Advice please on preparing for our new puppy

[Chris and Greta]

Hi! My husband and I will be bringing our first pup home in about 2 weeks. Greta is 6 weeks old but the breeder says they must stay with their mom until at least 8 weeks old. Gary, my husband, has had dogs before, but this will be my first dog. What should I be doing now to prepare for our new pup?Thanks, Chris

[Roscoe's dad]

Read, Read and read some more, decide wether he\she will be crated or not,Start going to different puppy classes and obiedience classes to see which one suits you, research on the type of diet she will be getting. If you can afford it go to a super premium kibble rather than the supermarket type incuding Hills, Iams etc. and prepare yourself for potholes in the yard, Oh btw is your yard fenced in? I'm sure there will be a lot more advise comming, listen to it all, there will be a lot of information from other members who have been there done that! Congrats on your future addition :D :D

[Carina43]

:)Get a copy of "Rottweilers For Dummies"...widely available. Read it!

:)Have everything you need...crate, chew toys, good food.

:)Prepare yourself for interrupted sleep for weeks until Greta can last all night without having to go out, & gets used to her crate.

Honestly, though...get that book and read it & refer to it often. It will answer 90% of your questions, & people here can answer the other 10%. Your breeder should also be a good resource. I've had dogs practically my whole life, and I was SO excited waiting for Cooper to "come home"...I felt like an expectant mom!

[Chris and Greta]

We have a fenced in backyard and we checked to make sure there aren`t any gaps or holes she could crawl through. Right now I have a cat kennel carrier that goes up to about twenty pounds, but that will only work for a week or two. I`m going to get one of those wire ones so she can see out from all sides, and get that book, too. Where should we put the crate? Should she be able to see us or have her own private spot?
We picked our vet already. He said we should keep her on Wysong Growth dry mixed with a little of the canned because that is what the breeder is using now. The breeder was also referred us to a training class. On toys, he said no rawhide or pig`s ears for chew toys, so I`ll see what they have at the pet store for baby pups.
Thanks, Chris

[shybird]

Along with the crate,toys,food,dishes etc. I would also recommend that you get a doggie first aid kit. If you can't find one, put together your own. It should have a bottle of peroxid, antibactieral ointment, bandage material, rectal thermometor, vaseline, plastic eyedropper or medicine dropper. Get the poison control phone #. Check out poisonous plant list.. Puppies get in lots of things they are not suppose to even with you watching every move they make. Always better to be prepared. I hope you never need that stuff, but you will be glad you have it if an emergency happens. Good luck with your new baby.

[Carina43]

Sounds like you're getting it together, Chris! I would have the crate next to your bed. She's going to be awfully confused and lonely, and you guys are her new pack. Hard on you (she will yowl initially); easier on her. :) My dogs have always slept in my bedroom. I have a scattering of dog beds on the floor. Even foster dogs have wanted to sleep there, its that pack mentality thing.


As to toys....do a search on these forums. Quite a few folks here feed BARF and sort of follow suit with the chew toys/recreational chewies we give our dogs.

Before I brought Cooper home, I had $80.00 worth of "educational" dog toys for him. With the exception of the cheese flavoured nylabone, he ignored them all. My dogs' main chewy things are (raw) marrow & knuckle bones. For teething, towels & rags soaked, knotted & frozen solid.

I would be cautious about leaving her alone in your back yard, even with a 6' fence. Too many Bad Things & Bad People for a puppy.

Keep us updated!

[Storm]

Check out what training venues you have at your disposal as well as what experience the people have with this breed. Some may say it's just another dog however this may be true, but I have found it takes an experienced person to read the dog and act accordingly. Rotts can sometimes be so "hard" yet they can be so soft at the same time. Where are the dog's parameters? This must be understood in order to effectively train this dog appropriately. Very important, get the dog to training venues/school where the dog is socialized and taught the basics to obedience, not forgetting that this does not end with your first course but is a life time commitment. Sure some people just like a pet but I can assure you that by becoming involved with your dog in various activities or dog related events etc. not only strengthens that bond but gives the dog more of a purpose to life. Try to ensure that the puppies experiences regarding all areas are good experiences thereby not imprinting any bad experiences remembering that he is just that a puppy that needs to be shown the way, firm but fair. Do searches on nutrition, exercise, socialization, training and anything else that comes to mind thereby giving this dog the best chance at developing into a social, obedient dog. Educating oneself as much as possible is so important. A working or active Rott is a happier Rott. ;) :D

All the best.

