Puppy Advice (merged)

foreign_correspondent

Jellicat wrote: »

I guess the moral of the story for everyone here is...pedigree or mongrel, INSURE THAT DOG!

absolutely, but the insurance companies definitely know which one is statistically healthier and least likely to need vet treatment - hence the premiums being cheaper for mongrels!!

Actually, the cheapest dog to insure is generally a small female mongrel, so there you go! (mongrels, small dogs and females are generally longer lived than pedigrees, larger dogs and males!)

Raksha

http://labradoodle.org.uk and http://doodletimes.net/index.php?&sid=18549635141db425d4912482f835c2a7 both places with forums where you can ask all the questions you like of a variety of breeders of Labradoodles, and both places which positively encourage Labradoodle breeders to get both parents health checks. Just because somebody is actively breeding cross breeds, doesn't mean they are only in it for the money.

animalgirl

Hey there,

Looking for some advice if it's out there! We're picking up our puppy in 2 weeks and won't have access to a garden at first (house issues). I'm aware that we're not to take the pup outside until the vaccinations have been administered so I was wondering if anyone could offer advice on toilet training for the first few weeks where a garden isn't an option...?

Hope this makes sense! Thanks

agx

ZootHornRollo

animalgirl wrote: »

Hey there,

Looking for some advice if it's out there! We're picking up our puppy in 2 weeks and won't have access to a garden at first (house issues). I'm aware that we're not to take the pup outside until the vaccinations have been administered so I was wondering if anyone could offer advice on toilet training for the first few weeks where a garden isn't an option...?

Hope this makes sense! Thanks

agx

That will be very tricky.

I guess you will need to start with paper training (getting the pup to go on the newspaper or special pads). The disadvantage of this is that you will be encouraging him/her ot go indoors which is exactly the opposite of what you really need to do.

I guess if its only for a couple of weeks it shouldn't be too much of a problem but then longer you train something into a dog, the longer it takes to train it out.

What is your housing situation? is it a flat? is there not a drying green or something you can use? or a patch of grass nearby?

Really, the sooner you start house training proper, the better.

animalgirl

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

That will be very tricky.

I guess you will need to start with paper training (getting the pup to go on the newspaper or special pads). The disadvantage of this is that you will be encouraging him/her ot go indoors which is exactly the opposite of what you really need to do.

I guess if its only for a couple of weeks it shouldn't be too much of a problem but then longer you train something into a dog, the longer it takes to train it out.

What is your housing situation? is it a flat? is there not a drying green or something you can use? or a patch of grass nearby?

Really, the sooner you start house training proper, the better.

Thanks for the reply. Yeh it's a flat (we're hopefully moving soon). Spoke to the vet yesterday who said do not let the pup touch the ground where other animals have been (until after the vaccination) and unfortunately that accounts for everything around us outside...it's a very populated area.

You're right, we'll have to train him indoors and then re-train him to go outdoors. Do you know if a litter tray is a good idea (but without the cat litter...i read that's bad for pups)? or is it best to stick to mats/paper?

I honestly can't wait btw, just have to say that. I feel like an expectant mummy! heeeeeeeehehehe

ZootHornRollo

it is very exciting awaiting the arrival of a pup.

i know this may not be popular with your neighbors but maybe you could try training him/her to go in the stair (on paper) that way you will be at least getting him/her used to not going inside your house. besides, if you are moving soon it won't matter what the neighbors think!

divinemissm

I am picking up our new puppy at the weekend and I have been undecided on where to put her when she gets here.
I saw somthing similar in Asda to this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-DogDigs-Portable-Pop-Up-Travel-Dog-Crate-Pen-36in_W0QQitemZ270260741195QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270260741195&_trkparms=72%3A984%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I want to know, will this be suitable for her to sleep in at night? Should I do half and half with bedding and a puppy mat?

Also, is it best to leave her to sleep downstairs or take her up with us?

She is a yorkie btw.

divinemissm

Anyone?????

TAG

Hello

The only information I can give you is what we did with our puppy when we got her in May.

First night we tried to get her to settle in the kitchen, but she was having none of it. Which is to be expected. First night away from mum and siblings, of course she was going to be upset and unsettled. After an hour of her crying DH couldn't stand it any longer and we ended up with her in the washing basket, by the side of our bed, where she promptly went out like a light and slept right through till DH got up for work. She spent a fair few weeks upstairs at night with us, but now sleeps down in the kitchen.

Having said that she is a sensitive dog, JR Collie X and we have on 2 occasions over the last 2 weeks had her howling downstairs at night as she has felt her nose has been put out of joint. First time I ignored her and she stopped after an hour. Second time DH went down and told her off and she hasn't done it since. **touches wood** The summer holidays have put everything out of normal routine for her.

It really is up to you what you put her in and where you put her. But whatever you do start as you mean to go on. I didn't mind if ours always ended up sleeping upstairs but prefered that she didn't. As she has now spent more time having the kitchen as her 'bedroom' I expect her to sleep there now.

As for puppy mats. I didn't bother with those or newspaper. It's a case of constantly watching for signs of needing the toilet i.e sniffing and circling. As soon as you see her doing that get her in the garden. When she's performed act like a complete loon, praise, praise and praise some more. She'll cotton on real quick that she's doing a good thing. Ours took about 4 weeks to be house trained.

I'm sure someone else will be along in a mo with lots more help and advice.

Whatever you decide good luck and enjoy your puppy.

quidsin

Hi, you could try her with a crate like that, but a may get eaten if your puppy is left alone!!! A metal one maybe more suitable and easier to clean. A crate is a good thing to buy for a puppy/dog, as sometimes they need somewhere to go that is 'their space' when they want to take a brake from things.

When we got our 2nd puppy 2 1/2 yrs ago we kept him in his crate for the first couple of nights in the kitchen, but his crying kept us up, so we gave in and put his bed next to ours and he was fine then. Now most of the time, both our dogs sleep under our bed at night!!!

If I had another puppy i'd try again by leaving him/her in the kitchen.

Best of luck with her!