What's most important the first few days?

[RickRed]

Today, (Friday) will be Teddy's first day at home. I'm having some trouble deciding what's most important. Here are some tasks and if someone could help me order them in some way I'd appreciate it.

The Tasks:
1. Introducing all family members to Teddy
2. Having Teddy receiving time and attention from his new primary care takers
3. Introducing Teddy to his new home-crate and living area
4. Having Teddy get use to spending time alone in that area
5. Charging the Clicker and clicking Teddy for every approach to his open crate
6. The introduction of chew toys
7. Introducing him to his new potty area outside
8. Introducing Teddy to our other dog (currently at a kennel until Monday)
9. Getting him outside, in the car, on trips to the pet store to begin the socialization process
10. Beginning to reward responses with the clicker, like sit etc
11. I have off the next 3 days from work. I can't decide if I should spend lots of time playing, with and helping Teddy adjust vs giving him the same amount of attention I would if I had been working so there isn't a let down once I go back to work.

Help and comments would be appreciated.
Rick

[mrsgrubby]

I think the most important thing today is just to hold and snuggle Teddy and make him know that he is safe, and not to be scared. It is a big day for him to leave his litter mates and go to a strange place.

Just sit with him and hold him, he will sleep alot, and it is fine for him to sleep on laps and in arms.

I don't know the make up of your family, but limit the time with small children, they are loud and overwhelmeing to puppies, as well as not careful where they walk, and they often drop puppies. If the breeder had children who interacted regularly it won't so much shock, but if not, remind the children to be quiet and calm.

If Teddy falls asleep in your arms, it is ok to put him in his crate to finish his nap, then he will wake up in there. ( I usually take a towel or small blanket with me when I pick up new puppies and rub it on all the puppies and let them run on it and chew it, then I put it in the new puppies crate when I get home so he will have something familiar to smell). Anyway, this is a good introduction to crates.

Teddy likely won't eat alot today, or even tomorrow so the clicker/crate training might be best held off for a few days, but go ahead and put him in there if he falls asleep, also feed him in there, set him in there and let him walk out, ect.

Puppies sleep so much, my puppies don't usually play with toys for several days, they would rather be held.

Introduce to the potty area immediatly. As soon as you get home take him there to try to go potty, (he may even pee in the car on your lap, some of mine have). Then when he is awake start taking him there ALOT, more than every hour for the first day, and praise like crazy if he goes potty there.;

I am always really cautious about introducing dogs, REALLY cautious. do this slowly, hopefully in a neutral place outside the home, like at the kennel. Wrap the new puppy in your dogs blanket or rub something from your dog on the new puppy so it smells a bit like your dog, this will help your dog see him not as a foreign thing. Never, Never, Never leave your dog and new puppy together unattended, not for quite awile, and seperate them for feeding. Also, if your dog has a favorite toy, put it someplace Teddy can't get it, and don't let Teddy near him while he has it. High Value items need to be put away unless Teddy is in his crate. Even be careful feeding treats, your dog may nip at Teddy if Teddy is near while he is getting a treat for the first few weeks.

If you take Teddy to the pet store, never put him in a cart or let him walk on the floor. Too many people take sick dogs, and Teddy isn't fully vaccinated. Hold him and don't let other dogs sniff him. The same on walks, start walking next week, but only in areas there arn't alot of dogs running around spreading sickness.

Once you can feel he is comfortable with you, your house, and family, break out the clicker and begin training, short 5 minute sessions a few times a day, starting with the "name game" so he learns his name, and moving on to sit, easy (relax), and such.

I would also sign him up for puppy Kindergarten asap for additional socialization.

Let us know how it goes, best of wishes.

[Jamilupine]

How many people are in your family? does everyone live under the same roof?

I would say the first few days really focus on: 2,3,4,6,7, and yes, lots of playing! Also, after a day or two I would start to introduce Teddy to your resident dog.
Once Teddy is comfortable with you, then I would move into 1 and 9. I was told DO NOT under any circumstances take an unvaccinated pup into a pet store (although I was told this AFTER I'd already taken her into one). The rationale I was given, which makes sense, is that EVERYONE takes thier new puppy to the pet store, and the new puppies are the one's most likely to have Parvo. Just some food for thought.
Finally, training is something you should definately start early, but I would focus first on letting him become acclimated to his new environment. When you do begin to train, keep trianing sessions short and a lot of fun (which you probably already know).

