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What to expect - family's first ever puppy - advice welcome

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Hi

Feeling a little bit sheepish over here; after a very busy start to the year I have become somewhat of a lurker around YLF, depserate to join in the conversation but unsure of how to make the first move.

So here it is, my sort of first post, slightly bumbling and nervy

We, that is the family, are hoping to bring home our first ever puppy (a border terrier) on Saturday and whilst we have considered the extra responsibility of dog ownership and researched the breed, we feel completely at a loss as to what to expect over the first few days.

Any tips, annecdotes or advice would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you

Jules

Off Topic

30 replies

Latest reply was from milehighstyle (Linda)

Tanya

Veteran

I don't have any puppy advice, but wanted to say that it is so nice to see you here again! Welcome back! And congrats on your new puppy!

E

Veteran

Hi Jules!

May I recommend Patricia McConnell? She's got a Phd & is a dog behaviorist. Her books are very positive & encouraging & clever & hugely helpful. She shows you how to train your dog while strengthening your relationship and having fun together (no fear-based or dominance techniques, and she explains why those aren't effective & are based on outdated research). You can get The Puppy Primer, specifically for new puppy owners, as an ebook (might be more helpful since the puppy comes home on Saturday!) or paper copy as you prefer. It's not too long (about 100 pages) but so full of information I think it's more than worth the cost. The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller is really good as well & includes a training schedule as well as detailed instructions.

Ian Dunbar is another positive dog trainer/scientist with a very helpful website: Dog Star Daily. It's got whole sections geared towards puppies, including the ever important crate training, and a free ebook available for new puppy owners. He does come off as a bit opinionated/heavy handed at times, but he genuinely wants to help dogs & their owners.

I think I became active after you'd gone into lurking mode, so I'm Eva. I have one little rescue terrier mutt named Thistle & all of those positive techniques have worked wonderfully well with her. I got her as an adult though, so I skipped the puppy stage. She was very nervous & hesitant when I first got her, if generally well behaved (she didn't know any commands but was house trained & walked on a leash without pulling), and I'm so glad I knew about the positive training techniques. I think if I'd tried to be 'alpha' or done any harsh training, I would have lost her. Instead, she's blossomed into a much more relaxed & confident & still well-behaved dog, who even gets a bit cheeky on occasion, which is so much more fun than her being afraid to do anything in case she annoys me (how she acted when she first came home)! Most importantly, she trusts me & is happy to be by my side whenever possible.

Congrats on your puppy: I'm sure s/he'll enrich your family hugely!

retailgirl

Veteran

Puppies are so adorable but the first days are tough! If you or someone in your family can be home, that would be good. Crate training is good for puppies, we did it with our first dog and she took to it easily. My husband was retired when we got our second one so we didn't crate train. But they can get into things that you wouldn't ever imagine! They will chew anything within their range...I lost several pairs of shoes, some clothing, and the worst thing...the leg to my antique dining room table. ( I was able to have someone replicate it.) but they are so sweet, so full of unconditional love. I envy you the wonderful journey you are embarking on! ( no pun intended!)

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

How exciting! My advice:

1) Be patient.
2) Be patient.
3) Be patient.

Seriously. One day soon you are going to come back here and see this, and go, oh yeah, I totally get what she is talking about.

Puppies like to get into things, they chew on things they aren't supposed to, they love to pull out your dainty underthings out of the dirty clothes hamper and parade them around in front of guests. I swear they sometimes do it just to test your patience, or get a reaction And just when you think they 'get' the whole 'asking to go outside' concept, you find they are not quite as housebroken as you had thought/hoped.

I love puppies, but I think adult dogs are delightul I think it really takes a dog a full year or more before they really mature, and you can get a feel for their personality. Enjoy the puppy, but know that something even better is coming, when the doggie grows up!

Those first few days are going to be bewildering to the puppy, and he or she will alternate between wanting to explore everything (and lick everything), to sometimes being overwhelmed and either being a little scared, or really being a little devil. Give lots of snuggles, and have a 'safe' area, such as a bed or kennel, for the puppy to return to.

