New Puppy Advice please!!!

[blossom]

Hiya

We're getting our new puppy next week and we're all so excited we could burst!! She's a Shih-Tzu and she'll be 7 weeks when she arrives.

Any tips on house training? Also I've heard its a good idea to get a crate/cage but not sure how this works? Is it just for when you can't be with them 100% so they don't come to any harm or do they come to regard it as their forever home? I'd sooner just have a bed for her I think, but then I can see the advantages but don't like the idea of shutting her in.

Also the nights . . . any tips? Where should she sleep? What to do when she cries? It'll be like having a baby again . . . do you leave them or do you go . . . (I went every time and they had me running round like a headless chicken lol)

In fact any advice WHATSOEVER will be hugely appreciated!! :hug::hug:


Oh yes edited to add: how much are the jabs and how many??? Thanks all

 

[cazjp69]

With my bull terriers when we have been house training them everytime they have woken from a sleep I have taken them out. Spike now barks to go out. Because of the size of my bull terriers they are crated and they go in the crates when we are not in and at night. We don't let them sleep with us or there would be no room left in bed . Your breeder should send you home with some blanket or fleece which your pup has slept on which will have familiar smells to help her settle. My breeder also sent with mine their fav toy as well to help them settle in even better.

 

[tonilee]

Welcome to the pooch club!! We have a Lhasa Apso called Butch and a Labrador called Benson....very cute!

My ultimate advice would be get a dog crate!! The may appear to look mean but they are lifesavers!! The dog wont see it as anything bad and its their little safe haven, thier bed and resting place.....if you get one just leave the door open and allow the dog to get used to it and go into it in its own time put a comfy blankie in and a few chews as well as a little bowl of water. Eventually the dog will recognise the crate as "his/her" place to go at bedtime or when your going out etc and believe me it saves a lot of money and stress when you go out as you dont have to worry about chewing or pooping in the house (they wont mess in thier own beds/crates)

Get a good dry dog food and dont get into the habit of feeding titbits.....for a ****zuh I would also recommend finding a good and reasonable groomer, our Lhasa gets groomed every 6 weeks, if we leave it too long he gets a bit depressed as he cant see out of his hairy eyes!!! :lol:

Also take food off your dog every now and then to remind them of order of pack, you will always be top dog (no disrepect obviously I know your not a dog!!:lol and top dog can take food off the other dogs and get into their beds and so forth.....it halts and snarling off the dog when you try to go near it when its eating which can often happen if you dont establish the pack leader thing...

Hth

 

[Susie H]

Sound advise from Toni:hug:
Trixie had a crate and that went into our bedroom at night so she was with us, could hear us and didn't think she'd been abandoned, and when we went out she was in her place that to her was her safe place.
Also until house trained it stopped us getting out of bed and standing in anything:Scared:
We got her those training pads and she did use them, they are impregnated with something that to a dog smells like somewhere they want to do their toilet on.
Now of course she sleeps on the bed, climbs on the furniture, is generally spoiled rotten and allowed to do all the things we never let the GSD's do :lol:
Very important about the groomers too, and daily brushing, if you don't they can very quickly develop mats in their coats which can twist so tight that they tear the skin.
I trust we are going to see lots of photo's for us all to coo over:green:

 

[Teebster]

We have two long haired chihauhaus who are a year old and the crate is a good idea and they actually like having a place of their own, but I opted for a puppy play pen in hot pink from pet planet. The same idea and it gives them time out to sleep which helps and when you wake them up, put them straight out and they will get use to doing thier business outside not in (well thats the idea anyway) lol - it took a while. Also I found puppy training pads are a good idea as long as you take them away during the day when you are around, start by puting them outside the door they go out of to do their thing then gradually take them away for good or just for when you are out.

