Our puppy arrives tomorrow! Help.
October 11, 2013 8:34 PM   Subscribe

We have been planning on bringing a Bull Terrier puppy into our lives for a year. Well tomorrow is his arrival date and I'm stressed. We live in a townhouse with a fenced yard. No kids. Our work schedules will allow somebody to be home at least every 5 hours. I have only owned puppies when I had my parents to take on most of the responsibility. I have the crate, leash, collar, bowls, two types of food and some toys. Now what? What advice can you give to a new puppy owner? I felt like I did all the research, but now I feel lost. How have you raised your puppy so he is a joy and not a terror? What three things do you wish you had known when you brought your puppy home?
posted by Coffee Bean to Pets & Animals (18 answers total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
1. Get him on a schedule right away. Sleep, crate, potty, food, water all on a schedule.

2. Lots of potty breaks - especially immediately after a waking from a nap or after play! And throw your puppy a party when they potty outside, using the word "potty" or whatever word you want to associate with the act as it will help get the show on the road when they are older to be able to communicate what you want them to do. Seriously, cheer, jump up and down, praise like crazy.

3. Behavior that is kind of cute as a puppy may not be cute as an adult dog. So discourage anything you don't want to deal with forever like barking, play biting or mouthing you, etc.

Congrats!
posted by cecic at 9:17 PM on October 11, 2013


As soon as the vet has your dog up to date on all it's shots and clears your dog to mix and mingle socialize the heck out of your pup. Puppy classes, dog parks, take your dog everywhere and introduce them to lots of people, situations and dogs. It will make your life so much easier, I got older rescue dogs not at all socialized and it is really hard to undo the damage.

I love terriers, I have 2 of them and love all their terrier stubbornness, Bull Terriers make every terrier owner I know go "Wow that's a really stubborn/independent thinking dog" (by the way I love them madly and want one desperately so I am so jealous so don't take it the wrong way), you want to get into training classes early, ones that focus on positive reinforcement and shaping behaviours. Of course your dog might be different, temperaments vary within breeds, but just in case this is a very good book.

Set a routine from the start, yes the cute little puppy eyes are really hard to resist, but the cute puppy that sleeps in your bed now won't understand why it can't sleep in there when it's fully grown. Start out how you plan to go on.
posted by wwax at 9:24 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


Oh, I remember this panic well. I had it with both of mine, now 2.5 and 3 years old. There were even tears and a panic attack in the days before they arrived, if I'm honest. But I can't remember life before them, now. The best advice I can offer is this: puppies are amazing, adorable, hilarious, and fluffy... assholes. Really, truly assholes.

And also the best, provided you do the work. All of the standard advice is out there, so I'll add this:

1: Your puppy will probably discover the joy that is old socks. Embrace this, as it is a good thing, and save yourself the (ahem, close to $750) that you might otherwise spend on highly rated dog toys.

2: A tired puppy is a good puppy. As in, they can't be getting into trouble when they're exhausted. I'm not sure any truer words have been posted on puppy-related sites, so it bears repeating.

3: IT WILL GET BETTER: Basically every question I've asked here or on another breed-specific site has been about a problem that eventually resolved itself. These things were awful in the moment but they did go away, often irrespective of anything I was trying. This is by no means saying that training isn't everything (because it truly is), but puppies turn into dogs at around the 3 year mark and the changes between 2 and 3 are dramatic, in my (limited) experience, so just know that no frustration is necessarily forever. Mine now are just total joy, and occasional assholes, and I wouldn't be me without them.

Congratulations!
posted by mireille at 9:26 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


1. Puppy training class

2. Puppy training class

3. See 1 and 2
posted by zippy at 9:56 PM on October 11, 2013 [3 favorites]


1) You've puppy-proofed your house. Your new puppy will quickly show you all the places you missed.

2) I've had a puppy, and I've had a newborn human. Puppy was harder. Prepare to be frustrated. It sucks hard.

3) Make sure to follow positive reinforcement trainers. Don't screw the dog up in his formative years. Get a good bond going. He's your new best friend! And he will be for his entire life. It's a big deal.
posted by jms18 at 10:10 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Relax and let it happen.

I was really excited/stressed/tense about The Day My Dog Came Home and what he would be like, and how he would be around the house, and what his needs would be.

Pretty much 100% of things I worried about turned out fine.

