New Puppy & First days advice?

[Stuart1969]

Hi There
We pick Darcie up in 2 weeks and are obviously very excited and are keen to do the correct things by her. We have brought a large enough Crate for her, reading some of the crate training guides it says that it may take a few days to get her used to the Crate? What do we do until then, just leave her downstairs free to roam the kitchen? Just after your thoughts as we are keen to do the correct things for her?

Thanks
Stuart

[jacdales]

If the breeder has already crate trained her their won't be a problem, You can leave a radio on very low at night they find it soothing sometimes. When you first bring her home have the crate ready with her blanket. The breeder will give you one with the mothers sent on it. If not take one with you when you go to pick her up. I put my boy in the crate to travel home in but he was used to one at the breeders. When she gets tired place her in the crate to sleep with the door open and her favorite blanket /toy and a treat. She will soon come to think of it as her safe place. There will be others give you very good advice this is just what I found worked for me.

[zeta1454]

As said by jacdales above, it will partly depend on whether or not the breeder has already introduced Darcie to a crate before she leaves with you. If she has no experience of a crate, it may take a little while to become used to it but you must start out as you mean to continue with her. Puppies are often more anxious when left in a large open space than if they have a safe den to settle down and sleep, so crate training should not take long and is well worth doing as there are many situations such as vet visits, car travel and when staying at a hotel for example where using a crate will be necessary or certainly useful.

A favourite soft toy, a familiar blanket and a pee pad or waterproof training pad in case of accidents can be put in the crate and, as said above, offer a treat before leaving her. Puppies respond well to routine and, if you can start a routine of regular rest periods through the day (two hours rest to one hour activity approximately initially) you can get Darcie used to using a crate through the day as well as at night.

We found the puppy training pads from this company very useful in the crate as they are washable and the puppies are less likely to chew them up which they often do with the paper based puppy pads.:
https://www.nappypantsfordogs.com/water ... s-85-c.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are two good downloadable guides for new puppy owners on this link too:
https://www.dogstardaily.com/free-downloads" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Oscar 12345]

How exciting for you.

I found feeding all treats and meals in the crate from day one a good way of making the crate enjoyable for a pup.

[AnnieMoon]

Hi Stuart, I'm as far as I can of being an expert (still feel pretty lost actually), but I had that same experience a few days ago.
The breeder told me she would be more comfortable in a crate as she would feel more safe in a small place, and as soon as I got home I discovered she wouldn't, she was more stressful in the crate and she was calmed in the living room. So we took our guest room and put a safety fence (like the ones you use for babies) in the doorway, and that became her room. We put her bed, a blanket, some toys and water in there. In the night, we close the fence, and she sleeps there. It's a small space but not as small as a crate, and in there she feels good. She didn't even cry the first night. What I mean is that I'm learning that sometimes the puppies have their own ideas and you have to improvise hahaha
Now, ten days later, she doesn't want to pee or poo in her room, so she goes to our bathroom as we keep training her outside, I found this very funny.

[Stuart1969]

thanks all, really appreciate the advice and coming back to me