Getting prepared to bring home a puppy means getting in the mind set of "I have to care for a dog."
What I did to get in the mind set: I started thinking like a dog owner.
What do I need to buy? I made a list of items I thought the puppy would need. (For example: Food and water bowls) Then I thought of the different ways I could satisfy that need.
-water and food bowls; Plastic, versus Stainless Steel
Plastic is cheap- can be bought at a dollar store, is light and easily upturned by enthusiastic eaters (causing a mess)
Stainless steel is more expensive- bought at any pet supply store, heavy, harder to overturn, often available with a raised "platform" for big dogs to avoid inhaling food and bloating.
My verdict, heavy dishes are sturdier, less likely to be used instead of a chew toy, can be raised to promote better eating habits. I'll buy one set of Sturdy dog food dishes and they should last him several years. Expensive at first, but worth it.
Other items I thought of:
-collar
-ID tags
-Leash
-training collar
-toys
-a wire crate
-dog bed
-grooming tools
-food
Then I went through the list and realised I needed to research different kinds of dog toys.
I also realised I could make a dog bed.
Then I thought of things I needed for the puppy, like book shelves to get my books off the floor. Hangers to hang up my clothes, Tupperware to organize my craft stuff- generally things to help "Puppy Proof" and keep the dog safe in my house. Some people like to get gates to keep the dog safely out of certain rooms. That won't work in my apartment, but is something to consider for the future.
I also had to think of all the chewing hazards I have lying around my house, such as printer cables, my phone charger and my Paintball bag or Squash bag.
Budget your purchases
In the planning stages, before I reserved B7, I looked at my income and my spending to see if I could afford a dog. I took into consideration the price of a pup from a breeder, food, training classes, daycare, litter bags, toys and supplies and anticipated vet bills- with the knowledge that accidents happen and I could and up with a major (or minor) vet bill at any time.
The Pup was a set price and easily calculated.
The Vet bills are somewhat uncertain, even though I went to several veterinary offices and asked for their exam fees, blood test fees, consultation fees, immunisation fees, heart worm and flea treatment costs and fees for neutering. ( I have a very good price list) but unforeseen bills can come up, so the vet bills are still hard to anticipate.
Where I knew I could save money was on the other supplies. I set myself a budget for "Puppy toys", Crate, Material for a dog bed, etc...
Once I had a list of supplies I needed and a budget, I asked myself:
Where do I buy it?
And so I started to Price shop! I looked for bargains and compared deals.Certain items like the Crate I looked for on Kijiji. (as long as the crate is cleaned before B7 uses it, there shouldn't be any issue using a "pre-owned" crate.)
I put my feet to the pavement and literally went Pet store to Pet store (even Walmart) looking at prices. I took pictures of all the price tags and compared them side by side later.
-Brandolyn
Next research: Dog Foods
Wednesday 31 October 2012
Happy Halloween
You know you have a great breeder when on top of her weekly up dates she emails you something like this.
Happy Halloween from B7!
Update:
-Nearly 4 weeks old
-Adorable in a pumpkin
-Brandolyn
Look at that face!
Happy Halloween from B7!
Update:
-Nearly 4 weeks old
-Adorable in a pumpkin
-Brandolyn
Teeth!
Tonight I received an email from B7's breeder.
She gave me a quick update on my boy, and apparently today he and his siblings had their first mush meal today (since they finally have teeth). TEETH!
I don't know why, but this realization made me so excited! Should I really be this excited about my pup's first "Mush Food" meal? Which I'm told he LOVED, by the way. Ugh. I'm going to have to work hard not to spoil him.
The new diet my pup is on, and the fact that he now has teeth is so exciting for me. He's becoming a real dog! Open eyes, toddling around and chewing. Next time I see him he won't just be a fat lump for me to cuddle, I'll actually be able to see a bit of his personality. Maybe I'll even be able to settle on a name.
*Cross your fingers*
(no pictures today :( Pictures tomorrow!)