All the things that were not fine were things that never even occurred to me, but to be honest most of those things were not a big deal in the least. Example: for the first day or two he just Would. Not. Poop. I was starting to think there was something wrong with him, and I was also sure this meant he would poop in the house and there would be a big uphill training battle to get him not to do that. Within a few days he had figured it out. Without pooping in the house.
posted by Sara C. at 10:33 PM on October 11, 2013


No matter what you do your dog isn't going to be reliably well behaved until it's like 2 or 3 years old. If you just accept that now it'll be easier to deal with the 6 month-18 month bipolar phase where they are perfect at puppy school then ignore everything you say at home and jump on people in nice clothes like they're getting paid. It's counter productive to expect too much in the meantime so set your young dog up to succeed as best you can. Keep him on a leash most places. Try to spot trouble ahead of time. Don't expect him to know how rough to play with older or smaller dogs or not to gang up with the other teenagers in a chase situation. Assume he's going to chase bikes and skateboards. Don't think that because he didn't chase your friends cats last month before he hasn't gotten braver. It'll pass and one day you'll have a really good dog. Or you'll strangle him with a chewed up t-shirt; one or the other.

Also name your dog something you don't mind shouting angrily and repeatedly in a public place.
posted by fshgrl at 10:49 PM on October 11, 2013 [6 favorites]


I'm a huge proponent of crate training. Puppies seem to appreciate schedules and predictability just as much as human babies, and if you train them to the command "crate" they will likely go right in without any fuss. My biggest helpful hints would be no unsupervised time outside the crate until the pup can be trusted not to chew on random stuff/destroy things (which for my lab was like, a year or two), always into the crate at nights and when you leave the house.

Also be prepared for the first few nights to be particularly hard with yowling and so forth. I literally slept in the crate with mine to try to keep her from waking the neighbors. I thought I could just bring her into bed with me, but that just ended in getting licked, yelped at and stomped on at 6am.

You will be fine! Have fun.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 10:56 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


With pups, it is definitely all about knowing what is realistic at different ages and setting them up to hear that "good doggie," For example, for the first few weeks, make sure you have time to take them out soon after a meal etc., because the poor little guys can only hold it for so long and success reinforces success. Also, remember to puppy-proof your place and get into the habit of keeping your shoes in the closet because the poor pup will only learn to avoid temptation with time.

Also, in addition to socializing them as much as you can with other dogs, try to introduce them to as many different types of people as often as you can, eg men, women, tall, deep voices, hat-wearers, etc. Doing so will help avoid a few embarrassing moments later.
posted by rpfields at 2:15 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


It may not always be necessary, but being away for up to 5 hours at a stretch means you'll initially really need the crate if you hope for the pup to be housetrained. Introduce it slowly, so that you don't trigger his anxieties and develop nasty associations with it.

With my first dog I didn't understand this. I locked him in the crate the first night we had him, and he panicked and freaked out for hours while I did nothing because I mistakenly thought we just needed to wait him out. He never got over his terror of being left in the crate, and we got rid of it because we were afraid he'd hurt himself trying desperately to escape.

With our second dog, we introduced the crate gradually, with all sorts of positive associations (petting, toys and meals in the crate, leaving the door open for a while, then closing it halfway, then closing it fully but not latching it, then latching it but staying nearby for a while. Taking it easy made the crate into a fun and safe-feeling place for her. It's so convenient that we can simply say "In your box!" and she'll happily head right in and stay there for hours without complaint.
posted by jon1270 at 3:46 AM on October 12, 2013


Truth: It's hard. Very hard. But like others have said, it really does get better.

I have a 6 month old Doberman, and he is now (mostly) a joy. The first couple of months I had him were exhausting, but when he was about 4 months I finally felt "settled" and comfortable with our routine.

Three things I wish I had known?

1. Your house won't stay clean anymore. Be prepared to clean things constantly. Sweeping, cleaning up pee, cleaning out the crate, picking up the stuffing from dog toys, vacuuming up crumbs from Milk Bones, etc. I suggest investing in a Swiffer Wet Jet and a spray bottle of bleach.

2. The fear of parvovirus. I wasn't able to take my dog out into areas frequented by other dogs until he had all of his vaccinations - I think he was 16 weeks when he was finished.

3. If you purchase a baby gate, invest in the tall kind. Puppies learn to jump very quickly.

Good luck, and don't take things too seriously! Enjoy your puppy!
posted by sarahgrace at 4:37 AM on October 12, 2013


One small thing I did with my dogs when they were puppies was play with their paws sometimes and now they don't have that aversion to people (vets, or me if they have something wrong) messing with them.
posted by Pax at 6:40 AM on October 12, 2013


Unless you plan on sleeping in shifts, *someone* will have to take the puppy out in the middle of the night to pee. They just can't hold it in all night until they're older.

