New puppy = alot more work that i thought!

I have recently got a new english staffy. He is 9 weeks old and is the cutest thing ever!

However, being my first puppy I'm in desperate need of help! This seemed like the best place to get tips and advice!

1. He will not drink water, i have googled this and have tried small bowls, out of my hand, gently pushing his nose towards it. but he refuses to drink it, i asked the breeder of the dog, she reckons he could be getting enough water from the puppy food I'm feeding him. Should i be more worried about this? I have read about the UTI infections but he doesn't cry when he pee's etc..

2. Dandruff. He has the worst dandruff ever! i have feed him a raw egg.. people have told me this helps? well it sure hasn't? What should i be washing his coat with? He is an inside dog.

3. Being left alone. He cannot stand it. He yelps and cries and I'm worried when hes bigger he might destroy the house. I have left the music/tv on for him, one of my recently worn tops is left with him in his pen along with plenty of toys. I need some tips before my neighbors start complaining. He is only ever left for a hour on his own while i pop to the store.

Please help!

Hi Shaza. On the water problem- I wouldn't try too hard to make him drink the water. He will drink it when he is thirsty. If you try too hard to make him drink it he might become a little skiddish. He sounds like a normal timid young pup. At 9 weeks old he is going to bark alot when left alone. Just leave him in his crate when you go out and try not to let him hear you leave. He will eventually become comfortable and feel safe in the crate. As far as dandruff...
If his skin is very dry you shouldn't wash him too often. Maybe someone else has better advice on the dandruff issue Hope this helped.

What food are u feeding him? Is it a good quality one? Is it wet or dry? If its wet that might be why he isnt drinking as a low quality wet food is literally all water. His food may also be the cause of his dandruff try getting a better food or try adding a table spoon of olive oil a few times a week, sardines are also good for a healthy coat. in regards to not liking being left, i use a crate. Cover it with blankets to make it into a den and fill with toys and get a kong fill it with whatever u want and freeze it, that will keep him busy 4 ages he wont have time to miss u lol. You will have to put him in the crate for very short periods of time and then build it up. Put him in for 5 mins go outside then come back in and let him out no cuddles or attention then build it up x

blaze wrote:What food are u feeding him? Is it a good quality one? Is it wet or dry? If its wet that might be why he isnt drinking as a low quality wet food is literally all water. His food may also be the cause of his dandruff try getting a better food or try adding a table spoon of olive oil a few times a week, sardines are also good for a healthy coat. in regards to not liking being left, i use a crate. Cover it with blankets to make it into a den and fill with toys and get a kong fill it with whatever u want and freeze it, that will keep him busy 4 ages he wont have time to miss u lol. You will have to put him in the crate for very short periods of time and then build it up. Put him in for 5 mins go outside then come back in and let him out no cuddles or attention then build it up x

He is on wet canned food, my brother used this with his dog and had no problems. But will try a different brand and see how his coat goes.
I have a wee 'pen' set up with his bed with plenty blankets plenty of toys. I'm from new zealand so alot of your 'lingo' or words are different to ours, so what is a kong? lol I think he just loves the attention at the moment because he gets it alot of from my visitors. I will definitely try the leaving him for short periods and letting him out without any attention.

Your tips are very good

Yes blaze is a profesional excellant advice there

http://www.kongcompany.com/

link about kongs, now you know what they are you can google then in New Zealand

Can't really add anymore, pups are hard work and at 9 weeks he has a lot of learning to do, but he'll get there, welcome to the forum

Excellent advice from blaze there. I think the food is the key to your first 2 problems, and crying when you leave him is quite normal. Just build up the periods gradually & he'll soon settle.

when the crying happens it feels like it will never end, but don't worry if you keep at it, it actually stops pretty soon.