-Brandolyn
So, as an update:
B7
- Male
-3.5 weeks old
-(lbs TBA)
-eyes open, but vision is still blurry
-baby teeth, growing in
-mobility, still shaky, but mobile
Recent research:
-Where to find puppy classes? Petsmart offers puppy orientation classes. 1 class, pre puppy, about "What to do before you bring home your pup" and then introductory socialization classes and beginner obedience classes.
There are plenty of other puppy and dog training classes and schools, like "Good Dog". Try google, or ask local vets for their recommendations.
-Who offers cheaper/better puppy classes? Smaller dog schools often offer smaller classes, with more specialized training for you and your pup, but cost a bit more than the "Big Name" stores.
-What age should my pup be before attending a puppy class? My breeder, vets, and everyone I've talked to (including Petsmart employees) have told me not to bring a pup to a puppy class until he or she has had her 3rd round of shots, which means 16 weeks. Everything that your pup is vaccinated against is highly communicable, and it's hard to guarantee that other pet owners have kept their dog's shots up to date. You don't want your pup to get sick because he played with a puppy who was carrying a disease do you? That's also one of the reasons you shouldn't take your pup to the dog park before it is fully immunised.
She gave me a quick update on my boy, and apparently today he and his siblings had their first mush meal today (since they finally have teeth). TEETH!
I don't know why, but this realization made me so excited! Should I really be this excited about my pup's first "Mush Food" meal? Which I'm told he LOVED, by the way. Ugh. I'm going to have to work hard not to spoil him.
The new diet my pup is on, and the fact that he now has teeth is so exciting for me. He's becoming a real dog! Open eyes, toddling around and chewing. Next time I see him he won't just be a fat lump for me to cuddle, I'll actually be able to see a bit of his personality. Maybe I'll even be able to settle on a name.
*Cross your fingers*
(no pictures today :( Pictures tomorrow!)
-Brandolyn
So, as an update:
B7
- Male
-3.5 weeks old
-(lbs TBA)
-eyes open, but vision is still blurry
-baby teeth, growing in
-mobility, still shaky, but mobile
Recent research:
-Where to find puppy classes? Petsmart offers puppy orientation classes. 1 class, pre puppy, about "What to do before you bring home your pup" and then introductory socialization classes and beginner obedience classes.
There are plenty of other puppy and dog training classes and schools, like "Good Dog". Try google, or ask local vets for their recommendations.
-Who offers cheaper/better puppy classes? Smaller dog schools often offer smaller classes, with more specialized training for you and your pup, but cost a bit more than the "Big Name" stores.
-What age should my pup be before attending a puppy class? My breeder, vets, and everyone I've talked to (including Petsmart employees) have told me not to bring a pup to a puppy class until he or she has had her 3rd round of shots, which means 16 weeks. Everything that your pup is vaccinated against is highly communicable, and it's hard to guarantee that other pet owners have kept their dog's shots up to date. You don't want your pup to get sick because he played with a puppy who was carrying a disease do you? That's also one of the reasons you shouldn't take your pup to the dog park before it is fully immunised.
Week 3
Week 3 I was working too much and didn't have time to visit B7.
His breeder was very nice and kept sending me updates! Here's the latest picture from her. It's B7 and his golden sister.
Apparently his eyes are open, but I haven't seen them yet. I wonder what colour they'll be!?!?!
Size comparison.... B7 looks a lot bigger than his brothers and sisters.
-Brandolyn
Research this week was reading!
'Unleashed' by Brad Pattison
"Golden Doodle" Breed Book
"Everything New Puppy Book"
Next week is "Good Dog- The Last Dog Training Book You'll Ever Need"
Update soon on Vets, Bills, and crate pricing.
His breeder was very nice and kept sending me updates! Here's the latest picture from her. It's B7 and his golden sister.
-Brandolyn
Research this week was reading!
