I am picking up my new puppy in a couple of weeks time and I am trying to get organised but what Toys should I be buying? Do puppies need specialist toys or do they just have normal dog toys? Also what treats should I start training her on? Do they just have normal dog treats or are there puppy versions? All help most appreciated.

PJB. In the same boat but picking up this weekend. I am getting a doberman so I have got him a rope and rubber ring for tugging matches. I know they like that.

Perhaps you should indicate what sort of puppy you are getting.

Would also be keen to hear advice on what toys dobermanm puppies prefer, and dont demolish in one sitting.

Hi,
I've just collected our dobe pup. She's 8 weeks old. The lady at the pet shop assisted me with what to buy. We got a small size kong, will replace it with a bigger one when she's older. A rope ragger, a nylabone (puppy one), and she loves this. She didn't recommend any rawhide chews until she's a bit bigger, as she could bite off a bit thats too big. But the hard compressed rawhide sticks that break up were ok, under supervision of course. The softer plastic toys weren't recommended as bits can be chewed off and swallowed. So we got a thicker, harder squeaky toy, not too interested in this yet. The treats we got for training were schmakos, they are flat and small pieces can easily be broken off, for rewards. Hope this helps.

I have to say, so far so good, with Taz. Only one accident so far, and hubby was in charge then, need I say more;) No mess through the night, just one wee on the paper last night. Just got up once last night, she was crying, so went down settled her back and not another peep until 6.00 a.m. When I take her in the garden she does a wee almost straight away. Can't believe my luck, hope it doesn't change:D

Thanks Jaffa,

I hope Sydney is as good as Taz.. (I can relate to the accident bit when hubby in charge, he cant even lift the lid of the washing backet let alone watch for a sniffing puppy. Time will tell perhaps I do him an injustice.. te he he)

THanks for the treat info. I wasnt sure what to get and as I have so many to choose from at the shop it was a little daunting to say the least, liver flavoured, rice & meat, the new all improved variety, chocolate drops, chocolate chip bici's the list goes on... ahhhh to much.

I think I will get a kong toy to stuff with treats to keep him busy when he's left alone. Unfortunately he will be left alone for only 2-3 hours a day (hubby shifts have changed) but thats not till after a week so hopefully he will have settled in a bit better by then.

You say that you got Taz from a pet shop, were you able to find out what the parents were like and possibly visit them. Always nicer to now what the parents were like. His she registered?

I would like to do gility and or obedience. Do you have any showing prospects?

Oh the excitment, the tippy tappy of little feet.... errr big feet on the kitchen floor. Keep in touch Jaffa and we can share the trials and tribulations of owning a dobie.

All the best with Taz

Hi,
In case Jaffa doesn't see your message today.

They got their new dobe puppy after and extensive search and wait from a reputable breeder, passing up numerous poorly bred or puppy farmed options.

It was the puppy equipment and treats they got from the PET Shop!

Thanks Brainless, for the reply. Sorry if I was a little unclear, most know the extensive search I made to get my little darling, not to mention two 600 mile round trips:D I've shredded the phone bill in case hubby sees it:D

Brainless.. I think that should be my addy.

I must admit I was worried that such a dominant dog was purchased from a pet shop. Glad to hear that Jaffa got Taz from a breeder. I myself was lucky as I was put in contact with a lady having a little within an hours drive of home. (Advised from the Dobermann rescue centre)

Jaffa Like the bit about the phone bill blame it on taz if hubby finds out. Then again what phone bill...

Once again best of luck.

Hello there!
I was in your boat at the beginning of december, and did not have a clue as it was my first ever dog! (Grew up with cats!)

This is what I bought Rufus;
Pack of dog chocolate drops
Pedigree Puppy Markies (biscuit 'bone' with a chicken filling)
Small rawhide chews/puppy (or just small) rawhide bones
Pedigree law fat milky biscuits
Pedigree Schmakos (very sparingly as a special treat for training)

On an average day for first few weeks, we gave him a chocolate drop
for 'performing' in the garden, then cut it down to a drop for doing both.
We gave him the rawhide items in the evening under supervision and used schmackos (he LOVES these) for training.
The milky biscuits (around 4 or 5 a day) and puppy markies(1 or 2 a day) are used as snacks during the day and are healthy.

Also always check back as some specifically state - not to be given to under 6 months.

