Preparing for our pup! Need advice!

[Amy & Albee]

We're a month away from getting our little guy. We find out in 3 weeks which pup we'll be getting, we can't wait! I've done many searches and read many threads on the board but was hoping for some additional input about our situation! (sorry if this gets long!)

-Day one! We'll be driving 9 hours to get our dog. We have family (sister/parents) at the half way point. We wanted our little guy to meet the family dogs (Lab and Husky). Both dogs are up on their shots and have their own, secure yards. Since day 1 will be a long one, I'm strongly considering staying the first night with our family. We'll sleep next to the pup (which will be in a crate) and be ready for bathroom breaks. I will monitor our pup to make sure he doesn't eat anything new or get into anything.

--Sister-in-law has even offered to have their dog in their room at night if it'll help our dog fall asleep. It's important to me that our dog gets a warm welcome from other family dogs, thought this could be a good and healthy socializing opportunity. Thoughts?

-Bathroom breaks and staying healthy! I'm strongly considering packing up pee pads to use on our trip back from the breeder. I do not want to risk our pup getting sick. We would stop in spots that seem far from other dog areas- and set down a pee pad (and possible wood chips- our breeder uses them to train for bathroom breaks). Any advice on this would be helpful!

Socializing.. I really have read a lot of threads about this. I promise! Our situation.. we're getting our pup at 7 weeks. I tried to talk the breeder into 8 weeks but she insists the pups will be ready to go home. Trust me, I too know that 8 weeks is best. Our breeder is reputable and this is the only area that disappointed me. So.. with that.. I want to do the best job we can to turn our dog into a well balanced, happy pet. But I'm struggling with sacrificing risking his health for socialization. A good friend lives in town with her dog- a great opportunity for play dates.

--I also want to take our dog to the farmer's market. I would hold him at all times. Is this okay? Can I take him out in public to experience new smells, sights, sounds, and people? Is this too risky? I wouldn't allow contact with other pets- but are stranger's hands okay or not?

And lastly- We're currently renting an apartment as we've just moved to a new city. We're building a home which will be ready in mid November (wish we were in it now!). Our apartment complex is dog friendly. There is a grassy 'court-yard' like area sandwiched between our building and the one behind. Every bathroom break would involve me carrying him outside and plopping him down on his spot- no roaming. We do have a deck and I've considered using pee pads but really didn't want to get him onto those. I feel like our situation is interesting. In a few months, I can open the sliding door and he can scamper out to the backyard. But what should we do in the interim?

--How do I let our pup out to the bathroom and not put his health at risk?

I can't thank you enough for reading my endless questions :) I just want to start off on the right foot and do everything we can for our pup. I've read many of these topics on here, but I guess I haven't decided for sure on some of our issues. Again, thank you!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

First of all, join the Puppy Group here on DK. Great place to get answers. Ok, I will try and answer each question. LOL

1) Fudge was one year old when we brought Vern home. I had anticipated a lovely greeting and the dogs would be fast friends. Instead when I brought Vern home, he was terrified of Fudge, peed all over the place, and made sounds like I had never heard before. I was sure I made the worst mistake of my life. My friend had gone with me on the long drive (450 miles) to get Vern and we had to take her home. We loaded both dogs into the van and by the time we got home everyone was calmer and by that night, we all slept in the same bed and I had no problems after that initial greeting. If your family's dogs are older, they might not like a puppy initially, so just be prepared for that and know that it may just take a little time. My daughter had gotten a puppy a month after we got Fudge and when she visited it was very wild at first, and then they settled down after about a day, and got along just fine. Monitoring is best, but I think it will be fine.

2) I drove 600 miles home with Fudge and 450 with Vern. I stopped along the way and just tried to find areas off the beaten path and away from dog areas. I had no problem. I have never used pee pads of wood chips. Maybe others have.

3) I cannot imagine any reputable breeder sending their puppies home at 7 weeks. I am sorry..I just can't. Ok, that said, I took my dogs out for walks from day one. Just use common sense and if your friend's dog has had all his shots, etc. and is current on vaccinations, I don't see how that would be bad. You cannot protect your puppy from everything and can only do your best. Personally, I think you can and should take them out to public places and human hands are fine. People love puppies, so he will get lots of attention.

4) My daughter lived in an apartment when she brought her French Bulldog puppy home. She took him outside to do his business and he did fine. We have had discussions about people getting grassy areas for their deck, but I don't know much about all that and how it would transition later when you get your house.

I am no expert, but I believe puppies and babies are stronger than we think they are and you cannot protect them from every germ out there. In both cases, I just tried to use common sense. Good luck!!

[Amy & Albee]

Thanks for your reply, Laurie.

We were around when the sister-in-laws Husky met the older Lab. And I think you're right in saying that an older dog might not like the puppy right away. The lab is 6ish and the Husky is around 2. It'll be fun for sure to watch them interact.

I'll also agree with your thoughts of we can't protect against everything. It just gets a little scary reading about all the possible places that could make them sick.

