Help Needed! Puppy arriving on Friday!

Hi folks,

Since my daughter was 2 years old, she's been asking for a puppy to love.

She's now 8 and a half and I have managed to track a beautiful cross breed puppy down in a dog shelter in Sydney. He is being flown to Brisbane on Friday to join our little family.

My problem is, we live in an inner city terrace apartment with a good sized balcony - there is a riverwalk and dog park nearby though, so the dog I chose had to be a small dog and a boy. And he is both of those things!

What do I need to get?

I haven't had a dog since I was a little girl and obviously my parents did all the hard work back in those days, I just got to love them and play with them and feed them.

What are things I need to ensure the puppy has? The shelter has told me he's only 8 weeks old on Friday, so is on rehydrated dry dog food. I have asked them for the brand they use - but they tell me they change the brands constantly so the animals don't get used to one particular brand?

Dog bed?
Dog bowls? For water and food?
Lead and collar?
Chew toys?

What else do I need?
I'm going to have to go out tomorrow and madly try to get everything for this little man's arrival!

Sophie doesn't know...so I am beyond excited. She'll burst into tears when she see's him He is VERY sweet!

Any tips, advice or help would be appreciated.

It was a while ago for me, but how about vaccinations? Has the shelter got that sorted?

Also, clippers to cut the nails. Brush for coat, and doggie shampoo.

make sure his shots are all up to date.

check to see if he has any special needs (some breeds need special care re grooming or health)

fresh food is best...ie buying meat, rice and veggies and cooking it up yourself each week (treat him like a BB but with doggie diet). But bought dog food is OK if you get a good brand with sound nutrition behind it. I hear Science Diet is really good.

he needs a
doggy bed,
coat for the winter (dogs get cold),
leash/lead for walkies,
food and water bowls,
shampoo and maybe a conditioner for coat care depending on the breed
heartworm and flea treatments (advocate is really good)
treats - bones and stuff for his teeth to keep healthy

love and cuddles , exercise and fresh air

good suggestions! I have a list, I have to go out tomorrow and buy all this stuff! My pockets will be empty but my heart will be full, he's soooo beautiful! lol And Sophie will DIE.

He's been vaccinated, wormed and microchipped. I'll have to continue the worming and more vaccinations at 12 weeks I think.

Ok I've been told he has to have rehydrated dry puppy food. No rice or anything just yet. He's only 8 weeks old on Friday.

I need :

Dog bed
Dog bowls x 2
Dog chew toys
I have ordered a doggie jumper (this online pet apparell is going to get WAY out of hand!) lolol
Collar & lead
I need some gates or something to cordon off area's of the house, so he doesn't poop all over the carpet Dunno where to get those from, will take a look in the pet shop tomorrow.

Anything else?

EDIT : Brush...yes! Heartworm and flea treatment....yes. Jeeeez I'm going to be poor tomorrow! lol

Puppys will need more vaccinations after they are 8wks, so have to keep these up to date, also look at adding some calcipup I think it is called, it is a calcium Supp for growing puppies, I used it for my staff. Ummm chew toys to keep him occupied especially for when you're not there, but I think you have everything else covered.....

Oh, look at making your own dog food for once he grows up, the canned stuff is just terrible, I have always made our own for my staff and he thanks us for it.

Neddysmith said:

Puppys will need more vaccinations after they are 8wks, so have to keep these up to date, also look at adding some calcipup I think it is called, it is a calcium Supp for growing puppies, I used it for my staff. Ummm chew toys to keep him occupied especially for when you're not there, but I think you have everything else covered.....

Oh, look at making your own dog food for once he grows up, the canned stuff is just terrible, I have always made our own for my staff and he thanks us for it.

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Don't think you can count staffies as dogs. Their four legged people, normal dog rules don't apply to them.

Bella toilet training will be a bastard without any sort of yard, dunno how you make that work. Get the gates from bunnings just ask for baby gates, put all shoes on high shelves, clear the house of rodent baits, give the pup time alone or you will have a lifetime of seperation anxiety, get him socialised early even if it looks to you like the other dogs are wailing on it, they need it to learn the pecking order.

