preparing for dog ownership?

chrism2007

soon enough ill be getting my first dog, or two dogs even. theyll be two staffordshire bull terriers from a friend whos staffordshire had pups

theres always been dogs in the family but these will be my first since moving out

im trying to prepare the house / garden as much as possible

any suggestions on what to buy apart from the bed / kennel?

or any other tips you can give me.

cheers in advance

stupidsometimes

Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around the rooms you will be allowing the dog access too. Anything on that level you want kept safe you need to puppyproof. Puppies when teething will sink their teeth into anything no matter what it cost, how painful it could be for them or no matter how difficult it will be to replace the object. My dog loved my skirting boards and tried to go for my fireplace a few times.

He used to LOVE any loose threads on my sofa aswell. He would find the barest bit of thread and go wild at it if he wasn't caught in time.

With training and them getting older they pass through the difficult phase eventually!

jen_23

I'm sort of in the same boat at the moment. Trying to make out a checklist of everything I'm going to need.
This is what I've come up with for the moment.

-Kennel
-run (large enclosed galvanised steel pen)
-collar/lead/id tag
-comfy bed for staying indoors as pup (will be shifted outdoors when gets older)
-brushes and other grooming equipment
-toys lots of and different types to keep puppy from chewing everything else.
-good vet sourced
-good groomer sourced
-obedience/puppy socialising classes sourced
-dog car carrier/divider
-pet insurance (theres a new one launching in June might be cheaper called blue insurance for pets or something along thse lines - google-)
-Training leads (harness for when puppy)
-Supply of puppy food
-new bowels for puppy food
-New walking shoes for me
-+1 to removing everything of danger from puppys reach. I have a whole utility room of dangerous things to be removing to high up cupboards.

That's all I can think of for now but there's probably more stuff I should be thinking of. I'll post it if I can remember:o

chrism2007

Jen you have done some serious homework

only one thing on that list. the dog run

do i definitely need it and what purpose would it serve.

ive never seen someone use one to be honest

and one other thing

how long would it be before they can sleep outside in the shed/kennel?

jen_23

It's taken 26 years for me to get a dog so I'm prob just over excited with that list

The reason I'm getting a dog run is mainly because our garden is not very secure. We are in a detached country house and the fencing we have is behind hedging and that fencing is just to keep cows out so it wouldn't keep a dog in.

i'm getting a Samoyed husky and they are notorius for running away so I just want something secure that will keep him in and he can't get into trouble then.

So basically when it's time to go out to the kennel I'm hoping to put it in the pen. That way I won't have to tie him up at night and he can still move about and have a bit of freedom for excercise. (outside of the several miles everyday he will already be getting )


I think this will prob be the one I get http://www.sjebbandsons.com/futura-medium-sized-doganimal-runcagepen-106-p.asp

I'm not really sure when they go into the kennel. (anyone have more experience with this??)
Definitly after all the vaccinations but I'll prob play it by ear and when he seems big enough I'll start trying him in it for the day time and then eventually get to putting him in there at night.


Oh I've added one more possible thing to my list a puppy play pen.
That's because the pup will be in the utility room for the first few months and I definitly don't want him getting up to mischief in there.
(even though I will have the place fully re-arranged before he arrives I just want to be extra careful:o)

chrism2007

ah right, i wouldnt have a need for one of those as ive a large garden with a surrounding wall so they wont get out

to be honest that looks like the kind of thing i would make rather than buy. 190 euro would go very far that way

id absolutely love the dog your getting but i dont have the space for something that big, plus im helping a friend out by taking two of there pups

jen_23

My Dad has that way of thinking too(I'm the lazy one for D.I.Y) so I think he's going to end up making a pen instead (I'll just be stearing clear for about a week so i don't hear all the cursing and 'glued the wong thing here' and oh god my finger'!!!! )

It sounds like your pretty much set so for getting your pups. When will they be arriving?

Do you have any pics of the pups your getting??

chrism2007

no ive no pictures at all. they were just born so they wont be ready for a couple of months at least