New puppy next week!

[candapack]

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Collecting our much anticipated Border Terrier puppy next Monday, at 8 weeks. Got the initial vet checkup booked, as well as the second set of vaccinations and microchipping.

However, already a bit confused about bedding. We'll be using a crate, and have opted for the Savic 61cm model - comments welcome. In addition, want to use Vetbed matting, but is this a stand alone bed, or used in conjunction with other bedding?

There's so much "stuff" out there, it gets quite overwhelming.

Anyway, look forward to some feedback from the experts. :thumbsup:

 

[goldenbear2013]

Congrats on getting your new family member! and Horray to the crate training! Best thing to do!

if you have instructions (a book) on how to crate train your puppy please follow it to the letter! You will be surprised how quickly they will get used to it and learn that it is their bed its part of their routine. I did it with mine when we brought him home at 9 weeks and never had a single blip with him as we were very strict with the training.

Now; vet bed. Vet bed is like a piece of carpet that goes on top of the metal base you will have for the crate. I use vet bed for my dog, and that's all he had for a long while as he went through a stage of eating his bed and this was quite a big concern for us and he was it constantly!! If your puppy nibbles at vet bed, or even takes a chunk out of it and eats it for that matter, there is no need to panic as it won't hurt them, it will pass straight through them. This is why you will see vet bed in whelping boxes as its the best!

You can pop a more cozy bed on top of the vet bed if you wish, but I would say have a small one to start with so there is some space for your puppy to move around, as you will want to lay down newspaper or puppy pads inside the crate whilst you are training toilet training him, and training him to sleep through the night with no accidents. You can always get a bigger bed for him once he is toilet trained.

it is very over whelming with everything out there and if you go to crufts this weekend your mind will explode!

best to stick to the basics on what you need for now, get some ground rules laid out for when your little monster arrives and your off!!

Enjoy your little monster! Borders terriers are feisty and fun little puppies and sooooooo cute

Sophie x

 

[candapack]

Thanks Sophie, but still a little confused. Should I be putting newspaper/puppy pads down on top of the vet bed material?

(I'm clearly going to be needing a lot of help!!)

 

[goldenbear2013]

Personally, I would have half the crate covered with the vet bed and the other half with newspaper or puppy pads.

This way he has a cozy place to sleep but if he has an accident on the paper/pads then you can scrunch it up throw it away and clean the base of the crate easily without having to wash the vet bed.

I did this with mine and not once did he mess in his crate, so we never had any issues in this respect. Each dog is different though, so better to air on the side of caution until he is sleeping through the night.

However, the good thing about vet bed is that you can just put it into the washing machine anyway which is always handy just don't tumble dry it! Trust me I tried!! :>

I hope that is a little clearer for you and don't worry, you will be great!

Sophie x

 

[candapack]

Thanks again Sophie, yes that cleared things up.

Chocks away then, here we go. (Well, on Monday).

 

[candapack]

Just an update. Things going much better than I could have hoped. Toiletwise, we still have a few peeing accidents, but they are getting less. She hasn't poo'd inside since the day we brought her home. Sleeps from about 11 till 6, and stays dry.(Well, usually!)

Took her out today for her first walks outwith the garden, she met lots of people and dogs, all went really well.

She seems to have got the hang of "come" and "sit", working on "down" and getting there I think. (Going through lots of treats of course.)

So, thanks for the advice - mainly Sophie.

I'm touching wood of course, don't want to be getting smug this early.

Oh, and did I say, she's just the best dog in the whole world, yes she is, yes she is! :thumbsup:

 

[goldenbear2013]

Hi Candapack!

Sounds like things are going brilliantly!!! Glad she is settling in well!

And you're most welcome for the advice! Anytime

If you are not sure of anything just ask on here! always happy to help if I can

Sophie x

 

[eingana]

Border terriers are such bright little buttons that they can learn an awful lot of things when they are still really quite small, so take advantage of how many things she can learn which will be life rules- it sounds like you've started off well

Can I suggest that you decide now what your house rules are going to be and start applying them now? Where she will be allowed to go, whether she will be allowed on the furniture, or the beds, where she goes at meal times to prevent begging behaviours - all of these things will be really easy to apply from the start but hard to start applying later if she's learned other things.

Other than that, the watchword for small puppies is socialise, socialise, socialise. Other puppies, big dogs, children, cats, small animals, all in a controlled way to be good exposure. The evidence shows that the things that they learn about socialising when they are tiny are incredibly important for their coping skills for new things later on in their lives.

Have fun showing her the world and teaching her how to be a good puppy in it