'Unleashed' by Brad Pattison
"Golden Doodle" Breed Book
"Everything New Puppy Book"
Next week is "Good Dog- The Last Dog Training Book You'll Ever Need"
Update soon on Vets, Bills, and crate pricing.
Week 2
I brought mom to visit B7 on week 2.
I wanted to establish her scent early.
B7 already recognised me and settle immediately in my lap, but mom is going to be the master of her house, so I wanted B7 to know her early and get used to her being around. Also, my mother wanted to meet the pup I kept talking about.
Here are a few pictures from my second visit. There wasn't much to say except that we all bonded well and I couldn't believe how much he had grown in a week!
At the 2 week mark the pups had just started to open their eyes. The breeder told me their eyes may start opening but they won't be fully able to see until week 4. Right now I am still just a smell, I don't think I'm even a blurry outline yet.
In anticipation that he wouldn't recognise me by sight, I have made sure to wear the same sweater every time I visit B7. That way my scent is consistent and familiar. (I also make sure to cuddle my parents' cats before hand so that he gets used to their scents as well)
-Brandolyn
B7 Update:
-2 weeks
-eyes just opening, no vision yet
-Mobility is poor, he is unsteady on his feet and cannot support himself, instead he moves around by dragging himself and lots of squirming
-still feeding from his mother
-makes small noises like a guinea pig
I wanted to establish her scent early.
B7 already recognised me and settle immediately in my lap, but mom is going to be the master of her house, so I wanted B7 to know her early and get used to her being around. Also, my mother wanted to meet the pup I kept talking about.
Here are a few pictures from my second visit. There wasn't much to say except that we all bonded well and I couldn't believe how much he had grown in a week!
cuddling mom while I try to prevent myself from dying due to cuteness exposure
When mom had finished her time getting to know him, I took him back and placed him on his back. ( know he's young, and I'll keep doing it when I visit) but putting a dog on their back tests whether they are likely to be dominant or submissive. If the pup sits still, they are very submissive, if they squirm and try to sit up, they are likely a dominant type of dog. Neither is necessarily bad, I just wanted to see what I can expect from him. And as I had anticipated, he lay back quietly.
In anticipation that he wouldn't recognise me by sight, I have made sure to wear the same sweater every time I visit B7. That way my scent is consistent and familiar. (I also make sure to cuddle my parents' cats before hand so that he gets used to their scents as well)
-Brandolyn
B7 Update:
-2 weeks
-eyes just opening, no vision yet
-Mobility is poor, he is unsteady on his feet and cannot support himself, instead he moves around by dragging himself and lots of squirming
-still feeding from his mother
-makes small noises like a guinea pig
B7
B7 is just a nickname.
I've grown tired of calling him "the puppy" or "dog" while I wait for him to grow up enough to show me his personality and then find a suitable name.
For those of you who know me well (i mean really well) you'll know that since I was 14, the Letter/ Number combination has followed me EVERYWHERE. It haunts me, and teases me, surprises me and has become a bit of a lucky number.
When I first met the puppies, B7 stood out to me. He was the only light blond pup in a little of black puppies, with a deep golden sister.
It wasn't until the second time I visited him that I realized he was the 7th, of 7 pups to be born.
He was "B"londe and the 7th, He was mine("B"randolyn's) and the 7th. He was B7!!!
And then the nickname stuck. Simple as that.
-Brandolyn
Research:
-Comparative dog foods. Which food is healthier? Why? If you are unsure, Petsmart has dog food reps visit their stores every week to talk about the benefits of their products and will answer any questions!
-Compare dog food prices. Compare weight, price, and ingredients. The more nutrients in the food, the less food the dog will eat (in Theory), so the longer the bag of food will last. So.... expensive food, with more nutrients, or cheap food that will take more food to fill and satisfy your dog? Weigh your options.
