Caring with clear leadership
WEEK 5-8Get your house ready for the pup
Decide where you want the puppy to live, inside or outside, are there places where the puppy is not allowed to go.
Set the rules up from the start and organise the house so the puppy can never make a mistake.
Child proof gates are great for restricting access around the house. Make sure the locking mechanism is easy to open and close with one hand.
We wanted to keep Wilbur in our family room with polished floors so if he accidentally went to the toilet it would be easy to clean up.
Put temptation like shoes out of the pup’s reach.
Smelly things like shoes, socks and other unmentionables are all fascinating to a curious young dog.
We forgot all about wires and power cords around the house. Wilbur found these in 5 minutes of arriving at his new home. Follow the pup around for the first hour or two of exploration and you will discover things you have missed. Continue watching as the pup explores the new environment.
I built gates to stop Wilbur going into the Garage area where cars are moving and garden fertiliser and chemicals are stored. Thinking ahead can avoid damage, I know of one pup who destroyed a $4000 watering system in an afternoon.
A doggy toilet made out of a seedling tray and a sod of turf is also a great idea. Dog’s tend to choose an initial substrate to eliminate on and will then prefer to return to that material. We wanted Wilbur to go to the toilet on the lawn and so that is why we used turf.
He could relieve himself if he was restricted around the house. We could move it inside into his puppy pen at night if needed.
We got a travel crate for the trip from the breeder to his new home. The attached water bowl is a great idea because the pup can’t knock it over.
The puppy pen was invaluable for restricting Wilbur when we were too busy to keep an eye on him. A puppy can get into trouble in a matter of moments. It is also handy if you are going visiting.
A trampoline bed is also cool for hot summer days, won’t get smelly, harbour fleas and is easy to keep clean.
Wilbur will eventually spend a lot of time outside in the garden so we also have an all weather kennel. We have positioned it so that it is under cover and is shady in the heat of summer. A bowl of fresh, clean water is always nearby. Notice that the dish is nice and heavy so he can’t knock it over.
You will also need to have toy’s to keep the puppy busy. Puppies chew a LOT and so good solid chew toys, ropes and squeakies will help keep them occupied and out of trouble. Putting dinner in a chew toy can keep the pup occupied if you are leaving him in a pen or a crate.
Dog Toys
Come in all shapes and sizes and are a great way to keep your dog entertained.
Many problems arise when the dog is bored and good toys can stop them from becoming bored. Some toys might seem expensive, however a good toy will be durable and will seem cheap next to a chewed couch!
I look for a solid toy especially if you have a chewer. I prefer rubber toys because if a piece is chewed off it passses through the dogs gut more easily than plastic or string.
Stuff food into the toy to make it more interesting for the dog. I try to make it as difficult as possible to challenge the dog and keep them busy.
Bounce adds a lot more fun for the dog and can be used in the park if they like to chase things. Be careful that while the pup’s bones are developing they don’t leap,twist or jump too much. They can easily damaged their growing bodies.
Squeaky toys are great for some dogs but others will destroy them in seconds (including our dog Mildred).
Soft Toys
We chose the number of soft toys for Wilbur. Some Toys he has played with for many months without damaging. However, others he has destroyed in a matter of minutes.
The common element I have noticed each of the toys is that if they are soft all over he tends to be more gentle with them. His green flea has lasted since he was a little puppy.
If the toys are soft and hard, like the Wubba, he tends to want to dissect them straightaway.
Dragon is quite soft in the body however you can see on his nose Wilbur pulled it apart and pulled the stuffing out. The nose was the firmest part of the toy.
Similarly, shark was pulled apart at the mouth where it was quite firm. Once he started pulling the toys apart I removed them so he he wouldn’t ingest the soft fibrous material.
Soft toys can be very expensive, choose the toy’s wisely and you will save yourself a lot of money. Wilbur’s Flea is the winner in the durability stakes.
Following is Wilbur’s First Day...