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.

My ddog eats when he wants. First thing in the morning and last thing before bedtime he goes out in the garden to sniff around, survey his territory and do a wee. Never bothered with a routine or a crate and he sleeps downstairs, either on the floor, in his basket or on the sofa.

Dog goes out in the garden to toilet when they ask (ie stands next to back door and barks). This would only involve a walk if we were on holiday and there wasn’t a suitable garden space.

Same here in terms of routine, and sleeps where he wants, sofa, upstairs or downstairs dog bed, on the bed etc. as a small puppy he slept in the kitchen in an open crate.

weird how some people
fond puppies need a routine and others are more go with the flow. Ddog definitely gets overtired after lunch and turns into a whirling dervish (is that the right phrase?) He is overtired and bitey right now so definitely doesn’t know how to manage his own routine at all.

We have always walked briefly first thing for toileting (around 7am), then breakfast.
We use a small travel crate in the car, this has worked much better than dog seatbelts. We got ours from Zooplus
Ours is crate trained but does sleep on the bed. She is left with a room and corridor with a bed, toys, licky mats and the radio. She is a rescue who didn’t like being left but now is content and sleeps but that’s because she is left with things to occupy her.
i think puppies are much harder generally though, rescues often more adaptable.

Got a rescue three years ago and it was a STEEP learning curve as she's mixed with loads of breeds, had no idea how big she'd be etc. The internet says much about dogs but every dog is completely different.

The most important thing I can say is to be consistent and not to confuse your dog, i.e. if you do x one day and y another day, that's extremely confusing and will lead in result to confused behaviour.

Dog goes into the garden immediately, my dog is impatient and will.often hold her wee until we go for a walk, despite being let into the garden etc.
FYI dog can become reactive out of seemingly nowhere on walks..this happened at six months for us. She's fine off lead (we do not walk her off the lead) at daycare but really anxious on the lead.

I crate trained and tried everything to stop her crying, already threads on it telling me to put the crate beside my bed then gradually move away. Slept on the kitchen floor beside her for a week
Absolutely ridiculous because one night I put her in her crate in the kitchen, shut the door, turned off the light and went up to bed and she was completely fine!!!! No crying whatsoever (I had a camera on her). When she was neutered she was so sorry for herself I let her stay on my bed and she never got off it. So yes it's a slippery slope and not fair to confuse them.

Absolutely use the same mat or bed for settle - it can change when they're older but they'll know the cue by then it won't matter. (Consistency and put treats on it randomly each day so pup looks to that space for comfort and treats).

Travel entirely depends on how big doggy will become.. whatever you do please don't attach them via the neck/collar. It needs to be a harness if on a clip. My dog is 35kg and she has an Eazydog car harness which clips to the car like a baby seatbelt would (can't recall name of clip holes). Likewise, stretchy leads need to be attached to a harness, not a neck collar. (Break the dogs damn neck if they decide to run full speed!).

Any other things you wish you’d known about dog ownership?
Lots! It's really hard. Having an active dog is a full time job essentially. And that's fine but know it is expensive and challenging.

Other dog walkers are some the most self-unaware people it's maddening. People with off the lead dogs will drive you mad. Kids likewise have no self awareness so will run/kick/swing their arms in the general direction of dog. Just be hyper aware of this as their parents won't be aware for you.

Lots of things are trial and error! Food, how long they need walking, sniff walks, garden play etc.

Force naps with puppies...they won't choose to nap...so put them down/in the crate for regular breaks.

Pet insurance is expensive but really really helpful and could save you making really difficult decisions down the line. And don't be afraid to switch providers over the years.

Dog chews (natural chews like beef tails and pork tendons etc) are fantastic and stress relieving for your dog as well as healthy and good for teeth.

Almost all dog food brands over subscribe how much your dog needs to eat in a day. It's fine to do a bit less.

Get touching your dogs feet and ears etc early and groom early so they become used to it. Same with clipping their nails.

Most dogs have allergies of some sorts- if you feel like dog is itching a LOT take it to the vet to support or get antihistamines. Wiping dog off after each walk with a wet wipe or wet flannel helps to remove pollen! Especially on their underside.

