New Puppy

[Msdunny]

Our family is getting a new puppy today after the littles leave for the weekend. For those of you who have added a puppy to your mix, what advice can you share? I am starting to get nervous about the added work.

Thankfully, right now I only have 3 full-time kids enrolled, so that will help.

[Meeko]

Socialize. Socialize. Socialize.

Take puppy (when adequately immunized) anywhere you can. Pet store, park, Home Depot, show and tell at school.......the more times and places the merrier. The more people the better. Let people touch and talk to the puppy.

I used to take my 200 pound Newfoundland to the high school football games. Screaming fans, strangers coming up to him. Small kids hugging his neck. Nothing phased him because he was so used to it. I took him from the time he was little (OK...so he was never little...26 pounds at 6 wks old)) He amazed everyone by sitting in a huge crowd watching 4th July fireworks one year. Never even flinched at the explosions.

The more they accept that pretty much everything and everyone is OK.....life is very easy.

We now have a Westie who is happiness personified. I think it's because he is extremely well socialized.

But I sure miss my big baby lovethis

[Familycare71]

Socialize. Socialize. Socialize.

Take puppy (when adequately immunized) anywhere you can. Pet store, park, Home Depot, show and tell at school.......the more times and places the merrier. The more people the better. Let people touch and talk to the puppy.

I used to take my 200 pound Newfoundland to the high school football games. Screaming fans, strangers coming up to him. Small kids hugging his neck. Nothing phased him because he was so used to it. I took him from the time he was little (OK...so he was never little...26 pounds at 6 wks old)) He amazed everyone by sitting in a huge crowd watching 4th July fireworks one year. Never even flinched at the explosions.

The more they accept that pretty much everything and everyone is OK.....life is very easy.

We now have a Westie who is happiness personified. I think it's because he is extremely well socialized.

But I sure miss my big baby lovethis

Awe! He is beautiful! lovethis.
Very good advice!!

[WImom]

I agree socialize as much as you can. Crate training is a life saver with a daycare. My puppy is 6 months old now and loves her crate. She is in there most of the day once the kids leave for school. She comes out while I make lunch and then back in until the kids get home from school.

I don't let the puppy out with the kids...now my 6 month old puppy is 75lbs so that's another reason other than I didn't want her to nip or get overly excited. She naps most of the day anyways.

[WImom]

Socialize. Socialize. Socialize.

Take puppy (when adequately immunized) anywhere you can. Pet store, park, Home Depot, show and tell at school.......the more times and places the merrier. The more people the better. Let people touch and talk to the puppy.

I used to take my 200 pound Newfoundland to the high school football games. Screaming fans, strangers coming up to him. Small kids hugging his neck. Nothing phased him because he was so used to it. I took him from the time he was little (OK...so he was never little...26 pounds at 6 wks old)) He amazed everyone by sitting in a huge crowd watching 4th July fireworks one year. Never even flinched at the explosions.

The more they accept that pretty much everything and everyone is OK.....life is very easy.

We now have a Westie who is happiness personified. I think it's because he is extremely well socialized.

But I sure miss my big baby lovethis

Awe what a cutie!!

[missheather]

socialize. Socialize. Socialize.

Take puppy (when adequately immunized) anywhere you can. Pet store, park, home depot, show and tell at school.......the more times and places the merrier. The more people the better. Let people touch and talk to the puppy.

I used to take my 200 pound newfoundland to the high school football games. Screaming fans, strangers coming up to him. Small kids hugging his neck. Nothing phased him because he was so used to it. I took him from the time he was little (ok...so he was never little...26 pounds at 6 wks old)) he amazed everyone by sitting in a huge crowd watching 4th july fireworks one year. Never even flinched at the explosions.

The more they accept that pretty much everything and everyone is ok.....life is very easy.

We now have a westie who is happiness personified. I think it's because he is extremely well socialized.

But i sure miss my big baby lovethis

beautiful dog!!

[SilverSabre25]

I need to keep my eye on this, because while we don't want a puppy, i do want to get us a fairly young dog sometime in the not-too-terribly-distant future. I so SO wish I could get one RIGHT NOW because there's this
gorgeous love at one of our local shelters right now. I LOVE that it says she's good with kids of all ages...they don't say that often. And she smallish, and so pretty...but we're not quite ready.

But I want a doggy. I want dog. I want someone to clean up the food off the floor under the table where the kids eat (:.

[Familycare71]

I need to keep my eye on this, because while we don't want a puppy, i do want to get us a fairly young dog sometime in the not-too-terribly-distant future. I so SO wish I could get one RIGHT NOW because there's this
gorgeous love at one of our local shelters right now. I LOVE that it says she's good with kids of all ages...they don't say that often. And she smallish, and so pretty...but we're not quite ready.

