Novice & a new pup

wifeforlife

Hi guys

So I finally got a pup after 2 years of deliberation. I got a lovely little Labrador/Collie X from the local dog pound. It's about 8-10 weeks old and I brought it home today.

I've never owned a dog before and I'm very nervous about getting it right, I want to be a responsible owner and dont want to unintentionally treat it badly in anyway.

So I have a bed and food, bowls for food and water and a few little toys for it to chew on.

I've no idea how to house train it, how to get it into it's bed or how to teach it any comands at all.

My daughter chose this pup and I know it's the eldest of the litter and when I saw the 4 pups in the pound playing you could see this was by far the biggest and more dominent but how do I argue with a 4 yr old that one of the others was the 'one', I've noticed people saying this is relevant with pups as they'll be harder to train, is that true

I've emailed a guy about obedience classes but I've no idea what I should and shouldnt be doing with the pup, I know I've to get it to the vet for inoculaitons but if anyone could give me some advice it would be greatfully received.

Thanks
Cate

Raksha

http://www.siriuspup.com/pdfs/before_puppy_sirius.pdf - maybe a bit late for this, but here's a link to a free download of 'Before you get your puppy' by Dr Ian Dunbar. There is a follow up book called 'After you get your puppy' which is invaluable and you should be able to get it from your library.

If you are in an area where there is a Puppy School tutor, http://www.puppyschool.co.uk/uk_train.php they may well be able to help with many of your questions.

First off, play biting is many new owners major problem, especially when there are small children in the house - the puppy MUST learn 'bite inhibition' and it can't learn this if shut out, so kit the kids out with welly boots and gloves and a good bit soft toy so they can play with the pup in the right way.

House training - take the puppy out every hour and stay with them, they should have done what they need to do within 3-5 minutes (if they haven't they probably didn't need to go). If the puppy goes, praise them (not too loudly if the puppy is shy) and give them a small food reward whilst they are 'going' (don't wait until you get back inside, or you'll end up with a puppy who wants to go in and get the treat).

Get your puppy socialised - for most puppies the 'window' or phase they are going through when socialisation is most effective ends at around 16 weeks, so the more things/people/noises they experience now, the better, so take the pup out to watch lots and lots of people doing lots of different things, but keep her safe from being over stressed by people wanting to say hello.

If you're signing up for classes, please go along to watch a class without your puppy first, make sure you are happy with the techniques which shouldn't include choke collars, rattle cans, water sprays, shouting, yelling or any kind of force. Your 4 year old should be capable of doing anything the instructor wants with the dog if they are going to have a good dog/kid relationship. If they ask you to do things your 4 year old can't do, then they aren't using the most modern up to date methods.
HTH

BigMummaF

I know just how you feel Cathy---we've not had a dog before pup joined us in May.
The folk on here are very helpful, so don't be afraid to ask.
Hope you enjoy your new addition as much as we do our bundle of fluff on legs!

hayleyc_2

Congratulations on your new edition! What's his/her name?

I would recommend getting a copy of The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey as soon as possible. It will go through all the things you've asked about and will hopefully help you enjoy bringing up the puppy rather than worrying

Hayley

kal25

Congratulations on new pup. It can be daunting we had our lab X golden retriever in august. The best advice I can give is as soon as he's had his injections and is able to go out, to take him, as above poster put the sooner they are used to usual noises the better. When we first took Max he was scared stiff of the dark andf traffic. It hasn't been that long and he doesn't bother too much with traffic or the dark. He is also quite obedient on walks. I normally get him to sit if people want to say hello to try and stop him from jumping up, but I know he's still only a baby and gets very excited.
Good luck with new pup.

wifeforlife

Thanks for all the replies, our little pup is called Lola, shes jet black with a little tuft of white on her chest.

I brought her today to have her first injections and they vet gave her the once over although he said she didnt have worms, he wormed her anyway and she does have them. She's just been sick twice and I have no idea what I should be doing

To be honest she's a little gem although very dependant on company and cries everytime I leave her even if it's just 2 mins to use the loo. I know to bring her back to the vet in 2 weeks but it's the whole dog training and house training I really have no idea about. I've had no word back from the guy I asked about them and I would really like to start it asap.

