Bringing my new baby home tomorrow!

bright_side

I am so excited, my gorgeous new pup is joining our family tomorrow, so I am hoping you kind souls could offer some advice for her first night away from her birth mummy?
Also I am wondering whether it is a good/bad idea to take her new comfort blanket with me when I pick her up, so it will hopefully pick up the scent of where she's used to being?

I've also bought a couple of fluffy animal puppy toys and I wonder if I were to put them in her bed with her she might feel like she still has her brothers and sisters around her?

Please tell me if you think I'm being daft :rotfl:

lee111s

Is the breeder not giving you a blanket with the scent on? Mine did when I got Lenny.

The first night is odd, all you want to fo is cuddle and play with the puppy but they will be very scared/shy as they're away from everything they've ever known. So don't be disheartened if they seem quiet and non engaging!

Are you going to be crate training?(If you're not you should seriously consider it) It's wise to have the crate in your bedroom to start with, this helped me loads and I never had one sleepless night from crying. Gradually move the crate further away until you have it where you want it to be. You're going to be getting up every 2 hours to start with through the night to put them out for a wee.
Praise them each time with a tiny treat when they pee in the right place but then straight back to bed, not talking or cuddling etc. Increase the time you leave them before toilet by about 30 minutes per week and before long you'll be getting a full nights sleep

lee111s

Oh and under no cicumstances allow them to sleep in your bed! It'll cause you all sorts of problem. If you are crate training and they're crying, as long as you know they don't need the toilet and they're not hurt you just have to ride out the crying.

If you tend to them when they're crying you'll be teaching them that crying gets them attention.

mum2one

a tip we have done with all the dogs we had as puppies was get an alarm clock the old style one that has a tick tock motion, wrap this in a blanket, and put in its bed as this is similar to the heartbeat of mum and a comforter.

Good luck xxx

ohreally

lee111s wrote: »

Oh and under no cicumstances allow them to sleep in your bed

Ha. My bed also sleeps a mutt or is it the mutts bed that I happen to sleep on?

con1888

Good luck.

Tips - a crate, earplugs and patience!!

We chose to crate train, not going to lie, the first 3 nights were torture, he howled like a wolf and yelped and I wanted to cry for him. Soon after he settled and at a year old his crate is his safe place, he loves it. He no longer sleeps in his crate at night but it has helped so much.

annnnnd pictures please !!

bright_side

Thanks everyone. First night went well, she quickly settled into her new home and slept very well - much longer than I did - got up at 6 to see how she was as didn't hear a thing from her all night and she was still soundo for at least another hour. The paper I'd left down was rather soggy, which I was pleased about as she hadn't 'been' since we brought her home. She is already letting me know when she needs to go, so we haven't had any accidents yet!

I'm now looking at insurance and flea and worm treatments. Am I right in thinking Frontline is the way to go? Haven't got a clue which worming stuff to get so was wondering if anyone could recommend some and also whether to go for tablets or powder?

meritaten

worming and flea stuff is best got from your vet - he/she will know the most effective product. (thereafter it can purchased online or in pet stores if cheaper).
shop around online for insurance and don't go for the cheapest - go for the most comprehensive cover and make sure you check whether the firm will pay out or if there have been complaints about them!
and I do hope you and your new companion have a happy life together for many years to come!

any pics? I would love to see the new addition!

bright_side

Thanks so much meritaten. Little one is all cosied up in her bed......hopefully for the night

I'm really sorry but I haven't a clue how to put pics on here, but if I manage to find out, I will do so!

mum2one

Our Spaniel is now 4, but for his worm tablets we get from the vets as it goes by weight,

With frontline - we used to get that from the vets - but the last batch I got from co-op pharmacy online as there was an offer on so for what I paid for 4 mths supply at vets, I got a yr from Co-op, (think it was a promotion), but Boots, LLoyds Chemists do the front line - again (99% sure) it goes by weight.

The worm tablets - we have to bribe our dog to take, there clever they know all the tricks, and frontline - you break the nozzle and just put it on the back of the neck.

A good doggie tablet (for health and condition) is vetmeeze (excuse spelling) we buy our from a local pet stall - works out about a 2p a tablet (can buy from pet shops, its like a A- vitamin for doggies.

Ours has Garlic, Cod Liver Oil, and Evening Primrose tablets (1 a day), we buy the human version (checked with our vets - got the all clear) we buy ours from Healthspan or ZipVit,

Insurance - I would say shop around, we personally use Petplan, I pay £45 a month for the policy - (based on Spaniel, pedigree), - there are cheaper plans out there.

The reason we stayed with petplan, with our last dog, he fractured a bone at bottom of his spine, fragmented into his spinal cord - the mri scan (private animal hospitals), looked like someone had chucked a pack of sherbet into his cord, - going back in 2005, our bill was 3 1/2k, we paid £60 excess, with some policies - had the dog done the same thing again he would not be insured, but with pet plan they continue the insurance and he would have been covered again

Another point (god forbid) if the dog got skin condition or diabetics, (life-long condition) some polices will only pay out up to 3k, or 12 months, after that your on your own,

(honestly don't work for Petplan - wasn't till we needed them, that you realise how much the extras could have been).

Dont forget cachback (quidco, topcashback).

Glad the 1st ngt went ok and sounds like toilet training going very well,

What we done with all our dogs is taken them down the road, (in our arms) so they get to use to traffic noise, meeting people, also use to put them on the lead and walk them around the garden, - all helps to get them use to the noise and feel of the lead.

Ours has a fetish for ambulances, - only if they have their blues and twos on, - one of his walkies routes, they use to have the ambulance station, now when he hears a siren he stops dead - his head just follows the sound, and he will not move till they have gone past.

Can we get a photo xxx

bright_side

Many thanks for the tips. I have been looking at John Lewis insurance as it seems reasonable and I believe they also do the continuing treatment thing. I've also ordered some Frontline as found it at 6 for £22.50. Will speak to vet regarding worming.

I tried her collar today but she wasn't impressed so after about 3 hours I took it off, I think I may see if I can get a more lightweight fabric one.

We had lots of cuddles this morning, but once my son got up she didn't want to know me atall. She's been a bit whimpery today, not liking it if we left the room she was in, so I'm wondering how she will fend tonight.

So how do I put a pic on here please?