I have to be honest it did not find it easy to start with but it did get easier especially when they go down to one meal a day as they get older as you can give it to them in the morning and then put them out and they get the idea of what to do. Have fun xxx

 

[cherryplum]

Hiya, My sister works in a vet’s and from experience defiantly get the pup insured! If the puppy cries, reassure it but don’t run every time as it will expect love on demand. One thing that made my riley calm down and feel secure was a soft toy to cuddle up to in his bed. A crate can be a good idea, but I’ve also found it to be a bad experience for any dog, they may feel as if it is a punishment as there boxed into a small space rather than for there own good. Perhaps get a baby gate on the kitchen door and set up a bed in there, I’ve seen so many dogs that are boxed in on a regular basis and when they get let out they are more hyper than any normal dog who is allowed to move around – a dog has so much energy to burn off every day, and if its boxed in all its going to do is feel frustrated and that’s when it will start taking it out on the furniture, as long as there well cared for and trained correctly there isn’t really any need for a crate. Make sure you investigate your vet’s practise you go to first – horror stories! But I won’t go there….they’ll be able to give you advice on jabs how often etc.
Good luck with puppy. x

 

[Kim Lawless]

I have a Shi Tzu.....Riley, the son I never had. He's 12yrs old and we've had him from 8 weeks. My daughter and I worship him and although he is well behaved, he can at times rule the roost.

I would say, start as you mean to go on and train her and don't be weak or they'll walk all over you. Gorgeous though and a lovely breed. You know they don't moult? xxx

 

[Jaffacake]

I'm a pro crate person too! Got two alaskan Malamutes and wouldnt be without our crates :green: They dont see them as punishment places unless they have been put in them for time out when they will whine to come out but if you give them treats, toys etc and make them positive places to go not just they naughty corner they will know the difference.

My new puppy ate a sock and had to have it removed with a big operation at the vets at 6 months old, cost over 1300 pounds!! good thing we had pet insurance! That is another reason we crate her when we are out as she will eat EVERYTHING!! tried leaving her behind a baby gate in the hall, she ate the stair carpet and the wood underneath! it is for her own good that we crate her. If you use a crate from day one they will see it as their own little sanctuary. She kicked up a fuss for the first couple of weeks and screamed to come out but she soon got used to it and now goes and gets in it even when she is not told to, she loves her crate.

Agree with taking them outside as soon as they wake up for toilet training, dont come in until they perform then treat and make a big fuss of them! I would also take them outside after eating and playing as this is when they are most likely to need to go.

I'd get it used to having nails clipped, being brushed, teeth checked etc all from an early age and do it regularly. Also a good idea to carry them down the town centre too for socialisation even if they havent had the jabs, they will get used to all sorts, people, pushchairs, people in wheelchairs, children, noise, carrier bags.... the list is endless.

Good luck, and compared to a Malamute it will be a walk in the park! :green:

 

[sknight]

I have a shih tzu too and the advice above is great. Grooming is so important with these dogs as their fur is a little different. Also a professional groomer will be able to deal with their ear hair etc which needs attention time to time.

Here are a few useful links

Dog Owner's Guide: Housetraining
House Training a Dog, Dog Training and Puppy Training by Perfect Paws
house training a Shih Tzu puppy
Welcome to the Shih Tzu Club

Hope that helps. Any chance of a pic when you get it?

 

[Tracey Roberts]

I've got an english bull mastiff x rottweiller, we had him at 6 weeks old as he was weaned, and his mom couldn't take much more, bless her.
I got the biggest basket in the shop lol, and had the blanket that his parents and siblings slept on, so he had reasurance from smells.

We were really really lucky that he settled in so easy and quick, no crying after we had him for his parents, as for toilet training, weve just got tiles down in the hall and kitchen, which is his space, stairgates are on living room and bottom of stairs, and we used to just have newspaper on the floors for accidents, we tried putting him outside as much as possible, and by the time he reached 3/4 months he was dry at night and crys at the door to go out, ( including at 3 in the morning :lol.

They are like babies :hug:

Just put some pics of my baby on arh x

He's so adorable, and the only problems I've had from him when he was very young, was keep picking up peebles/grit, oh chewing the plaster on the wall too, but he's grown out of that now.

get yourself some good reading material, and maybe basic training, when he's old enough, its good for them and the trainers tips are great.