Oh when mine was a pup I was told to take her water away about 7-8pm.so she wasn't up all night weeing. She immediately got a water infection. After that I let her have constant access to water through the night. Made zero difference to her regularity! So wouldn't recommend removing access it's unnecessary.

Gosh I can think of so much more but I'll post this for now 🐾

Final thing to say (I raised my pup on my own so no split responsibilities), the puppy blues are very real and reading threads made me feel SO much better. It is hard and that's ok. It will get better really in a flash.

Love them and love them some more!!! You are their whole world and they are wonderful joys to get to look after. ✨💛

Buy a good puppy book eg Gwen Bailey.
Crate training will give you peace of mind when you leave the house. You can dispense with it between 1-2 years depending on breed; larger breeds take longer to mature.
Never attach the travel restraint to the collar - always use a harness.
Always do some formal training - a dog who can walk nicely on lead and recalls when off lead is bliss to own and a nightmare otherwise.
Don't board your puppy in the first year - it's only one year you have to adjust your holiday plans.
Try to make them flexible re where they sleep. Nothing wrong with your bed sometimes if that's what you want but if you plan to board for holidays subsequently you may not be able to replicate this and your dog could suffer separation anxiety. By all means make a big fuss of them at times but you need an emotionally robust dog for a peaceful, happy life.

I used to take my boy out for a quick wee. Then breakfast while I had a coffee. Then a small walk. About a mile. He would sleep most of the day while I worked. Then big walk in the evening. About 3 miles. Then dinner. As for sleeping. He slept wherever he wanted. Sofa or chair. Plus he slept on my bed every night. Dogs are pack animals. They like to be with their pack plus it’s good for the dog and the human.

I let ours out into the garden when I get up and he has a walk later. We crate trained him and used it for the first couple years and then he just didn't need to be in it any more as he calmed down enough to be trusted! He sleeps downstairs, usually on the sofa although he has a bed. He will sleep with my daughter (25) when she's home but he knows she's the soft one and doesn't come into any other bedroom without being invited. Personally, I don't like pets in my bedroom so he isn't allowed in there but I give him cuddles on the sofa.

Puppies are hard work for a couple of years and then they mature into the dog you visulised! Mine is 7 now and hardly know he's here in comparison to a few years back. He's a lovely, calm companion now.

Hi OP, we have always let our dogs out in the garden as soon as we get up/whilst we are getting ready for the morning walk!
our dog goes in the boot of our car. She is 10 this year so we carry her in and out to save her poor joints. (She is a lab)
she has never been crate trained. She has a bed on every floor in the house but her favourite place to sleep is between us with my husband hanging of one end of the bed and I hang of the other.

Most dogs are super adaptable and will adapt to you and how you like to do things. There is no right or wrong way of doing things as long as you’re happy and your dog is too. Puppies that sleep downstairs on their own are no more prone to separation anxiety than those that sleep on their owners beds. It’s all about what they are taught as puppies, if you get them from a puppy. Yes they are pack animals but they don’t need to be with the pack 24/7. The best thing you can teach a puppy for your own sanity is that it’s ok to be alone sometimes, whether overnight or during the day. Nothing bad happens, you go away and come back with no drama. This makes for a more relaxed & resilient adult dog.

I walk first thing, then get ready when I get back. He doesn't poop or pee in the garden as its AstroTurf.

He sleeps in a crate in the kitchen, always has, and goes there when we go out (max. 4 hours). He feels safe there and is very content. He'll snooze all over the house though!

If you’re crate training properly there should be no issue with sometimes letting him sleep elsewhere, because his crate will be a positive place anyway. Personally I don’t let them on furniture till they have an off command, but that’s just my preference.

Walk or garden, pretty much up to you really…I can’t think of any point in my life where a walk would have suited me more than garden first and walk when I felt like it, but it is just up to you.

i do wait at least an hour after feeding for a walk, partly because I have had large breeds before (my current two are more top end of medium) and so bloat has been something I needed to know about, but tbh mostly just because I wouldn’t go for a run just after eating a meal, so I don’t get them to.

IME dogs do like routines, but if you don’t have a really strict one, they’ll roll with it and just create their own 😂 there’s nothing like a dog for pointing out you’re actually really predictable - I had a dog once that started getting real excited about the end credits of eastenders, that was when we realised that was indeed when he usually got an evening walk 😂 my current two know by my clothes choice whether I’m getting ready to do something with them or go to work. But I don’t think you need to impose a really strict routine unless it helps you.

