How do you prepare for puppy??

HayleyMarie

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#1
I am trying not to get my hopes up for said puppy for this spring, but I am trying to keep positive and sending said dogs knocked up vibes ha ha

but people who are getting close to getting their puppy how did you prepare?.

I feel like I should start looking into trainers and what not, and although I have looked into trainers. I have not contacted any one yet. And even though I am not superstitious I don't want to get my hopes up. Yesh!
 

Toller_08

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#2
Well, now that I'm getting my puppy tomorrow I'm in the midst of freaking out a little haha. You'd think I'd never raised a puppy before! I worry too much. But mostly I'm freaking out about the trip, and what if the people I'm meeting and the dogs I'm meeting don't like me LOL. Not about the puppy herself so much, but she's included too.

But prior, I just made sure I knew who good trainers in the area were and once I found out I was getting a puppy I called around and got put on a list for the next set of upcoming classes so I didn't miss out. And other than that, I also have been looking for a vet who won't be annoying about my choice in vaccinations and raw feeding. But besides those two things I don't think there was a ton of preparation involved aside from buying necessary puppy essentials (toys, new leash cause there's no way puppy teeth will be touching my nice leather ones, her own food dish, a crate, chews, bones, etc.). Mostly just mental preparation I suppose, since I know for the next little while life's routines are going to be a little different/not as smooth as it was with just three adult dogs.
 

Red.Apricot

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#3
I did a whole lot of reading, but honestly didn't really do much legwork until the puppy was home. I didn't even buy food till she got here (but she was sent home with a huge tub of kibble, so that wasn't a big deal). I think I got some toys and a crate, and maybe her food dishes first, and that was it. And a bed. And clickers. Other than that...

I'd start researching trainers/facilities, but even if you want to do obedience, you're not going to really start classes for that for a few months, probably. So right now you'd most likely just want to figure out good puppy classes, I'd imagine.
 

BlackPuppy

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#4
I belong to an AKC obedience/agility training club, I'm there often, so I don't have to worry about training. Got it covered with building access and $25 classes. At 12 weeks puppy kindergarten, and at 6 months basic obedience class. Which is sometimes repeated 6 months later. Since I've been through this 4 times now, I pretty much train alone and use the class as distraction time.

For the first 2 days I put an air mattress on the living room floor near the crate. The next couple of days I sleep on the sofa with the crate at the other side of the room. If all goes well, the crate can go into the bedroom. If it doesn't go so well, like with my last puppy, I have a leash tied to the bed leg for the puppy. Yes, he was a problem, but thankfully was not a chewer.

My puppies eat the same food as my other dogs. High quality kibble with raw additions.

For equipment, I have a rack in the garage with all sizes of collars and leashes.

Even before the puppy comes home I have a vet appointment set up for the first day or two the puppy is home.

This is where I train. Membership is $50 a year and classes are $25 for 7 weeks. http://qcdtc.org/location.html Having herding breeds requires training, and sometimes I do obedience, and sometimes agility. There's always something interesting to do.
 

smkie

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#5
Everything goes up. I get a tube or two of green apple gel to put on what I dont' want chewed on..bitter apple. THe gel not the spray. For what can't be unplugged, and those areas are blocked. A safe room is set up because I have never used a crate. A timer for reminder for getting out before the fact. The timer goes with whomever is in charge of puppy. Chews, and suitable toys are liberally placed. CAmera battery is charged. Memory cleared. You have no idea how I envy you.

I also set up a baby sitter..but that is just me. I dont' like leaving them alone for any length of time. I like baby sitters. THey have to know too how to do the puppy shuffle..and have puppy safe areas or someone willing to be in "charge" of puppy. ONly two people in the wolrd I trust for that job, and one of them dear GG can;t see anymore so she is no longer able to share in the raising. SHe has certainly helped a lot in the past.
 

Oko

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#6
I am trying not to get my hopes up for said puppy for this spring, but I am trying to keep positive and sending said dogs knocked up vibes ha ha
No real advice, but that made me laugh because this is pretty much my current state. Except these 'get knocked up' vibes of mine are a little early...can't hurt, right?
 

meepitsmeagan

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#7
"Get knocked up" vibes are better than "pass your health test" ones!

In all seriousness, pretty much what you have listed. I also tend to talk to my fellow dog buddies with confident, healthy, and nice dogs to start socialization with. Most of the time you can find loads of people to socialize with, but finding dogs that instill the proper way to greet and act around other dogs outside your own pack is not as easy.

Erm, crate. Kongs if you don't have them. Antibacterial cream and band-aids for puppy antic injuries.
 

