Puppies first few nights

suki1964

I have to agree here with FC

There really is no way anyone should be thinking of getting a puppy without the full support of all family members ( and Im not implying its not the case in this thread)

I remember when we (hubby and me) got our first pup. Now he was all for it, " i grew up on a farm, Ive always had dogs" was his often said words

And yes he did, a farm, not a city, always had dogs - which were outside working dogs or mum had the care off. Completely different memories to the realities of bringing up a pup, in a flat, in a city, with both working ( as in my case)

Within 24 hours he had decided big mistake and pup had to go. I was left doing all pup care, training and everything else on top of working full time and being a housewife

Not at all easy and I was exhausted

And then of course the difference of opinions as to when vet treatments was needed, what food, - just about everything

It was a tough, lonely frustrating few months and tbh if I had kids to contend with as well I couldn't have coped

Luckily hubby did finally come around ( about the time pup was fully toilet trained and fit to be left alone for a few hours) but still to this day - two dogs later, we still argue about how a dog should be reared and what needs to be paid for and what doesnt.

Im just posting this so anyone getting a new pup can get an idea on how hard it really can be if you dont have full support of your OH's

Any

All my OH is affraid is that the dog will end up sleeping with me in the bed..

All my previous dogs did. But then I was just a child/teenager. I will not let the dog sleep with me again.

What about insurance?

Who is good?????

foreign_correspondent

Please ensure everyone in the family is not only prepared for the challenges of a pup - i.e. chewing, weeing, pooing, crying and needing constant and consistent training...

It is important they are also prepared for an adolescent dog - which is no longer a cute little ball of fluff, but may well start chewing again, pushing the boundaries, forgetting things they have already been trained to do, and generally being difficult...

...and the responsibility of an adult dog - which you may have for the next 15 years - which, on a daily basis, needs regular loo breaks, daily exercise, stimulation, feeding and training, which generally puts an end to spontaneous holidays, days and evenings out - all of these need planning and provision to be made for the dog! You may also need to hire a dog walker, pay for vets bills, and/or insurance, vaccinations, food etc etc...

Dogs also make extra housework, shedding fur and doing doggy things like rolling in unmentionable noxious substances... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2006765&highlight=dog+rolling

Having a dog is great, but it does often mean a change of lifestyle for the owners, and unless everyone on the household is prepared for this it can create a lot of tensions!

Fire_Fox

Any wrote: »

I was going to have it just "warm" not hot and obviously it will fade during the night. It was really just to make the puppy to feel comfortable and fall asleep...
I was thinking that it is like with humans - you feel different when your husband/wife are not in the bed with you because you are used to the heat of another body..

I've just checked and the maximum temperature for a heated pet bed is 20C which is actually cooler than many people keep their homes! Human body temperature is 37C so 'warm' will be too hot for the puppy. I am sure I read on another forum that someone did not think the pet bed was working as they couldn't feel any heat!! They had heated pet beds in my local Pets at Home reduced to just £10. :money:

Any

Thank you very much Foreign Correspondent for another lesson.

I have had dogs in past and I am very much aware what it brings. Also I am not a child but grown up woman with a brain.

I wouldn't mind but I have already mentioned that here before. It just sounds that one has to constantly deffend their actions before the GODS of this forum.

Any

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I've just checked and the maximum temperature for a heated pet bed is 20C which is actually cooler than many people keep their homes! Human body temperature is 37C so 'warm' will be too hot for the puppy. I am sure I read on another forum that someone did not think the pet bed was working as they couldn't feel any heat!! They had heated pet beds in my local Pets at Home reduced to just £10. :money:

Thank you very much for that. I will not use the idea then. I will just take the blanket with me to rub on his mum.

foreign_correspondent

Any wrote: »

Thank you very much Foreign Correspondent for another lesson.

I have had dogs in past and I am very much aware what it brings. Also I am not a child but grown up woman with a brain.

I wouldn't mind but I have already mentioned that here before. It just sounds that one has to constantly deffend their actions before the GODS of this forum.

That's cool - no need to be rude though - not everyone is aware of all the challenges of having a dog though are they...? And even those of us who have had dogs before can sometimes forget some of the tricky stuff!

Any

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

That's cool - no need to be rude though -True, however after never ending repetition it get's very annoying not everyone is aware of all the challenges of having a dog though are they Again true, however I already mentioned I had a dogs before...? And even those of us who have had dogs before can sometimes forget some of the tricky stuff!

And that is exactly why I am here!!

If you see my posts, you will find that
a/ I have already been through the firing line about having a dog and if so if a puppy
b/ You didn't bother to actually reply question I came here to ask but question my intention never the less.

foreign_correspondent

hmm, actually I did post information on what to look for in a pup, and how to care for a new pup, and links to other recent threads re: crates and toilet training, which I thought may just be useful to you...

I do not feel you are 'in the firing line' at all here - and I cannot see where I have questioned your intentions...

I am sorry if my replies were not helpful enough - I can only speak from my own experiences but I will not waste any more time on this thread, good luck with your pup.

Fire_Fox

Any wrote: »

Thank you very much Foreign Correspondent for another lesson.

I have had dogs in past and I am very much aware what it brings. Also I am not a child but grown up woman with a brain.

I wouldn't mind but I have already mentioned that here before. It just sounds that one has to constantly deffend their actions before the GODS of this forum.

This board can get a bit overbearing at times, but FCs heart is in the right place. We do get a lot of people coming on who are struggling with the impact of a puppy on their daily lives, and would clearly have been better off with an adult dog or maybe waiting a year or so. Not suggesting you are or will be one of them, as you are obviously planning ahead.

Do re-read his posts at some point and pick out the useful parts, it really might save you a lifetime of heartache with this puppy's health. Sadly there are some breeders (puppy farmers) that do not care about the dogs health as long as they turn a profit. I consider myself pretty intelligent and I have had dogs, but I still wouldn't know how to tell a good breeder from a clever trickster.