[Silentgirl490]

ok so I just adopted an 8 week old cocker spaniel/lab mix. Despite doing tons of research on puppies I feel like my mind has gone blank and have no idea what I am doing lol.

My puppy is getting his shots tomorrow.

1. Does anyone know how much petsmart/petco training costs? are they any good?

2. How many times should my puppy be fed daily? right now he eat purina puppy chow (watered down so it is softer)

3. How much exercise does an 8 week old puppy need?

4. My puppy has already been dewormed and given a flea treatment recently, but my vet that I am going to tomorrow tells me I have to give him another flea treatment and deworming, is this going to be to much for him? (he doesnt have worms I checked his poo)

5. What is the best puppy chew/ puppy treats? for when he is teething or whatever

thanks so much!

 

[swellmomma]

ok so I just adopted an 8 week old cocker spaniel/lab mix. Despite doing tons of research on puppies I feel like my mind has gone blank and have no idea what I am doing lol.

My puppy is getting his shots tomorrow.

1. Does anyone know how much petsmart/petco training costs? are they any good?

No clue on that one

2. How many times should my puppy be fed daily? right now he eat purina puppy chow (watered down so it is softer)

right now my 2 puppies get fed 3 times a day, older one gets 1/2 cup dry food with 1.5 TBSP of wet mixed in, and younger one gets 1/3 C dry and 1 TBSP wet mixed in. Little one would eat more until he made himself sick, he inhales it, older one if she eats anymore than the current amount gets the runs. Vet told me to keep them at a strict diet to prevent excess weight which in their breed would spell disaster for their hips. We want them to stay lean so measured food in smaller amounts more frequently help with that.

3. How much exercise does an 8 week old puppy need?
At 8 weeks we are just introducing leash training so we took short walks around the block a couple times a day working up to an hour long walk at 1 time by 16 weeks. THe rest of the exercise time is actually spent on mental exercise not physical, so training time, mental games, etc

4. My puppy has already been dewormed and given a flea treatment recently, but my vet that I am going to tomorrow tells me I have to give him another flea treatment and deworming, is this going to be to much for him? (he doesnt have worms I checked his poo)

Can't help, my older pup has only had 1 deworming treatment and no flea ones. Vet has not recommended flea ones as of yet. Both dogs will be going in in a couple weeks for shots (we were behind with older so her schedule with them is way off)

5. What is the best puppy chew/ puppy treats? for when he is teething or whatever My puppies love rib bones, and hooves, along with treat chews like chew-lottas, and greenies. For treats I have tried a few different kinds, and they like them well enough but the current favorites are cheese and cheerios. I use cheese for mental games (we play one were I put a small peice of cheese in a muffin tin, in all 12 spots. Then cover with balls, kongs, etc. Pup has to figure out how to get to the cheese). The cheerios have been great for training on walks etc because they are easy to keep in my pocket at all times. thanks so much!

Answers in red. I am no expert. I am fairly new to puppyhood too and learning as I go.

 

[Hambonez]

I'll just tell you what I know from having my pup. He's 5.5 m/o now and we got him at 8 wks. He's a dachshund mix, was a little under 4 lbs when we brought him home, and about 13 lbs now.

1. Does anyone know how much petsmart/petco training costs? are they any good?

I think it's around $120? for 6 classes. I went with a local trainer whose career is dog training. I just felt uneasy about who, exactly, was training at Petsmart. Puppy classes with her were $140 for 6 wks, which I remember being a little more than Petsmart. He's now in Good Behaviors II, which was $150 for 6 wks.

2. How many times should my puppy be fed daily? right now he eat purina puppy chow (watered down so it is softer)

Mine was getting 1/4 cup of puppy chow 2X/day when we brought him home. Then the vet said to increase it to 3X/day which we've been doing ever since -- only we started weaning him off puppy chow a week after we got him (left him on it the first week to give him time to adjust to new stressors before changing his food) and he's been eating Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul 1/4 cup 3X/day. He could eat more, but we're training him so he gets LOTS and LOTS of treats (which are actually often just pieces of kibble), so we underfeed a bit so he doesn't get too many calories from the extras. He didn't need his food soft ever though. He just chomped it down.

3. How much exercise does an 8 week old puppy need?

Just go with what the puppy wants to do. At 8 wks, Hamilton would run around like a crazy maniac for 15-20 minutes, then pass out for 2 hrs. Now he likes about an hour of crazy time every day, and is otherwise relatively mellow. He's unusually calm for a puppy though, I think, based on other pups I've met since having him.