[Carina43]

I agree with everything Storm said. Definitely take Greta to puppy kindergarden classes! If you have kids, make it a family thing. Its fun, really good for the puppy, & you can learn a lot.

And of course don't stop there...ongoing obedience is so good & important. Remember Rotties are working dogs & love to have "jobs." Even if they are silly jobs. When I come home, Cooper meets me at the gate and I give him something to take in the house (my purse, whatever) for me. He also gets the paper...we are still working on him not shredding it before I get it. :)

[spiritkdb]

Carina, here the paper probably could be shredded based on what they have to say. Mostly nothing!

Chris, crate, crate and crate. You may just want to go ahead and get a full size crate that will work through maturity. My pup went in a full size crate the day she came home at 8 weeks. We partitioned it off so she didn't have the whole use of it. I was lucky that Chelsea only cried the first two nights. Every dog is different. Definitely have the crate where you sleep. Maybe you could use the smaller crate in other rooms when you can't be watching her. Puppies love anything with your scent on them, that is why they go for the shoes, socks, undies. Try sticking one of the new toys (nylabone etc) in a shoe before she gets it. This may encourage her to chew on the toy not the other things.

Puppy classes are great. We learned bit inhibition. And you want them to learn it before their jaws have developed their strength. Socialization is also important and you will get that in class. One of the benefits of leaving the pups with their mums anywhere from 8-12 weeks is they learn some manners. The bitch teaches them what is allowed and not allowed. That is one of the reasons the breeder has you wait until they are 8 weeks.

Don't leave your furkid unattended for long periods of time, (like out in the yard). Teach it to go pottie on command, and that will quickly speed up the house breaking process. Basically with housebreaking it is: they wake up, they go outside to go pottie, they eat, they go pottie, they drink they go pottie, they play they go pottie.... Get my drift? You will have to be diligent with them until they develop some control of their bodily functions.

Rotties are such loves, they are wonderful family dogs. Your heart is going to melt when you go to pick him/her up! Do you have a name picked out? Keep us posted on the big event and the best of luck to you!

[delila]

Yeah!!! A new baby for you!!!

I am still in puppy stage and have been for the past year and a half. I got Odin back in February of 2000, then in November of 2000 I got delila, and if that were not enough - I got Laika in May 2001.

So we are very puppy oriented :)

First, buy books - and read them. Second, take a walk around the house and yard and puppy proof. Check fences, wires, anything that can be knocked over, etc...

Then - have a shopping spree at the pet store. This would be my preliminary list:
1. Puppy food
2. Paper towels (stock up :) )
3. Toys (balls, rope toy, stuffed toys)
4. "Chewies" (bones, kong)
5. Crate (a definate must have)
6. Nylon collar and leash
7. Treats (yummy :) )
8. Bowls (I prefer stainless steel 2 quart)
9. Sign up for puppy classes
10. Puppy shampoo

I know this sounds like a lot - but it really does help.

Good luck to you, and have FUN ;)

[Chris and Greta]

We bought the large wire crate and got some apple spray to put on wires so I think I`ve got everything on the list. Now we have lots of reading to do!
The trainer our breeder referred us to works mostly with rottweilers, german shepards, and dobermans. Greta won`t be able to start class until she gets her puppy shots, but the trainer gave me a pamplet with lots of tips on adjusting to coming home and beginner training information. The breeder already took the litter in for their first shots and worm check. I`m so excited! Only 2 more weeks until she comes home.

[ August 05, 2001: Message edited by: Chris and Greta ]

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by Carina43:
<STRONG> :)Get a copy of "Rottweilers For Dummies"...widely available. Read it!

:)Have everything you need...crate, chew toys, good food.

:)Prepare yourself for interrupted sleep for weeks until Greta can last all night without having to go out, & gets used to her crate.

Honestly, though...get that book and read it & refer to it often. It will answer 90% of your questions, & people here can answer the other 10%. Your breeder should also be a good resource. I've had dogs practically my whole life, and I was SO excited waiting for Cooper to "come home"...I felt like an expectant mom!</STRONG>

Yeppers - that's all great - get the book "An Idopts Guide to Rottweilers" as well....I got ALOT of odd looks @ Barnes & Noble when I bought both the Idiots Guide AND the Dummies book at the same time!! BUT - a TON of good honest info.

Talk to alot of people that have Rotts of their own, and have fun with your new family member!! Good luck!!

:D