Good luck with your new baby :hug:

 

[Missy G]

Id strongly advise as already mentioned to get a crate, I used to think it was cruel to keep them in one and didnt bother.I used to come home from work, she was kept in the kitchen, skirting boards chewed ,walls ,doors and when she got taller she was chewing anything left on the worktop.Obviously if we had a crate this would of been prevented.There also good for getting them to learn to hold themselves as they dont like soiling in their own area, and there also gett accustomed to it and see it as their little safety zone.

As for toilet training we are fortunate to have laminated flooring throughout , so accidents werent too bad to clean up,but as mentioned before , take them to a spot out the back , regularly after eating and sleeping and play and treat and fuss them when theyve done their buisness.

Yes it will be like having a baby ,they will cry at night for a while, but if I remember rightly this didnt go on for too long,try to ignore some of it , its acceptable to let them out to to loo you may have to do this for a while, but dont make a fuss!! And always start as you mean to go on,teach them every thing early as poss ,sometimes its so easy as a little pup to have it sat on your lap giving cuddles,we tried not to do this much as she is now 5 stone so you can understand why I never started letting her sit on my lap at an early stage.

Lastly take them to puppy classes, once all vacs are up to scratch , it does them good socialising and the training will be good for you..and dont forget to take some headache tabs with you, it can get very noisy.

Just be warned they will have a chew at everything if not supervised , my culprets were the hoover wire,my purse,lead to the water feature in the garden,garden table,I think we were lucky she didnt go through the coffee table or sofas as of some stories Ive heard .You can buy a spray deterant, but I think it gets a bit extreme to all what you have to actually spray .

Goodluck , post us some piccies if you can,what you going to call her?

 

[Tracey Roberts]

Id strongly advise as already mentioned to get a crate, I used to think it was cruel to keep them in one and didnt bother.I used to come home from work, she was kept in the kitchen, skirting boards chewed ,walls ,doors and when she got taller she was chewing anything left on the worktop.

But you can also get a chew deterrent spray if you dont want to cage them, Our dog is lucky as I'm at home quite a lot x

 

[glitz]

MMM you will probably all shoot me down now as I should have persevered with the crate. But my Lhasa Bailey hated it she would cry constantly as I work from home I couldnt do with the pleading crys (niether could my clients) so I would rescue her to a bed in my studio, in saying that she is as good as gold a very quiet dog never been a min of trouble worry yes but no trouble. It depends on what you want from your dog. I knew mine would be spoilt from the start and would be by the whole family. She goes everywhere with me I started taking her in the car the minute I got her. Oh and she sleeps with us. She was quick to toilet train she is well behaved & good with basic comands. Loves children & cats & dogs. As some of the others have said just start as you mean to go on we all have different expectations of our pets. I got exactly what I wanted.

Since I`ve had Bailey just over a year ago 3 of my clients have now got Lhasa`s based on my good little girl. Good luck with yours are you getting a male or female? do you have a name?

 

[cabinkel]

Ahh bless! We have a new puppy too! She is 12 weeks old now. She is a minature schnazuer and I love her, lol! We are just seeming to get to the end of the wee'ing indoors. The biggest tip i was given is not to bother with the paper/puppy pads by the door. We have always taken her outside to do her business! (roughly every 30/45 mins, and always after eating/waking/playing) I was told that if you "paper" train them, they have to learn again when you start wanting them to go outside.
We too, have a cage, (its like an apartment for her, its massive, lol). She only goes in this of a night and when there is no one home. I hated doing it at first but when i went to new puppy classes at the vets, (yes really, it teaches how to look after a new puppy) he said that it gives the pup a routine, and a sense of safety.
The first two weeks were soooo hard, but know its a dream!! Good luck and enjoy:hug:

 

[blossom]

Aww thanks so much for all your replies, I've had a good read while eating my lunch lol!

And, as I forgot to say in my first post, she's going to be called Tilly.

I really appreciate all the advice and experiences you've shared, thanks so much. I do nails from home and really I guess I need somewhere for her to go where I know she'll feel safe and where I know she won't come to any harm so am considering the crate idea carefully.

Another thing is if I need to pop out to the shop for five minutes. I guess the crate would be a good idea . . . as long as she liked it.