Don't forget, whatever you let your cute little tiny furball do as a baby, he or she will expect to do as a full-grown adult - including laptime, and bed-sharing

Post lots of pictures!!!!

carter

Veteran

Just lost a long response. Fortunately many of the points have now been covered:-). I second crate training for a puppy.

Toys, treats and food: You'll need lots of chew toys to get through teething...deer antlers, nylabones, rope toys, etc. Be wary of any toys, treats or food manufactured in China. Lots of doggie deaths happened a couple years ago because of tainted products from China. For treats and food, really research what's in the products. It may sound nice on the bag, but look it up online. A lot of it is disgusting. I started cooking for my dogs several years ago when the China scares started. It takes much less time than I thought, and the health and happiness factor makes me happy. Whatever you decide to feed her, please make sure that everyone in the family knows which people foods are toxic to dogs...onions, grapes, raisins, artificial sweetener, green spots on potatoes, avocado pits, apple seeds, chocolate, and macadamia nuts.

Kong toys are a bit pricey, but worth their weight in gold. Stuff one with cheerios and a bit of peanut butter or cream cheese, and you'll enjoy a blissfully quiet and calm hour or so!

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Patricia McConnell is the best for training advice.
Crate training is a very good idea.
And I second Carter on all the dog advice. I don't cook for my dog but I'm very careful about what food I give him.

And, expect that puppies wake up in the night like babies at first. They do not like to be lonely, and the separation from their dog family is hard on them.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome back, Jules. Please don't feel sheepish and nervy. You are ALWAYS welcome here. Can always pick up from where you left off. And we missed you. I'm thrilled and excited to hear that you're adding another very important family member to the Clan.

The most important thing to remember is that puppies are babies. So they will need extra care and patience - just like human babies. They will be very naughty, get tired fast, but need exercise and constant attention at the same time. They will cry and feel lonely too. They don't like to lie in their mess - so keep the crate as clean as possible.

Terriers are in fact VERY naughty and VERY clever. You will be smitten fast. Doggies imprint on your lives forever.

Many doggies, very unlike cats, suffer from separation anxiety. They want to be with you all the time. They LOVE humans, and are the ultimate companions. So you might stress the puppy by leaving him/her alone for too long. (When we get doggies again - I don't think I will ever leave them).

Puppies also get worms and diarrhea frequently because they eat everything. But it's usually very treatable. They have to wee and phoo a lot. Take them outside a lot. That's all.

Domino might need a little TLC too.

We are here if you need us. Much love. xo

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JAileen

Veteran

I have two terriers : a Jack Russell and a Scottie. I'm not familiar with a Border Terrier. My terriers are very busy all the time. They like to hunt and dig. Mine are both "used" dogs. One had been a stray as a puppy, and the other one was given up due to the owner's illness. They were both about 10 months old when we got them, a year apart.

When we first got them, they wrecked a lot of stuff at our house: furniture, shoes, books, eyeglasses, computer cords. Now that they are older, that has pretty much stopped. We have a lot of chew toys. Kongs are great. Our vet told me that antlers and nylabones were too hard for their teeth, and were wearing them down prematurely. He said the chew toys should be soft enough to push in with your fingernail. Another thing about terriers is that they live a relatively long time, so their teeth need to last a long time.

We really love them, but we call them terrierists, so that ought to tell you something!

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Style Fan

Veteran

How lovely!!! A puppy!!! I echo the advice that others have given. I am a dog person and adore dogs. My first puppy when I was an adult stressed me out. I took her to puppy school and we were expelled!!!! She was very naughty and very smart. She was also very beautiful and has her picture in books. I loved her to pieces. I am now on my third Samoyed. This one is a rescue dog. She was 5 years old when we adopted her.