And I'm pretty upset about the early arrival of our pup. Without really going into it- initially the plan was for 8 weeks (before the mother was even bred). I don't know if she changed it because she has 2 litters at once or it's not convenient for her due to Labor Day Weekend. She's been great in every other aspect. We'll just have to do our best, starting a week sooner than normal.

Thanks again for your reply!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Amy, I tell my kids all the time I raised them without ever reading ONE book about child rearing :) Of course, they tell me I should have read more. LOL Good luck at this exciting time.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Amen to that one, too many books, too many ideas, too much confusion!  I agree with you Laurie

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

This advice sounds good to me :)

We brought Luna home just shy of 8 weeks and I think it still may have been a bit early.  She had been weaned for a few weeks (her mom ran out of milk - 10 puppies!) but her bite inhibition was still not the greatest and she was pretty fearful of new situations.  The fear part may be just part of her personality though, she's a very "cautious" dog in general.

[Amy & Albee]

I'm hoping that having our dog around other well behaved and vaccinated dogs will help our pup learn what he should have from his litter mates. Maybe we'll take it easy for the first week and a half and then venture out into the world - maybe this will help with his fear. Thanks for your response!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

The fear phase kicks in around 10 weeks.  I noticed it almost to the day with AnnaBelle (now 4.5 months).  She wasn't afraid of anything up until then and all of a sudden I noticed that she became not fearful, but more cautious around new things.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I think that it sounds like you have done your homework and now you just have to use your best judgement.  You will find those that tell you to make everyone take off their shoes before entering your house and you will find those who say we never really worried about it.  You just have to be careful.  As you know the parvo virus comes from coming in contact with an infected dogs poo.  We took AnnaBelle every where with us from the day we got her.   However, until she had her shots she didn't walk, I carried her.  She went around the block with us when we walked Lucy, but she was carried.    I would put her in the cart on a pillow at Lowes or the pet store.  Our breeder sent us home with wood pellets to use to mark our potty spot in the yard.  I would think that might work on a potty pad on your way home.  Just choose, as you say, out of the way places.  I would also make sure that the puppy isn't fed right before you get in the car to travel.  After a few hours in the car give him/her a little to eat.  If that goes well a little more a little while later.  Have you bought a snuggle puppy?  If not, I would highly suggest one particularly since the puppy is coming home early?  AnnaBelle snuggles up with her puppy every night and she has slept through the night for 8-9 hours almost every single night.

[Amy & Albee]

I'm glad to read of your experience. This is how I want to treat out pup- carry him everywhere we can! Especially be in an apartment, I don't want to be inside and boring him.

And we'll definitely be buying a snuggle puppy- from what I hear, they are just fantastic (and cute!).

Thanks for your response!

[Hua]

I can only offer my own experience since I've only got my Charlie for 4 weeks.

I had to drive 4 hrs to get him and back on day 1.  Do you plan to put him in a crate the whole time or have someone hold him.  My breeder recommend someone holding the puppy, but I was by myself so I had him in a crate.  I took break every 1.5 hrs or so. He still peed in the crate though.  When the car first started moving, he was screaming his head off for 15 minutes straight (kid you not).  I ignored him (not looking back at all), and I think that helped with him in the long run because now he's so good with car rides (no fussy at all since I take him to places in a crate by car 3-4 times a week).

 

I think you can totally take him to other places.  I enrolled Charlie in puppy classes at 10 weeks, and before that it was parents/friends houses, and common playing area in the townhouse complex where he meets other dogs.  I took him to a street fair just this weekend (at 12 weeks), he refused to walk after 10 minutes though so I had to carry him the rest of the way. lol

 

When I first got Charlie, I started potty training outside.  That went on well and for about 3 days.  Then my friend told me I shouldn't do that until he's at least got his second shot, so I freaked and bought those potty patch (with the fake grass) and put it on my balcony and trained him there.  That went on about 1.5 weeks until he got his second set of shots, then it's back to outside. He never had any trouble transitioning.  He still has accidents, but now I can just take him to the patch of grass outside my door and say 'go potty' and he'll know what to do.

 

Hope that helps.  Good luck with your puppy. :-)

[Amy & Albee]

We are definitely going to bring the crate along. Our breeder is also suggesting we hold him, but I want to have other options in case that doesn't work out. We'll be bringing old towels and also have some stuff with his littermates' scent.

I'm glad to hear that Charlie adjusted so easily with the patch and then going outside. I might start taking tabs on how many dogs are in the area (I've only seen 2)- so I might be able to find a safe spot.

Thanks a lot for your comment, can't wait to get him!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Everyone has given great advice. The only other thing I might add is to ask your vet about 'puppy romps' in your area. I found out about 2 from my vet on Lucy's 1st vet visit. The one both my doods went to allowed puppies from 10 weeks to 6 months. It was an unstructured full  hour of puppy play time each Sunday in a clean and disinfected play area. Turned out to be a wonderful (and valuable) experience for them both! I highly recommend it.