I have had many dogs over the past 60 years. Many were working dogs. Now I have 2, as pets. One is just turned a year old. I’m very casual about them. I get up , open the door in case they are desperate, but neither goes in the garden otherwise. They see it as an extension of the house, unfortunately. So they get a walk as soon as I’m dressed. An hour if the weather is bad, a couple hours if it’s not too windy for the beach. Puppy had to be limited to 5 minutes per month of age , twice a day, roughly …roughly because she is a cocker spaniel. A pocket rocket land shark. But to save her joints etc, I did limit her for 6 months. All their walks are off leash btw.
They get fed on our return then sleep . There’s a walk at lunch time in the woods, with tracking and scent work built in. An hour walk round a wind farm at about 5 before a small meal ..and a half mile at bed time ..about 11pm for a last pee.
I did let the Lab use a crate..it was her chosen place to sleep for a few weeks. Puppy never liked it.
They sleep in my room. The older used to sleep on the bed as a pup, but moved herself to the floor at 18 months. The spaniel still sleeps on the bed.
They are trained to word command , hand signals and a whistle. On a wet day in a storm, calling is pointless, hence the whistle and hand signals.
If I’m busy, the lab will remind me it’s time to go out. Her body clock is faultless, unfortunately 🤣 and she can stare aaalll day. If I’m sticking to my routine as it were, I just have to take off my specs and they are both on their way to the door like rats down a drain.
They have a dog bed each in the bedroom and in the lounge but usually sleep on the sofas at least some of the time, or behind if they want peace from the other.
I use the back of the car with a dog guard, on a dog bed . Pup when small had a harness leashed to the headrest on the back seat, but I prefer the mud in one place now she is big enough not to get crushed. You can get dog beds for rear seats to keep the car clean.
I don’t have to leave mine alone now, ever, but I’ve never had a dog with separation anxiety and don’t want to risk it, so I always made a point of going out and leaving them for increasing number of minutes so they know I’ll come back. The lab never cared 🤣 the spaniel is more clingy so it’s been good for her.

An important thing is reactivity. They can be taught to ignore fireworks..my previous dogs used to be around guns so fireworks were an irrelevance. Now I use YouTube videos turned up loud . If they reacted to say, a plastic bag on a fence that wasn’t there before, seeing a skip or cones and reacting I’d take them to whatever and show it wasn’t to be feared. They ignore other dogs on the beach unless those dogs approach us.
Remember, if you react, if you feel anxious about passing a dog on the street, grab yours close, it will learn to be reactive..your dog senses you and thinks there’s something to be anxious about. Always be calm and just keep walking ‘nothing to see here’ . Changing direction is ok , just be calm. Distract with a toy in the park is ok

I let mine out as soon as I wake up. That gives me time to get ready for the day before going anywhere! They have breakfast when I do. One wolfs everything down, and the other grazes throughout the day.

Crate training wasn't for us. As puppies, they all started off being shut in the kitchen when I went out, because it doesn't have any soft furnishings (aside from dog beds/blankets), and it was easier to clean up if they had an accident!

My car has a narrow boot that wouldn't be suitable for my dogs. I have a hammock that is hooked over the headrests of the front and back seats (and can be thrown in the washing machine if one vomits...), so that they don't fall off the seats, but they're still plugged into the seatbelt so that they can't jump over into the front seat.

An important thing is for everyone in your household to be on the same page when it comes to walking/training the puppy, and to use the same commands. It sounds painfully obvious, but it does save the puppy from any confusion!

These tips are all great, and hearing about the normal but big variations of dog habits is also great. We are all trying to be on the same page in terms of expectations and commands etc, focussing on sit, down and come here just now. As well as toileting which is going great. He’s so cute it’s tricky not to just want to cuddle him for naps though 🤣

Nothing wrong with getting lots of puppy cuddles while you still can.

Our Lab is only 5 months old but already less cuddly than he used to be. Still very affectionate but doesn't want to sleep right across our laps anymore.

