Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 2:48 pm Post subject: Days to go...until the puppy arrives...
With just about two weeks until the new puppy (named Mahsa) - a Choc Lab arrives here, preparations are well under way to make ready!
The sorting out of the 'back room' (a store room about 8' x 3') that leads off from the kitchen is going well. Today I fixed a stair gate to the inside walls, and last night I ordered a nice fabric crate for the pup. My girlfriend (soon to be wife(!) came home with a medium sized dog bed for her and a fleecy throw to pad the crate out with.
I also invested in some toys - an elastic tugger and a tennis ball on a loop of rope. Do people have any other recommendations?
Also I saw a big pack of puppy pads in TKMaxx (of all places!) for just £6. So I bought them. Do experienced owners recommend using these?
The aim of the room is to give Mahsa somewhere to go to get away from the little-one (nearly 3 years old!) and somewhere safe for her to be kept when we go out...She arrives on the 22nd and we are going out for Xmas day lunch! So who'll need to be kept somewhere safe until we get back.
Finally, next weekend we are going to see her again and take over a blanket for the breeder to keep in with her and the mum/ other pups. I am thinking this is a good idea.
Final question: IS there anything we have missed? Anything anyone recommends that they have done extra?
You must be very excited awaiting the arrival of Masha not long to go now. First of all throw the puppy pads away (you have only wasted £6 ) You want to teach her to wee and poo outside so if she went on the puppy pads you are teaching her to go inside. It is hardwork at first but keep vigilant and take her out after eating playing waking etc and she will soon get the idea.
Cardboard boxes are great toys and she will enjoy shredding them
Charlie my lab arrived home on at 8 weeks old on Dec 23rd and she certainly made our Christmas very eventful
Make sure you have the camera charged and ready to take lots of photos for us.
Enjoy her when she is little as they dont stay little for long
You need to be aware that puppies bite and chew a lot so your fabric crate and dog bed may well suffer a bit of damage. Most people use a metal crate as they stand up to puppy teeth a lot better - is it too late to change your mind? A few pieces of vetbed fleece make good bedding as you can wash and dry them easily and they stand up to a fair bit of chewing.
As above with the puppy pads, there's not much point teaching your pup to go on a pad inside the house if you really want it to learn to go outside. Some people have success with gradually moving the puppy pad nearer the door then outside but it is far easier just to start as you mean to go on and take the pup outside each time. Generally, house training is only as successful as the effort you put in - if you're lazy, then the pup will be too but the more effort you make the easier it will be (as hard as it is at 2am on a winter morning in the rain/snow).
You could do with a couple of toys that you can leave with your pup. I would be a bit wary about leaving the tennis ball on a rope because in my experience the balls come apart quite easily, but that is a good toy to play with a puppy. A puppy teething toy would be good and Kongs are always worth buying (go for a large, red Kong Classic - don't bother with puppy ones). Puppy nylabones are good too but as the pup's teeth develop you will need to supervise chewing and change the puppy one for an adult one as soon as she is able to bite lumps off.
A good reference book is worth having. Gwen Bailey's Perfect Puppy contains a lot of useful information and is easy reading without being too patronising.
Most of all, enjoy your new puppy, they grow up far too quickly.
First of all, if you're able to cancel the order for the fabric crate then I would do if I was you. A puppy can make short work of demolishing one and a metal one will be far more suitable (I only use a soft crate for at shows). Not only that, if she pees in it (or worse ) you'll have to find a way of washing it
Kongs are a great idea for keeping puppies amused and can be filled with all sorts of things. If you give them to your puppy frozen they last much longer Something like a Nyla bone for teething would be a good buy. Some toys are only really safe under supervision so be careful of any that your puppy will be able to pull apart as she might swallow pieces.
I've never used pads for any of my puppies, but that's my personal choice. I think that they can give mixed messages to the puppy and it's far better to start as you mean to go on by taking the puppy out as soon as she wakes, has eaten or simply looks as though she might need to go - you'll soon recognise her body language. At night I put newspaper in half of the crate and vetbed in the other half so that if the puppy gets desperate (be prepared to get up during the night initially) she won't soil her bedding. Maybe you can use the puppy pads that way.
Getting a puppy just before Christmas is a difficult time but perfectly manageable with a bit of planning. Don't forget that she's going to be on 4 meals a day when you get her, so you'll need to work round that, particularly on Christmas Day when you go out for your meal.
Taking a blanket for her breeder to keep in with mum and the litter is a good idea. I give my puppy buyers a piece of vetbed mine have slept on so there's the familiar smell for the puppy in it's new home, perhaps Mahsa's breeder will do the same.
Make sure you have a working torch for those night time toilet trips in the garden.
