I just want to quickly check we have got everything :D If there is anything you can see I have forgot please tell me :D

crate
2 x vet bed
food and water bowls
puppy collar and lead set
bigger collar and lead set (with Aussies on it :) )
30ft long line
nail clippers
soft brush
hard brush
slicker comb
undercoat rake
temporary I.D. tube
dog toothbrush and paste
a 'caution - dog's running free' sign for the gate
puppy Kong
Kong bone
ragger
Nylabone dental bone
orignial Nylabone
4 teddies
soft frisbee
3 balls
2 sqeaky toys
nappy bags

Any more ideas?

Thanks Nat :D

Edited to add: I have got to get some scissors as well :)

Food!
First aid kit?

I have to say you seem far more organised than most people. Good luck with the new arrival.

Sorry should have said, we are getting the food next week.

Is there anything in a dog's first aid kit, that isn't in a humans one? Might be a silly question, but I am sure everyone is used to them from me by now!!! :D :D

If you are clipping claws yourself, its always handy to keep some - oh flip havin a senior moment - whats that stuff called in case you nip the wotsit? Stipex? something like that. Oh and cotton wools balls and ear cleaner. Hopefully someone will come in and tell you what its called :D

Edit: just been outside to look, Styptic drops :)
Epi optic ear cleaner :)

Thanks Missie, do you happen to know where I can get them from?

:D

I got mine from canine chemists on line :)

If you contact them they will send you a catalogue and then you can see if there is anything else you might need :)  HTH

Thanks so much, must go and blow the cobwebs off hubbies credit card now ;) :D

Length of soft tape (for use as emegency muzzle)
Blunt ended scissors and tweezers
Small bottle of diluted antiseptic
Large cotton wool pads / melonin pads (the ones that don't stick to wounds)
2" crepe bandage
2" open weave bandage
3" elastoplast or vetwrap bandage / micropore tape
Leg from pair of tights (put over dogs head if ears are bleeding)
Kitchen roll
Antihistimine tablets

There may be more bits and pieces, I'll let you know if I can think of any.

Oh and I always keep some pro biotic powder  as they are much cheaper than the vets

A desensitisation sounds CD.....

Thanks to everyone so far, very quick responces :D

Any more for any more? :)

I'd wait until pups are born and are healthy before buying anything :)

Don't buy many nylabones - my dogs hate them :) Latex toys last far longer than other plastic/rubbery toys. I wouldn't buy too many toys at first. Empty plastic bottles and toilet rolls are fun for puppies. They develop their own likes/disllikes. Tara has only got two toys - a soft, cuddly, gorilla and a football with rope attached. She just doesn't bother with other toys. Bramble is different and likes several types of toy.You don't really need different leads for puppy/adult. Tara has only ever had two leads - one soft, shortish fabric lead and a flexi :D

Fingers crossed for the end of the month :)

Daisy

I keep adding things :) You might be better buying a large piece of vet bed and cutting it to fit your crate. It will work out much cheaper (small bits of vet bed are often expensive) - also you may need more than 2 bits, although they are easy to wash and dry :) Look on the web for places that sell large pieces or rolls.

Sorry Natalie I forgot to ask, what breed are you getting and what are you calling him/her?

We are getting an Australian Shepherd Missie, the name for the moment is Paddy :rolleyes: hubbie loves Peter Kay's 'Max and Paddy' show, he wanted Max first but I didn't like it, but I am coming round to Paddy now!!! :)

We have already got all of the above Daisy!! :D We will get an Aussie at some point so it wouldn't be a waste.

I got the two different lead sets, because I got the puppy one first and then saw the one with Aussies on it, and couldn't help myself!!! :)

:D

LOL, Natalie :D I just hope that pup turns up soon, otherwise you'll be having a phantom :D

Daisy

Oh gosh I have loads of leads, you'd be suprised how many times I've forgotten where I 'dropped' it but at least I know I will find at least one of them somewhere :D

A dog gate - essential to keep muddy dogs out of the rest of the house :D

Daisy

Good one Daisy. And his own bath towel. I got a lovely one with paws on it from Wilkinsons :P

I am still looking for some towels, I want some nice big ones, but I know that one of the textile shops is about to close down for refurbishment soon so I am holding out for the sale!! LOL I am not normally tight, but I don't like to pay x ammount for something one week and then find that it is half price the next!!! :)

try charity shops i get beach towels for my dogs very handy and easy to wash and dry

Got a gate as well - forgot about that!!!

LOADS of OLD towels. In a wet day you will get through one towel every time that you go out (muddy and wet). I keep a large black sack in our back porch full of clean towels :D )

Daisy

Large bath towels are the best size as you can cover a whole, adult Aussie in one go then :D Ask your rellies if they have any, or go to your local charity shop.

