As many of you know I'm getting a new pup in 7 weeks and on another thread (which I kind of stole:)) I began saying how the preperation for a new puppy is amazing, personally I compare it to having a new baby! Please add items which are or may be needed when getting a new puppy:) I began by saying;
Old Newspapers
Discinfectant
Garden Secured
....etc....etc...Please add!

Kitchen Roll and Nappy sacks. I'd avoid the Daily Express newspaper as the ink comes off everywhere. I use the Independent or the Financial Times.

Good luck

Fiona

Watching this list develop with interest....:) I can definately recommend The Perfect Puppy, just finished reading it and about to go through it again, it explains things really well, also a good socialising checklist and a list of phrases for you to pick your words for certain tasks and hand signals (trying to think of these at the moment).

Have noticed on the toilet training posts that people recommend a solution of washing powder for cleaning up after accidents! (this is also mentioned in the book).

Good luck

Anita

I'd also avoid the Sun - just not very absorbant!! I use the times or the mail.

Old Towels
Piece of Bedding to give to the breeder so it gets his/her mums smell to bring home with you
Food and Water bowls
Collar, Lead and ID tag
Bed
Baby gate possibly if you have got stairs (or so you can confine them to one room but so that they can still see you - i have got two on my kitchen doors so when i shut him in so i can get on he can still see me.)

Sorry if i have stated the obvious just thought of the things we had for when Bailey arrived which was only 9 weeks ago but feels like forever now!

Tracy

Just remembered i forgot the following:

Chewy toys so he/she doesn't use you or your furniture ;)
Big Teddy

Good Luck

Tracy

You get a better class of puppy with the FT

Um, how about the puppy food itself? I've seen bowls mentioned, but nothing to put in them ;-)
Love
Patience
Humility (for those little setbacks that happen right after you proudly declare "puppy" can now do/go _____. especially in re: house training)

toodles

Nurofen, Ear plugs, Bottle of Southern Comfort, Sense of Humour :D

Is that a must then Leigh:D :D :D

Make sure you know where the local vet is and their number

Christine

Yes, but depending on the poopy you might need to swap nurofen for prozac :D

leigh----depending on the poopy!!!!!!!what, wether its big-loose-smelly-runny????or did you mean puppy???? :D

Perhaps she meant both? ;)

It's ok everyone- just you lot keep reminding me what I'm letting myself in for won't you!:D :D :D

One idea that appealed to me that I heard on this board was to give the breeder one of those "one film" throw away cameras, the sort where you take the photos and then send the whole thing - camera and film back to maker for developing. The breeder can take a photo a week, or whatever, of your puppy growing up, and this can start off your "puppy photo album".
Have you decided whether to use a crate/ indoor kennel? I do recommend them, for house training at night and day time naps, so you can get on with things and know where he is!

Check all your sheds/outbuildings/garage that they are secure, and even if they are, put all poisons/liquids/paints etc or anything remotely dangerous out of reach. There is always SOMEONE who leaves the b....y door open!! Its also a good idea to get used to turning electrical things off at the wall when not in use. I know its a pain, but may save a pup from electrocution - they all love to chew wires, usually behind the tv/computer where no one can see them! Keep audio tapes and video tapes well out of the way too, if eaten they can cause a huge problem.

The only other thing I can suggest is to invest in a steam cleaner for your floors/carpets and a squirty bottle of "bitter apple" or something simaliar for the corner of your favourite rug/very best pair of shoes. :-)

I have renamed Puppies ...Poopies .... more apt don't you agree :D

Nylabone. Great for teething (better than sofas IMO).

How about a good puppy training book?

great idea about the camera! its a good way to see the what the big monster used to look like when he/she was a little ball of fluff.

and i suppose loads of toys would be handy to help the poor baby to settle in.

Has anyone mentioned the Kong ..... marvellous for stuffing and keeps a mischieovous puppy - or is it Poopie now!!! :D - busy for ages :)

As Westie Lover has said, Bitter Apple is fantastic, but whatever you don don't buy the cheaper ones from pet shops - they don't work and stink the house out with a sort of horrid chemically smell, yuk.

We have used Vick's to great advantage, and i have heard oil of cloves mentioned - why not get them all and then you can pick and choose according to what is getting chewed!!!

LIndsay

Sorry to ask such a dumb question - I have read about stuffed kongs so many times on here but what exactly do you stuff kongs with??? If they are supposed to occupy dogs for a long period of time then is it with 'sticky' food e.g. blended meat that they lick out (I imagine biscuits would be quite easy to tip out?) In case you can't tell, last time I had a puppy, kongs weren't heard of!!!:)

Good question! And is it just the normal Kong you stuff, or the funny ball with strange shaped holes in which is made by Kong?

My new Pup is due to be born this week - Mum overdue now so v v excited and hanging over the email to hear when her temperature drops so I know when to start pacing! If all goes well I shall be taking delivery in about 7-8 weeks too so an reading this list with great interest. Please keep the good advice coming! Am very keen on the camera idea as I am in Nottinghamshire and Pup is in Argyllshire!!!!

Linda

Well, most kong stuffers have different "recipes"!! :D

I have used just "shapes" biscuits, also used dog food, either dry or canned; but the best is when youstuff it with ingenuity - the dog really gets into it and loves it!!! And it whiles away the time so that he hardlynotices when you are gone and may save the furniture!! :)

I use a piece of "chewstick" in the small hole at the top. Then i put a yummy small sausage or piece of cheese in the top inside, folowed by all sorts of things - raisins, sultanas, different treats - and then plug the bottom with something which holds it all in. I wedge a small marrowbone roll biscuit in with a bit of chewstick. :)

Some people stuff them with meat and freeze them, and some with peanut butter and cream cheese.

