Gun Dog Forum

Hello,
I've been enjoying your page for a couple of weeks now, and see lots of good advice.
I am new to hunting, and new to dog-owning. I have however been to a few dog trials just to soak up information, although only one here in the States.
I'm picking my Brit pup up in two weeks (she'll be 7 weeks), and need all the "first nights at home" advice I can get. I'm taking a few days off, so hopefully I can nap with the puppy!? :sleepy1: Kind of like having a baby again, so I'm sure I'll survive.

awwww LOL. Welcome

Make the pup sleep in the crate. But, if pup gets scared (and it can happen because everything is so new), move the crate by your bed and drape your hand over it.

Puppy-proof everything in your house. Paper, kleenex, wooden furniture, etc. will all be targets. Grab a bottle of bitter apple spray if you can. Watch what your pup migrates to, then pull pup off of it, spray it down, and let pup go back at it. That's all it should take (until a week later when the bitter wears off).

Watch the pup constantly. If it all of a sudden starts turning in circles, put it outside and watch it there. If it goes potty outside, gently praise. This will help with housebreaking.

Take away all food, treats and water after 7 or 8 p.m. in order to get some sleep at night. Your night may still be interrupted, but not as often.

Steven,
thank you for your reply. I have the crate in place already, and the pretty livingroom rug will be rolled up in the basement . I will probably be sleeping in the livingroom with the pup in the kennel, as it is closer to the back door...
Thanks for the advise on the bitter apple!

Fay

hey where can you buy this "bitter apple spray"???

Most pet stores will have the Bitter Apple or some variation of a bitter product if you ask for it. The one we use has oregano as its bittering agent. We used to feed the pup green apples as a low calorie treat and when we used the Bitter Apple spray, the pup would lick it off the furniture instead of being repelled by it. Silly puppy.

PetSmart has it for sure. Look for a pump spray bottle with a green and yellow label.

I looked up the Bitter apple spray on line, and it seems you can get it at Walmart too.

Congrats on your new brittany puppy!! I am a little partial to brittanys myself. I am looking forward to posted puppy pics from you on the near future.

Mav.....

Well, here's her baby-pic! She's the one sleeping with her head to the left, and her rear all the way to the rigth. More pictures to come, I assure you

Nice pic of the litter. Do you have a pedigree you could share? Tell us how you picked your pup also, thats always interesting.

Ezzy

awwww she is cute .

Congrats & Best of Luck!!!

Very cute pictures!! Gotta love puppy pics.

Mav.....

Ayres wrote:Make the pup sleep in the crate. But, if pup gets scared (and it can happen because everything is so new), move the crate by your bed and drape your hand over it.

Puppy-proof everything in your house. Paper, kleenex, wooden furniture, etc. will all be targets. Grab a bottle of bitter apple spray if you can. Watch what your pup migrates to, then pull pup off of it, spray it down, and let pup go back at it. That's all it should take (until a week later when the bitter wears off).

Watch the pup constantly. If it all of a sudden starts turning in circles, put it outside and watch it there. If it goes potty outside, gently praise. This will help with housebreaking.

Take away all food, treats and water after 7 or 8 p.m. in order to get some sleep at night. Your night may still be interrupted, but not as often.

I would add, use a 16 or 20oz plastic softdrink bottle warmed up inside a sock (or a sock full of dry uncooked rice heated in microwave) for the pup to snuggle up to at night for a couple weeks. I think it simulates warm puppies???
Right after pup eats, they will poop, and again after playing or getting excersize they need to go out. Pups cant hold it, its up to you to WATCH for the signs.
I agree on using a wire or plastic kennel for the pup. Its a good place to put them to be out of your way, or from being hurt by visiting children that cant/wont play nice. The puppy should be allowed to use the kennel for a safe (leave me alone spot).
Be vigilant on them eating things they shouldnt. A blockage of the intestine is expensive or fatal.
Socialize the pup with lots of people and kids.

Thanks for all your advise. I pick her up tomorrow, so I'll let you know how it goes!