Puppy question

Ellen we got Molly just four weeks ago . We have a crate downstairs and she absolutely loves it . Plenty of choice on Ebay with free bed blanket , in black or silver. When you collect Reggie ask for a small blanket which has the mothers scent on if possible and put that in the crate. If the puppy starts to whine when you leave them for the night you really should leave them , otherwise it will be difficult to break the habit. Get plenty of chewy toys as well to keep them occupied , and stop them chewing you ! Molly's favourite is an old leather belt with the buckle removed.
Puppy rearing is quite hard work, but very very rewarding. Also take plenty of photos they do grow very fast .

 

Thanks HarryS I'll take a look on eBay and see what I can get. I've only got 2 weeks to get puppy-proofed!

The woman has said she'll be providing a blanket, & some of the food he's already getting used to. I've got a fair bit to buy but it'll all be worth it

What breed is Molly?

 

It's going to be fun! I've got him booked on a 6-week training course, Puppy Foundation, then I plan to go to bronze silver and gold courses. It'll help me as much as him :lol:

 

YAY!! your getting a puppy Ellen very exciting

Crate's are brilliant! TIP - don't ever use it for punishment, you don't want him to associate it with anything even remotely negative, you want him to think of it as his own little safe place where he feels relaxed & can chill out
i've always had Fred's Crate in my bedroom (no reason, just cos he's mine ) & he still uses it for sleeping in at night, its quite strange how much he loves it...he gets really excited when we're getting ready for bed cos he knows he gets to go into his Crate such a strange boy

 

thanks @honeybunny!
We intend on making the crate a happy safe place for him. I know it sounds soppy but I don't want him to be scared of anything, least of all at home (our cat might have other ideas though :lol: )

 

Crate training is perfect protective place for a puppy. They love the cave safety effect it gives them. Put a blanket over it at night to trigger time to sleep. Puppies and dogs are black and white creatures with training. To avoid any accidents in the house, immediately get them from the crate to the outside poop/pee area and praise them when they go. Crates also keep puppies safe from chewing on items that are not good for them, make sure they have safe chew toys such as a good nyla bone, not a plastic rubber thing. Just a small bowl of water is enough in their crate for long periods of time. And never use the crate as a punishment. As far as excerise run, I leash up my boys, and off I walk with them for the excerise, and that is their run. Obedience classes alway a must for any dog as early as they can go. Exposure to other dogs and othe "good" people will broaden their minds. Remember they learn by the hands on experience not by reading. Getting them out to any area you can, shopping, outdoor food areas etc. always good.

 

Thanks for the advice @redstar

 

I should continue, that the "broadening their minds" means, it develops self-confidence, security in themselves, calmness, ( I've done this before can do it again) . Ability to decern the "good" human movement from the "bad" human movement. Example: My GSD watching cars pass the house, there is the "normal" speed of a car. Then when the "slower" car drives by, he gives a little woof. A person walks a certain "normal" way. When someone walks different, the dog sees that and "different from the norm".(he is used to). If he is exposed to a handicap person and sees that that human is good, then that walking "different" is registered in his head as OK. That's why for a Nursing home dog to be good--he has to experience the "different movements" wheelchairs, walkers" . As with a toddler, some dogs are not good with toddlers, its the way toddlers walk and their height, care needs to be when first exposing a dog to the "different " walking human. Its not ever that the dog is bad. We humans have to just know how they think and help them to feel secure with any differences.
Riding in the car. Let him sit in it with a toy first. Make it all positive. Back it down the drive then up, make it positive, circle one street, and back home, make it positive. Its all increments of exposure to things with praise. Don't forget to play in your puppies mouth, so you can brush his teeth later, and play with his paws so you can clip his nails without issues later.

 

Hi All

Mine were all crate trained due to me showing them , and I was happy they were safe and sound and they never thought twice about it always given a treat plus it was useful at times when I had the nephews and nieces coming around , which at times they should of been put in a crate little monsters

But not for long periods I don't agree with

Spruce

 

you could always get your wee chap a Kong, they're great fun for dogs of all ages but especially good for teething pups, you can put just about anything in them (our boys regularly get chicken, tuna, sardines & all manner of healthy yummy dinner left overs )....even just a smear of cheese or peanut butter just inside under the rim will keep them happy for a while working at getting every bit of flavour out of it when your boy is teething you can pop it in the freezer so its nice & cold to help sooth his sore mouth ( you can do this when he's older too as it'll take longer for him to empty it)

don't bother getting the tiny 'puppy' sized one though as he'll quickly outgrow it (& they're not exactly cheap) get the one to suit his adult size (they have the breed size it suits on the package)

here's Freddy to demonstrate, it must have been nice he even snook off with Snoops one!

 

what breed did you show Spruce?

 

Great advice Redstar, certainly tips I can hopefully put to good use! thank you

 

I suppose it becomes 'their' space, a little safe haven from any hassle?

 

Freddy is adorable!

Kong toys are great, my cat has a Kickeroo that she hasn't managed to destroy yet the one Freddy is modelling looks good, especially with some yummy treat in them!