Puppy advice!

[NormaBates]

Absolutely agree put the crate down stairs. And sleep down there for a night or 2 if you want to stay close to the pup. Once there in the bedroom you'll never get them out so start as you mean to go on. Our dog is 14 months and now and like the last poster said its pretty hectic to start with but you'll soon find your way. Any questions just ask xx

 

[whisperchat]

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

My dog does the same. He’ll sleep all day when we are at work but as soon as we’re home he will bark and moan at us… I think it’s just an attention thing! He gets so much attention but still wants more

 

[Monkeymagic85]

Just resurrecting this thread. I'm collecting my cocker spaniel this weekend.

We're going to use a crate. I want to put the crate upstairs with us for the first few nights so he knows we're not too far away. Partner is absolutely adamant that he should be downstairs, and if he cries we need to ignore and he'll get used to it. I think I'm going to struggle with that! Am I just being too soft?

We got a puppy first lock down and she still sleeps in her crate at night.

When she first arrived, I slept down the stairs and we had her cage in the living room, she whined a little bit but not too much. I also bought her a lamb that had a heartbeat in it and put that in for her to snuggle up to him (she had in until she tried to do the nasty with him before she had her first heat )After the first couple of nights she got the message that's where she slept and then I went back upstairs.

She doesn't even attempt to climb the stairs as she knows she's not allowed. Good luck, I found a puppy way harder than a newborn but at least they grow up real quick!

 

[Saddlesoap]

I shouldn’t laugh
Poor little thing! I would never have thought of this so thank you for the heads up!
i think if I wasn’t 55 I’d just have another baby!! Joking I’m so excited I just want to give him the best start


Thank you. I appreciate your advice and you obviously know what your talking about!
so if he did have an accident in the crate is it just a case of change the pee pad and back to sleep?
And if he is crying do I take him for a pee to check it’s not that and then back in. And just leave him?
sorry I’m asking so many questions on here!! You’ve all been so helpful it’s so appreciated

Yes and yes

This sounds really silly but keep puppy away from your dirty washing. Mine had a habit of getting into the laundry basket and rooting for socks and pants! When he was only 16 weeks old he managed to eat a pair of my pants and they were in his tummy for a week until he got poorly and had to have them surgically removed.
I felt horrendous but the vet said it was really common with cockerpoos and when I went to collect him there was another cockerpoo in there having a sock removed from his tummy!

Spaniels are notorious for foreign body surgeries.

 

[Saddlesoap]

Food is a really contentious issue.

I have no specific problem with Raw, so long as it is done correctly. So many people do it themselves and it is not balanced.
Good quality foods are easy available. Avoid ones where the kibble is different colours as often full of additives. 'All about dog food' is a useful website.

Thank you again it’s appreciated
may I ask why you guessed cockapoo?
We’ve never had a dog and have spent years researching what we thought would suit us best. And these felt like a good all rounder. And are very handsome little things too!
I’m panicking now are they a good choice

Just because 85% of the puppies I register at work are cockerpoos. The only problem I have with them are that they are hugely overpriced. They aren't a breed, they are a Cocker x Poodle.

But yes, often nice dogs, high energy and intelligent, so long as you put the work in you should be fine

ETA; F1 or F2?

 

[Saddlesoap]

Just resurrecting this thread. I'm collecting my cocker spaniel this weekend.

We're going to use a crate. I want to put the crate upstairs with us for the first few nights so he knows we're not too far away. Partner is absolutely adamant that he should be downstairs, and if he cries we need to ignore and he'll get used to it. I think I'm going to struggle with that! Am I just being too soft?

Personally I wouldn't put crate in the bedroom. Our pupper was in a crate in the hallway from day 1.
Ask the breeder if you can give them a blanket to put with mum until you pick yours up, so there's a familiar smell.
Have a hot water bottle for your crate
Get some pet remedy spray

 

[Saddlesoap]

That’s scandalous isn’t it. I guess by charging a high fee it may put people off buying on a whim! Doesn’t help me if I’m paying over the odds due to those idiots

I don't think that's helped. People who reserved puppies before lockdown lost out because other people came alomg and offered more money. Gazumping I guess.

Veterinary industry and animal charities already starting to see the fall out of it.

Verifying Device

www.thetimes.co.uk

 

[NormaBates]

When we got our puppy we slept with him in the kitchen for the first couple of nights as we didn’t want to him to feel abandoned. After this he knew the house and smells etc we went back upstairs and he was fine. First night no crate and the second night we put him in his crate with us right there and he was fine getting a crate was the best thing we did as it gave him his our space and security he had it for a year and then we just didn’t use it anymore. Congratulations and take lots of photos it goes so quickly.

I think this is my fave option. I can put an air bed in the kitchen with him.
thays why I love it on here, always such good advice xx

I tried crate training with my first puppy, he would howl all night no matter what you did. So second I didn’t bother. She went straight into a basket next to my bed. (You’ve chosen crate and fingers crossed it will work for your family) just enjoy it try not to panic. Lots of praise for outside toilet and just try and ensure they get used to you leaving the house without them as obviously this is an odd time so lots of puppies are going to have some serious separation anxiety when we finally come out of this. And that’s a bloody nightmare

Of course, separation anxiety! I’ll make sure we keep popping out once he’s settled a bit so he’s used to it. Never thought of that. Thank you

 

[Koakes]

Congratulations on the new addition! I've added 3 pups to my family in the last 2.5 years lol. My biggest advice is to get them somewhat on a routine when they come home. My chihuahuas would sleep from about 11/12 until 6am most nights at 10 weeks old. They would take a nap around 8 and then get up around 930/10 play and then sleep. The first few weeks they sleep ALOT

 

[NormaBates]

I don't think that's helped. People who reserved puppies before lockdown lost out because other people came alomg and offered more money. Gazumping I guess.