Puppy school or some kind of obedience training is important. I do my own now. I don't use a crate but others seem to like them. I am careful about food and I like kongs as well. I did cook dog food but now I buy good quality.

Be patient with house training. My dogs never chewed on anything but they did have accidents.

Good luck!!! So much love is coming your way.

Here is a picture of the day I picked up Sophie.

The second picture is of my dog Christie who died 3 years ago. Christie was not the naughty one. We are standing in front of the place where I had my first dog when I was about 3 years old.

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E

Veteran

Oh & one more thing: my dog's a terrier mix who loves to dig too. Her bed has a removable pillow-like cushion, and she LOVES it when I hide toys under the cushion (while she's watching) so she has to dig them out again. Another version of this that she also loves is when I wrap up a favourite toy (in front of her) in a cheap little flannel blanket I bought just for her. As she tries to unwrap the toy, she gets to dig and fuss to her heart's content. The blanket's developed a couple holes in it, so I wouldn't do it with a blanket you plan to use yourself, but it's a super-cheap way to make an interactive puzzle toy (which are often quite pricey). An old towel would work too, but then I'd be worried she might think the laundry basket was fair game for digging!

She's a big fan of Kongs as well & she's got a little 'food dispenser' toy that makes her knock it around in order for the kibble to fall out, so meal times are a bit more interesting/use up some energy. For a puppy, I imagine you'll be trying to tire it out as much as possible!

rachylou

Veteran

Oh how wonderful, Jules! How old is your puppy? If a wee one, definitely expect whining all night when left alone and unable to puppy pile.

And OK, this is what I wish someone had told me about the very first thing you need to do when you get home: show it where to do its business. Which means know where you'll want it to do its business ahead of time. If it's too little to control itself that well or make it over to the designated place in time, that means down on the puppy pad first thing and always near a puppy pad.

I didn't know with Lilypup, but with Little Hess (who I fostered for a few months) - she was trained in three days. But she was very little. Six weeks. I put her in a soft basket by my head. She would whine in the middle of the night and I'd pick her up and swing her over to the puppy pad. Haha. Three days and she knew where to go. Haha. Makes me laugh. That's such a city girl thing to do.

I have to second E on Ian Dunbar. He has done good work and written good stuff. However, I'd never seek him out in person. He and his child wife live in my town. They are simply awful. They talk talk talk. I think their dogs are good because they take all the crazy points... Ok. Sorry. I had to say it. Village teapot tempests... hehe

fern

Veteran

Yay for puppies!
We loved Patricia McConnell, but read her more for "what are we getting into" than specific training advice.

Puppy school and really putting the time into socializing were most successful for us. Puppy school is for the owners, really, and if you could get your whole family to attend, it helps to all be on the same page for commands and discipline.

Honestly, the first few days we just sat watching him run around the house and cuddling when he got sleepy, and taking him outside regularly. He slept through the night in his crate very quickly.

jennifer

Veteran

With a young puppy make sure you get a subscription or two of the newspaper+ puppy pads+ enzyme cleaner . Oh and a LOT of paper towels and plastic bags .
Chiming in with a yes on the crate training. A crate bed is like giving puppychild it's own room . That way when it's tired or afraid it has a safe space to retreat to. Also it makes it less stressful for the dog when it's time to be transported .Children can be taught that if puppy has retreated to bed then they must give the pet space / nap time.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Thank you so much for your pearls of wisdom, I'm off to get the girls tucked up in bed but will be back to thank you in person soon.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

You've gotten excellent advice so nothing to add there - just wanted to say SO GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU! and don't you even think about feeling sheepish

BethL

(website)

Veteran

Such happy, happy news! Congratulations! I agree about the first few days: it is all about cuddling and transitioning the pup from his mama and littermates to you and your family. I'm also a fan of crate training; it has worked beautifully for me with my current dog, which is a Siberian Husky (he looooves his crate - it's his den) and my previous dog, a Great Pyrenees. I'm not a fan of pee pads; I think housebreaking goes faster without them, but that's my opinion. The pupster baby should be taken out after every meal, nap, play session, first thing in the morning, and last thing at night, plus whenever he/she even looks like he/she might need to go. Lots and lots of praise when he goes outside, and a couple of tiny treats that you always keep in the same pocket (mine's the front right of my jeans). My dog is three and still checks there for treats and is beyond delighted when he is sometimes rewarded from the treat pocket. Puppy kindergarten and at least one round of obedience training is rewarding for both of you, and I highly recommend both.

