Hi there, I just came across the board on Google.

My partner and I are planning on getting a Shelltie puppy soon, Ive had dogs before but not from a puppy and my partner has also had dogs but not from a puppy.
We know it takes a lot of patience and that puppies are a lot of hard work, chewing, making a mess etc but i think we are pretty prepared for that.

We want to do as much research as possible so basically we would like some advice on the best books to get etc, any websites with info on puppy training. I saw a few books at crufts but would like to know if you find any particular books helpful.

Any other bits of advice you have would be appreciated.

Hiya
Before I got Dylan I was recommended The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey, it's absolutely brilliant & was a huge help for me as, like you, I had never had to cope with a puppy before.
Penny    

Hi,

Thanks i think i saw that one, Luckily both mine and my partners parents have had puppies so they are good for advice and my partners aunt is a puppy walker for Guide Dogs and so always has a puppy around and is full of advice. My last dog died at nearly 17 two years ago and my other doga few years before that also at nearly 17 years old so i dont really remember them as puppies.

Another quick maybe strange question is do you recommend hard or soft beds, my other dogs had hard beds but the soft ones look nice, but how do you clean them? most are too big for washing machines etc so are hard beds with bedding beter for hygeine purposes?

Best thing for bedding is something like vet-bed or old towels or blankets. Don't buy anything like doggie duvets, cushions etc as they may get chewed to bits and aren't as easy to wash :)

Daisy