what new puppy needs?

[Stephanie]

Hi, my medium F1 female goldendoodle was just born. I will not get her for another 2 months, but just wondering what I should have for her and recommended brands? I see most love the les pooch brushes, which one for a new puppy? training treats? doggy bed? toys? etc? 

Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

For lots of information on food and treats, please join The Food Group. You should not change your puppy's diet at all for the first two weeks after she comes home, even if the breeder is not feeding the best food, and you don't want to introduce new treats during that first couple of weeks, either.

[Stephanie]

ok thanks

[Ginny Nightingale]

Your breeder should be giving you lots of info too--the list is pretty long! I would be sure to have a steel comb, a crate, (they make crates that have dividers so you can enlarge them as the pup grows) lots of chew toys but no rawhide! I like cow hooves (plain with no filling for chewing). Rotate the toys to avoid boredom. Gates are needed to keep the pup in one area and you might want to get outlet covers if you have ground level plugs in the room he will be confined in. Of course, food bowls are needed and a collar and leash! The breeder can tell you what size collar to get--I usually start with adjustable collars of 8-14 inches. You will want to schedule a well puppy vet visit for the first week your pup comes home and get their advice about flea and tick repellent and vaccinations. Lastly, a baby shampoo is good for bathing right now. Oh, and stock up on paper towels!!

Be sure to join puppy madness group!!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

along with the paper towels, also get some Nature's Miracle spray to take care of any accidents that may happen inside.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'd recommend the liquid Nature's Miracle rather than the spray, or get both. You have to completely saturate the areas where accidents occur, and you go through a lot during early housebreaking.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Yeah I'll second the suggestion for a giant jug.  We bought a big jug and put some in a spray bottle for flat surfaces like tile, but for carpet I pretty much just poured it on.

[Stephanie]

I've read about pink solution cleaning for puppy mess. Anyone heard or used it?

[Stephanie]

ok thanks, so you think just a steel comb for grooming puppy no brush?   I see the ones with no handle just a long comb it seems awkward to brush a puppy with, what do you think? and lease 4 or 6 ft?

[Emily & Wispa]

Lots of love :)

And patience.

And the ability to live without much sleep for up to a couple weeks, though some puppies sleep through the night from the beginning, it's not very common.

During the first couple weeks just use small bits of plain cooked chicken as treats to reward good behavior!  It won't upset their little stomachs too much and it's very important to reward them for peeing outside from the very beginning, and to coax them into the crate at first.

Have a collar and lead.  Have a tag ready as well.  I don't know about where you are, but here in the UK it is illegal for your dog to be in public without a tag stating the name and contact details of the owner.  Not the dog's name, yours.  Actually, brush up on animal laws in your area. 

Have a crate.  If you don't have a partition in it, have a bed that fills the whole crate and can't be pushed to one side.  We have a 42" crate and never partitioned any part of it when Wispa was really little.  She never peed in there because it was all bed!

Have an appointment for the vets for the day you bring her home just to do a quick check over and to schedule the first vaccination, or just the second if the first was done when still at the breeders. 

If the breeder doesn't do this anyways, I suggest you buy a soft toy and blanket and have the breeder get the litter and mums scent on it for when you pick up your puppy.  It will make the first few nights easier for the little girl, as it will be traumatic for her leaving the nest.

Have a variety of toys, actually.  You never know what kind of toy she will really like.  Maybe get a rope toy, a kong, a plush animal, etc.  You will need something to shove in her mouth when she starts to mouth on your hands.  Actually, Wispa's favourite were empty plastic pepsi bottles and cardboard boxes, but hey!

Find out about puppy socialisation classes in your area.  Some will allow you to take the puppy before its had all its shots, just to meet other puppies, but keep an eye on obedience classes as well.  Book ahead of time or you might have to wait until your puppy is past the prime learning stages.  It's not a huge loss if you're diligent about training at home, however.

And the list goes on and on.  For all puppy related questions, go join the puppy madness group!

[Stephanie]

ok thanks!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm a huge fan of an ex pen.  It just gives you a place a little larger than their crate where you can put them when you cannot keep your eyes on them continuously, but still gives them a little room to play.  Our girls are 4 years old and we are still using the ex pen on occasion.  It was the best money we spent.

[Stephanie]

so you never used crate just ex pen?