Fran101

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#8
*SPRING PUPPY VIBES*

My puppy process so far

Right after puppies were born

- buy big/basic/boring items from large online store (I did dog.com, petedge is good too as is amazon): Crate, leash, DE, long lead, basic collar, toy box, dog food container, bowls, bowl mat, grooming brushes, shampoo etc..

- Email trainers/training schools. Find out methodologies, prices, class times, times, class types etc.. try and go visit and check the places out

- Start checking out vets on yelp.

- Start reading training books and making a plan on how/what you are going to train and when

Puppies 4 weeks or so
by this time you know one of them is going to be yours for sure for sure (I am paranoid on very young puppy health and crisis but after 4 weeks they are basically sure things) although not sure which one yet

- call favorite training school, sign up for puppy class

- start puppy binder.
(buy binder with clear plastic front. buy hole punch and some dividers) Make section for vax records, pedigree, emergency info, feeding info, emergency contacts, emergency vet etc... basically one big place in case there is ever an emergency or someone needs to dog-sit)

- Call a top rated vets and talk.. find someone willing to work with me on minimal vax etc.. and finally make puppy's first vet appointment


8 weeks

- Puppy proof the crap out of my apartment

- Start filing apartment documents and make appointment for puppy to meet with management. Deal with paperwork.

- Shop for general/more fun items: crate cover, clickers, treat jar, blankets

9 weeks
by this time I knew which puppy was mine so

- Buy collar

- Buy general non-fun toys, I don't know why I waited this long lol weird paranoia about toys I guess but (kongs, balls, chews etc..) I try to save stuffies for when puppy arrives.

- Buy dog food

- Review training plan

- Decorate puppy binder! Start putting birth date, decorate cover, pictures of puppy's parents, liter-mates etc..

- Hang up puppy door bell

- give the apartment one more GOOD scrub using cleaning products I will not be allowed to use once puppy arrives lol clorox, sanitizer, etc..

- Pack bag to go pick up puppy lol which is where I am right now.

Once he gets here

- Let him get settled, start feeding schedule and housebreaking schedule..snuggle.

- Take 1000 pictures

- Start teaching him his name lol

- Training and socializing trips I have planned (work, the mall, the park, etc..)

- Take him to go pick out some stuffie toys

- Take him to go buy his first tag. (It's a weird tradition I have)

- Take our picture together for the binder. Decorate with his name
 

Laurelin

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#9
I pretty much just wing it. :p

No really.

This time around (and pup is 2 years out still if all goes to plan we're looking at 2014/early 2015 depending on if the health tests go well and breeding takes, etc) but I have classes figured out for all sports I want to be involved in. I've picked places I definitely want to take pup to to socialize. I already have a crate for the size of dog I want and I have a puppy crate too. I'll probably buy a few toys since he/she will need different sized toys from the girls. I'd also like to buy a 5 x 4 run thing to use indoors.

Other than that... not much. A collar and leash too. For as much of an over-planner as I can be, I'm pretty laid back when it comes to puppies and puppy raising. My main goal is to drag the puppy around with me as much as possible and start laying some basic foundation work. And then build tug and toy drive.

I figure every pup will throw you a wrench and there's no way to predict it/prepare for it. Might as well just enjoy the ride.
 

Fran101

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#11
Lol my perfect little plan is so well organized and has gone off without a hitch so far!
Now just wait til he actually gets here lol I bet it's gonna be a total mess.
 

Laurelin

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#12
My plan with Mia went great until I got out of the breeder's driveway and she started screaming and puking for 6 hours straight.
 

PWCorgi

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#13
My preparation for jackiepup is basically a whole crapton of work with Frodo.
I have a list of things that I want to accomplish with him before she comes home. Some things are simple (we started having him eat in his crate again since he can be a jerkwad about food) and others are going to be more time consuming and include actual training (him staying behind a barrier when we leave, him getting left behind while I take other dogs outside, etc.)


My plan with Mia went great until I got out of the breeder's driveway and she started screaming and puking for 6 hours straight.
:rofl1::rofl1::rofl1:
 

Southpaw

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#15
Prepare? What's that??

With Juno, I pretty much paid no attention to the fact that I was getting a puppy, until the day that I brought her home. I mean, I bought toys for her. I read lots of puppy books mostly just because I wanted to - but I thought I knew everything LOL. It was just at the last minute that I had my little freak out because I realized my schedule and routine was going to be thrown off (but I severely underestimated HOW MUCH it would be thrown off lol).

And I can't imagine I'll do it any differently next time lol. Except I might have puppy classes lined up.
 

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