new member, and Watson

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Watson01
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First Name: greg

new member, and Watson

Post by Watson01 »

Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself and my new boy miniature Schnauzer. After tonnes of research and a family desperate for a pup, we finally settled on the Schnauzer, and I have just brought him home. Such a little beauty!

I wanted to thank you for all of the pearls of wisdom I have already read on here before getting 'Watson' today, as without it I may never have made the decision. I work from home as an illustrator, and having a companion to force me outside, is going to be a real game changer for me. Having said that he is currently asleep in my other arm, making this typing take a lot longer.

Looking forward to hearing much more advice, and thanks again.


Greg
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zeta1454
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by zeta1454 »

Welcome to the Forum, Greg :-)

Watson looks very sweet and I am sure he will make a wonderful companion. Looking forward to reading more about him as he grows...and more photos too :o3
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud


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GoEmGo
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by GoEmGo »

Hi Greg,

I was in your position back in February this year, welcoming my little man into the home. The forum is lovely and supportive, and there are some real experts on here to help guide you through puppyhood! Watson looks like a beautiful boy too!

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Schnauzer Sam
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by Schnauzer Sam »

Hi Greg, he'll love you being at home with him most of the day and you'll find out that schnauzers love to be involved in everything and will be your constant companion, even in the loo :)

Looking forward to seeing him grow.
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Watson01
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by Watson01 »

Thanks to all three of you. What a brilliant welcoming group!

Watson is settling in wonderfully for a first day. After quite a bit of howling in the car on the way home, and a lot of whining while exploring the house, he seems to have settled. Not eating anything, and hasn't been to the toilet yet, but i'm hoping that's just nerves from the new experience. Off to the Vet for a quick check up this evening, and fingers crossed for the first night! Any tips for settling him at night time in this early stage?
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zeta1454
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by zeta1454 »

Hi Greg,
Re settling at night, much depends on what the sleeping arrangements were at the breeder's and whether Watson is accustomed to sleeping in a crate. Also, what are your future plans for where he will sleep.
With our pups they are crate trained from about seven weeks of age so they can be settled with a treat at bedtime in the crate and will usually sleep through. Some pups will wake wanting to pee or poo during the night and it is really up to you whether you want to make sure the crate (if you are using one) is close by where you sleep so you can take Watson out to toilet, or whether you prefer that he gets used to sleeping e.g. in the kitchen and you don't want to be waking with him until morning - in both cases it is best to have a puppy pad at the front of the crate so he can use this in an emergency and not wet or soil his bed.

A crate can be a place of security and a den for a young puppy but, if you are not using one, you may want to have a playpen or confined area for Watson at night and through the day when you cannot be watching him, so he does not toilet randomly in the house as once a habit is started it is harder to overcome.

Hopefully Watson will have come home with something from his birth home with a familiar scent and, if so, make sure he has this with him in his bed. He is likely to be very tired on the first night so may be more likely to settle and sleep through than on subsequent nights. Establishing a routine for bedtime is important for puppies so try to keep to a set time, take him outside to toilet and, when he has pee'd and poo'd, put him in his bed and, (in our case, we give pups a tiny dog biscuit treat and say goodnight ) , and turn off the lights.

Good luck :)
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud


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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by schnauzer »

Hi Greg, welcome to the Schnauzer world you have made a brilliant decision on your choice. Your puppy is gorgeous loved the photos, having a Schnauzer will certainly open up a whole new world to you believe me. I got my first in 2004 lost her in 2017, ended up having another MS all thanks to her groomer who knew that a litter was due. I now have Gino who is approaching 2.5yrs. He’s been in a crate since the day he came home to us, as breeder had crate trained he’s also been in our bedroom since day one. He’s never done the toilet in his crate could not believe that he was dry all night from day one admit a few accidents during the day but mainly when he was left with hubby. I had him housetrained within a couple of weeks, a toilet routine is a must so out to the garden after being fed, when wakes up from sleeping etc.

He still uses his crate at bedtime his choice, but it is good also for us as we go away a lot.

Great advice given to you from Zeta.

Hope your first night goes well. Looking forward to hearing how it goes & more photos
Christine & Gino (Siglette Shadow (born 9/5/17 ---

Suzi (15/5/04---13/4/17) (Sugarbabe) RIP loved you to the moon & back, miss you so so much precious girl
Watson01
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by Watson01 »

Thanks once again for the priceless advice Zeta, and Schnauzer.

I can't really believe it to be honest, but as you said, he was exhausted, and slept all the way through from 10:30 to 7 this morning. I was a bit worried he would not be too keen on his crate, as that was what he was brought home in (and he did not enjoy the ride). However, he seems to absolutely love it! going in of his own accord, and apparently finding it a very relaxing place to be. I can't believe how smart they are too, as he seems to be understanding so much already, and seems to sit on command right away, I keep thinking its a fluke. He got up this morning and went toilet on the newspaper, which we were really surprised by, and thought he was miraculously toilet trained too. ... . . no chance, as he followed that up with the tiniest poop on my sons bedroom floor (based on the level of mess in there, I can't blame him for thinking that's where toilet is really!) another accident was to follow after breakfast, so I'm just getting the hang of how long after food he needs to go, and how often during the day. All clear at Vet check up, and set up for some early puppy classes to socialise after the next set of vaccinations. I may never get any work done again!


