the joy of being a new nervous momma!

breakthenight

I am not exactly new to dogs, my family has always had, and still does have dogs. However, I am possibly going to be getting my own dog soon, which is very exciting. I really want a medium sized dog(30-60#) that loves people,is smart, and who would be great for swimming and hiking with(especially dog backpacking), because these are things I like to do,and would love to have a canine companion to do them with. However, I was considering getting an adult dog(personality already set,ect) or a puppy, and I had no real leanings either way. Puppies grow up to be dogs, after all

Either way, a relative of mine has an "accidental litter" of 10 mixed breed mutts, should mature around 40#. My mother told me about it, and it looks like I could possibly be getting a pup from the litter, pretty exciting, but not a sure thing yet. The pups are a real blend, but do include some duck toller for sure and possible GSD, and from what I hear, are sweet as pie and cute(after all, all puppies do cute well ). They are not near old enough to leave yet, but I am looking into meeting them. I am such a nervous new momma!! I worry about everything!
So a list of a few of my many worries and questions:

how do I pick a puppy that will suit my lifestyle? I work quite a bit during the week, but I LOVE getting home to a dog, having a nice walk, jog, hike, ect, and with my family dogs, I generally fit in a good long play/training session every night after they are exercised. The pup would likely be going to doggie daycare once older 2-3x a week for a couple hours, and I would be hiring a dog walker during the day(about 2x daily visits during firsy year, and easing back). I also like to after exercise, to hang around home, cooking and relaxing.

Male or female? My female dogs have all been great, calm, independant dogs who enjoy a cuddle on occasion, very "soft" dogs, but my males have been dedicated, loyal, cuddlebugs, but more of a handful. I do not know if this is typical of males/females. I am looking for a nice, solid, loyal and loving dog, whom will want to work with me, as I LOVE training dogs. Either gender would be altered.

How should I start clicker training my puppy? I have used positive training methods in the past, but I have not clicker trained, and I am excited at what this could do to improve the communication during training. Suggestions welcome

What should I feed my pup? I have been looking at brands, and I think chicken soup looks like a good, upper middle range food. Is this OK to feed?

What should I get for my pup? General supplies, ect. I plan on crate training, and training to grass and NOT puppy pads to begin elimintaion training. I am also a bit caught on harness or collar walking. I have used harnesses for smaller dogs in the past.

Socialization-I don't know many kids, but it is important to me that my pup grow up into a well rounded dog, whom is not reactive to any specific group. Several of my family dogs have been uncomfortable with young children, because they did not know any. Some have had no issues with kids, dispite lack of contact with them.I can see myself having a child in the lifetime of my new companion, so this is extremely important, as well as socializing with cats, and tolerance of my rats.

health stuff-when should I get vaccinations, have my dog altered, start on a broad range preventative for parasites? To microchip or not to? I have heard conflicting veiws on microchip prevention. Is it better to have your dog tattooed or something else?

I plan on having the pupper attend doggie daycare. At what age is this a good idea? How do you go about choosing the right doggie daycare and/or dog walker?

Um....anything else...as you can guess, I am a worried potential new momma, and I have so many questions. I want to raise my puppy well. I know if I do not adopt a pup from this litter, I will be looking elsewhere for one, so it is a very exciting/nervewracking time.

Oh...and most importantly....NAMES

I have chosen:

Griffin-boy
Morgan-Boy or girl
Jordan-girl
Sage-girl/boy

Any thoughts on the names would be great!!!Right now I am liking Sage for a girl, and Griffin for a boy.

Thanks in advance!!!

alphadoginthehouse

It sounds like you have thought this through...a lot! Good for you. Most of mine have been spur of the moment but have all worked out well. I can't remember a time in my adult life (which is pretty lengthy ) that I have not had a dog. I went from small to bigger to really big to smaller to small.

Personally, I prefer females...little boys do some things I don't like. But I fell in love with Butch, so there you go!

You will know the puppy that is right for you (if you take one from the litter you mentioned) when you see it.

Don't have much other advice just lots of luck and keep us posted.

Mdawn

Wow...it sounds like you have really thought this out and are definitely ready for the commitment! Good for you! This is going to be a long post...lol

As for picking a puppy...I don't have much experience with this. When I got my Mastiff the breeder had a couple puppies already picked that she thought would be a good match to us. The reason I chose Uallis was because he seemed the most playful and I thought that would compliment my Lab the most as he is very playful himself. However, that didn't determine the end result because now my Mastiff is one of the laziest dogs I've ever seen! But basically it was just the fact of when I saw him, my eyes zeroed in on him and I knew I wanted that puppy as mine. So I'd suggest to start visiting them now and see over time which puppy you connect with.