Good luck, he looks like a Cutie!

[/quote]

The Tasks:
1. Introducing all family members to Teddy
2. Having Teddy receiving time and attention from his new primary care takers
3. Introducing Teddy to his new home-crate and living area
4. Having Teddy get use to spending time alone in that area
5. Charging the Clicker and clicking Teddy for every approach to his open crate
6. The introduction of chew toys
7. Introducing him to his new potty area outside
8. Introducing Teddy to our other dog (currently at a kennel until Monday)
9. Getting him outside, in the car, on trips to the pet store to begin the socialization process
10. Beginning to reward responses with the clicker, like sit etc
11. I have off the next 3 days from work. I can't decide if I should spend lots of time playing, with and helping Teddy adjust vs giving him the same amount of attention I would if I had been working so there isn't a let down once I go back to work.

Help and comments would be appreciated.
Rick[/quote]

[RickRed]

MrsGrubby.
My youngest child is 12 and she is great with the pets we have, 1 dog and one bird. I have no doubt she will be a great help in training Teddy. I appreciate your thoughts on using the first two days to make Teddy feel both safe and comfortable rather than go for a training rountine. However all of life his about training, after reading both replies to my question I think I won't go into formal training for a week or so until he has adjusted.

Jamilupine, Thanks for the reminder about not using a cart at the Pet store. I most certainly would have used one. Our kids range from age 12-22, and the two oldest will not be spending much time with the puppy, though my oldest age 22 has agreed to help train, and since he is getting his Master's Degree in Behavioral Psychology, I think he might enjoy watching the training principles work on dogs, since his primary experience to date is with pigeons. I think dogs are lots more interactive and Fun than pigeons are.

As far as our resident dog, she goes either way sometimes upon introduction to a new dog she is very calm and friendly, other times she can become very aggressive. I plan to take Teddy to the kennel when we pick up Cheri and introduce them at the kennel. When Cheri meets another dog, I lose all control in that she will not respond to either commands, or to treats until there is a great distance between her and the other dog. She might respond very well, or it could go very poorly. We will see what happens on Monday when I pick her up. Who knows I may be asking for lots of advice on what to do when your resident dog is aggressive to a new dog.
Rick

[mrsgrubby]

Originally Posted by RickRed

Who knows I may be asking for lots of advice on what to do when your resident dog is aggressive to a new dog.
Rick

I'd really like to help you start out on the right foot so you don't have to ask the questions. What you do up front will make the difference.

At the rescue we really suggest that when folks introduce a new puppy to an adult dog they wrap it in soemthign that smells like the adult dog, this helps ease the "foreign smell".

Also, Cheri will be really happy to see you monday, make sure you go in to see her and greet her first, without taking Teddy. Pet her, maybe even run with her outside a bit, then get Teddy out of the car and make the introductions. Having two people will help. Have one person sit and have Teddy in their lap, and have the other person have Cheri on a leash....Don't keep the leash tight, give her room to move or she will feel trapped and sense tension. Keep the leash loose and allow her to move forward and backward. also, MAKE SURE the person with Teddy is sitting, it is VERY important that Teddy is not elevated above Cheri. In the dog world this is rude, and makes it look like Teddy has more status than Cheri. Many adult dogs actually bite puppies while the owners are trying to pick the puppy up, or are holding it. Hight/elevation is status in the dog world!!!!!

Once home make sure Cheri still gets alone time and special time with the family apart from Teddy. walk her, groom her, play with her while he is in his crate or with someone else.

I use an X-pen in my house to keep my puppies and their crate contained, as I have a 100 lb rottweiler who is not careful where she walks or lays, or sometimes even playing with small dogs or puppies. The X-pen surrounds the crate and is full of toys and the dogs can visist through it, and once they get bigger, over it. I take it down when I am watching the two of them play, and put it up when I am not, but don't want to crate the puppies.

For the first few weeks never leave the two dogs together unattended. Also, don't let your older dog bully the puppy. Puppies can't fend for themselves and having your big dog bully her could cause fear of other dogs as well.

If Cheri doesn't know the gentle command, you can teach her that as well.

Always feed them seperate, I would feed Teddy in his crate, and cheri in another room.

Keep high value items for only when they are seperated so no fighting occurs.