Good luck.

Brick said:

Don't think you can count staffies as dogs. Their four legged people, normal dog rules don't apply to them.

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This is very true, and they know it........

take a few days off work so you can help ease your dog into its new environment. Buy a crate an start crate training. If you decide not to use a create than find a very small area for the dog to eat and sleep in. Do not let your dog roam free. They will poop and wee anywhere!

Will the dog be indoors or outside? I found some cheap potty mats at reject shop or choice if it will be indoors.

Some vets provide free checks to newly purchased pups/kittens. Take this offer.
Buy some pig ears/chew toys for when the dog starts teething.

sookie said:

take a few days off work so you can help ease your dog into its new environment. Buy a crate an start crate training. If you decide not to use a create than find a very small area for the dog to eat and sleep in. Do not let your dog roam free. They will poop and wee anywhere!

Will the dog be indoors or outside? I found some cheap potty mats at reject shop or choice if it will be indoors.

Some vets provide free checks to newly purchased pups/kittens. Take this offer.
Buy some pig ears/chew toys for when the dog starts teething.

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omg sookie!!!! lol How cute is this picture!! Nawwwwwwww adorable!

Yes I need some gates or something to section off an area for him. Hmmm...I'm going to busy tomorrow!

Thanks also Brick for the tips.....am feeling a bit panicked at the moment..but so excited. It's almost killing me not to tell Sophie lol

I won't be back to work until September at the earliest sookie...thus the reason I've decided to get a pup now, I can't devote time and attention to the little one and ensure he's comfy and feels safe etc. And the potty training! Ohhhhhhh this is going to be interesting! lolol

Thank you for the picture sookie...my heart exploded a little! So cute!

bugger having an 8 week old pup in an apartment a cat would be a better choice. Is it a staffy or staffy cross?

hyjak said:

bugger having an 8 week old pup in an apartment a cat would be a better choice. Is it a staffy or staffy cross?

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Nooooo its a cavalier king charles cross. So its only a small puppy. It had to be a small pup, I'd feel bad otherwise. Dogs need space. The little one will get out lots though, we have parks & a dog park & a riverwalk nearby

I would have loved a staffy, they're adorable. But too big for an apartment.

Ok cool I was a bit worried there. I have two staffies and they are not full time indoor dogs....










....just after work on my lap dogs lol

hyjak said:

Ok cool I was a bit worried there. I have two staffies and they are not full time indoor dogs....

....just after work on my lap dogs lol

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lolol

I saw a beautiful blue staffy for sale, but you're right. Definitely not full time indoor pups!

Carpet shampoo for wee's and poo's lol

Have you heard of hachiko? There is a movie. Download or hire it. Old movie but a good one

Tregs said:

Carpet shampoo for wee's and poo's lol

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lol excellent thinking Tregster! urgh

I remember my pup having a massive diarrhea attack all over the kitchen floor one day. I'd hate to try cleaning that off carpet. Beware!

Also, one day a guy came over to build a fence. I had to lock my 2 dogs in the bathroom all day while I went off to work. I left them a bean bag to keep comfy.

My gawd....when I came home I saw gazillions of white styrofoam beans coming out from under the bathroom door.

When I walked into the bathroom I saw shampoo squirted out everywhere and some magnificent turds in the bathtub.

Enjoy your new life J!

DKD said:

I remember my pup having a massive diarrhea attack all over the kitchen floor one day. I'd hate to try cleaning that off carpet. Beware!

Also, one day a guy came over to build a fence. I had to lock my 2 dogs in the bathroom all day while I went off to work. I left them a bean bag to keep comfy.

My gawd....when I came home I saw gazillions of white styrofoam beans coming out from under the bathroom door.

When I walked into the bathroom I saw shampoo squirted out everywhere and some magnificent turds in the bathtub.

Enjoy your new life J!

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lmao

cancelling payment and Qantas pet courier service......

Don't get a kelpie.

Treats (for training)
Laser pointer for easy exercising

Obligatory puppy pic (babysitting her for a friend)