This weeks blog is how we prepare for bringing our puppy home and some useful tips. Following on from last week, where we introduced you to Dingo and how we pick a puppy. In the ideal world it would be great to leave the puppies together as a litter until they’re 10-12 weeks old. Whilst the bitch will have well and truly had enough by then, it’s an important part of the puppies education. Learning about pecking order, hearing and seeing new things in the world and socialising. 

We prepared an area in our house for Dingo, where the older dogs can have some peace and where he can feel safe and secure. We have a large pen, with an eating and drinking area, Nylabones and some vet bed with a puppy basket on top. Dingo also has an array of Kong toys but we do not like him to have those if we are not around.

A useful list of things you will need for your puppy

  • Puppy food (include a 2kg bag of the food the breeder used, so you can slowly change over, to your preferred food
  • Collar and lead
  • Water and food bowl
  • Newspapers or puppy pads
  • Puppy bed
  • Nylabones
  • Toys
  • Puppy safe dog wood chew
  • Pen or area of the house secure for the puppy

A lot of puppies now may not have had a car journey. Breeders are not getting the first vaccination recorded due to many vet practices wanting to use the vaccines their drug companies supply them with. Microchipping can be done at home by someone trained in chipping, as was the case with Dingo. 

We checked he hadn’t had any supper and picked him up at 5pm. He had a final play with his playmates, whilst we checked his microchip number and his Kennel Club Certificate all matched. He went to the loo and we jumped in the car for our 10 minute journey home. He travelled like a dream on David’s knee and was very content watching the road ahead! 

In preparation for the car journey home, we find the following tips useful. 

  • Ask what time they were fed and aim for a good 4 hours without food
  • Take them to the loo before you leave. 
  • If they’ve had colour collars on, pop your puppy collar on. It’s much easier to have something to grab. 
  • Either use a knee for a short journey or a secure crate or dog cage in the boot. 
Dingo in the car.

Introducing your puppy to your other dogs

We took this opportunity to slowly introduce Dingo to Baz and Chaos. It was a warm evening and we made the introduction in our garden. We knew Chaos would be fine but Baz can be a little sharp and more so as he’s now 10. Our older dogs are well trained to the voice and very easy to call back and to sit, so we didn’t worry about leads. We popped Dingo down for a run around and the let Chaos and Baz out into the garden. We kept a close eye on them and it went really well.

Chaos, Baz and Dingo

We think the older dogs were hoping Dingo would have gone home after an hour or so – they’ve now realised he’s a permanent fixture in the house! They have all adapted really well and are all get along beautifully. It’s great for us having the other dogs to remind Dingo he’s not the bees knees in the hierarchy, and to have some respect for his elders. He really is great fun to have around and so far so good!

Until next time!

Taking 5 with his new friend.

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