Veterinary industry and animal charities already starting to see the fall out of it.

So sad
My brother recently adopted a bull terrier from a charity that had been bought as puppy and given up when he become hard work. He’s actually a lovely dog, I was wary at first as had this daft misconception they were “vicious” dogs. Think my mum must have put that in my head? But he’s lovely. He just required loads of work, attention and training.

 

[Bobbleowl90]

We slept downstairs for a week with our cockapoo in his crate, because I didn’t want any accidents mainly. He cried once or twice so we would get up and take him outside for a wee and then straight back in the crate. After a week we left him downstairs alone. He is 13 weeks now and sleeps 10-7/8 no accidents.

 

[Monkeymagic85]

we got him on Friday!

Spoiler: Cute

View attachment 1121619

Aww happy pupmas, let the fun begin! He's very cute

 

[TJ90]

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

Personally I just shut the cage at 10pm and that was it. Didn’t come down to check on him or anything as I knew he was safe. I did the same with my first dog too. What I would say is whatever you decide, be consistent. He’s 10 months now, sleeps with us in bed so we don’t have the crate anymore.

 

[whisperchat]

Exactly this yes! Never too much attention apparently

She even likes to come in the car to drop the kid off at school

Bless her! Deffo FOMO

 

[NormaBates]

This sounds really silly but keep puppy away from your dirty washing. Mine had a habit of getting into the laundry basket and rooting for socks and pants! When he was only 16 weeks old he managed to eat a pair of my pants and they were in his tummy for a week until he got poorly and had to have them surgically removed.
I felt horrendous but the vet said it was really common with cockerpoos and when I went to collect him there was another cockerpoo in there having a sock removed from his tummy!

Even after his surgery he tried to again so the laundry basket lived in the bath so he couldn’t get to it

Also I got a doggy doorbell from Amazon that he used to nudge to let me know he wanted to go outside...just don’t treat every time as mine used to do it for attention as well as the toilet

I shouldn’t laugh
Poor little thing! I would never have thought of this so thank you for the heads up!
i think if I wasn’t 55 I’d just have another baby!! Joking I’m so excited I just want to give him the best start

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.
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?

Thank you. I appreciate your advice and you obviously know what your talking about!
so if he did have an accident in the crate is it just a case of change the pee pad and back to sleep?
And if he is crying do I take him for a pee to check it’s not that and then back in. And just leave him?
sorry I’m asking so many questions on here!! You’ve all been so helpful it’s so appreciated

 

[NormaBates]

It was the first three maybe 4 nights we took him out every time, each night it got less and less, then he slept through. I didn’t want him having accidents in his crate because once they do they pick up the scent it’s hard to stop them going there again which is one of the main reasons we put him in our bedroom x

Ah ok that makes sense. Maybe we could reconsider the location then.
where did everybody else put their cages?

 

[Saddlesoap]

Thank you!!
I appreciate the advice!
We’re getting a cockapoo. And literally any tips or help is so much appreciated.
Do you recommend the vets for pets vaccinations for life? It seems really good value? It’s £99 and then as it suggests, boosters for life?
We do have a local vet too that family have used and they offer a monthly fee to cover injections, check ups etc and then a discount on other things.
what food do you recommend? That’s something I can’t decide what to do on. Obviously we will feed what the breeders provide us with to start with.
Honestly more nervous about this than when I had my kids many years ago

I almost could have guessed a cockerpoo (no offence).
No specific advice for them.
Would definitely crate train.
Both offers are good, personally I don't work at the chain of vets offering the vaccines for £99, but it is an excellent deal. I really rate the Care plans that cover vaccines and parasite control and they can be excellent value for money. What I specifically like on a personal level is the bond with my clients and their puppies. We see them monthly for weighing and to dispense medications, I know all the puppies and their owners at my branch and it's really nice relationship and trust is so important with a vet/vet nurse.

 

[Fizzwhizz2020]

I’ve always had dogs and depending on their size, it’s good to get them on a lead just to get them used to it early on, even if you can only go in the garden. I’ve always had big dogs so it was a must. Another thing I would recommend it whilst they’re eating, just putting your hand in the bowl and gently nudging them away a couple of times a week and let them carry on eating. I was told that once by a dog trainer to avoid food agression. I’ve always been able to stick my hand in the dog bowl, take away their food or take things out of their mouths with them not batting and eyelid. Enjoy your new pup x

 

[NormaBates]

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.

Thank you!
Think we’re going to put the crate in the kitchen. I’m pretty sure we’d hear him but may buy baby monitors too?? So if he’s crying do you let them out for a wee or leave them? The nights are my biggest worry. As if they learn crying gets them let out that can’t be good right? Just don’t want to mess it up!!

 

[Rocknrolla]

What is the difference between f1 and f2 in these mixed breeds?