Toys - we bought him;

- a plastic squeaky ball
- a plastic squeaky newspaper
- a teddy bear without plastic eyes/nose etc (don't spend alot he has already got through FOUR!)
- A rope bone
- furry ball
- a rope of plastic sausages

However one of his favourite toys is the tube that whiskey bottles
smetimes come in, or fill a plastic bottle with dry pasta - for free!

I think as long as you use common sense, and anything you are concerned with use only under supervision - you will be fine!

Good luck with your little one..what breed are you getting??

Keep me updated, its so exciting isn't it!

Hope I have been of help?
Louise x

Hi,

Thanks for your advice. It is a little Westie Pup that I am having. I just became rather daunted when looking in the pet shops as to what to get. I must admit I quite like the idea of a Kong.

PJB

Collected our mini schnauzer pup 4 weeks ago. Fairly similar to the others, we provided her with:

a small robe chew
hide chews
ball on a robe
small squeaky toy
small Kong

Additionally, she has various cast off toys from my daughter such as little teddy bears, teletubby, monsters inc. - you name it. Obviously, we have to keep an eye on her with some of these toys! We have found that we tend to put a few of her things away, so that we can get them out when she is having a crazy 1/2 hour, it helps to avoid my daughter being nipped!! (Usually we hide the Kong, Ball on a Robe and a couple of soft toys for these occassions).

For treats we tend to use the little choc treats at the moment, but will probably progress to other things in the coming weeks.

I wasnt sure abou the Kong, but got one anyway. It's really chewy and bounces nicely, so she enjoys it empty. I sometimes put a snack in such as Pedigree Light & Tasty (bone shaped rice snack). However, they dont fit too well, and she can usually get them out in a matter of minutes - but I dont mind. Other times I have put a little raw carrott in. I bought it with the idea that it would help her when we leave her alone, but have found that she just goes to sleep and doesnt appear to have played with anything when we leave her (at the moment not longer than 2.5 hours in one go).

Hope the first few days with your pup goes well
Best Wishes
Karen.

Just to make you aware that excessive pulling toys can damage your pups teeth when the biggies come through ( just incase you werent aware)
Lel

Hi,

Just thought i would add a note here - I have an 8yr old Min Schnauzer and i have a Min Schnauzer pup on order - he is only a week old at the moment so i have to wait a while! lol

Anyway - I just wanted to add something about the Kong - Fantastic product Boston (My 8yr old) has had one since he was a pup and i find that Markies fit in perfectly! They can stay in there entertaining him for days if he wants them too. Other times it will be out within the hour!

I would suggest you get the Mini Markies for your pup and then progress on to the normal ones as he/she grows.

Also do u have a Nylabone. They are also fantastic. (They come in all sizes, flavours, knobbly bits or smooth) My dog is only on his 3rd and thats only because i think he could 'do with a new one' He loves it. I never buy toys that he can rip/damage as they are hazards.

Hope your super happy with your puppies (Especially the Schnauzer! - Everyone has a soft spot for their own)

Roxanne

Dear Lord!!!!!! Just glanced round the room - there are currently two furry squeaky balls, a furry squeaky pyramid and a bizarre furry squeaky ball thing with prongs coming of it, a big furry 3d triangle thing, an eeyore, a tigger and a mr man toy, and two tennis balls (although i dont know why he's so attcahed to them coz his little mouth can barely fit round them :) ) - my pup is so spoilt! Thats not even all his toys, they are just the ones he's dragged in from the living room during his regular 9pm mad half hour :D *sigh* now i know were the money i wanted to buy new shoes went ;) We bought him one of those balls that you put treats in last weekend - but he just brings it to us and sits at our feet until we take the treats out and give him to him - men :D

Roxanne

Thanks for the Kong tips, I'll invest in the products you recommend. Also, I dont have a Nylabone, so will look out for one of these! Trying lots of different things at the moment, as she is a bit of a biting monster :-)

Karen.

Beware of toys with squeaks in them, when puppies start chewing the squeak can be got out and swallowed. A good idea is to look at Charity Shops amongst their toy boxes - they are only allowed to sell toys which are passed as safe for the UK market. Eyes on teddies etc are usually safe but do check. If you look for those cubes made for babies to play with (sold new by Adams baby/child shops), little ones play for hours with these, some have rattles and some don't. Make sure you wash any toys bought second hand but it does work out much cheaper than buying specialist dog toys and I think safer. We once had a bitch who when having a phantom stole a pink teddy from somehere - to this day I don't know where she got it but it was her substitute baby for long enough.

Have fun with your new puppy