Hello there.. I am due to pick up a new Irish setter puppy in around 3 weeks and so trying to get organised. Would appreciate some advice as to what equipment I need....should I have an ergonomic feeder or not? many friends recommend dog cages but I'm very unsure so would appreciate some opinions. In short, would welcome any advice anyone has......thank you

Hi, congratulations on your new puppy. You must be very excited, I would get advice from your breeder about the right grooming equipment to buy . I like the "puppy" collars, they are made of plaited man made fibre with no holes for the buckle spike - you just push the spike through where its needed, which is great while they are growing. The collar is then always the right size. Dont buy soft beds or duvets/bean bags they will almost certainly get chewed. I like the hard oval beds you can get in all pet shops, not with vent slits at the base though. If you want to treat him to the best bedding get two peices to fit of "Veterinary Bedding". Get the best quality from Oakenshaw , I buy it off the roll and cut to size - half the price than buying in shops.

Avoid pigs ears and any rawhide bones/chews. A Buster Cube is a must along with a Kong. You may have to buy bigger ones as he grows up. Rasks are a great treat and safe for puppies to chew.

I would say a cage is a great thing to have, as my lab loves it as her night time bed, secure place is she wants to get out of the way or be laft alone, and she is very happy to be in it in the car :) though with your pup as it grows, not sure if they do big enough cages :)

Another tip, is to get your pup use to being washed very early on in your bath / shower or even if its to be outside - as its much easier when they are use to it - believe me :) he he
The same goes for traveling in cars, start as you mean to go on, and they love it, and want to go with you everywhere, and no sickness :)

hope that helps and good luck :)
sara

Hi joycesally,

Congrats on your new pup . We never had a cage when ours was a pup,we to were unsure,so we trained her to go into her bed at nights which she still does as a getaway and also to sleep,hard plastic type.
Toilet training,dont tan his/her bum ,train with newspaper at back door any good puppy book will explain this procedure in more detail.
We found the boot of the car most succesful for car sickness with a dog guard up of course.We trained her with a harness b4 moving onto collar,there is a spray which you can buy which you can to spray around door frames, chair legs, table legs etc which is supposed to keep them away from furniture and not to chew it whether it works or not i dont know!!!!!! we were to late to try it if you know what i mean.Good luck with your new family member,keep us posted on how you get on.

Hope this helps.

Thanks so much everyone for your advice....getting closer to the day I pick her up! I really appreciate that you've all taken time to point me in the right direction.....

Treat yourself to a copy of "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey, it is most calming LOL :D and will help you through puppyhood and beyond into adolescence.

There is also "The Ultimate Puppy" but that is more expensive although very good.

Lindsay

Get a stair gate to close off any areas you wish kept pup free - stairs, bedrooms, kitchens etc. Theyre cheap and easily got from the Ring and Buy sections of local papers, they can be moved to where theyre needed and pup can see you without causing havoc at meal times for example. And stock up on biiological washing powder even if you dont use it to remove the smell of accidents. Have fun with pup. :)

We bought a plastic lid from one of those storage containers and will try that as a puppy "kitty litter tray". We can line it with paper and one of those puppy toilet pads and hopefully that will stop too many accidents on the carpet at night! Must admit though, got some strange looks from B&Q when I said I just wanted the lid and not the whole thing!

I have a Gordon Setter bitch of 8 months who was introduced to a crate at 10 weeks. She was toilet trained by 14 weeks! - it did involve getting up through the night at first but it was certainly worth it. Bess loves her crate. I admit I was rather concerned when my husband first suggested it but it has become her refuge and favourite den. I can assure you there are crates big enough for setters. I got mine off the net for approx. £80 and can give you the details if you wish.
We found we needed to find her plenty of things she was allowed to chew - old soft toys (without button eyes) from charity shops, plastic flower pots were a favourite! Now she cannot have these as she demolishes them in seconds!! But rope toys, kongs are acceptable.
Bess free feeds as that seems to suit her best - we regulate the daily amount. My husband made a stand for her food bowls as she grew taller to minimise the possibility of bloat which apparently setters can be prone to.
What are you going to call your pup?
Enjoy :)
Sandy