I will keep my eyes open, :D

When we moved in here we bought all brand new towels for us, and stashed all of the old ones away, but since thn we have used the old towels for keeping paint splashes off of things, and too be honest they are now no more than rag's! But will ask around to see if anyones got any :D

Just seen the edit Daisy, I got two pieces that were the same size as the crate (36" x 24"), they were £11.99 each - don't know whether that is good or bad?

I've got to go back to work now :) - somebody else will know maybe. I have a link on my other computer so will look it up tonight :)

Ok Daisy :D I sent you a PM :D

How about:
lots of absorbent kitchen roll to mop up 'accidents' and sick (!)
training treats - our puppy will do ANYTHING for the liver ones (you could make your own but I'm vegetarian and very sqeamish!)
we got a car seat cover and harness as our puppy is one of the few in the world who just won't doesn't like her crate
ear plugs (for the 1st few nights)
a camera to take loads of photos as they grow up so quick
a ready-prepared list of friendly people/dogs/places for socialisation
plenty of old clothes that you don't mind being ripped/have mud or poo splattered on them (when he gets over-excited)
patience in buckets!
and (as he's going to be an Aussie) a wicked sense of humour? :)

LOL I wondered where you were... ;) :P

Kitchen roll: I have a three year old so we have lots and lots of very absorbant kitchen roll!!! Bounty is great!! :D
Treats: Will get the treats with the food next week
Harness: We checked and the crate will go in the car with two of the back seats down (good job it is very easy to get the seats down!!) but for the shorter journeys we will be getting a harness, as soon as I can find what size to get!!! In fact what one has Tui got?
Ear plugs: I am a very deep sleeper so I won't hear the pup crying with or without ear plugs, might have to get Lee and Thomas some though!!
List: Got a socialisation list in the back of one my books with a few of my own things added to it :D
Old clothes: Again, I have a three year old, can't remember the last time my clothes weren't ripped/stained!!! ;) it is a good job that ripped jeans and frayed tops are in fashion!!
Patience: Again I have a three year old LOL
Sence of humour: I might find that again when I have stopped worrying about it all!!! :D

It seems that bringing up a child and a puppy isn't much different really! :D

>It seems that bringing up a child and a puppy isn't much different really!

You're right there! There are far more similarities than differences. If you can do one, you're halfway there with the other! :D

I've only ever had puppies so not qualified to comment on if they're like kids :)), but can't see that much difference ... maybe I'd be OK with kids after all ...

We got a crate that was length 92cm, width 61cm, height 67cm. And even though we feed her in there, give her treats, try to build up the time, partition it off etc she's just not having it. She prefers to sleep on the hard slate floor with her head wedged in between the bars of the baby gate! Well actually she'd prefer to sleep upstairs with us but I just like having a few rooms that aren't covered in dog hair ... luckily she doesn't chew anything inside except her toys (for which we are eternally grateful!)

We tried ear plugs and she was loud and clear through them ... all night! For 4 whole nights. Can't believe she had that much stamina/drive (we were exhausted!). But now she's quiet and dry all night *thankful sigh*. 

Forgot one thing off the list - a few bottles of wine to appease the neighbours if he's really noisy at night ... (we live in a mid-terrace)

PS - learnt a valuable lesson yesterday ... when picking up your puppy from the dog sitters make sure you change out of your smart/clean business suit before getting there ... particularly if your puppy has been playing in horse and cow poo all day .... :)

I made a spray bottle of white vinegar, biological washing powder and water. I celan up with this after she had accidents in the house and she never went in those spots again. She is 12 weeks otday and hasn't had a wee in the house or a poo in the house for 2 weeks. And no, I didn't douse my house in the stuff to stop her!
Definitely use old towels, Towels get shredded, dirty and smelly and there is no point spendin on them. My pup only liked one of the nylabones I bought her, which was the chinky wolf one, she hates all the others. Also, if you get an extendible lead, get a tape one and not a cord one. I went to puppy class last week and was told in gross detail the damage a cord extendible lead can do, and having a larger size dog it is also apparently a good idea to have a tape lead and not a cord one. I also bought a nylon collar as my pups first collar she is a german shepherd) as it seems a lot softer on her to introduce her to a collar. Also, chew sprays didn't work on my pup - even what was claimed to be the bitterest on the market - the only thing that works for us (and I know people may say this is cruel) but it was a red chilly. It took one little lick for her to know she didn;t like it and didn't want anothe rlick ever again. Now if she even sees one come of the fridge she stops immediately. She now only chews on the toys she has, which has saved my table and my rug.

Funny though, I took her to Pets At Home yesterday on her new extendible lead (the hwole shop came to standstill as everyone wanted to fuss her!) and I thought I would get her a chew. Was looking on the higher shelves for raw bones with a decent healthy filling, and I found a small one filled with chicken than seemed pretty good, I went to show it to her only to find she had picked out the bones she wanted, which was a junky beef bbq flavoured raw-hide that was longer than her, and probably double her body weight, and which she had already quitely licked all over while I was preoccupied. As I looked down she had kocked it off the shelf and was trying to make off with it. I had to buy it for her after that, and she has been inseperable from it ever since. I can here her dragging it about now...!