-Compare types of puppy toys and treats. Rope toys are good for teething, but must be maintained (pull off excess strings so the puppy doesn't swallow them, it;s a toy, not food). Tennis balls are bad for a dog's gums. Pig's ears can have sharp edges that can cut a dog's oesophagus. Cheap toys can break and be a choking hazard, and sometimes have harmful dyes. You wouldn't give your child a toy to play with covered in lead based paint, so why not take similar precautions with your dog's toys?
I've grown tired of calling him "the puppy" or "dog" while I wait for him to grow up enough to show me his personality and then find a suitable name.
For those of you who know me well (i mean really well) you'll know that since I was 14, the Letter/ Number combination has followed me EVERYWHERE. It haunts me, and teases me, surprises me and has become a bit of a lucky number.
When I first met the puppies, B7 stood out to me. He was the only light blond pup in a little of black puppies, with a deep golden sister.
He was "B"londe and the 7th, He was mine("B"randolyn's) and the 7th. He was B7!!!
And then the nickname stuck. Simple as that.
-Brandolyn
Research:
-Comparative dog foods. Which food is healthier? Why? If you are unsure, Petsmart has dog food reps visit their stores every week to talk about the benefits of their products and will answer any questions!
-Compare dog food prices. Compare weight, price, and ingredients. The more nutrients in the food, the less food the dog will eat (in Theory), so the longer the bag of food will last. So.... expensive food, with more nutrients, or cheap food that will take more food to fill and satisfy your dog? Weigh your options.
-Compare types of puppy toys and treats. Rope toys are good for teething, but must be maintained (pull off excess strings so the puppy doesn't swallow them, it;s a toy, not food). Tennis balls are bad for a dog's gums. Pig's ears can have sharp edges that can cut a dog's oesophagus. Cheap toys can break and be a choking hazard, and sometimes have harmful dyes. You wouldn't give your child a toy to play with covered in lead based paint, so why not take similar precautions with your dog's toys?
Meet B7
In the middle of October, once I had firmly decided that I could afford a dog, I started to look for a breeder.
I have been researching breeds for YEARS. I have been comparing sizes, coats, activity level, social needs, grooming needs, coats, etc... and finally settled on a breed.
"Ideally" I am looking for a:
-smart
-docile (good around children)
-active
-social
-non-shedding/ hypo allergenic dog.
(Not too much to ask for right?)
I settled on a Golden Doodle. The name may sound silly, but the dog is not. It's it a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, combining the best traits of each breed.
A friend of mine has two beautiful Doodles, and I have loved the breed ever since meeting them. These two dogs are happy, fun loving, hypo-allergenic gentle giants. PERFECT.
Once I had picked a breed, the next step (After further budget revision, and extension: Doodles (mixed with a Standard Poodle can be big dogs, so be prepared to "Biggy Size" everything: Crates, beds, food, vet bills) is to find a Breeder.
Local Vets can offer help.
Dogs Magazine is full of lists of breeders by dog breed.
Online there are Breed specific "Societies" that can help you find breeders.
And the most reliable source to find a breeder from is a family friend who has bought from that breeder before and recomends the bloodline or trusts the skills of the breeder.
Contrary to my advice, I found a post on Kijiji, announcing a new litter of Doodle pups, and after seeing their pictures (They were new borns and teeny tiny) I couldn't resist contacting the breeder for more information.
I will go into detail about my expectations from a breeder, and how amazing B7's breeder is in a later post, but for now you just need to know that I visited the breeder, asked lots of questions, met the mom, met the pups and found a soulmate in this pup.
This is B7 at less than a week old. This was the picture on the ad that made my heart do funny flips in my chest and urged me to contact the breeder. He was born October 5th 2012.
This is him at 1week, sitting on my lap, perfectly content. His mom is sitting right by my face demanding love and affection from me while I'm trying to get to know B7.
This is still at 1 week old. I call this picture "Mr Tubs" because you can see how chubby his little bum is. He's 7 days old and already nearly 4lbs. (HMR, please correct the weight if I got it wrong, you were there and have a better memory than me) All I know was at 1 week old, B7 was nearly heavier than my friend HMR's 6 month old Yorkie/Poodle cross.
