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NormaBates
Chatty Member
Ah thank you!!!
So guys I hope you can all help me!!
We have a puppy coming in 6 weeks and I just want to check I’ve done/bought everything any tips or advice for the early days would be most welcomed.
We’ve thought about this for years and our kids have now left home so we feel the time is right. Plus my husband has just retired.
I’m just super nervous!! And my main worry is I’ll never sleep again! Other than that I’m pretty confident I’ll be ok!
We’re going to use a crate. And I’ve sorted insurance.
Any replies at all will be so welcome!! Even the bad ones
Let me know what’s to come!!
Best
Jean x
Monkeymagic85
VIP Member
To be fair, our dog will be 2 this year, she still moans and whines when we go out or even look like we might be going out, she gets serious fomo and likes to guilt trip us!
As soon as we leave she climbs into bed and goes to sleep, doesn't whine at all when there is no one there to hear it
My point is some will whine regardless and some won't give a monkeys
As soon as we leave she climbs into bed and goes to sleep, doesn't whine at all when there is no one there to hear it
My point is some will whine regardless and some won't give a monkeys
Saddlesoap
VIP Member
Vet Nurse here 
Some good advice so far.
What breed are you getting as that is important when considering training?
Find a good vet - ask for recommendations
Ensure your insurance is *lifetime* cover
Dogs Trust have a download can 'Sounds Scary' which you play in the house to de-sensitise them to common sounds.
Socialisation isn't just about dogs and people, it's *everything* - rubbish trucks, people in high-vis, sirens, traffic, road signs. Carry puppy out in your arms until they are fully vaccinated.
Leave them alone in the house for periods of time
Get them use to travelling in the car
Touch them *all over*, lift up their tail, hold their paws and spread their toes, open their mouth and look in their ears.
Some good advice so far.
What breed are you getting as that is important when considering training?
Find a good vet - ask for recommendations
Ensure your insurance is *lifetime* cover
Dogs Trust have a download can 'Sounds Scary' which you play in the house to de-sensitise them to common sounds.
Socialisation isn't just about dogs and people, it's *everything* - rubbish trucks, people in high-vis, sirens, traffic, road signs. Carry puppy out in your arms until they are fully vaccinated.
Leave them alone in the house for periods of time
Get them use to travelling in the car
Touch them *all over*, lift up their tail, hold their paws and spread their toes, open their mouth and look in their ears.
He’s okay! He doesn’t like the crate at all but he’s gradually going in it for longer and longer each time! I’m still yet to leave him tho
Ahhh how exciting!!
We got our pup in lockdown.
He slept in his crate at night. Put him in 10pm-6am. He cried for about 10 minutes the first two nights then that was it. We put a puppy pad in there and a small bowl of water and one toy and his bed of course. We started having him sleep with us at 5 months.
Toilet training - we used to go in the garden with him every hour (but not after bed time) yes it’s boring and frustrating doing it every hour but it works.
Toys - lots to chew
Also, although insured see if your chosen vets do a wellness plan - we pay just under £20 a month and it covers a lot!
More than anything, have fun! You will giggle so much and your pup will bring a lot of joy.
We got our pup in lockdown.
He slept in his crate at night. Put him in 10pm-6am. He cried for about 10 minutes the first two nights then that was it. We put a puppy pad in there and a small bowl of water and one toy and his bed of course. We started having him sleep with us at 5 months.
Toilet training - we used to go in the garden with him every hour (but not after bed time) yes it’s boring and frustrating doing it every hour but it works.
Toys - lots to chew
Also, although insured see if your chosen vets do a wellness plan - we pay just under £20 a month and it covers a lot!
More than anything, have fun! You will giggle so much and your pup will bring a lot of joy.
Rocknrolla
Well-known member
We got our puppy in November, did some research online about crate training, a few websites suggested putting the crate in our bedroom so that’s what we did. The first week he cried an awful lot, it was worse than having a baby, each time he cried one of us got up and took him straight outside, we’ve used the command wee wee’s and still use it now. He has never had a toilet accident in his crate, it’s a safe place for him to go when he’s fed up of the kids or I can put him in there when I nip out and I’m confident I won’t come home to a mess which I’m thankful for. I also bought a teddy on Amazon that mimics the mothers heartbeat, I think that made the nights easier too. Good luck, I bet you can’t wait, It’s been difficult but it’s the best thing we’ve done.
My first pup (many years ago!) slept in an orange box! But over the years, things change! 13 years ago I brought a crate (I wasn't keen, but it seemed like the thing to do)for a pup, we kept her in utility room and never shut her in the crate, she just went in and snuggled, also never used puppy pads, what's wrong with newspaper!! My boy now, never had a crate, had a basket which he chewed, now he's on the bed!! Also make sure your pup can't get near any electrical leads, like chargers etc, you will need eyes in the back of your head to see what they're up to!! But enjoy the puppy, tis hard work, but totally worth it, make the most of the time you have with them!
