Off to buy a puppy
Discussion
We have a 13 week springer pup so I'll give you an update and what we looked for.
1: the breeder
2: the mum and dad
3: the pup
Make sure your buying from somebody that knows their dogs and you meet the mum and if possible the dad. The pup at eight weeks should be bright as a bobbin with all the puppy naughtys you can think of.
4: don't change the pups diet
5: crate if you have a carpet
6: begin early obedience lessons
If you change the diet your going to have a sick pup as their gut just cannot handle the change. We use an open crate because the dog can if needs be wee or poo on the tile floor of the utility or kitchen. A closed crate must be small so the dog will naturaly not mess its own bed. The pup should answer to pup pup pup to come for its food so sit etc follow rather easily.
7: enjoy
8: one master
Never get angry with your mischief because it does not know English and all it wants to do is enjoy itself as you should enjoy it. Be the boss and keep your rules and only one boss per house if possible.
9: KC breeder health checks
10: vet check
Springers can have eye problems and you need to know that it's family line does not carry the problem and get the pup checked ASAP with your vet.
Check out the link below.
http://www.verstone-gundogs.co.uk/index.htm
1: the breeder
2: the mum and dad
3: the pup
Make sure your buying from somebody that knows their dogs and you meet the mum and if possible the dad. The pup at eight weeks should be bright as a bobbin with all the puppy naughtys you can think of.
4: don't change the pups diet
5: crate if you have a carpet
6: begin early obedience lessons
If you change the diet your going to have a sick pup as their gut just cannot handle the change. We use an open crate because the dog can if needs be wee or poo on the tile floor of the utility or kitchen. A closed crate must be small so the dog will naturaly not mess its own bed. The pup should answer to pup pup pup to come for its food so sit etc follow rather easily.
7: enjoy
8: one master
Never get angry with your mischief because it does not know English and all it wants to do is enjoy itself as you should enjoy it. Be the boss and keep your rules and only one boss per house if possible.
9: KC breeder health checks
10: vet check
Springers can have eye problems and you need to know that it's family line does not carry the problem and get the pup checked ASAP with your vet.
Check out the link below.
http://www.verstone-gundogs.co.uk/index.htm
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
ETA:
Don't give him / her a Lamb Roast bone from Sunday too late at night, as you "may" end up with an unhappy dog overnight, who also "may" Take a Turd on the dining room oak floorboards.
Poor little fecker.
Put me right off my Espresso this morning.....
Quality.....been there, done that and trod/slid in the output Don't give him / her a Lamb Roast bone from Sunday too late at night, as you "may" end up with an unhappy dog overnight, who also "may" Take a Turd on the dining room oak floorboards.
Poor little fecker.
Put me right off my Espresso this morning.....
Also get the puppy insured, preferably with a firm who can deal directly with your chosen vet - Pet Plan usually do this. They are not the cheapest by a long way but they have never let me down in 20 years of dog ownership. Your vet should also be able to advise you on local "puppy social classes" where your new addition can meet and play with other puppies and get used to other strange dogs being around them. These can be truly hilarious so, as before, take your camera.
Overall, enjoy the new addition to your family
Thanks for the response guys, picked up an adorable chocolate brown Springador this afternoon, the wife fell in love immediately!!
Collected him from a breeder in Scarborough, she's been named "Peppa" as in the pig variety by our 9 year old lol.
She's 8 weeks old and we're going to let her get used to her new surroundings for a week then take her to the vet's for a full MOT, according to the breeder he has been feeding her dry adult food with a raw egg occasionally so not sure if to put her on puppy food don't want to change the diet really.
Pic's to follow!
Collected him from a breeder in Scarborough, she's been named "Peppa" as in the pig variety by our 9 year old lol.
She's 8 weeks old and we're going to let her get used to her new surroundings for a week then take her to the vet's for a full MOT, according to the breeder he has been feeding her dry adult food with a raw egg occasionally so not sure if to put her on puppy food don't want to change the diet really.
Pic's to follow!
What was the reason for the egg?
My guess is the breeder was doing this to provide extra protein because he was feeding an adult food which would be too low in protein for a puppy.
If you are going to change to a puppy food there is no real need for the egg. Puppy food contains a different Calcium:Phosphorous ratio compared to adult food aswell.
Has pup been wormed by breeder? (should have been done twice at least)
Also see if you vet will do a free new pup ck, best to get this done asap to ensure you have a healthy pup then book in for vaccines a few days later. Will also give your vets a chance to provide you with the chance of 4 weeks free pet insurance.
Got to be honest, you didn't hang around between posting for advice and buying the pup, had you been looking around for a while?
