Any tips on bringing home a new pup?

Oooh a new puppy!! What breed is she?

I wouldn't worry one jot about the cat/dog thing. We have had loadsa cats with different dogs and they get used to each other after a while and just be part of the family. Let them get used to each other on their own terms and they will.

Why are you keeping the pup outside? Such a young pup will need close contact with you, especially when it has just left the litter. A pup will need your attention during the night (and day) for quite a while otherwise you will not be able to house train her. Left alone in a kennel outside is unthinkable.

I do hope you will reconsider the kennel unless of course this will be a working dog such as a gun dog or working collie. The kennel will be ideal when the pup is older and you want to leave her for short periods but if you are just putting her in a kennel because of the cat, then this in my opinion is unfair on the pup.

I agree that it seems really unkind to keep a puppy outside. Neighbours of mine had a beautiful golden retriever pup which they kept outside. One evening there was a storm with a lot of rain and thunder and it was cold too - well, that poor pup just howled and howled. I went to see it but couldn't get through their fence so could only comfort it for a bit. It seemed horribly cruel. (I have to admit that I got onto the RSPCA about it.)

xxx

That does seem a bit cruel. Puppies are used to having their littermates for warmth and comfort and to play with, so to suddenly put her outside on her own with just a kennel and a run at the very young age of 8 weeks is actually cruel. Why not keep her inside?

If you bring the pup up alongside the kittens then they will get on really well. My neighbours and some of my customers have cats and dogs that have been brought up together and they get on really well. I wouldn't seperate the dog in an outside run just because of the kittens. The more time they spend together the better.

Is your dog going to be a working dog? My best friend's sister has 2 working labradors and they work in the fields every day. They are not allowed to sleep in the house (although they come in and out in the daytime). They have a lovely heated kennel and secure weatherproof run. As they are working everyday outside in all weathers, they are happy sleeping in their comfy kennels at night. If your dog isn't going to be a working dog then I think it's very unfair to keep it outside.

Kerrie

Hi there!

Thanks for the tips on keeping her inside - the only reason we had intended to keep her outside was because the owners got their pup at 8 weeks and kept her in a purpose built kennel and run at the back door. She is now the most beautiful 3 yr old brown Lab...happy and contented and very good with kids...

Anyway am certainly glad I posted my question!!

thanks again for the replies

Hi there!

Thanks for the tips on keeping her inside - the only reason we had intended to keep her outside was because the owners got their pup at 8 weeks and kept her in a purpose built kennel and run at the back door. She is now the most beautiful 3 yr old brown Lab...happy and contented and very good with kids...

Anyway am certainly glad I posted my question!!

thanks again for the replies

Is your pup a lab too? Have you reconsidered about keeping her outside? We adopted a lab pup a few months ago. I can't imagine keeping her on her own outside, I imagine she would have been incredibly lonely 🙁 I know some people who work their dogs do kennel them outside (but others don't) but I think these people tend to have more than one dog and you've not said you intend working yours? Your pup will need lots of company, toilet training and regular feeds too.

There's also the security side of things, I'd worry more about my dog being stolen if they were kept outside.

With reference to keeping a puppy outside. I'd personally never even consider it. Puppies need a lot of socialisation in their formative weeks and months, actually it's ongoing through their lives 🙂
So keeping her indoors with you where he can be an active part of your family and home will make you all a lot happier and it will help you to bond.

My dogs are truly part of my family and rarely out of my sight, I couldn't think of puting them outdoors. Theft as mentioned is a real issue now and many dogs are taken from their own gardens and have even been stolen from locked kennels. A pretty little Lab puppy bitch would make a real find for these thieves 🙁

Hope all goes well and your pup has many happy years as a much loved family companion 🙂

Barbara x

Hi all

Our pup arrived today ....OMG she is sooooo beautiful! We are all so taken by her. And rest assured she is most definitely being kept inside 24/7! It was out of pure inexperience of keeping dogs that I had posted my original question.... and thanks again for your advice.
She has spent most of the day snuggled up on the couch beside my husband:043::043::043: I just cannot get over how adorable she is!

If you have any other general tips I would appreciate them.....

Hello P,

Happy days! You'll probably find that the cat adopts the new baby and all will be well!

However, I have found especially for the first night, that a hot water bottle (or one of those grain microwave bags) plus a ticking clock will give it some comfort and make it feel a little like the warmth and heart beat of its mother and siblings. Just come back to add that anything you give a pup will be chewed, so a hot-water bottle etc needs to be securely wrapped in several layers of blanket or towel that will be tooth-resistant!!

I have always managed to settle a new puppy down on its own downstairs (with the above props) but I have had friends and family whose new dog howled all night and they ended up bringing it up to their bedroom, from where it never left! THEY ARE CAPABLE OF TWISTING YOU ROUND THEIR LITTLE PAW (if you're not careful and shew them who is boss) ! 🙂

Much happiness to you and the whole family and do share some photos.

Love

Judy

Hi all
If you have any other general tips I would appreciate them.....

Very glad you reconsidered and are keeping her in the house 🙂

Re general tips - have you had a puppy before? It's hard to know what to say without knowing your experience. A Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey is a good book to get hold of and read asap if you've not had a pup before/for a while.

Just a few thoughts - re toilet training, I would take her out regularly, like at least once an hour during the day, after she's eaten/woken up/played/been excited etc. Stay out with her, don't just shut her in the garden and expect her to know what to do. I teach mine a "toilet" command which I use with praise when they are going in the right place and when they understand that command you can use it when you're out with them and want them to go. If they have an accident inside, which is highly likely at least initially, don't punish them (the rubbing their nose in it theory is *very* outdated and likely not to help the bond between dog and owner).

Socialising is very important - I was out carrying my pup around before she had had her second jab/could go on the floor. Adjust it to their level of confidence but I aimed to get her out and meeting all sorts of things/people/animals/situations in her early weeks and it helped tire her out too 😉

Crates are generally thought of now as very handy for pups as you can have a safe place to put them if you can't supervise for a short period of time. Obviously you won't be leaving a young pup alone for very long anyway but it can be a way of you having a bit of a break and knowing she's safe, can't chew anything dangerous etc.

What breed is she?

Hi

Thanks for those tips, it is our first pup ever - she's a chocolate Lab and we have christened her 'Misha'....she is such a doll! already been out in the garden and did her 'business' a few times today....

Turns out Marbles(our cat) is not pregnant after all - the two of them were chewing on opposite ends of a stick my hubby was holding today.......it's just like introducing a new baby! (keep her outside...what was I thinking??:032:!!)

I'll post some photos as soon as I get a chance.

Px

I love getting new puppies. I've had three all together. The first one we had was Max, a little Yorkie. We already had four cats and as he grew up with them, there were never any problems. After Max died (tragic accident when he was 7 :() We got Millie, a miniture Yorkie. We got her when she was only 6 weeks old (too early really, but she's not been affected badly by it) and she has never been a problem with the cats. She even used to curl up and sleep with one of them.

Then we got Chorkie. He's a Chihuahua/Yorkie cross. He's a real character and full of life and mischief. We got him when he was 5 months old. He loves to chase our one remaining cat. Unfortunately, Millie joins in too, but if Chorkie's not around she's still fine with the cat.

Chorkie and the cat are getting better, but the poor cat now lives 'above ground'.

Socialising a puppy is so important. We take both our dogs up to the recreation ground every evening where they run and play with a load of local dogs. We've nicknamed it dog club. They play with poodles, German Shepherd, Labradors, spaniels, other terriers, dobermans. It's lovely to watch. 😀

Good luck with your new pup and enjoy it. 😀