Make sure you get him/her to the vet ASAP for the first check-up and shots (in case no one tells you), and most vets advise keeping pups away from other dogs, dog parks, etc. (usually puppy kindergarten is okay) until they've had all their shots.

Most of all have fun, and enjoy puppyhood! It can be trying, but it's also sweet and short-lived.

ETA:

And, yes, don't forget to get lots of enzyme cleaner. Lots!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Wow, I love your collective thoughts.

Today we hopped along to the pet shop for some basics and I looking at different options for crates as we speak, Thank you for the tip!

@ Tanya, thank you for the warm welcome, it mean a lot

@ Eva, oh great, I love a good book recommendation, I will see if I can downlaod the e-book pronto

@ Retailgirl - using a crate to create a safe haven for the pup is something we are seriously considering, I appreciate the suggestion.

@ La Belle - patience, patience, patience will be my new moto.

@ Carter - I picked up a Kong toy today and will research the food a little more tomorrow.

@ Angie - you are my doggie parent role model, thank you for your kind words and yes Domino will need some TLC.

@ JAileen - ha, terrierists, I have been warned

@ Style fan - puppy school sounds a great idea for whipping me into shape, I think I would enjoy the experience, thank you.

@ Rachy - the puppy will be 10 weeks old. I have missed your posts, you're an excellent social satirist.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Will be back soon, sorry I did not have the chance to respond to everyone

rachylou

Veteran

Quite young! Ok. Yes,you'll be wanting the puppy pads and enzyme cleaner.

I gave up on crate-crates inside the house. The cages were too heavy for me to lift. The plastic ones just sort of awkward in the house. I have mostly substituted gates, pop-up crates, playpens - and settled on alternative doggy dens. Lilypup's "doggy den" is under the footstool. Little Hess had her "canopy bed" - this soft bed with a top/handle.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm chuffed to be your doggie parent role model, Jules.

Puppy play pens are brilliant. We had our girls in there for a while - because they were small dogs. Not as fab for a Boxer. And baby gates work wonders. We had them all over the house for a couple of years.

Classically Casual

Veteran

Lots of great advice. I'd just second the idea of puppy/dog proofing your home. Our neighbor's rescue Lab just died from getting into the baking chocolate while her people were at work. So sad. And I also second Carter's regime for home cooked meals. In the U.S./Canada even the supposed good pet food gets recalled from time to time. Our little guy gets organic hamburger or chicken breast along with whirred up veggies.

Please post a photo!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

My apologies for not getting back to all of you.

However, I am pleased to say we are now the proud owners of a precious border terrier named Ruby who appears completely settled in her new home (probably a different story at 2am but hey ho).

Your advice ensured we were prepared with a crate, suitable toys and a realistic expectation and Ruby is very grateful.

Thank you

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Classically Casual

Veteran

Look at that adorable little face! Have fun!

JAileen

Veteran

Too cute!

BethL

(website)

Veteran

Oh my goodness! Ruby is absolutely adorable! Congratulations on your new family member. Hope you have a lot of fun!

E

Veteran

OMG! So precious! I just want to cuddle her now. Hope everything's going well!

(And Rachy, I'm not surprised at in-person Dunbar not being the most appealing, but you gave me a good laugh.)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ruby is SOOOO ADORABLE and BEAUTIFUL - I can barely stand it. Lots of extra cuddles from me. xo

Louise

Veteran

Oh my goodness how cute x

rachylou

Veteran

Aww. What a little doll. Love the name.

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