4. My puppy has already been dewormed and given a flea treatment recently, but my vet that I am going to tomorrow tells me I have to give him another flea treatment and deworming, is this going to be to much for him? (he doesnt have worms I checked his poo)

You can't see worm eggs or things like giardia and coccidia in the poop. You should bring in a stool sample for the vet to check, and if THEY don't find anything, then he doesn't need to be dewormed again. What flea treatment did he get? If it was Frontline/Advantage type stuff, then he needs it once a month. If it was something like a capstar, that only lasts 24 hrs. He should be on monthly flea prevention and monthly heartworm pills.

5. What is the best puppy chew/ puppy treats? for when he is teething or whatever

The best is whichever one your puppy likes to chew on. Mine has gone through phases of what he likes. We didn't give him edable chewies for a few months after we got him because we didn't want them to upset his stomach. Now he loves compressed rawhide, and other edables like greenies and filled bones (supervise these to make sure pieces don't come off). He's never liked kongs for chewing but he likes them when they're filled. He likes softer rubber chewies, and things with nubs. He likes canvas type stuffed toys too. And rope toys. The key was just always having a toy in your hand when he was younger to jam in his mouth when he started getting bitey.

ETA: Check your dog toys often!! If they're coming apart, breaking, pieces are coming off, GAME OVER! Take 'em away. My puppy also adores plastic bottles, peanut butter jars, and empty yogurt cups -- but he has to be watched closely with them for when he starts tearing the plastic apart.

 

[hanksimon]

Here are two free, very informative books: http://www.dogstardaily.com/free-downloads Read both of them

1. Training is about $100 - $150. I like PetsMart better than Petco, but it may depend on location. Go check out a couple of classes in all locations right now, so you can see if you like the experience of the trainer (some only get about 6 weeks training, and then start training you!). What you're looking for is gentle confident training. No jerking and minimal if any hands-on forcing a puppy to do anything. Also, just b/c a PetsMart trainer gives you advice very confidently, it doesn't mean that it is correct. Trust but verify.

You can start training your puppy at home right now, to be ready for class after the pup has had all his shots. BTW, socialize the puppy with people, but no animals yet, and no walking on the ground where other dogs (who may have disease) may have been walking, until all shots... ask the Vet about this.

2. Feed the pup using the amount on the package. Divide it into 3 portions, feeding a portion 3 times a day. At about 6 mos, go to 2 feedings per day. You can continue this forever, or go to one feeding at 1 yo, then back to 2 feedings around 7 yo.

3. Not much exercise at 8 weeks, but lots of sleep on his schedule. Play as much as you like, letting him rest when he wants. Try to get him to follow you and come when called... in the backyard and in the house. Teach him how to Sit on cue, everywhere. And start to get him used to walking around on a leash.

4. Standard protocol is to deworm a puppy three times, as the same time as the vaccinations, about every 4 weeks.

5. A hard rubber bone and a Kong are good for chew toys. Don't let him chew anything that he might swallow, or that you don't ever want to grow up chewing...

Pix pls?

 

[Amaryllis]

I can't speak too much to puppies, but I can tell you the training depends upon the trainer. PetSmart/PetCo are a lot like chain hair salons like Malcolms or Supercuts. It's a place where newbie trainers can get experience, so some of the trainers will be great and some will be terrible. I would watch a class taught by the trainer you will be using first and decide if you're comfortable with them.

Listen to your gut. If something seems wrong, don't use that trainer. If you're in class and you don't like the methods being used, leave. Ask for a refund for the remainder of the classes and be clear why. You are far better off flubbing your way through learning how to train by watching kikopup on youtube than allowing your puppy to be traumatized by a bad trainer.

 

[bgmacaw]

1. Our local Petsmart charges $109 for their puppy class. The quality varies a lot at these locations so you'll want to try to observe before you buy. I think you can probably do the basics yourself though.

2. We feed once a day with a good amount of training and play treats as well. Since we have a chihuahua, we feed a little less often and smaller amounts to avoid obesity. An active pup might need more but a slightly hungry dog that has to work or think for food trains easier usually.

3. It depends a lot on the pup. You don't want to overdo it with a young dog though, so don't force it. You'll soon get a feel for the amount of exercise your dog needs. As a puppy they probably won't try to be lazy like some older dogs will.

4. Vets like to give pups regular worming treatments since they're so prone to them.it won't hurt anything and will most likely be helpful.

5. Kongs are great for both chewing and mental stimulation. Also try rubber teething bones. You'll probably go through several types to find one the dog likes. Flat, not stuffed, cloth toys are also a good choice.

 

[Silentgirl490]

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I have been busy with my little one. He just got his first shots yesterday. I appreciate all of your answers!

i dont know how to resize those, sorry

 

[PrincessLPN]

He is too cute!