It's important for all puppies to get trained. Doubly so for terriers. Be firm and don't waffle with the commands. They are much more secure and easy to live with when they are well-trained and held to a high standard of obedience.
posted by DrGail at 8:03 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


If you are near a PetCo, check out their free puppy playtimes. They are huge fun, reserved for puppies under a certain age, and a great way for puppies to learn about socializing with other puppies. Plus, unimaginable cuteness all over the place, all for free.
posted by OolooKitty at 8:12 AM on October 12, 2013


You might want to look into a (professional, bonded) dog-sitting and walking service. I got one when my dog was no longer a puppy, and wished I had done it a lot sooner. Once I had lined them up, I was able to call them if I found I would not be getting home on time. My dog loved them and I enjoyed getting calls reporting on their walks. It was surprisingly inexpensive.
posted by BibiRose at 8:13 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


Here is the #1 thing I wish I'd known when I brought my puppy home: there will be a moment sometime in the next week or two when you will think to yourself "Oh my god, what have I done?!" You may even be completely convinced that you made a horrible mistake.

Just let that moment pass, because it will. I've yet to talk to a dog owner who didn't have this experience with their first new puppy. It's a big lifestyle change and a lot of responsibility at first and you will be sleep-deprived for the first few days, which will heighten all freakouts.

But as others have said, it does get better. Pretty soon, it will be a lot less work, and the stuff you do have to keep doing (walking/trips to the dog park, feeding) just becomes a part of your routine.

A few specific pieces of advice:

1. If you can, get your puppy into a puppy class before he's finished his shots. Yes, parvo is scary, but the likelihood of getting it is actually pretty low (especially in a controlled environment like a class). However, an undersocialized dog can be a danger to himself and other people, and a massive pain for the owner. And unfortunately, puppies have a very small window where socialization is key - it closes at around 4-5 months. Puppy classes are great because he can play with other puppies during this window, in a safe and supervised environment. Many dog training schools realize this and take puppies as young as 7 weeks. Classes are also a really great way to build a solid relationship with your puppy.

*Another great way to socialize your puppy, a suggestion I got from AskMe: go to a park on a busy afternoon with your puppy and a meal's worth of kibble in a baggie. Sit at a bench in a high-traffic area and ask people who stop to pet him if they'd like to give him a treat. You will go through the kibble in no time and your puppy will start to develop the idea that strangers are awesome people who give him treats, not scary monsters that might hurt you or him.

2. Crate training is great, especially for puppies. Mine (10 months old now) hasn't been confined to his crate in months, but he will still go there when he needs a refuge. A note on your schedule: the rule of thumb is that puppies can only hold their bladders for as many hours as they are months old, plus one. ie, if your puppy is two months old, he can probably hold it for up to 3 hours. He will probably be ok for up to 5 hours in a crate, if he gets to go right before you leave and right when you come home, but any longer than that is pushing it. Again, this is something that will only be an issue the first few months.

3. Establish what you want the "rules" to be and stick with them. Your puppy may sulk or complain, but that's ok. He'll still love you and dogs have short memories anyway.

4. In my experience (my puppy and the other puppies I've seen since getting him), up until a year or so, puppies need play and mental stimulation as much, if not more, than exercise like walking. It can take me an hour to wear my 10-month-old with a walk, but 20 minutes of intense play with a buddy at the dog park and I have a peaceful house and sleeping dog for most of the evening - and my dog is pretty high energy. So if you have a dog park nearby, take him there once he's immunized (and the place you do puppy class may have playtimes you can use until then). You can also tie a toy to a piece of rope or a leash and get him to play "hunter" with it like he's a cat. Also, 5-10 minute training sessions are a great way to wear out a puppy.

Good luck and have fun!
posted by lunasol at 10:34 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


Relevant self-posted question about parvovirus and prevalence.
posted by zippy at 8:20 PM on October 12, 2013


There will surely be times when you want to act out of frustration. Maybe that's yelling at your puppy or dragging your puppy's leash. But remember: Your dog is like a child, and needs the right kind of feedback throughout its life.

So three things from a long-time dog owner:

1. Your dog will probably love you unconditionally.

2. Your dog does not have bad intentions. Rather, it simply does not know how to act. That is why proper feedback is important.

3. Read this!
posted by alvinschang at 11:07 AM on October 13, 2013


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