But I want a doggy. I want dog. I want someone to clean up the food off the floor under the table where the kids eat (:.

Awe! Getting a dog is sort of like deciding to get prego... One is never fully ready!!

[kathiemarie]

I agree with socialize, socialize, socialize and teaching the DCkids to be nice and to leave the dog alone when he is done playing.

We have a ****er and he is great with the kids BUT the kids can some times bug him and he will then give a warning growl. The kids know that is when they have to leave him alone. I tell the kids that Jack can't talk so when he growls that is his way of saying he is done playing and they have to leave him alone. We have had him 6 years and never have had a problem.

[SilverSabre25]

Then I searched the shelter for "good with all ages" and found THIS lovely doggy and fell in love. Thanks, daycare.com forum! :::: I actually emailed them abuot her (the not good with cats is a big concern since I have some) and asked DH why he insists we can't afford a dog right now. he admitted that we probably can.

I might be getting a dog this weekend...

[Familycare71]

Then I searched the shelter for "good with all ages" and found THIS lovely doggy and fell in love. Thanks, daycare.com forum! :::: I actually emailed them abuot her (the not good with cats is a big concern since I have some) and asked DH why he insists we can't afford a dog right now. he admitted that we probably can.

I might be getting a dog this weekend...

happyface happyface

Sweet pup!
Just make sure you get some solid answers on the cat issue- bully breeds can have a high prey drive that is really not "fixable" - it is in their nature
Also - understand this dog is high energy! I used to foster and place dogs. They use a lot of key high energy words. So just make sure a dog that NEEDS daily exercise would fit into your life and family-
If you have any questions feel free to ask! I think it's awesome you want to adopt and I really believe every home is better with a dog

[Familycare71]

happyface happyface

Sweet pup!
Just make sure you get some solid answers on the cat issue- bully breeds can have a high prey drive that is really not "fixable" - it is in their nature
Also - understand this dog is high energy! I used to foster and place dogs. They use a lot of key high energy words. So just make sure a dog that NEEDS daily exercise would fit into your life and family-
If you have any questions feel free to ask! I think it's awesome you want to adopt and I really believe every home is better with a dog

And just FYI- larger black dogs have the lowest adoption rate... So it would be awesome if she fit with you and your fam!

[SilverSabre25]

happyface happyface

Sweet pup!
Just make sure you get some solid answers on the cat issue- bully breeds can have a high prey drive that is really not "fixable" - it is in their nature
Also - understand this dog is high energy! I used to foster and place dogs. They use a lot of key high energy words. So just make sure a dog that NEEDS daily exercise would fit into your life and family-
If you have any questions feel free to ask! I think it's awesome you want to adopt and I really believe every home is better with a dog

Oh yeah I know about the engery. We have a nice sized fenced yard and a toddler boy who would LOVE someone who's not going to get tired before he does, . I actually want a high energy dog to encourage us all to get outside more and be more active. We also have a perfect "nook" in our yard to train a dog to only go potty over there (it's currently weedy and overgrown because it's useless; little space between the fence and our shed). I've been wondering what to do with it, and this seems like a great solution.

And I emailed them about the cat issue. That's the problem. I asked if it's something they think she will settle down once she lives with them. They are indoor/outdoor so not around all the time, and are already used to "hiding" much of the day from the chaos of the daycare.

I grew up with a variety of high energy dogs (one being a border collie mix, the other a chow/golden mix) so I'm used to the energy.

[Familycare71]

Oh yeah I know about the engery. We have a nice sized fenced yard and a toddler boy who would LOVE someone who's not going to get tired before he does, . I actually want a high energy dog to encourage us all to get outside more and be more active. We also have a perfect "nook" in our yard to train a dog to only go potty over there (it's currently weedy and overgrown because it's useless; little space between the fence and our shed). I've been wondering what to do with it, and this seems like a great solution.

And I emailed them about the cat issue. That's the problem. I asked if it's something they think she will settle down once she lives with them. They are indoor/outdoor so not around all the time, and are already used to "hiding" much of the day from the chaos of the daycare.

I grew up with a variety of high energy dogs (one being a border collie mix, the other a chow/golden mix) so I'm used to the energy.

If the cat part works it sounds like it would be a great fit!! happyface

I just always worry about people not getting the right fit for their family- I'm glad you know what your looking for! Keep me posted please. I'm excited for you!

[SilverSabre25]

If the cat part works it sounds like it would be a great fit!! happyface

I just always worry about people not getting the right fit for their family- I'm glad you know what your looking for! Keep me posted please. I'm excited for you!

I've been worrying about getting the right fit, too, which is why we don't have doggy yet, haha! I know it's important to have a good fit. I will definitely keep you posted. I'm excited too.