Provide toys that are lower value for them to play together. My big dog plays with large stuffed animals with the puppies. They play tug and chase each other trying to get them. It keeps my adults mouth occupied so she can't use it on the puppy, and if play gets too elevated the puppy goes back in the x-pen till they calm down a bit.

Walking them both together is a good activity as well, they are both occupied by walking and allows them to not concentrate on each other but still bond.

Hope this helps some.

[mrsgrubby]

One more thing,....

I never potty Jasmine in the yard with the puppies, NEVER. She goes out and then them, or they go out and then her. Never together. Jasmine can not resist chasing the puppies in the yard if they begin to run.

This is the case with alot of big dogs, their prey drive just kicks in and they chase. It can really hurt a puppy.

My house isn't that big so if they run in the house and she chases them it's not very far and not very fast, and they usually duck behind the table or in their crate. (She has learned that I do not allow her to stick her head or any of her body into the puppy crate, we taught her that right away so they had a safe place to get away from her at all times.)

Anyway, I just wanted to mention that cuz alot of puppies get hurt outside in big yards running, and the big dog just couldn't contain themselves and took off after them.

[Pondwader]

Just don't forget to smell that puppy breath and get warm puppy kisses on your nose as often as possible! They are gone all too soon

[RickRed]

Appreciate all the helpful responses on how to introduce Cheri to Teddy. I have another question/problem.
Teddy's first night was great, he went from 11pm to 5am without any protest crying.

However he does not like to be either in a crate or in his pen and cries very loudly in both those circumstances. While this is to be expected what makes it more difficult is that he's shown ZERO interest in EVERY dog toy including kongs stuffed with chicken and his food.

He needs to find a way to occupy himself when he is alone, I don't know what to give to him, or to buy to help him here, but he needs a chew toy that he can become addicted to. I thought the kong would be it, now I'm lost. Any suggestions would be MOST welcome.
Rick

[mrsgrubby]

He is still young. Jasmine didn't chew much until she was around 12 weeks, but sometimes she would chew on a stuffed animal.

Up until now Teddy has probably only chewed on his littermates, and played with them, so playing by himself is a new thing.

Just make sure his crate has a couple of chew choices like the kong and a stuffed animal, and make sure it has a nice warm blanket in it, since he will be missing his siblings body heat, and he will be fine.

At his age he really will be sleeping most of the time he is in there, as long as you play with him when you are home.

As far as not liking his crate and cage, he will adjust, everything is just so new to him. Just keep giving him treats every time you put him in there, and hide treats in his crate in the corners and under the toys so he finds them. (use soemthing yummy like maybe those soft meat sticks for dogs, or those small soft liver treats for training. Just break them into small pieces and put them in there.

I know you have read up as well and know that each time he ventures in his crate reward him, and feed him in there.

Stuffed toys that squeak are usually fun for puppies as well.

[flyndog]

[quote=RickRed... but he needs a chew toy that he can become addicted to.[/QUOTE]

Non-edible Nylabones. For puppies, the flexible version is more fun than the harder, original version. They are puppy pacifiers!

[mrsgrubby]

been thinking about the chew toy thing. I give my puppies raw marrow bones from the meat dept in the grocery store. They chew and lick them for hours....but they aren't really a toy.

[Carrie]

I wouldn't over- shower him with time and attention at first and then you go off to work and he's got to adjust to that shock. Try leaving for short, frequent absenses and get him use to it from the get go.

Don't let him out of the crate when he's crying or you'll reinforce that. Wait for a lull. He'll get onto it in time. Start out by leaving the door open whenever you can, so he's free to come and go as he pleases (makes him less uneasy) and like it was said, feed him in there...always a pleasant place to go.

I wouldn't worry about training for a few days or a week unless it's purely for fun. Let him be a pup and don't try to make him grow up too fast. Let him play when he is ready. If he's not into chew toys, don't worry about it. He probably will be later. He has to get use to his new place and it really can't be forced.

I think you've gotten really good advice. Just get him gradually use to everything you're ever going to need to do with him; nails, ear cleaning, brushing, bathing, vet visits (for fun) lots of socializing but where safe until he's vaccinated. Associate all these weird, human things with treats and happy praise. If he's afraid of something, don't make a big fuss over him...just act like it's no big deal and give him a little encouragement or take it a little slower with the introduction of something new.

good luck.