travelled in the boot so no idea about seatbelts.
Enjoy your doggo and get really, really, really good insurance!

You should go for a walk before food, or allow time between feeding and walking, to prevent bloat. We allow an hour.

Our dog will go outside first thing . A pup has a small bladder so usually needs to go several
times a day.

We’ve got a lab so he wasn’t allowed upstairs until he was at least a year old, to protect his joints. So the bed issue was never a big issue for us. He’s three now, and still will go and have a nap
in his crate.

We have a mat he settles on. Not silly at on.

Theres an excellent ‘Puppy survival thread’ running. Great thread to ask any concerns, and get support and advice.

…and most importantly, where’s the puppy tax? (Ie photo of puppy?)

n terms of walking and breakfast, do bear in mind that they shouldn’t walk for about 3-4 hrs after being fed, due to the risk of bloat.

i think that is far too long a wait, more than necessary.

First thing we just let our puppy out into the garden, and have done since we got him.

Ours is crate trained and we never let him on the bed. He doesn't even go upstairs. We had a baby crate across the bottom step for his first couple of months with us so he couldn't physically get upstairs. We removed it recently but he knows he isn't allowed upstairs and doesn't even try. He is 5 months old.

Agree with others about the 3-4 hours suggested for bloat.

We leave an hour between meals and walking - never heard it suggested it needs to be as long as 3-4 hours!

Edited to add: my puppy (Lab) travels in the boot too, we just got a cheap dog guard off the internet that fits most cars. I put a dog cushion in the boot for him and tend to give him some treats when he first gets in so he associates the boot with good stuff (treats plus normally being driven somewhere nice).

Depends very much on the breed of dog. Small dogs, yes probably sooner. Big, barrel chested dogs? 3-4 hours is safe. Bloat is so quick and often fatal, I simply wouldn’t risk it.

I have never heard this. Where did you find this out ( sorry quoted wrong person)

Like most people - garden first thing and then walk later.

My DDogs don’t like to eat breakfast and only really have anything around supper time so we don’t have to think about bloat, but even before they settled in to this pattern I would have only left it an hour after food before going. Please also remember dogs can get bloat if they eat too soon after exercise as well as before - especially if they are panting a lot, so leave it half hour/hour then too.

Oh and ours have always slept in with us - it can be a squeeze but usually one will end up on the floor, especially in summer. I love it ❤️

i read an hour @marmite123456

it probably does depend on size of dog @Buildingthefuture
i agree

This sounds bonkers! Our dogs are fed of a morning then run around outside for a half hour or more then toddle in and have a nap. I have had a lot of dogs and honestly have no idea what you are talking about. You sure you aren't thinking of a pony with colic?

And they are big dogs , all more than 40kgs. I have never heard of a dog getting bloat. I am off to google.

Er no? I’ve had more than 40 dogs, never had a pony! This was the advice of my vet, decades ago, when I had a big old boy. I’ve always stuck to it and I’ve never (yet!) had a dog with bloat.

Teach the puppy to wee and poo on command. Clicker training is excellent for this.

join the dog training advice and support group on Facebook (the Sally Bradbury one) there are lots of guides to help with raiding a puppy. It’s run by behaviourists who train in kind and ethical ways.

get good insurance - the best you can afford.

my dogs are crate trained because it’s invaluable when they’re ill. My dog is currently on crate rest following an operation (see the insurance point) and is coping well with it because of prior training. Day to day though my dogs sleep on the bed with us and have free run of the house

I'm on my 3rd male Lab (grow to 30kg or more)and have never heard the advice that you should leave 3-4 hours to avoid bloat.

Never had one get bloat either.

It is definitely not rare! I’m surprised you’ve never heard of it, I know quite a few people whose dogs have had it.

Re things like the crate/bed - it’s up to you. If you like him sleeping in the bed that’s fine! But they respond well to consistency so it’s easier to have one rule than to chop and change.

My neighbour lets her dog out at 6.30am to yap at the birds every day without fail. Don’t be that person. Take him for a walk.

Agree unless it’s a Great Dane you probably can leave 1-2 hours between walk/feeding, maybe more if you’re going to do agility or something. Bloat tends to happen in the late evening though so I wouldn’t worry too much about your morning routine (don’t know the scientific explanation for this).

My other top tip is get him used to having his feet and ears handled; clean his teeth daily; muzzle train - to the point he is relaxed about all that being done. I see lots of dogs unnecessarily in pain and stressed because they won’t allow these things without a battle.

I have never heard of waiting 3 or 4 hours after feeding before walking my dogs. That seems excessive- and none of my dogs have ever had bloat.

OK. sorry. I've googled and apparently it is a thing. Never heard of it but that's my mistake I guess. Horses do get colic which seems to be the same thing. How odd! Well it cant be common as I've had dogs for decades and never had one with it, but thank you for letting me know. I will keep my eye out.

That is a really good point about crate training for illness. One of mine had to have 12 weeks of crate rest and she sailed through it because we’d taught her to like her crate.

Re the bloat question (properly called gastric dilatation and volvulus) - it’s not solely about eating/timing, we do think other things like age and genetics contribute. Common in deep chested larger breeds. Way more common in the US so you see a lot about it online; worth being aware of if you own one of those breeds though.

Basically our nervous system has two ‘modes’ - rest/digest, or exercise/excitement. You want to avoid trying to do both modes at once. If you have a massive roast, you wouldn’t immediately go for a run. Same with the dog.

Don’t bother with a crate just give them a comfy bed in a safe space. Once on your bed that’s it I’m afraid. Read easy peasy puppy squeasy.

I have a large breed dog and have only ever left it an hour after or before feeding never had any issues. 3-4 hours the day would be gone waiting that long !