One of my colleagues has just got a new pup and is at the stage where everything is new.  things keep popping into my head to tell her and I thought it would be an interesting thread for people to post (briefly and succinctly!) what they wished they had known in the early days. 

Please don't list more than 3 on a post so it is easy to read and follow.  It would also be interesting to find out what led you to your conclusions about these essential bits of advice.

1. if you have carpets with a puppy, biological washing powder, kitchen roll and vinegar will be your best friends - I had to recarpet my whole flat due to rotting carpets as I didn't know what would effectively get rid of the smell and staining.

2. dogs will not just 'sort it out' themselves, sometimes humans have to intervene - my staffy can be aggressive and was bullied as a pup with know it all owners of bullying dogs telling me the dogs will sort it out themselves hmmph!

Looking forward to reading people's thoughts

1.  Be prepared for a lot of sleepless nights!  Not just a couple of sleepless nights.

2.  Take a deep breath and count to 10, patience is a virtue - especially when pup has just chewed your favourite shoes!

3.  My biggest shock/surprise - I love him to bits, I really didn't expect him to become such a HUGE part of my life.

1. A dog does not know commands unless you teach them  the association between the action and the command. A lot of first owners make the mistake of saying a command to get the dog to do something rather than realising that the action comes first and then you have to introduce the command for the dog to associate that action with the command word.   My very first puppy thought that the word heel meant he could pull on the lead. Having introduced the word heel I was then saying it when he pulled and thus he learnt that the word heel meant to pull. I had to start again and choose a different word to use as I had not used my brain to work it all through - the dog was doing exactly what I had wrongly taught him to do :-(

2. That the statement "My dog is friendly" should not always be taken at face value.

1. That just when you think you have cracked something, they will move the goal posts yet again.

2. Find the patience of several saints and plaster a smile on your face when you are cleaning up that puddle of wee yet again.

3. That no matter what a rough day youve had, your dog will ALWAYS be on your side, however, they might have your chewed shoes, bits of cushion, bitten telephone by their side lol

1) never ever let them sleep with you! they will hog the bed (learned from being a teenager alone in a creaky house and thinking the big bed was large enough for me a bullmastiff and a mastiff- it seemed it when they got in!)

2) it takes an astonishing strength of will to resist those eyes when they want something

3) never ever trust your dog 100%, its a hard idea to get your head around at times but they are an animal and you never can tell

4) never trust your dog to tell you something isn't right, they will hide illness and pain till its unbearable

5) you'll probably never be loved so easily, enduringly and effortlessly by any other creature :)

1. Dogs are not like kids! The dog is always pleased to see you, they don`t answer back and they don`t play on the internet til 3 in the morning, having known this before I had KIDS I would of had 3 more dogs :)

2. Keep poo bags everywhere!...You never know when you may need one.

1) If you intend to insure your dog, arrange for it to start on your first day as an owner.  I made the mistake of waiting, as I had 6 weeks free insurance, and so very nearly got caught out over a pre existing condition.  We were 'saved' by a persistent vet who wouldn't take no for an answer and who convinced the insurers on our behalf.  Saved us a small fortune :)

2) I wish I'd really understood what size our WHV would be at different stages - it would have saved me from making errors with bed sizes and car crates.  Also don't try and tell me in inches, give me a practical description like 'the size of a loaf of bread' or 'the height of a dustbin' !!

3) On the subject of our rescue mongrel - I wish I'd known that not every one is as marvellous as ours.  It would have stopped me recommending that method as a 'fool-proof' way to find an older dog and would have prevented some friends from being disappointed.

Finally can I sneak in one I'm glad I didn't know?

4) How sleep deprived I was going to be with our youngest dog and how knowledgeable I'd become on the subjects of pee and poo.  Might never have done it and just think what I would have missed, he's such a babe...

:)

I wish I'd been more careful with my puppy's exercise when he was small. He was and still is really active but lost his appetite for months after he left his litter mates and only regained it when we got another dog.

the main thing: I wish I'd known that having lots of dogs was what I really wanted. I only have two, but I'm working on it!!

1) Never think something is funny/cute when the dog is a puppy that you wouldnt think is cute/funny when the dog is an adult - its hard to get them to stop!

2) Never think your house is completely puppy proof!

3) That owning a dog is most rewarding, but when you have to say goodbye, its the most heart breaking thing you will have to do

1. That the easiest way to get a good recall for life is to have the puppy offlead from day one and run and hide from it to teach it to keep its eyes on you and not the other way around -but do it before 4 months of age or the advantage is forever lost -i.e. the age when pups don't WANT to leave their owners but stay close all the time.

