Any must haves?

So.. I should be bringing home a puppy soon. Anything I've just got to have? I know staffies are known to destroy toys, but are even puppies likely to need the sturdier kinds of toys? I've never had a puppy that enjoyed the hard rubber kind of toys, so I'm not sure if they're likely to be "necessary" at once. Any idea for aprox measurement of the neck of a 8 week staffie? I used to have a wonderful puppy collar that we got 15+ years ago for our airedale.. It's been used by every puppy since, but at one point I've lost it.. Most puppy collars are flimsy and get ruined in no time if the puppy scratches at it.. and.. well.. puppies scratch at their collar.

Anything else?
(Yes, I've got around 1000000 dog things, but.. you know.. you have to do SOMETHING while you're waiting. )

Aww I'm sure your all prepared!! Collars I'm not too sure on as mine was slightly older and already had hers, just make sure its an adjustable one cause they grow so fast!!

Oh don't forget your camera, pics pics pics please

yeah most important thing around here...is your camera!!

LOL! I'll do my best to take pix. Don't have many of puppy Bajas, though, as he was such a hyper active brat that the few times he stayed in one place for more than a second I just wanted to REST. I hope I get a proper puppy - one that actually sleeps - but I'm prepared for anything. I just expect to get another Bajas, it can't get any worse than that.

But I already have pix.. Wanna see?

Aniemother wrote:

But I already have pix.. Wanna see?

Please

..yes please !!

Even for a pup I'd get a couple of tough toys, ones he can really get to grips with. Plus, of course, a couple of sweet, soft toys as long as you keep an eye on them!

As far as the collar goes, I'd wait till you get him & measure his neck - after all, he can't go out till he's had all his jabs so you'll have a couple of days to get one the right size!

Aniemother wrote:.

But I already have pix.. Wanna see?

YES!!!!!!

Okay, so I don't know yet which puppy I'm getting. They're four males and I'll be having one of them. These are just pix I took of the litter when we visited.















I've ordered a collar that should fit after a few weeks and will see what I do about a tiny puppy collar. I won't keep him locked up until he gets his vaccinations, though. After all he'll travel across pretty much two countries before we get him home, possibly being exposed to all sorts of things, and we're not in a high risk area.

What beauties! You'll have to put LOADS of pics on when you get him!

Re: the vaccinations & walks - please ask your vet's advice. Your pup won't be protected against things like leptospirosis, parvovirus, distemper and tetanus and although your area might not be high risk, the risk is always there.

Caryll wrote:Re: the vaccinations & walks - please ask your vet's advice. Your pup won't be protected against things like leptospirosis, parvovirus, distemper and tetanus and although your area might not be high risk, the risk is always there.

The vets recomment parvo at 8 weeks if they are going somewhere with a big risk, but otherwise not. We don't have lepto and I've never heard of vaccinating against tetanus to be honest. I checked and it's not on the list for what dogs are vaccinated against so I assume that's not an issue either allthough I can find it on the list for horses. (They recommend vaccinating for lepto if you travel to Denmark or further.)

And yes - I promise to post pix!

I am in love !!!!!!!!!!!!! ( with all of them ! )

How are you going to pick just one, I want them all

janey wrote:How are you going to pick just one, I want them all

So true! Glad I won't have to do the actual choosing! Thankfully their breeder will understand their personalities and conformation much better than me.

Aniemother wrote:

Caryll wrote:Re: the vaccinations & walks - please ask your vet's advice. Your pup won't be protected against things like leptospirosis, parvovirus, distemper and tetanus and although your area might not be high risk, the risk is always there.

The vets recomment parvo at 8 weeks if they are going somewhere with a big risk, but otherwise not. We don't have lepto and I've never heard of vaccinating against tetanus to be honest. I checked and it's not on the list for what dogs are vaccinated against so I assume that's not an issue either allthough I can find it on the list for horses. (They recommend vaccinating for lepto if you travel to Denmark or further.)

And yes - I promise to post pix!

Wow, over here they're all automatic!

(Psssst.............lots of pics!)

Caryll wrote:
Wow, over here they're all automatic!

(Psssst.............lots of pics!)

