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New puppy

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  • 24-11-2011 5:09pm
    #1
    tempura
    Registered Users Posts: 604 ✭✭✭


    Hi. Have a new member arriving in a couple of weeks. Shih tzu puppy. She will be about seven weeks old when i get her.

    I am just looking for some advice on puppy care.

    What will I need in relation to feeding, bedding etc.

    Have been looking around on a few websites and there seems to be a ton of conflicting advice.

    It has been years since I have had a dog.

    Want to do right by this little gal and make her as comfortable as possible.

    Any advice welcome and thanks in advance.


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    #2
    Toulouse
    Registered Users Posts: 2,413 ✭✭✭Toulouse


    A pup should not leave its mother until at least 8 weeks but preferably between 10 and 12 weeks for smaller breeds. Those early weeks with Mom and siblings are really important in a young pups socialisation so if you really want to give her the best start then reconsider taking her at only 7 weeks.

    Crate training is a really good method of training so do a search on this forum and you'll get alot of good advice about it.

    If you give us an idea of your budget we'll recommend a good food but it's essential that you get some food from the breeder and switch slowly if you need to to prevent upset tummies. Make sure you get the worming and vaccination prograqmme from the breeder too.

    This is a good resource for owners of new pups. http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/your-education-about-puppy-education


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    #3
    tempura
    Registered Users Posts: 604 ✭✭✭tempura


    Toulouse wrote: »
    A pup should not leave its mother until at least 8 weeks but preferably between 10 and 12 weeks for smaller breeds. Those early weeks with Mom and siblings are really important in a young pups socialisation so if you really want to give her the best start then reconsider taking her at only 7 weeks.

    Crate training is a really good method of training so do a search on this forum and you'll get alot of good advice about it.

    If you give us an idea of your budget we'll recommend a good food but it's essential that you get some food from the breeder and switch slowly if you need to to prevent upset tummies. Make sure you get the worming and vaccination prograqmme from the breeder too.

    This is a good resource for owners of new pups. http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/your-education-about-puppy-education

    Thanks for the informaton.

    Unfortunatly I have to take her at 7 weeks. Long and sad back story im afraid, due to family bereavement. She is not coming from a breeder.

    My budget won't be a problem, so any advice on food would be great thanks.

    Will have to be her surrogate mum, have plenty of experience with that.


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    #4
    andreac
    Registered Users Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭andreac


    tempura wrote: »
    Thanks for the informaton.

    Unfortunatly I have to take her at 7 weeks. Long and sad back story im afraid, due to family bereavement. She is not coming from a breeder.

    My budget won't be a problem, so any advice on food would be great thanks.

    Will have to be her surrogate mum, have plenty of experience with that.

    If shes not coming from a breeder where is she coming from then? Someone had to have bred her? Can they not keep the pup/pups for another week or so if they have them this long?

    Unless the food she is being fed on isnt good quality then i would stick to what she is being fed by the breeder at the moment as a change in diet can cause an upset tummy.

    If you do have to change, then foods like Burns, Whites, Eukanuba, Arden Grange James WellBeloved are all good foods which can be bought in any good petshop. Just stay clear of the cheaper foods like Pedigree, Bakers etc that you get in the supermarket and so on as they are very bad quality.


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