2. It makes for a far happier and easier to train dog if you never use force and punishment, always just use rewards for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour (and when a behaviour has to be stopped, just do it without a word, such as removing the pup from a situation, or removing yourself).

3. That owning one puppy can somehow over the years escalate until you own 12 adults and they take up your entire life and all your money with nothing else but shows, training etc mattering!

1. No matter how secure/puppy proof something valuable is, if he wants it, he will find a way to get it.

2. Eyes in the back of your head don't come naturally. When they are really little, you can't watch them enough. They can be there one minute and destroying something important the next.

3. Don't assume that because someone you know has a dog that is seemingly well, they know what is right for your puppy.

1. DO NOT give your puppy your old shoes to play with, they cannot differenciate between your old slipper and your gorgeous new Office heels (never done this myself but I know people who have!) ;-)

2. Don't expect to be able to watch an ounce of television in the evening if you have more than one dog in the household, play time is always the minute Eastenders comes on.

3. Your house will never be properly clean again.........

Nicki xx

These are great, keep em coming :)

1.
Dogs do not take anything for granted. They don't understand the world the way we do. And in their world they have to get on with strangers with big, sharp teeth..... No wonder they sometimes react the way they do.
2.
It IS possible to get a well behaved and well socialized dog, by reinforcing wanted behaviour, and ignoring the unwanted.
3.
It's wasted energy to plant flowers in your garden. They will either get eaten, dug up or just run over.

More from the perspetive of a trainer:

1. Wish I'd known earlier that many owners just do the training course and then expect you to divulge the 'secret' at the end..or perhaps give the dog the 'magic pill' which makes it perfect :-) Eight weeks - perfect dog - well thats what they paid for wasn't it? :-(

2. Wish I'd known that many owners just pick the dog breed they like the 'look' of...then expect to train out all the characteristics of that breed.... non guarding Rottweilers - non chasing Greyhounds - non hunting Beagles  etc etc. :-(

But most of all I wish I knew back then, that doing virtually no formal puppy training with my own and letting them understand what pleases me, ( and they're all for that bless them :-) ) makes them much happier and more balanced little indviduals.

> 3.
> It's wasted energy to plant flowers in your garden. They will either get eaten, dug up or just run over.

Or pi$$ed on ;)

> Or pi$$ed on

Oh yes - herbs and boys don't go....

1. Tomato sauce cuts the smell of fox pooh.

2. You can't shut them up in a house and expect them to go to sleep, they cant stay shut up 8 hours a day 5 days a week. If you want to do this buy a stuffed dog.

3. You can buy all the toys you want but they will still prefer a flower pot.

4. If you have a fish pond, you can provide as much clean water in a bowl that you want, they will still prefer the water in the fish pond.

5. When you are sad they will let you cry all over them and not suggest you pull yourself together or ask "whats wrong" sometimes nothing is you just want a cuddle and a cry.

They have filled my life after my son' leaving home felt like the end of my world.

1. Dog hairs stick to every thing including knicker elastic.
2. They are dogs not humans. Don't get the two mixed up.
3. Prove your self worthy of that love and devotion. Do not betray that trust. While a dog is an addition to your life.You are theirs. Never   forget it.

And in response to other posts all very good ones....
While tommie sauce is supposed to remove fox poo, it also tastes wonderful, and he licks faster than I rub!!

I did not know about the vinegar so thanks for that one!!

Don't be shocked if your dog eats poo (its own, fox, cat, rabbit, other dogs) or rolls in poo.  Eats or rolls in dead things (rabbits, frogs .....).  

It's "normal"  .... arghhh.

Don't ever forget that your dog thinks that you're perfect.

There is no need to ask anyone for a second opinion.  :-)

Priceless!!!:-P

Top 3:

That walking my dog when I was late and in a rush to get where I was going would teach my dog to pull.

Wish I (or the vets ) had known that Rasins were deadly. :(

... and that having dogs, being with them, traininmg and competing was sooooooo seriously addictive.

> Don't ever forget that your dog thinks that you're perfect.
>
> There is no need to ask anyone for a second opinion

True.. so true who I am I to question canine opinion??

i loved reading all these!could add,i wish id known_border collies dont come doing heelwork etc,but its been fun finding out!never say in company"oh,he wont chase that"!and never leave cooked chicken too close to the edge of the worktop!

1 . I will never have black clothes again .. unless full of dog fluff ..
2.. one is never enough
3 .. Why has my hubby not got a better job , i could have more ...lololol..