Another thing, hot water bottle, a ticking clock and the radio on low, not these gadgets you can buy and spend loads of money on, Ive had dogs all my life, I really roll my eyes at what folks charge for these things!!
Another thing, hot water bottle, a ticking clock and the radio on low, not these gadgets you can buy and spend loads of money on, Ive had dogs all my life, I really roll my eyes at what folks charge for these things!!
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toffeejelly
Well-known member
I got a puppy at the start of lockdown, he is 9 months now 
I got him into a routine as soon as I got him home. Set bed time every night and got up at the same time every morning with him to start with. Before putting him in his crate, I took him out for a wee and then popped him in. In his crate, I just had the bed and a soft cuddly toy and his blanket I got home from the breeder. I was told not to put pads in as it encourages them to wee in their sleeping area. I was very lucky in that he slept all night with no accidents, but I know others aren't so lucky but they will soon learn. He cried for 15 mins or so the first 2 nights and then he was absolutely fine. He still sleeps in his crate every night and he knows that the crate is his bed.
In terms of making sure you have everything, the below is what I used:
Crate
Bed
Blanket
Soft toys and chewy toys
Puppy brush and shampoo
Collar and lead to start getting them used to it
Harness
Old towels
Seatbelt for the car if they will be in it
Training treats
I didn't use puppy pads as found they were a step back, I just took him outside every 20 - 30 mins
Good luck! You will love it!
I got him into a routine as soon as I got him home. Set bed time every night and got up at the same time every morning with him to start with. Before putting him in his crate, I took him out for a wee and then popped him in. In his crate, I just had the bed and a soft cuddly toy and his blanket I got home from the breeder. I was told not to put pads in as it encourages them to wee in their sleeping area. I was very lucky in that he slept all night with no accidents, but I know others aren't so lucky but they will soon learn. He cried for 15 mins or so the first 2 nights and then he was absolutely fine. He still sleeps in his crate every night and he knows that the crate is his bed.
In terms of making sure you have everything, the below is what I used:
Crate
Bed
Blanket
Soft toys and chewy toys
Puppy brush and shampoo
Collar and lead to start getting them used to it
Harness
Old towels
Seatbelt for the car if they will be in it
Training treats
I didn't use puppy pads as found they were a step back, I just took him outside every 20 - 30 mins
Good luck! You will love it!
Barbie2020
VIP Member
Congrats on your new arrival! It sounds like you are more than ready to have a puppy and have done loads of research so you will be fine. It will bring you so much joy having a dog it is the best thing I’ve ever done 
Have plenty of carpet cleaner ready for any little accidents. Mine got the hang of toilet training really quickly but they don’t always make it outside or to their puppy pad.
I’m not sure what you are doing about dog food but there is a website called allaboutdogfood.co.uk you put your dogs age and breed in and they will show you the best food and what people have rated it. I had a dog trainer who advised me to use the website
It can seem really hard sometimes when they are teething or pooing on your carpet The puppy stage doesn’t last too long though and they grow out of it all quite quickly with a lot of guidance and patience.
Have plenty of carpet cleaner ready for any little accidents. Mine got the hang of toilet training really quickly but they don’t always make it outside or to their puppy pad.
I’m not sure what you are doing about dog food but there is a website called allaboutdogfood.co.uk you put your dogs age and breed in and they will show you the best food and what people have rated it. I had a dog trainer who advised me to use the website
It can seem really hard sometimes when they are teething or pooing on your carpet
The puppy stage doesn’t last too long though and they grow out of it all quite quickly with a lot of guidance and patience.
Saddlesoap
VIP Member
Puppy in crate at bedtime and shut the door. If you hear puppy cry get up. Theoretically puppy shouldn't want to toilet in his bed, so the crate shouldn't be too big.Honestly I’m getting really stressed now as everybody does it different and I’m so worried what is best
The majority say take them out of cage every few hours but then like you say they need to get used to holding on??? And now I’ve just been told by a friend that you don’t close the cage door at first?? Is this true? You build up to that. So what do you do the first few nights? As if the cage is open surley the little fella will be out like a shot
honestly thinking maybe I’m not cut out for this. Babies seem easier
I did this with mine and will do it with the next one and had no problems.
Hot water bottle and clock may help them settle, but haven't used personally.
ETA I don't have kids, but you surely don't wake them up to go to the toilet when potty training them?
Saddlesoap
VIP Member
Definitely leave them regularly. Maybe not the first day though! Make sure he is left alone while you are in another part of the house as well, it's not just about leaving the house.
Remember you need to expose him to as many noises/experiences/circumstances as humanly possible before he is 16 weeks old.
Google; Dogs Trust Sounds Scary
Bobbleowl90
VIP Member
We started off just calling out for half an hour to the shop then gradually increased to an hour. He’s 13 weeks now and we left him for four hours this weekend whilst we went to the cinema to see The Batman!
