Preparing for our new puppy (Part 2)

By: lovingpeacefulmama
Do you love me?
Such a happy time in our household.  We have a new puppy and we are all so excited.  She is soooo cute and sooo much fun!!!  The first day I was so worried, our new puppy, Oreo was not making a sound, no whimper, no grunts, no barking.   What dogs don’t make a sound?  I’m sure there are a slew of dogs out there that don’t bark, or grunt or even whimper, but I’ve never had them in my home, and I’m sure I’ve never met them before.   This wouldn’t normally matter to me, in fact I think up until a year ago I would have probably searched for a dog that was quieter than normal…. but recently I’ve fallen in LOVE with dogs that can say “I LOVE YOU”.  So when we decided to get a puppy, I swore to everyone, to their rolling eyes and giggling smirks, that we would get a puppy that would eventually be able to say or sing “I LOVE YOU!!!”   I really have no idea on how I’m going to teach her to sing, but I am sure going to try.
She’s 2 months old, and we’ve had her for 2 full days now.  I can now get a yip and a play growl out of her, so the talking thing is so STILL ON!!!

Getting all of our ducks in a row:
Before the puppy arrived, we had to get ready for her.  We needed to buy supplies, prepare our home, and learn about how to take care of our new family member.  
SUPPLIES:
-    brush/comb, toys, a puppy bed, vitamins (usually recommended by breeder)
-    crate(car and home, make sure it’s going to be big enough for your fully grown dog) 
-    puppy food (recommended by owner or breeder, make sure you ween your puppy off of the old food lowly or else your puppy could have terrible diarhea and/or gas)
-    water bowl, leash or harness, collar, rubber toys made especially for puppies.  
-    Find a vet that is recommended by your friends and neighbors.  Make sure you set up a vet apt for a few days after your puppy is supposed to arrive so that you can keep her healthy.
-    Pick up around your house; make sure all wires and cables aren’t anywhere your puppy can get to, make sure your house plants aren’t toxic to dogs, pick up everything on the floor that you want to keep,
-    Buy your toy’s, try to limit yourself to a few to make sure that the puppy you’re getting is going to enjoy your picks.  Oreo really enjoys her miniature tennis balls but she walks away when we make them squeal….maybe she will grow out of this.
Learn about:
-    potty training(always be positive and see below)
-    pig ears (are they really pig ears? No, but they are really pig hide, http://www.dog-bones.com/pig_ears.html)
-    crate training (be patient, be positive)
-    proper holding (under the butt and chest)
-    puppy timeouts (even puppies need down time) 

Potty Training: Beware the signs!!!
This is really important….no, this is REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT…. mind the signs.  
If there’s any one thing that I would like to leave with anyone that is training a puppy, it would be to just keep taking your puppy out as much as possible.  Your puppy will know her scent, and she will want to go in the same place each time.
If your puppy is sniffing the ground a lot….take her out.  
If your puppy has just gotten up from a nap…..take her out.
If your puppy has just eaten……take her out.
If your puppy has just drank a lot…..take her out.
If it’s been atleast 3 hours since you’ve taken her out……take her out.
In other words….when in doubt, TAKE HER OUT!!!!
For more information:
http://www.cathyscockapoos.com/puppycare.html
http://www.cathyscockapoos.com/cratetraining.html