I've enjoyed today with her and thats good but I've been worrying about tonight since I woke up, she cried all last night and i'm afraid of upsetting the pup, my daughter and the neighbours

OMG I wasnt this worried when I had my daughter lol

Cate

suki1964

One of the best bits of kits for a new pup is a puppy crate. And no its not cruel to crate a pup if used correctly, it gives them a "safe place" to be. I used a crate on my last pup and have got it in use right now with my latest addition.

I use the crate at night time. in my bedroom next to my bed so pup can see /hear me but it keeps him in the one place, not wondering around peeing and pooing and chewing.I can also just lie in bed and just dangle my fingers in the crate to reassure him I'm there if he wakes and doesn't settle right away Now some people use paper in a crate and let the pup use that in the night, personally I prefer to get up when he whimpers for wee wees, taking him straight outside to the garden and praising him for going then straight back into the crate, no fussing and as few lights as possible. I really do believe that not allowing the pup to use indoors at all for toileting really does speed up toilet training.

I also use the crate as a safe place to put the pup when i need to be doing things in other rooms - such as having a pee meself and the odd shower from time to time I dont advocate leaving a pup in a crate all day and night, but for those times when you have to nip out to the shops etc its a god send - no chewed furniture to come home to.

Right now you need to concentrate on toilet training and socialising. Toilet training is pretty easy. As soon as the pup wakes - straight out to the garden for toilet and praise for doing so once done. As soon as pup is fed - straight out for toilet. Every hour on the hour at this age - out for toilet and praise for doing it. I also use teach a command for toilet - wee wees or poo poo in this house (use whatever you want/happy with) When the pup is actually going I say the command so he soon learns what that means. It wont be long before he can go on command (god send when its dark and raining). I never tell a pup off for going in the house. I just mop up and wash the spot with a bio soap powder to kill the scent. I dont use newspapers either as this can confuse the pup into thinking its ok to toilet in the house and extend toilet training.

Socialisation needs to take place as much as possible now, not waiting untill all the innoculations are in place. Puppy classes at the vets are a good starting point. Carrying the pup around with you on short journeys to the shops, pub, DIY shop, walk around the park - anywhere and everywhere really. getting him used to traffic noises and sights and sounds.

As raksha has said, biting is a huge problem at this age - they are teething and biting and chewing is built into them. Never play with a pup with your hands - asking for trouble - always use a toy. if pup gets over excited with the nipping - time out. leave him alone and walk away. If need be, take the pup out of the room to calm down a bit. A high pitch "ouch" also works wonders. Always have plenty of things that he can chew, hide etc but dont leave him alone with them. I also use carrots, broccoli stalks, pieces of swede, turnip etc - nice and cold and soothing for sore mouths and really gives the teeth a good work out.

Pup will need to be wormed again in a month and regulary - esp if you have children. The vet will let you know and believe it or not the med that he will want to sell you works out cheaper then supermarket stuff in the long run as you need less and need to worm less often.

Upset tums are common with pups when they first come home - its stressful for them. just stick to the same diet as he was on and he should be fine in 48hrs - if not back to the vet just in case.

A really good book to get hold of is "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey

Hope some of this is useful to you

Good luck

wifeforlife

OMG Suki1964 you really know your stuff aswell! Thanks very much for advising me.

Last night was far better than I had anticipated, only 1 accident compared to 6 on the previous night, and less crying and howling. I'm alot more confident now just because I can already see the difference in her and can see how attached she already is to me. I found her yesterday sitting on a pile of my dirty clothes that I had brought down to be washed, she was as happy as larry.

We havent had any bother 'yet' lol with biting or nipping but it's only been from Thursday, she's definately getting her teeth coz I gave her a lion shaped sponge to play with and it's went down well, it's like a flannel and nothing to pull off it so she's having a good tug on it without much damage.

Have sent my BF out to get the puppy book in the library and will give it a good read, he would be more doggy inclined than me and is a great help in building my confidence. I'm approaching this like I did when I was pregnant, and I'm determined to give this little pup a good life, unfortunately her sisters will be put down today if nobody rescued them.

Thanks everyone for all your help, you's have all been really fantastic, and a great source of information and comfort to me as a new dog owner.

Ta
Cate