Youll need a collar, lead and tag for her collar. DON'T put her name on the tag, only your own, along with your address (I put house number and road and postcode) and a contact phone number. The breeder should give you some food to keep her going for the first few days but check on the brand so you can get some more.
You'll need to think about how you'll transport her in the car. Even puppies need to be secured in the car, for their own safety as well as yours. If both of you are going to collect her then the passenger will be able to hold her (bet you'll be fighting for who does that ) Take an old towel for underneath her in case of any accidents, as well as some kitchen roll in case she's sick - and a plastic bag to put any soiled paper in. A crate or dog guard are great for securing dogs in cars, or you could use a harness when she gets older (although you could buy a small one to fit her in the early months she's far too likely to chew through it).
Look around your house for potential dangers such as trailing wires she can chew through. A Christmas tree and decorations will be very tempting for her, not to mention any presents under the tree. Remember how you moved things out of reach of your toddler? Do the same for your puppy.
I think getting a new puppy is second only to having a new baby and so exciting.
____________ Lynda x
Emily, Poppy, Maisie, Phoebe, Martha, Will, Ned and Isis
Aw so exciting
Can't think of much else that hasn't already been said? Kongs, cardboard boxes, my two have always loved carrots as a treat fresh or frozen,
I did buy a large fabric pen for Bea but she chewed her way out after the first week!! I then bought a large metal crate, plenty of room for a quickly growing pup and you can fit lots of vet bedding in it to make it comfy.
Get ready for a lack of sleep for a couple of days Make sure you get plenty of photos and cuddles before she gets too big
I miss being able to scoop my two up and give them a good snuggle I tend to get flattened by them these days when they want a snuggle
enjoy
I bet you can't wait, purely through circumstances i have had every 1 of my previous labs at christmas, all born in september or october and 1 rescued at christmas. for me, every 1 has made it, the perfect christmas.
Agree with the others about the puppy pads, i also have £6 worth from 1 year ago, never used after advise on here, you could have had them for free.
Looking forward to pictures of Mahsa. Happy Christmas.
Gary and Toby.
I thought the Metal crate was a little...HARSH...to be honest, but I am happy with my decision for the moment.
Agreed on the Puppy Pads, bought them more for in the bottom of the crate than anything else. Was panning on being very...ahem...anal about toilet/house training. Lots of trips outside! It's an excuse to get a whiff of fresh air at Christmas time isn't it?
Looking at Nylabones now...Thanks for the steer on that one, and I already have the Perfect Puppy by Gewn Bailey - although I have only skimmed the first chapter so far...
Thanks for all the advice so far. Will be certain to take lots of pictures. What's the point in having a puppy if you don't take loads of pics of her!
Puppy pads are great for soaking up water bowl spillages, mopping up puddles pup may leave on the floor and for soaking up the wet off of wet paws and shoes when you come in from the garden in my experience! I take them camping with me to help dry out the water in my tent!
Do read the whole of the Perfect Puppy and only go for adult nylabone in my experience - Luna was able to eat chunks of the puppy nylabones. Kongs are great!
Keep all old blankets and towels from now on as they are invaluable in the car and by the entry to the house. I used old flannels and tea towels wet, twisted and frozen to help with chewing urge especially when teething.
I have a 15 week old puppy and she chews everything - I have a fabric crate for travelling in the car. If I was to leave her in a fabric crate in the house for any length of time it would be destroyed - just a word of warning
Nothing harsh about the metal crates Alex, its how they are used by some that may be harsh.
CJ has had his since I`ve had him and always uses it, he`ll even go in in the evenings sometimes even though there`s a chair and sofa in the living room he can use.
He always has a bono if I`m going out and gets small biccies at bedtime, this has probably had a lot to do with his love of the crate , its a nice place to go because he gets treats when he`s in there
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Days to go...until the puppy arrives...
not long to go now. First of all throw the puppy pads away (you have only wasted £6 
) You want to teach her to wee and poo outside so if she went on the puppy pads you are teaching her to go inside. It is hardwork at first but keep vigilant and take her out after eating playing waking etc and she will soon get the idea.
) you'll have to find a way of washing it
Something like a Nyla bone for teething would be a good buy. Some toys are only really safe under supervision so be careful of any that your puppy will be able to pull apart as she might swallow pieces.
) Take an old towel for underneath her in case of any accidents, as well as some kitchen roll in case she's sick - and a plastic bag to put any soiled paper in. A crate or dog guard are great for securing dogs in cars, or you could use a harness when she gets older (although you could buy a small one to fit her in the early months she's far too likely to chew through it).
I tend to get flattened by them these days when they want a snuggle 