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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by Dawnspell »

Hi and Welcome

We're in the same position as you working from home. With Jasper I had a crate in the office from the start for sleeping, or he was tethered to my chair while awake so I knew what he was doing, makes it much easier to keep working, and Jasper has a knack for getting into mischief =)) I'd take him out as soon as he woke up or if I was getting up myself for a break, and didn't let him go longer than 1.5 hours without taking him out. Every accident in the house is a nail in the coffin for house training.

Its very easy when working from home to slip into the habit of letting your puppy be with you at all times. We made this mistake with Barney our first schnauzer and it took along time to correct the separation anxiety we caused, they're a breed known for separation anxiety as it is. We're doing better with Jasper but they still know you're in the house even if they're on their own in another room. Its not the same as being left alone which is tricky when you have to stop work to go out of the house especially with 2 of us working at home.
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by mikegoodson1 »

Welcome Greg and to you too Watson, what a dear little boy you look. Sounds like he settled really well on his first night, now is when the fun starts :)

I have a feeling that you may need to be taking Watson out every 20/30 minutes or so, just to get him used to the garden to see if he needs to do anything and especially after eating.
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by schnauzer »

Glad your first night was fairly good, I forgot to say we cover Gino’s crate with a blanket when he goes in it at bedtime or if we are both out for a couple of hours, he’s much happier in it rather than having the freedom of the house as we have tried though I do just leave him the freedom if it’s less than an hour.
Sounds as if he needs to go out in garden as soon as he’s eaten . Keep up the good work it’s early days

Enjoy as they grow so fast.
Christine & Gino (Siglette Shadow (born 9/5/17 ---

Suzi (15/5/04---13/4/17) (Sugarbabe) RIP loved you to the moon & back, miss you so so much precious girl
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zeta1454
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by zeta1454 »

Good that the first night went well. I would second the advice from others above regarding taking Watson outside very regularly in the early days as you really want to be sure that he is not having "accidents" in the house at all if possible or even using paper / pads inside except in emergency. Pups need to be taken outside immediately on getting up in the morning, before food, after food, before play, after play, before bed etc. so at the least every hour unless he is actually asleep of course :-)

It is also important especially in the early weeks that Watson is never left unsupervised outside of his crate / playpen as you don't want to miss any signals that he may need to toilet or allow him to eat / chew anything that he shouldn't and be sure that there are no electricity cables exposed that he could chew on. Puppies often seem drawn to the things that they shouldn't be chewing!

The advice re separation anxiety is important too. You must try and factor in some periods every day when Watson is left alone as, if he is never left in these early weeks he may become extremely anxious when a situation arises that you must go out without him.

The first few months are intensively hard work with a new puppy but the more you put into training in the beginning the easier it will be as Watson matures and the happier he will be - understanding the routines of his life in your family, knowing where to toilet, when to sleep, where and when he has his meals and how to settle calmly when left alone :-)
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

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Watson01
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by Watson01 »

Absolutely faultless advice once again. Thanks again to all!

I was expecting a much harder second night, but he really does seem to feel totally comfortable in his crate with a blanket over at night, going in on his own when he's tired,and sleeping all of the way through so far. Last night was very very windy and rainy here, so lots of loud noises, but not a peep from Watson.

The advice on getting away is really helpful too, and I'm taking that on board. went out a couple of times yesterday for 15 to 45 mins and left him in is crate with the door closed. So far he seems pretty relaxed about it. All seems a bit too good to be true! (there's plenty of time for that to turn around though)

Toilet training is getting there slowly. going outside bunch of times, and on his pad this morning. Yesterday there were a couple of accidents, but hopefully heading in the right direction.

What a wonderful breed of dog!

On a side note, was thinking of getting a lead, and collar to get him used to that while we are still stuck at home before vaccinations. Any tips on that? what sort of size for a schnauzer pup?
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zeta1454
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by zeta1454 »

There is no problem with taking Watson out and about before vaccinations as long as you don't let him wander on the ground where other dogs have been. You can carry him in your arms or use a pet sling or pet buggy. We have sling and buggy but generally have found carrying in our arms fine. You get lots of attention from people and, if you have a dog friendly cafe or pub nearby, you can sit with Watson on your lap. It is really important that puppies get lots of new experiences (socialisation) before 12 weeks of age and this should not be put on hold until the vaccinations have concluded. If you know anyone with friendly dog/s that you trust to be well and no health risk, it is a good idea to let Watson meet other adult dogs too. He will have been interacting with adult dog/s at the breeder's home and this is important for social development.

It is a good idea to get Watson used to a collar and lead. We prefer to use a harness with our pups and dogs in order not to put too much pressure on their neck. The brand we have favoured for years is Perfect Fit harnesses:

https://www.dog-games-shop.co.uk/perfec ... rness.html

We have found the staff very helpful re advice on appropriate harnesses too :)
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud


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mikegoodson1
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Re: new member, and Watson

Post by mikegoodson1 »

Just following up on what Leigh said around socialisation, our local 'Pets Corner' held puppy socialisation mornings on a Saturday, I think it's something a lot of their shops do. I took both my pooches there, it was full of other puppies of different shapes and sizes and was well managed (owners of course were there too). It was a great way for them to socialise with other puppies.

I'm sure there are other places that do this, so maybe once Watson is fine to go out and about and meet other dogs, it would be something you investigate?

*I still pop into the store from time to time on a Saturday morning, without my pooches, to get to meet other puppies :D
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