Puppy Ryker is coming home Saturday

Hi all!

I've read lots of books and read tons of posts which have helped a lot. So many wonderful ideas on here! I have food, crates, toys....oh so many toys... leash, collar, harness (Not to use right away but for when he's a little older), even a couple of sweaters to keep him warm since it's getting super cold here, dog bed, more toys...puppy proofed, made sure fencing is safe, I'm like up to my eyeballs in puppy toys.... blankets, already talked to my vet to set up an appointment, picking up ID tag tomorrow, Food and water dishes, dog first aid kit.

I think I have everything I need but I tend to worry so I wanted to see what you guys thought... anything missing? I haven't had a puppy in like 10 or 15 years. I don't think I'm going to use potty pads. I have grooming supplies. Even a carpet cleaner coming in the mail. I've talked to my parents who will be watching him during the day about a schedule.

Is there anything else you can think of that I might be forgetting or that would be helpful to have?

Sorry, one more question, Any tips for the first night? I'm so excited but super nervous. lol

Any recommendations for treats?

He will be a little over 8 weeks.

Thanks much!

Ooh, exciting times !

When I went to fetch Nifty, took a big cuddly toy with me which we rubbed over litter mates/mum for scent. Breeder also gave me microfiber with litter scent. She travelled with both in pet carrier to come home, pet carrier was used as basket/safe sleeping place. She still has cuddly toy today, though it has been washed since.

I had her in the next room so we could hear each other but each was in their own space. We had big evening cuddles then lights out. Luckily Nifty never cried or complained.
I suppose that trying to set up a routine as soon as possible worked for us.

I don’t know what you have planned for home set up but I had/have a play pen for Nifty (don’t have a spare room for her) in which a pet carrier is installed in a corner for sleeping. I put training pads the other end of play pen as pups do pee often and as she’s by herself up to 5 hours at a time (work obliges), she used them well.

Pup will sleep lots and lots.
I was told to give drinking water at room temperature to avoid upset tummy, I used bottled mineral water until all vaccinations were done.
3 feeds a day until around 6 months old => 2 feeds.
Monthly flea and worm treatment until 6 months old.

I gave Feelwells probiotic treats as a pup, Puppy version are small O’s. Kibble was good too. Do check on packaging as alot of treats mention minumum age/maximum quantity to be fed.

Do you have chew toys for sharp baby teeth and teething ?
Eye and ear solutions for cleaning if necessary ? Human sensitive baby wipes are practical if a little poop on bottom.

I'm so excited for you - takes me back 6 months

P.S. don’t forget to take as many photos and videos that you can. Any occasion is a good excuse !
Pups grow up really quickly and you’ll love looking back on how much Ryker has changed

Yes for sure, lots of pictures =] haha lots and lots!!

Don't know why my other post didn't go through... Great tips on the water. Didn't think about that. I have a built-in RO water system that I will use. I do have a puppy pen that I will dig out. Didn't think about that either, great idea. I do have ear solution but not eye, will pick some up along with baby wipes. Oh and lots of chew toys. I got some that can go in the freezer to help with teething. I will have to talk with my vet about flea and worm treatment, don't have any for the puppers. Seeing the vet tomorrow so I will ask. Thank you so much for your replies =] I will for sure take lots of pictures. I was a little young when I had my Rottie puppies to know to take pictures but will probably break my computer with pictures this time haha

That’s the advantage of digital photos and videos, the HDD space is the limit !
And even then, it can be extended at any time !

The main advice I'd give for a new puppy is to go round your house on your knees and look for anything that might just end up between those little needle teeth. In particular, see if you can hide electrical cabling (a puppy favourite) and if not have as much switched off at the wall as possible.

The other thing is to remember that what a puppy learns, the dog has learned. Yes, you can unlearn bad habits but it's easier not to let a puppy pick them up in the first place. Things that are sweet in a puppy might not be so cute in a 18kg dog. (Different species, but watch the videos of people teaching their foal to put its feet on a human's shoulders, then imagine a fully grown horse doing that. It really does happen). Putting in boundaries from the start will save you grief later on.

And enjoy! Above all, enjoy

How exciting, can’t wait to see Ryker

The one thing I can see missing from your list is.... Patience, and lots of it

Hey Kolby!
Been thinking about you yesterday for your BIG day.
How is Ryker settling in ?
Was his first night ok ?