I have arranged with the breeder to take in a little blanket (possibly a toy as well) to go in with the mummy dog and the rest of the litter for a couple of days, so we can bring it home with us on the BIG DAY.

I will definitely put some piccies on, how nice that you'd like to see her!! :hug:

By the way, are dogs allowed in shops? Obv not food shops but ? ? ? I must have been walking round with my eyes shut not to have noticed what people do! :lol: Is it fair to assume doggies are welcome unless there is a sign up saying No Dogs?

Also, I know you can't let puppy walk where other dogs have been until they've had their injections, but how about being fussed by people who have dogs of their own when you're out and about? Can they carry stuff that they could pass on?

 

[glitz]

Hi Blossom dogs arent allowed in shops unless they are guide dogs I used to carry mine into our local co-op when she was a puppy and got away with it for a little while b ut eventually was told not to (understandably). As for tilly until she has her injections keep her to your own garden, I was told by my vet that she could mix with other dogs visiting you as long as they were upto date with their injections, my mum visited me with her jack russell when Bailey wa only 9 weeks old. But I wouldnt worry about other owners passing anything on as its not possible. Cant wait to see your Tilly.

 

[Jaffacake]

if you do decide to crate train her then dont be put off if she kicks up a fuss to start with, I think it was a good few weeks before our pup took to her crate, our older dog was crate trained at the breeder from day 1 so didnt bat an eyelid! If I'd given in she wouldn't be in a crate now and that would be worse than the few weeks of initial noise! Cant afford for her to eat everything in sight, she even eats her bedding! now she has to just sleep in her crate with no bedding but better than another operation. Chew spray didnt do anything to put her off by the way...

 

[Missy G]

Chew spray didnt do anything to put her off by the way...

I agree and where do you stop the spraying, they litterly try to get there teeth into everything in the house and around the garden..espically when they are teething!!

 

[Teebster]

I forgot to say about night time, we got a microwavable hot waterbottle from the vets that is meant just for animals. It looks like a frisbie and comes with a washable fleece cover and if you warm this up a night it comforts them as they are use to snuggling up to mum and the other brothers and sisters - Awww, bless. Do get insurance ours came with 6 weeks free insurance and in that time one ran up a bill in the first 10 days of £400with a gastric infection.

I did struggle to start with when we got our pups so our vets recommended someone who did dog obedience classes and pet behaviour training (think it was actually me, not the puppies that needed training tbh). Anyway he came to the house for about three hours and gave me loads of really good advice and help can't give a price on here I don't think, but about two sets of average price nails. xxxx

 

[Florriedee]

With regard to the vaccinations she should have either 2 or 3 depending. Some people give a half puppy vaccination (which basically does nothing but is a plecebo for owners I gather) at 5 weeks, then the 1st proper *** at 8 weeks then again at 10 weeks. A week after her 2nd *** we (at Dogs Trust where I work) say that dogs can go out and about on the ground but obviously it is fine in the garden otherwise how are you going to house train? Lol!

Also someone mentioned about not bothering with puppy pads and I second that whole heartedly! What is the point of teaching your dog to toilet inside? You then have to confuse the poor chap by teaching him to go outside! The best (and only way) to effectively teach your dog to go outside is to IGNORE him/her and THE PRODUCT, for want of a better word, when they have an accident and give stonking praise when they go outside. You only need to ignore the wee/pooh for a few moments until you dog is not thinking about it anymore, the reason being everything a dog does he does for attention and positive and neative attention is the same thing as far as a dog is concerned and paying attention to the product is the same as paying attention to him. If you tell him off for having an accident (and bear in mind they don't have very good bladder control, in the same way as babies wear nappies, pups have the same problems) he won't differentiate between your telling hm off and your praising him. Your dog will never do anything as clever as wee-ing outside and coming back to you when you call! He can join MENSA and it won't be as worthy of praise as those 2 things!

Dogs Trust do loads of leaflets about crate training and puppy training and settling your new pup in. Call into your nearest one or visit the website Dogs Trust and look it up. There is a whole raft of information available.

Good luck!

Lx

Lx