That's it for now! I'll explain the nick name B7 soon.
-Brandolyn
Research:
-Golden Doodle Breed- Needs and Care
-How much are the anticipated Vetrinary bills (shots, checkups, neutering)?
-How to find a good Vet
I have been researching breeds for YEARS. I have been comparing sizes, coats, activity level, social needs, grooming needs, coats, etc... and finally settled on a breed.
"Ideally" I am looking for a:
-smart
-docile (good around children)
-active
-social
-non-shedding/ hypo allergenic dog.
(Not too much to ask for right?)
I settled on a Golden Doodle. The name may sound silly, but the dog is not. It's it a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, combining the best traits of each breed.
A friend of mine has two beautiful Doodles, and I have loved the breed ever since meeting them. These two dogs are happy, fun loving, hypo-allergenic gentle giants. PERFECT.
Once I had picked a breed, the next step (After further budget revision, and extension: Doodles (mixed with a Standard Poodle can be big dogs, so be prepared to "Biggy Size" everything: Crates, beds, food, vet bills) is to find a Breeder.
Local Vets can offer help.
Dogs Magazine is full of lists of breeders by dog breed.
Online there are Breed specific "Societies" that can help you find breeders.
And the most reliable source to find a breeder from is a family friend who has bought from that breeder before and recomends the bloodline or trusts the skills of the breeder.
Contrary to my advice, I found a post on Kijiji, announcing a new litter of Doodle pups, and after seeing their pictures (They were new borns and teeny tiny) I couldn't resist contacting the breeder for more information.
I will go into detail about my expectations from a breeder, and how amazing B7's breeder is in a later post, but for now you just need to know that I visited the breeder, asked lots of questions, met the mom, met the pups and found a soulmate in this pup.
That's it for now! I'll explain the nick name B7 soon.
-Brandolyn
Research:
-Golden Doodle Breed- Needs and Care
-How much are the anticipated Vetrinary bills (shots, checkups, neutering)?
-How to find a good Vet
Welcome
I'm getting a dog!
This blog is to help me organize all my thoughts and research. Getting a dog is a lot of work, and through this blog I am going to outline my process. Everything from initial research, budgeting, finding the perfect breed, re-budgeting, finding a breeder, finding a vet, training, dog owner homework etc..
This is the story of me, Brandolyn, and my adventure trying to raise B7. (The puppy doesn't have a name yet, so until further notice, I will refer to my pup as B7.)
Please note, that I reserved the pup before starting the blog, so some of this blog will be happening in- what I like to call "Real Time" and other blog posts will jump back to the past, when I was still in the "Puppy Planning Stages".
I am not an expert, this is just the way I have chosen to do this, and hopefully it will help future dog owners prepare for some of the hardships, challenges and adventures that come with raising a dog.
Please join me, a first time dog owner, and B7, a first time dog, while we discover the adventure we are embarking on together.
Pictures to come soon!
-Brandolyn
This blog is to help me organize all my thoughts and research. Getting a dog is a lot of work, and through this blog I am going to outline my process. Everything from initial research, budgeting, finding the perfect breed, re-budgeting, finding a breeder, finding a vet, training, dog owner homework etc..
This is the story of me, Brandolyn, and my adventure trying to raise B7. (The puppy doesn't have a name yet, so until further notice, I will refer to my pup as B7.)
Please note, that I reserved the pup before starting the blog, so some of this blog will be happening in- what I like to call "Real Time" and other blog posts will jump back to the past, when I was still in the "Puppy Planning Stages".
I am not an expert, this is just the way I have chosen to do this, and hopefully it will help future dog owners prepare for some of the hardships, challenges and adventures that come with raising a dog.
Please join me, a first time dog owner, and B7, a first time dog, while we discover the adventure we are embarking on together.
Pictures to come soon!
-Brandolyn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)