Every now and then we get a benefit from our could unfriendly climate - which is also unfriendly towards the little unpleasent buggers. But - with the whole global warming thing this might not last for long, though.. I do appreciate your concern, though! I wouldn't want to expose the little guy to any unnecessary risks - and hey, I even learnt about a disease I didn't even know they could get.

I promise to have my camera charged and ready - but I don't guarantee sharp pix, as they don't sit still...

Don't care if they're sharp! Don't care if they not professional! Just wanna see cute puppy pics!

Awwwwwwww..................they are ALL adorable. Hope you get a gorgeous little character

omg soooooo cute thanks for sharing and Vanessa I bet you're even more broddy for a pup now?! ......... I followed your post the other day and hope you find Jethro a new bro or sis soon, my bro. lives in Perth btw ;0)

whoops meant to read broody lol!

OMG their sooo cute, I want one

Aniemother wrote:

janey wrote:How are you going to pick just one, I want them all

So true! Glad I won't have to do the actual choosing! Thankfully their breeder will understand their personalities and conformation much better than me.

The breeder chose for me too and im so glad too
LOVE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS are the three things your new puppy needs

When we got Bandit the breeder had privately picked out 2 boys she thought would be good for us & had we chosen one of the others she would have steered us away from it. As it was, Bandit was one of them, and he sat on my oh's foot and gave him 'the look', so it didn't matter!

Once they give you "The Look" that's it

awwww their all so cute, its going to hard to pick one

I only had to choose between two males and that was hard enough

Caryll wrote:When we got Bandit the breeder had privately picked out 2 boys she thought would be good for us & had we chosen one of the others she would have steered us away from it. As it was, Bandit was one of them, and he sat on my oh's foot and gave him 'the look', so it didn't matter!

I am amazed that the breeder chooses, I never new that!

When I got Bajas I had the pick of the litter and they were two boys.. His breeder first showed me the one she thought was the better pick conformation-wise and then told me that the other one had a bit more white on his chest and a little larger eyes. I looked at the little guy in my lap and thought his eyes were gi-normous and that I better take that one...

I very much appreciate the breeders knowledge of her lines and how the personality and looks of the puppies are likely to develop. On a more general level I believe that having the breeder choosing the best match for each family can make everyone feel like they got the perfect pup, while being the "last one" and not able to choose makes some ppl afraid they'll get "the runt" and so on and consider their pup might be of a lesser quality somehow.

Aniemother wrote:When I got Bajas I had the pick of the litter and they were two boys.. His breeder first showed me the one she thought was the better pick conformation-wise and then told me that the other one had a bit more white on his chest and a little larger eyes. I looked at the little guy in my lap and thought his eyes were gi-normous and that I better take that one...

I very much appreciate the breeders knowledge of her lines and how the personality and looks of the puppies are likely to develop. On a more general level I believe that having the breeder choosing the best match for each family can make everyone feel like they got the perfect pup, while being the "last one" and not able to choose makes some ppl afraid they'll get "the runt" and so on and consider their pup might be of a lesser quality somehow.

Nicely explianed, didn't have much of a choice with Moo! Haven't a clue about proper breeding, but its certainly more intense than I thought.

janey wrote:Nicely explianed, didn't have much of a choice with Moo! Haven't a clue about proper breeding, but its certainly more intense than I thought.

It was also very interesting to hear her talk about the dogs she chose for herself, having to be calm and work well in a multi-dog house and so on (which is one of the things that is important to me, too, of course), where as when she places dogs in another home (but intended for her breeding) she can rely more on the physical features. She also talked about at what ages she felt it was easier to say something about how they will look as adults. I'm hoping for a dog to show from time to time, and one that won't become too big, so these things are of interest too. But in the end personality is the major thing.

Don't get me wrong and by know means would I ever encourage breeding, but the real breeders, and I suppose I have only ever heard about litters (if that makes sense) really are prepared in a way I can't imagine.

Real good breeders have already got homes for the puppies even before mating takes place, there is no need to advertise them for sale as they already have homes, thats why a breeder will pick out the one most suited for you.

Gorgeous pups.
I bet you can't wait.
As evryone else has said.....Don't forget loads of pics