We bought a lamb with a heartbeat in from Amazon and I think that really helped to settle him when we first brought him home.
Stay consistent with the house training and take him out every 20 mins or so to begin with go heavy with the praise when he does a wee or a poo outside but ignore it if he does one inside. Ours hasn’t had an accident in his crate yet touch wood. He did cry like a baby (the whine is worse!) when he went in his crate to begin with (other than at night and he was perfectly fine and quiet) but they do settle eventually. We left the tv on to begin with when we went out during the day but don’t bother now.
When we got our pup a couple of years ago we had a crate set up in the kitchen for her with a blanket and teddy that had the scent of her mam and litter mates. We let her have a sniff round and acclimatise herself to the new environment. We made sure to take her into the garden for the toilet every 20-30 minutes initially and straight after she woke/ate/had played.
She cried about 5 minutes the first night when she was left but soon settled down. Alarm was set from 11:30pm for every few hours for one of us to get up and take her straight out of the crate for the toilet outside. The following nights we increased the time between alarms. She was toilet trained really really quick. Just make sure you make the biggest fuss ever when the pup goes to the toilet in the right place. I personally think puppy pads send the wrong message to pups. Puppy bells on the door handle are a good idea so they can ring the bell when they want to be let out.
Don’t think you need to be quiet around the pup, get the pup used to hoover, hairdryer etc.
Also like someone else has said above, it’s important that the pup gets used to being left so keep going out for a few minutes here and there and build it up. Don’t make a massive fuss when you leave, just go.
I would also recommend looking into raw feeding.
Good luck
She cried about 5 minutes the first night when she was left but soon settled down. Alarm was set from 11:30pm for every few hours for one of us to get up and take her straight out of the crate for the toilet outside. The following nights we increased the time between alarms. She was toilet trained really really quick. Just make sure you make the biggest fuss ever when the pup goes to the toilet in the right place. I personally think puppy pads send the wrong message to pups. Puppy bells on the door handle are a good idea so they can ring the bell when they want to be let out.
Don’t think you need to be quiet around the pup, get the pup used to hoover, hairdryer etc.
Also like someone else has said above, it’s important that the pup gets used to being left so keep going out for a few minutes here and there and build it up. Don’t make a massive fuss when you leave, just go.
I would also recommend looking into raw feeding.
Good luck
Saddlesoap
VIP Member
Guaranteed
whisperchat
VIP Member
Just leave him for short periods of time, start off with 15 minutes then go up to 20 and then gradually make your way up to leaving him for an hour & longer. Praise him when you come back, make a fuss of him, give him a little treat too.. He'll learn that being left is not a bad thing and when you get back he gets a reward for being a good boy!He’s okay! He doesn’t like the crate at all but he’s gradually going in it for longer and longer each time! I’m still yet to leave him tho
Facehugger
VIP Member
When you first bring puppy home, decide where you want him/her to toilet. Take them out every hour, when they perform, praise and use a word you want to associate with the function.
Leave it a little longer between outings as the days go on, keep repeating the words every time they do the business (good boy wee wee or whatever). I set my alarm to get up in the night to do this too when training a pup.
Eventually as they learn, they should get used to being put out and when you give the 'good boy wee wee' command, they'll do it on command. You will have a few accidents to start with, but it is worth the time and effort, I've never used puppy pads and always managed to have mine doing the biz outside within about 6 weeks.
To build strong bones, give them a little bit of goats milk once a day, until 6 months old. An old farmer sent me home with a plentiful supply when my first lab was 6 weeks old, he bred field trial champions & it's the best thing I ever learned about raising strong healthy pups.
When you feed him/her, get them used to letting you stop them eating and take the dish halfway through, then give it back after a couple of minutes. This teaches them not to be aggressive or greedy around food, you never know when they may accidentally pick something up that you don't want them to eat and need to take away from them quickly. X
Leave it a little longer between outings as the days go on, keep repeating the words every time they do the business (good boy wee wee or whatever). I set my alarm to get up in the night to do this too when training a pup.
Eventually as they learn, they should get used to being put out and when you give the 'good boy wee wee' command, they'll do it on command. You will have a few accidents to start with, but it is worth the time and effort, I've never used puppy pads and always managed to have mine doing the biz outside within about 6 weeks.
To build strong bones, give them a little bit of goats milk once a day, until 6 months old. An old farmer sent me home with a plentiful supply when my first lab was 6 weeks old, he bred field trial champions & it's the best thing I ever learned about raising strong healthy pups.
When you feed him/her, get them used to letting you stop them eating and take the dish halfway through, then give it back after a couple of minutes. This teaches them not to be aggressive or greedy around food, you never know when they may accidentally pick something up that you don't want them to eat and need to take away from them quickly. X