Hi, we're getting our dalmatian pup in two weeks ... can't waut for that.

Can anybody give us 5 great tips for a fantastic start to dog ownership.

What are the "must do" things to get everything off on the right foot ... even from the first few minutes in the new house.

Kind regards to all !

Brian

Crate training (especially for dalmation's destructive tempermant)
Develop a feeding schedule
Work on basic obedience (sit,down,stay etc)
Be consistant
Socialization!!!!!!

Have fun!

One more thing , get him checked at a good vet. After the movie 101 dalmatians they became a fad , people tried to cash in and breeding these dogs with no knowledge. I think it's something like one third of all dalmations are deaf or can't hear in one ear so be weary of this and very bad tempermant. Seperation anxiety is common in this breed so if you can't spend much time with your puppy then enroll him in a daycare or get someone to watch him.

Remember that you need time out! ;) Leave the puppy on it's own for a little time each day (5 minutes will do :) ). Start as you mean to go on. Don't change the rules at any time, you'll just confuse the puppy.

1. Buy a crate for him/her to sleep in.
2. Keep him busy during the evening so he's falling asleep on his feet by the time you want to go to bed. At least then you should get a few hours sleep before the whining starts!
3. Always feed him after you have eaten not before.
4. Feed the best quality food (with the fewest additives) you can find.
5. Enjoy it, they grow up very quickly (take lots of pictures).

Ask the breeder for some cloth/towel with the mothers smell on it and lay it in the crate for the first few days. It worked for me after someone gave me the tip when I had Bruce and he took to the crate right away.

Take a blanket to the breeder now to be put in the litter's bed, so that when you collect the pup and bring the blanket home too, it smells of 'home' and the pup feels more secure.

Decide on a name for your pup and tell the breeder as soon as possible so she can start calling the pup by that name, so again, that won't be a change.

Decide from the word go whether you're going to allow a wet muddy adult dog onto the furniture. If you don't want that, don't ever let your clean dry puppy up there - they don't care about the difference!

Take the pup for a check-up at your vet within the first couple of days. I'm sure it will have been BAER tested before you buy it so you'll know its hearing status, but still get it checked for basic health, for your and the breeder's peace of mind (I put this into my sales contract).

Hello!

We've had a puppy for two weeks tomorrow and the one thing you can't have enough of is 'Bounty' kitchen roll!!  LOL - the cheap stuff just will not do - I've now also got a box full of disposible latex gloves so I can at least have one hand covered while I pick up the sodden newspaper every morning!! LOL.

The first week was really tough - so I'd also suggest you make sure you've got plenty of time set aside - don't think you'll have time to do anything other than follow the pup around cos you won't if you want to crack the toilet training (well 'crack' is a bit of an exaggeration 'start' would be more acurate!!!!).

I notice a few people are recommending getting a crate - personally I've really struggled with the whole crate training concept, my puppy won't settle if we shut the door on the crate, she gets really distressed and ends up with the poops and gets covered in it - but I whole heartedly agree it is the safest approach to raising a puppy so we are going to revert to crate training when we feel she is mature enough to 'hold it' through the night - so it could be another couple of months before we manage the crate training thing!

Personally I wouldn't go over board on toys, bedding, etc - (That's not true actually - I went way over board - and now the benefit of experience tells me that Kiera likes an old sheet in her bed so she can push it out of the way and lie on the cold floor and her favourite toys are toliet roll/kitchen roll holders, old cereal boxes, empty plastic bottles - oh adn my lovely new plants in the garden - and the cats!! LOL).

Good luck with your puppy, throught of any names yet?
Nx

Thanks for your replies.

I've already given the breeder a towel, so it'll get the mums smell before we pick up the pup (Winston) in 2 weeks.

Would you believe it ?  My wife had to go out and buy a special new towel for the dog, a spotted one at that ... over the top if you ask me.

Even the breeder commented that the towel was better than hers ... I'm sure it wasn't really !

Think I'll make a kind of play pen thing, like a crate. I might even climb in myself for a bit of peace and quiet.

Regards

Hi Brian,

>Would you believe it ?  My wife had to go out and buy a special new towel for the dog, a spotted one at that ... over the top if you ask me.

You got off lightly so far mate :D  Check this out http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?tid=74099  :P :P :P  Now there's a lady who can spend!

Regards, Teri

Now you are making me thoroughly ashamed!

I wanted to make sure I got it all right...

Never be ashamed of retail therapy ;) it's what keeps us ladies sane!  And at least your splurdge was for practical purposes - whereas some of mine ....... :rolleyes: :D :P

Your new furry family friend has a wonderful home for sure!  I think it's great that you want to be fully prepared - when home you'll be able to devote all your time to playing, bonding and training.  Teri :) 

You've made me feel better about burning a hole in my pocket now!

Thanks though, I appreciate that comment.

Yes it is what keeps you ladys sane , that's why i keep asking myself why i got married!! I've got no pocket change to spend a night out with the boys!

The moment you come home take the pup straight out into the garden to the area you would prefer he/she toilests in before you put him/her down anywhere.

Praise him/her when they perform, which they no doublt iwll after the journey.

Take him/her there every half hour while awake and after all meals on waking, after an exciting game etc.

this will help housetrainign tremendously and ecourage teh use of one area for toileting, making garden pick up much easire.

If you have children or special areas of the garden I woudl suggest that you partion part of teh garden neares the backdoor for the dog, and that leaves the rest poop free for the kids to play and have their freinds playing there.  this saves other peoples kids especially treading in an unoticed pile and treading it into your house.  the dog can always go in the rest of the garden under supervision, and with luck will learn not to eliminate there