Concerning what sex...I've had both and I didn't really notice any real difference. All the females I've had have been real cuddlebugs...maybe that is just how I raise them to be. I have all males now but it wasn't really planned that way, except for my Mastiff as my boyfriend had the requirement of a male. (My other animals are strays that I've found at different times) So I'd just go with what I said before and just see what pup you connect with and not base it so much on gender.

I would like to say that clicker training would be a good idea but I've never done it personally. I want to try it though with my 2 current dogs and maybe to some extent with my cats...maybe someone with clicker experience will chime in.

There are a lot of good brands out there. I currently feed mine Chicken Soup and they do well on it.

I have used a collars for leash training when they were puppies. Now I walk both in their car seat harness because it just easier and I don't want to take if off and put it back on them again..so I just walk them in it when I walk them in public places. When I walk closer to home, I use a collar. I guess you could just try both and see which one you like better. I have noticed that my dogs are better corrected with a collar.

I don't have any children either so it was hard for me to socialize my dogs with children, but they are good around them anyway. You could try taking you dog to places that children are known to be, like playgrounds and such and let the children interact with the pup if the parent lets them. As for cats...I'm not one to give advice on that as I messed that up with my dogs. I felt that just being raised in the same house with them would be enough...it wasn't. And I couldn't get my cats to interact with the dogs as they were scared of them.

As for vaccinations...the puppy should have already been to the vet BEFORE you bring him or her home and the puppy schedule should already be underway. There are a series of 3 puppy shots. I think with my Mastiff he had already have two of them before I brought him home. Also, taking the puppy to the vet within 48 hours of bringing home is a good idea and the vet will help with questions regarding flea and heartworm preventive as well as the age to spay or neuter.

When my dogs were puppies my vet suggested to keep them close to home until they finished their puppy shots. Your vet will be able to help you will when it should be ok to take to doggie daycare.

Oh...yeah...I like the name Sage.

Good luck!

breakthenight

Thanks! That is alot of helpful information, and gives me more to think on. It is just so hard to make the right choices, and know what is going to be best.

Pupper, if I get from this litter, will likely not have any vaccines when I bring him or her home. The area that I would be getting them from, is well, very rural, and it isn't really normal to have dogs vaccinated(or altered, obviously ). Wheras momma is vaccinated (90% sure), it would not be common, at all to have her litter vaccinated. I looked up some general ages, and one sheet said 6-8 weeks for first vac?Would that be considered average to start the schedule? I will definately have him or her to the vet within 48 hours of bringing them home, just to make sure everything checks out, and the first vacc asap.

I havent decided if I am going to use my rats vet for the pup, or find a new vet(same practice) to take care of him or her. I will probably choose my vet, because I like him so much, and I know he does do dogs, but may not be is focus. More food for thought, anyway.

Kathyy

Boy you are a good planner!

Clicker training, this will get you started. http://www.clickersolutions.com/

Great names, I personally would love to name a dog "Spot". Ruby, Pearl, Agent, Mini-me and Maxine are at the top of my list right now for a female dog.

Wow, your vet specializes in small animals like rats? That is great, so many people think of small animals like that as disposable pets. Anyway pick his brain for health care information but probably not nutrition as most vets don't know much about that subject.

You are so good with animals already I think you will know your pup when you meet. If you could have more than one visit before you choose a pup that would be better though.

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breakthenight

Thanks for all the advice and support! And great clicker link!
And yes, my ratboys all have a regular vet. He is amazing with them. When people think that pets are throw-away it makes me so mad! That is how I got 4 of my 5 boys, someone was irresponsable, and in the end, their life did not have enough value in a humans eyes. It doesn't matter the size, or lifespan a life is a life
I will definately call around, pick my regular vets brain, I want to have all the information to make an informed decision about who will best treat the pupper over his or her lifetime.

Shalva

I do my first set at 9 weeks...... the second at 15-16 weeks.... I only do distemper parvo..... then I do rabies at 6 mos. or as close to six months as I can get away with...

if you do a search on Dr. Jean Dodds you will find lots of information on vaccinations schedules and I follow her for the most part....

I do them late because it requires fewere vaccinations....

also dont forget to microchip

and be sure that your puppy stays with the "breeder" for at least 8-10 weeks.....

there is alot of information regarding food and s/n and all that stuff.

good luck
S

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