Don't work for us as Blake can't hear the ouch... What is working with Blake is ignoring his behaviour completely.... If he bites, get up and walk out of the room, he hates it... Also thumbs down is working a little now

Violet is about the same age and we've had her for 2 weeks or so. At first, she cried if we left her for a minute - now we're lucky if she bothers to wake up when we come back from the shop. Just took a wee while for her to settle and get used to things

for the fur how many times a week do you wash them as ther coats contain oils wich make the coat healthy and shiny try not to wash dog all the time wipe down instead.try this if you wont olive oil 1 teaspoon with egg over dried food 3 times a week

For The Danddruff You Tryed Dog Shampoo ? , You Can Get Dog Shampoor For Dandruff, Pretty Expensive But Lasts For Long Time, And Works Wonders, A Friend Of Mine Uses It On Hes Dog, Cause Hes Dog Suffers From It, Well Doesnt Anymore Sinse Used Dog Shampoo For Dandruff, Wash Him With Dog Shampoo Let Him Dry, Give Him A Brush, With Rubber Brush, And It Should Stop, The Crying My Dog Did That, Just Leave Food And Water In Secure Area Wherever You Keep Your Puppy, Egnore The Puppy Unless Sounds To Serious, Another Trick I done With My Puppy, Was Come Down Stairs Give The Dog A Treat Send It To Its Bed, That Way Learning A New Command, And Learning That Going Bed Is Not That Bad, And When Wake Up In Morning , Give It Praise And Another Treat, After Couple Days My Puppy Stopped Crying Worked Wonders, Remember Persistance Pays Off, You BIG! Tip Dont Keep Going To It When It Crys, It Has To Learn To Be On Its Own, Oviously Not For Long amounts Of Time, I Use To Set My Alarm Clock Every 4 Hours, Out Of 8 Hour Sleep, That Way You Keeping Eye Making Sure Puppy Ok, And Cleaning Up Its Mess , Like Urine Etc, And Gives You Peace Of Mind As Well Knowing The Room Is Not Trashed lol , Because I Keep My Puppy In The Kitchen With A Baby Gate, With Water, No Food During Night, Else More Mess To Clean Up, Another Tip Like Saying Dont Leave The Puppy Food Before You Go Bed, Else It Will Poo And Probably Step All Over It, And Make Mess Of The Area Happened With My Puppy, And I Also Leave The Radio On, But I turn Lights Off, Gets Puppy Use To The Dark, And Because Of Radio Makes The Puppy Not Feel To Much On Its Own, Also Knew Friend Of Mine Puppy Was Scared Of The Dark, He Started Leaving Lights Off When He Went Bed, Instead Of Before He Use Leave Kitchen Lights On, But When He Took Hes Puppy For Walk At Night, Hes Puppy Was Scared Of The Dark, Soon He Put Lights Off When Was Bedtime With Radio, When Took Hes Puppy For Walk At Night Hes Puppy Became Ok With Dark, Saying Of Story The Puppy Faced Up To Its Fears, Hope This Was Some Help!? , Sorry About Essay lol .

Ment You Only Leave Puppy With Water NO FOOD! During Night! lol

blaze wrote:What food are u feeding him? Is it a good quality one? Is it wet or dry? If its wet that might be why he isnt drinking as a low quality wet food is literally all water. His food may also be the cause of his dandruff try getting a better food or try adding a table spoon of olive oil a few times a week, sardines are also good for a healthy coat. in regards to not liking being left, i use a crate. Cover it with blankets to make it into a den and fill with toys and get a kong fill it with whatever u want and freeze it, that will keep him busy 4 ages he wont have time to miss u lol. You will have to put him in the crate for very short periods of time and then build it up. Put him in for 5 mins go outside then come back in and let him out no cuddles or attention then build it up x

Excellent advice and you found a great forum so welcome from us and Suki.

the first weeks are the hardest as your pup is just a little baby in a strange new environment...just remember to reward the good behaviour.. ignore the bad..Winston cried the first few nights... it was hard because I wanted to tell him off or to comfort him...but then he must have thought well it isn't doing me any good.. I will just shut up... we never heard a peep out of him after that...
Definitely put a blanket or sheet over the crate.. makes them feel more secure and I always leave the radio on ..easy listening music only.. no heavy metal !
You will get there... and so will Boss.....