I have a Lab retriever 15 in August , Sally , have her since 4 months old .
She sleeps up on landing out my bedroom door , never left her in the bed , I don’t want hairs or smell of dog in my bed .
She goes out into back garden in the morning to toilet & throughout day , she will let us know when she wants to go out .
I fill her bowl in the morning with her nuts & she grazes here & there throughout the day , I know it’s different with puppies .
A walk in the evening , we just do 2 blocks as she is old now .
When she was younger it was evening too cause of work & school but much longer .
Weekends could have been morning, afternoon, evening, depended on family life really at the time 🤷🏻‍♀️

I cuddle mine for naps..the spaniel is on my lap right now. The lab, stretched out on the other sofa.
Another thing is to touch the pup all over. Frequently. Open the mouth and also raise the flaps at the side of the teeth to check the teeth..get pup used to getting teeth brushed, too. Run hands over the body , especially paws , back legs, look into ears , lift the tail and hold it for a moment. It get the pup used to it and helps the vet enormously.
Try to walk on hard surfaces quite a bit…then you don’t ever need to trim nails ☺️
Be prepared for chewing. Mine steals socks , slippers, small plastic objects and tissues. Try to have chewables around because otherwise the remote for the tv and rug fringes and chair legs will be utilised. Once teething is over and the adult teeth are in, that gets better. I use lamb ribs, Avoid rawhide. It’s bad for dogs. Be careful with grapes, chocolate, onions/ garlic..toxic to dogs. Though I’ve had a dog eat a whole box of chocolates with no ill effects. Cheap chocolate, no doubt..low cocoa content. Not advisable..thief terrier jumped 4ft onto a sideboard in the night.

Your most important command is ‘wait’ . Or sit, since that effectively makes the dog stop. It’s handy when people come to the door, or if on the street and traffic is passing while waiting to cross.

Oh “wait” will be next on the list thanks. Do you have a release word too?
A Pp mentioned not letting them on the furniture until they had a good command to give permission- unlike something like that- as not everyone would want a dog on the sofa so I don’t want ours to think he can just jump on furniture wherever we are, but he’s only going to be small so he could snuggle up on ours sometimes. Any tips?
We successfully cleaned an area of the patio and sectioned it off from the rest of the garden. It has some pebbles and fake grass for toileting. That means his toilet trips today have been much easier (the area goes right from the room his crate is in) and apart from a wee on the floor right after a nap (he didn’t get right out in time) he’s been fab. And I got along lie as DH got up with him so that was also great!

He is so cute. If you don’t want him on the furniture that’s perfectly ok. Like I said at first, I’m casual about mine, at my age.
My lab waits for permission, usually. If I’m not in the room, she will please herself but if I’m there, she looks at the couch, then me, and waits for ‘yes’ . Her permission word. She’s good at talking to me and understanding, too . So you can watch the dog ..if he looks as though he is going to jump up, you say wait, and then a word for permission..like ‘up’ . If I want to stop her, I’ll say ‘no’ ..she knows that as don’t do whatever you’re thinking of doing. She’s 5, and we have had time to learn about each other. My boxer as a kid, wasn’t allowed on furniture, but he’d go on while everyone was away..and jump off when someone started unlocking the door. The cushion knocked on the floor gave him away 🤣
After wait, on the street, the release is ‘walk on’ ..or ‘ come ‘
Depending on circumstances.

we also have fetch..we have a dozen words or phrases for that…she isn’t daft. It’s like trying to talk about going somewhere without using the walk word..they soon learn the other key words like car, lead, out, park, beach, water, swim , door, coat…all lead to walks and they learn all variations so we end up spelling words so the dog doesn’t catch a word and think it’s about her going out. I can send her to fetch a ball by directing her..’’water, ball, fetch “ because the pup abandoned the ball in the sea or a pond. Or she gets ‘;water, swim, yes’’…permission to go swimming

I love the eye mask..and the eyebrows. I think I’d call him Bandit. 🤣

Lab owner here too, I can so relate! I buckled and let him sleep on the bed a year ago, now I contort around him each night as he stretches out luxuriously ❤️

Funnily enough you’re not the first to suggest that. Sadly that’s not his name. He is teen DDs dog nominally so he’s lucky he escaped being called Marley 🤣 his name is G u s

Gus is a great name. He is beautiful, anyway. I’m sure you’ll have years of fun with him.