Looking forward to reading all about Ryker!

I'm hoping this worked... If it did there should be four pictures of puppy Ryker =] My big boy Ruben isn't impressed yet lol

What a stunner, how is Ryker settling in?

Ah yes, Ruben doesn’t look very impressed but I’m sure he’ll adopt Ryker very quickly.
Ruben is really lovely though, nice sweater too.

How is Ryker settling in ?

(It might just be a bad camera shot but couldn’t Ryker’s collar do with being untightened just a little ?)

Ryker has made himself at home, he's settled in nicely. He's on a good schedule. Only went potty a few times in the house and once in his crate. I think I have him figured out as far as pottying goes. He has a ton of toys with more on the way. Typical puppy likes to try and eat my shoes, toes, and legs. haha

I hope you have a couple of new toys on the way for Ruben too (and not the living type)
Already having sussed him out in terms of potty training after just 48 hours ? Gotta love the intelligence of these bully dogs

His collar is not as tight as it looks, promise. I didn't leave it on him though since he doesn't really need one at this age anyway. The only reason he has one on is because he came with it on when I picked him up from the airport. He has a different one that can slip over his head but again he doesn't need one on right now. Hims runnin around necked haha I've heard too many horror stories of puppies getting there jaw caught in their collar so he's not wearing one till he's older and then it will be a breakaway collar when he's at home.

He's a stunner!

Are you looking forward to having your hands/arms/legs/feet used as pin cushions?

Picked him up from the airport ? Wow, big traveller already.
I trust, respect and agree with your principles regarding collars. Nifty is only starting to tolerate wearing a collar at 8 months old when we do the horses in the morning (harness trained since a pup).
Proof that photos can be very deceiving.

When did you start Nifty with a harness? He has one too but wasn't sure if he was old enough to start wearing one? He's about 9 or 9 and half weeks old now. I've only had him since last Saturday so I thought I would let him be until he gets settled more and a little older. He doesn't go anywhere that he really needs one right now so wasn't sure when to start with a harness.

Yeah, Ryker came in from two states away. Quick hour and half flight, didn't even seem to faze him lol I was pretty concerned with that since i've never had a dog flown anywhere but it didn't seem to bother him or his brother that came with him.

Oh and Ryker has introduced me to his puppy teeth lol oh my... haha I forgot how sharp they were lol

I think the first few weeks at home were spent garden potty training (was already training pad trained on arrival) and me getting used to having pup at home !
Then we started introducing the harness wearing (without lead) whilst using the “follow me” puppy reflex in the garden.
Then clipped on light lead for her to get used to feeling it over her.

Actually trying to lead off harness was only done when we left the house to explore after final vaccinations so that must be at 4 months old.

To be honest and with hindsight, I should have made the most of the puppy follow me stage and left her off the lead “out and about” much longer. In my defense, I’m a first-time pup owner and live in the country so she’s always loose in the large garden I was also scared that she would run off and never come back.

How exciting to fetch your new pup at the airport !
Just curious as to the reason why pup comes from so far. Was it intentional or it just happened that you found him a couple of states away ?

I officially announce that I do not miss puppy teeth at all !

I actually looked for about a year for another rescue but for one reason or another it just didn't work out. I actually was ready to give up and his breeder popped up and I emailed them. It was the only SBT breeder I found that was somewhat close.

Nifty staffy wrote:I should have made the most of the puppy follow me stage and left her off the lead “out and about” much longer. In my defense, I’m a first-time pup owner and live in the country so she’s always loose in the large garden  I was also scared that she would run off and never come back.

It's an opportunity a lot of puppy owners miss for that very reason, but one that's really worth taking. You can not only get a good off lead walk going but also start working on recall (get someone to hold Ryker just a couple of feet from you and call him).

Use the puppy weeks to desensitise to all sorts of thing. Working in a very sensitive way (i.e. keeping an eye so you're never going into stress), you can introduce things like the bangs and crashes, the hoover, traffic (even if you can't go for proper walks you can still stand and watch it), etc. Make all these things huge fun and you should have less trouble with things like fireworks and storms later on. It's also not a bad idea to go for short car rides and start basic separation training by just going out of a room for a few seconds. Remember he's learning from EVERY experience so the key is to make each one positive.