LOL at your pup choosing her own toy! :D :D That's really cute! :D

Thanks NannyOgg :D

I will make the bottle of spray up a bit closer to the time :)

I'm not keen on the extendable leads, I have heard too many scary stories about them over the years! When we are near a road he will have the normal lead on, and whilst we are training at the park for example he can have the long line on. I nearly bought a GenCon, but I thought I would give it a go with out and see how we do. If I think we will need one I can always get one then.

Thanks again

Nat :D

>maybe I'd be OK with kids after all ...

LOL you would be fine with kids, you are already a great mum!!! :D

As I said to you before the main reason we want to get him used to the crate is for when we go down to my mum's, I will be getting up with him in the night to take him out, so from the toilet training side of things the crate wouldn't be very important.

Do you wait until Tui is tired before you try her in the crate, I know you are thinking 'Tui, tired?' but she must settle down to sleep at some point!!!

I know it will take him a while to settle at night, but hopefully he will snuggle up with one of his teddies and settle down fairly quickly! The neighbours shouldn't be too much of a problem, they know we are getting a dog, and I will warn them when he is here, but they are animal lovers as well so it should be OK :) So I will just have to keep the wine all to myself!!! :P

LOL I hope your suit will clean up at the cleaners :D I bet Tui loved it :D

How about shampoo or wipes,?

Thanks Sarah, I have got some shampoo for him as well. :D

For Natalie or the puppy?!?!

I had to throw away the suit ... it was all crusted and stained by the time I got to the dry cleaners and they laughed and said they couldn't do anything with it (all the very lush grass plays havoc with the horses and cows' tummies)! Oh and the blouse won't come clean either.... but I still love her! I have learnt my lesson though :)

And all the while she had this huge Aussie grin on her face ...

We've tried the crate when she's REALLY tired (think 15 mins training and a 20 min walk and then playing with the dog next door) - but no difference. She just finds this extra energy from somewhere. Luckily we don't *need* her to be in the crate ... and maybe she'll get used to it if we don't force the issue .. fingers crossed ...

Hopefully she will come round on her own :D

I am off to order the last few things, and then I can start really thinking about the house and what needs changing before he comes :D

Talk soon

Nat xxx

Actually just checked, the vet bed was £9.50 for a 36" x 24" piece, it was £11.99 including the P+P :)

Before my pups arrived I fitted condiut covers to all electical wires and flexes.
You can never be too safe :D

LOL Again I have three year old, no wires to reach in this house!!! The only plug socket you can actually see in the whole house (except the ones in the kitchen above the worktops, has a socket cover in it, unless I am hoovering! :D

Wow natalie you have been busy haven't you!!! :D

When it comes for cage rest put puppy in when you think is time. (you will know, your a mum!) and make him sleep! :)

Have you got a pair of wellies?  (For you) when walking in horrible weather! also when hoseing down the garden!!! :D

Somewhere to store all the shoes?

big plastic bin to store the food in?  With firm fitting lid in a secure room!  (Rhea got into the biscuit tin kept by the frount door at nan's afew times when porch was left open...woops (thats one reason the weight wasn't shifting from her ;) )

How all you have to do is presever pleanty of your sense of humor and you should be ok.

Can't do much more thinking at the moment.  Dad gave me a breath taking picture of our oldest setter in full movement and keep looking at it....!!!

Will tell you more as I think of it! :D

Just thought of another one - spare laces for all your shoes ...

OR a whole new wardrobe of slip ons......

LOL any excuse for a new pair of shoes!! :D

What with the heat and the puppy this summer I gave up on shoes completely and wandered around bare feet the whole time. Thankfully we live in a small village and all our neighbours are understanding ...

>Wow natalie you have been busy haven't you!!!

Not really but hubbies bank statement will show how much I have spent :rolleyes: LOL

The wellies are a good idea, can't imagine what they will do to my street cred, but anything for the dog!!! ;)

We have a big trunk for Thomas and Lee's shoes, mine are in the bottom mine and Lee's wardrobe, and in the spare room (with the door shut at all times!) So shoes are out of the way.

The food will go in the bottom of the larder (that is now my cleaning cupbard, since we filled it with cat litter and food!) so that will be shut away.

LOL I do that with Thomas' photo's, we have taken some nice ones of him ourselves but he has had a few different lots by professionals, everytime we go to pick them up I can't think clearly for the next few days!!

Back to the hard old slog of shopping now!!! ;) :P

PS - thought of another one .... some nice freindly neighbours/relatives/mugs who can look after the kids and puppy when you fancy a night out