Preparing for a New Puppy

One year ago we purchased a Cavoodle puppy, I really had no idea what we were getting into. A few months earlier we had put down our beloved, Beagle Labrador Cross. We weren’t in a rush to purchase a new pup, however, I knew it was time to commit the day my youngest daughter burst into tears because she no longer had a doggy!

Christmas holidays were just around the corner, so we jumped online and found a chocolate colored Cavoodle who has a striking resemblance to Chewbacca from Star wars. Pretty soon our bundle of joy was nicknamed Chewy, and boy has he lived up to his name. My error was taking my new red shoes out of the box before jumping in a shower.

By now this fluffy ball had completely wrapped me around his paw and was sleeping beside my bed on the floor. This meant that I could drape my arm over him whenever he cried. Yes I am a puppy sucker. Consequently, there was no price too great when purchasing puppy items, he just had to have the best. This included the lamb’s wool bed for a grand price of $90, as well as expensive Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner, after all darling….he is a Cavoodle.

Twelve months later, and after a very long story, we have now had a Cavoodle litter of five, and we have decided to buy a best friend for Chewy. Our new pup is called Michael (Mickle Pickle for short). You won’t be able to guess the movie unless you have seen the Ten Commandments. Michael has been named after one of the Archangels in the Bible- his best pal is Gabrielle. I am hoping that they use their powers for good and not for evil.

So now I am wiser and smarter and ready to share my new puppy tips with the world. I have raised a healthy one-year-old, a pregnant five year old (dog – just felt I needed to clarify this to avoid calls from DHS) and now five crazy pups so I believe that I have some pearls to share with you. I hope that you enjoy your new pup – just don’t forget who the boss is......clearly it is Chewy.

Puppy beds

Puppies don’t need fancy, expensive beds. In the beginning they will poo and pee on it. You may want to invest in a cheap cushion from the children’s furniture section in Kmart, spend no more than $12. At night all the pup needs is an old towel folded in half, and a puppy pee matt or some newspaper. When they have better bladder control purchase a dog bed from Kmart for $20. Try to find something that has a zip so that you can wash the cover.

Sleeping arrangements

It is likely that your pup has been sleeping with their brothers and sisters so it is understandable that they will feel alone and sad at bedtime. However, be warned, last night I lay in bed listening to the pups cry. They were together and their Mum was beside them. They were crying because they wanted to be in my arms. This is very heartwarming but I am not falling for the puppy tears this time. Three weeks of sleepless nights last year has caused my heart to grow cold. My advice is to put your new pup in a large cardboard box or doggy crate in the laundry with a soft toy that they can cuddle. Play music and purchase a ticking clock. Some people recommend waking pups about 5-6 hours after they have gone to bed, but I wouldn’t recommend doing this for a long time as it may create bad sleeping habits. This was not something I ever tried, leaving a puppy pea mat in the crate is sufficient. When they are a little older make sure you take the mat away as the goal is for them to learn how to hold overnight. I plan to give it a try from about 12 weeks onwards this time, I will let you know how it goes.

Crating dogs overnight

I can’t recommend this more! Every morning, for months, I cleaned up wee and poo until I switched to a crate. A crate is a cage where your puppy can sleep overnight. The key to success is removing all food and water after 7pm and letting your pup have a good run outside before bed. There will be accidents at the start but dogs hate doing their business in their bed so very quickly they will start holding for you. If you are trying a crate be prepared for a few accidents, but don’t give up! Be patient with your pup as they just don’t have the bladder control to last this long. I recommend placing a pee mat in the crate to start.

Food

If you read the labels of many of the dog foods in the supermarkets you will see wheat, sugar and loads of preservatives, these are not things that you want your precious puppy to consume. I recommend putting your dog on a raw food diet and supplementing it with high-quality kibble from the Vet if you really need to. Puppies need to eat three meals a day, so if you are away from the home around lunchtime you can leave a bowl of kibble in their pen after they have enjoyed a hearty breakfast.

For the past four weeks, my puppies have been eating a combination of raw food, cooked chicken breast and kibble softened with boiling water. They are growing well and they have an awesome appetite. The pups love raw beef and lamb and I am about to try them on some Kangaroo, although I am not sure how they will go as Roo meat can be quite rich. The pups also enjoy organ meat such as liver, heart and chicken giblets. Raw chicken necks have been a hit and are essential for Calcium. Avoid giving dogs cooked bones as they will splinter in their tummies. Resist the urge to cut up the chicken necks as your pup may try to swallow it in one go, let them chew on the full neck over a period of time. 12-15% of their diet needs to be bone such as chicken neck, turkey neck, goat neck or ribs, 10-30% should be organ meat as it is full of vitamins and minerals, and the rest should be made up of lean meat.

If you are worried about where to find all of these items Tasman Butchers is the one stop shop. It is cheap, and if you get stuck they are happy to help you select appropriate raw food and bones for your dog. If you are smart you can train your pups to eat fruit and vegetables, although they are like children and will eat around them if they can see them. Try grating them and mixing them with the meat, or you can juice these items and stir the juice into their food. Avoid starchy foods like potatoes and corn, as well as foods thought to be fatal for dogs such as grapes, raisins, mushrooms, garlic, onion, chives, persimmons, peaches, plums, apricots and cherries.

Other items to buy

Where possible buy your puppy items online. You will save money every time.

1.     Puppy pee mats (can also be purchased from the $2 shop).

2.     About 10 rolls of paper towel and multi-purpose spray for pee accidents.

3.     A good carpet shampoo.

4.     A second mop or a different mop head as you don’t want to wash your entire house with the same mop that cleans up puppy wee.

5.     An old flat saucer or small bowl for food (you can pick up a 20 cent plate from the Op shop).

6.     A water bowl (cheap is fine, you really don’t need the ceramic bowl with pretty paw prints and rubber bottom).

7.     A cheap supermarket shampoo, but purchase a nice leave-in conditioner (I suggest an Oatmeal conditioner).

8.     A crate to sleep in overnight (make sure your dog can stretch out and stand up inside it).

9.     A doggy seat belt if you would like to take them in the car.

10.  A soft cushion from Kmart (no more than $12)

11.  Later on, a dog bed from Kmart (no more than $20). Make sure you can wash the cover.

12.  Collar (you may want to buy a body harness) and leash.

13.  High-quality Kibble (this is the hard dog food). Avoid buying cheap dog food from the supermarket.

14.  Toys from the $2 shop. They love small balls, rubber sausages on a rope, toys with tags and soft teddies.

15.  Raw meat from a discount butcher like Tasman (minced beef/kangaroo, chicken necks, heart, liver, giblets etc).

16.  Plastic containers so that you can portion and freeze the meals (freeze about 3 days’ worth in one container).

17.  Chicken breast if your dog is spoilt (make sure you cook this)

18.  Worming syrup

19.  A plastic shell for water play, they are currently $12 at Bunnings

20.  A grooming brush

Consider

·       Puppy school for $99 at your local vet (it’s really more about training you)

·       Obedience training

·       Pet Insurance if you don’t have an emergency account

I hope that you have gained some helpful insights into preparing for a new puppy. Enjoy the laughs, they truly are a family’s best friend. I would like to leave you with a funny quote to help you get through the day…’Handle every situation like a dog. If you can’t eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away.

By Jen Trodden

OnPoint Leaders