My guess is the breeder was doing this to provide extra protein because he was feeding an adult food which would be too low in protein for a puppy.
If you are going to change to a puppy food there is no real need for the egg. Puppy food contains a different Calcium:Phosphorous ratio compared to adult food aswell.
Has pup been wormed by breeder? (should have been done twice at least)
Also see if you vet will do a free new pup ck, best to get this done asap to ensure you have a healthy pup then book in for vaccines a few days later. Will also give your vets a chance to provide you with the chance of 4 weeks free pet insurance.
Got to be honest, you didn't hang around between posting for advice and buying the pup, had you been looking around for a while?
Nothing wrong with lots of hugs from the family and feeding by everybody as more a pups sees and hears at this vital age the better.
One master means one teacher. It's vital at this age a pup knows the basics and it's easier for them to learn from one person. For my pup I use a flat hand and a single whistle for him to sit and at 12 weeks he will stop on a button. If somebody else trains they might call sit or up.
One master means one teacher. It's vital at this age a pup knows the basics and it's easier for them to learn from one person. For my pup I use a flat hand and a single whistle for him to sit and at 12 weeks he will stop on a button. If somebody else trains they might call sit or up.
C3BER said:
Nothing wrong with lots of hugs from the family and feeding by everybody as more a pups sees and hears at this vital age the better.
One master means one teacher. It's vital at this age a pup knows the basics and it's easier for them to learn from one person. For my pup I use a flat hand and a single whistle for him to sit and at 12 weeks he will stop on a button. If somebody else trains they might call sit or up.
Surely you all stick to the same commands then?One master means one teacher. It's vital at this age a pup knows the basics and it's easier for them to learn from one person. For my pup I use a flat hand and a single whistle for him to sit and at 12 weeks he will stop on a button. If somebody else trains they might call sit or up.
I teach agility and the amount of dogs you see where it works really well for one person but not anyone else in the family is unreal. All down do one person doing all the training/feeding so as far as the dogs concerned there the only human of value so worth listening to.
The whole family enjoy the dogs and that's how it should be but basic training starts one to one. As soon as the dog learns and re learns because young dogs always forget then everybody joins in. As for everybody using the same commands I only wish that's possible but it never happens. Plus every family is different and training alike is not always possible.
Gun dogs, sheep dogs can be bought trained and ready to work which sort of makes your statement sound a little bit odd. Maybe it's the other family member who cannot handle the dog?
Gun dogs, sheep dogs can be bought trained and ready to work which sort of makes your statement sound a little bit odd. Maybe it's the other family member who cannot handle the dog?
C3BER said:
The whole family enjoy the dogs and that's how it should be but basic training starts one to one. As soon as the dog learns and re learns because young dogs always forget then everybody joins in. As for everybody using the same commands I only wish that's possible but it never happens. Plus every family is different and training alike is not always possible.
Gun dogs, sheep dogs can be bought trained and ready to work which sort of makes your statement sound a little bit odd. Maybe it's the other family member who cannot handle the dog?
I think he meant everyone in the same family should use the same commands/ rules, which I agree with. I see so many owners with conflicting ideas for their dogs that the poor dogs end up confused. It also leads to the dog respecting one owner whilst ignoring the instruction of the other.Gun dogs, sheep dogs can be bought trained and ready to work which sort of makes your statement sound a little bit odd. Maybe it's the other family member who cannot handle the dog?
There should be one overall 'teacher' but everyone else needs to be involved aswell (especially when dealing with a family dog rather than a working dog)
Yes agree with your post. Our new working springer is different to the Bernese we pick up tomorrow but both get basics from day one and only one type of commands.
The springer then goes for advance six form whilst the Bernese gets cuddles. My luck I'll have the best working Bernese and the daftest springer ever.
The springer then goes for advance six form whilst the Bernese gets cuddles. My luck I'll have the best working Bernese and the daftest springer ever.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/gip1Gzkn.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/kp4yoHZ9" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/kp4yoHZ9.jpg)
bexVN said:
Very cute 
Is he definitely 8 weeks old though? Pics may be deceiving but he looks a bit younger.
Do get him wormed again, he's got a bit of a pot belly on him, which may be worm related
Look forward to seeing him grow into a mischievious but fun dog
Thanks she's very mischievous already tbh, getting her jabbed and wormed next week hopefully. Is he definitely 8 weeks old though? Pics may be deceiving but he looks a bit younger.
Do get him wormed again, he's got a bit of a pot belly on him, which may be worm related
Look forward to seeing him grow into a mischievious but fun dog
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