I suppose i could list it as a hobby !!!

Lindsay

LOL! Being a 'Kong Stuffer' myself I felt I had to contribute here! :)
I Place a Kong, narrow end down into an old cup after first plugging the little hole tightly with bread. Then I stuff it with grated or chopped up cheese (sometimes little bits of ham too) and torn up bread. Then I put it in microwave for about 40 seconds. After being left to cool, it is then given to the dog. Last dog ages!!! (I have 7 dogs so I tend to make a 'job lot'!)
For a Kooling Kong, I again stuff a little piece of bread in small hole, stuff Kong with dog meat and biscuits and then put it in a plastic bag. The it is put into the freezer for two hours. Once frozen it I then given to dog. (outside cos these can be messy!) Ideal for teething puppies as it seems to relieve sore gums and most useful for warm days to help cool dog down.

There is a kong website that has recipes on it for stuffing kongs.

www.kongcompany.com

For the new puppy owners remember that kongs come in different sizes so you need to choose a size appropriate do your pup.

Thanks very much, I think I will buy a Kong and practice making things to stuff it with before my boy arrives:D Mind you, I don't know what I will do with the food then - perhaps offer it to the other half as posh new cuisine!!!:D He's that stupid he will probably fall for it! I have heard about Kongs so much on this board that I think the 'experienced kongers' should collaborate on a recipe book, and donate the profits to their beloved doggies and stuffing more kongs!!!
finally, this thread is sooo useful (thanks to Kash for starting it) i have made a (long) list and will be my pet shop's best customer in the coming weeks! :D

We're going to a funeral on Tuesday and Holly will be left by herself in an aunts house for nearly 2hrs whilst we're at the service. She's never been there before so we thought a stuffed Kong would be a good distraction for her and help her to pass the time.

We tried her out with the Kong this morning and it took her over 2hrs to completely empty it, it's only a medium but she's very dense!! She loved it and kept barking at it because it wouldn't empty by itself.

I'd recommend a Kong to anyone now, they really are great. We stuffed ours with Whiskers kitten food, baker complete puppy food, smoked wafer thin ham and a couple of gravy coated dog biscuits in the end.

Holly is now a very happy doggy :D :D :D :D

Fiona

I was a big Kong fan until the other day - I stuffed one with my kids left over roast beef sandwich and left Missy on her bed with it while I pottered in the kitchen - she was very quiet, when I next checked on her she had chewed half a dozen chunks of the edge at the top, luckily it didn't appear as if she'd swallowed any, but beware when leaving your dog alone with any toy........

Was it a red Kong? Just asking because while the red Kong is extra bouncy and ok for most dogs, there is a less bouncy black Kong that is more suitable for 'Power chewers'.

Yes, and it is useless for GSP's, you can't leave them alone with them either black or red. The only thing I have found that they don't completely destroy is the largest Nylabones. Or a red Kong if you shove a suitably sized nylabone in the end of it :-)

We pop in a couple of dog cookies and then top it off with tinned food, however there are all kinds of recipes including cheese, peanut butter, chicken soup (frozen). Go to www.kongcompany.com and they have a whole list of recipes.

Wendy

Amend that to lots and lots and lots of newspapers!!!!!!!
Good luck with the new pup.

Hi, another great "foody" toy is a Buster Cube, a very clever invention into which you pour small dog biscuit. It has several compartments inside where the biscuit gets trapped. the only way to release them is for the dog to roll it around, and then a few at a time come out. Its one of the most entertaining toys for a dog, and for their owners to watch. Great for when you have to go out for an hour or two without pup, they can spend the time getting their dinner and staying out of mischief. They take a day or two to get the hang of it, so you have to show them how to, which is even more entertaining for the other members of the family!! If you have a video/dig camera you have to film the demo!!

Hi everyone- just thought I'd amend by saying it's now 6 weeks- not that I'm counting or giddy or anything really- honest;) I'm phoning the breeder tomorrow evening and hoping all goes well- I'll be going up on Tuesday night to see them all!:D :D :D

Thanks everyone for adding- it's making quite interesting reading- I'll now be going up on Tues with a throw away camera- great idea!:) Also anyone with any recommendations on books specific to the German Shepherd breed would be useful too!

I've just been on another thread and quite a few of all are all expecting and all within a very short space of time between;) So this list has proved quite useful:)Go on then- another list which may prove useful- my new question- 'What about compiling a list of useful and essential questions to ask the breeder'? :D

Sorry- I've made us all sound pregnant haven't I:D :D You'd have a job then Free Shyne:D :D :D :D

Hi all:

Here's a really dense question - but here it is anyway - how do you clean these Kong things.
1) Do you not bother to clean them?
2) Throw them in the dishwasher (should I clean dog things in the dishwasher or is that gross)?
3) Throw them in the sink with soapy water?
4) Use a toothbrush to get into the crevices?
Thanks for helping me with this first time dog owner question.

Butter

The dogs get them pretty clean - though stuff does get up under the rim. They are dishwasher safe if you have one. We just toss them in the sink:)

Wendy

Hot, soapy water and a bottle brush!