Hi! Well after much thought we have decided to add a new family member to our small family. We are very excited to get our GSD puppy! She will be arriving to our home the end of July or first of August. I have lots of questions that I am hoping someone will be kind enough to give me some advice on. Please be patient, I have not had raised a large breed puppy in 20+ years (she was a GSD/Lab/Malamute) and it’s been 12 years since our Min Pin was a pup. Here goes..
Vaccinations
The breeder told me that she will be vaccinated at 5 weeks and 8 weeks. Does that seem right? I am not a necessarily pro-vaccine, but I do believe a puppy needs some of the vaccines. If that is correct, at what age would she need her next dose and with the 2 doses she is getting from the breeder, is it safe to take her out of the house when we pick her up or do we need to wait?
Also, how concerned should I be about our senior Min Pin not being fully vaccinated with the new puppy coming? She is 12 years old, has Cushing’s and had her full schedule of puppy vaccinations and after that I don’t recall where we are at with her besides getting a rabies shot in the last few years. She is an indoor dog and is even litter boxed trained. She doesn’t spend a lot of time outside anymore except our backyard or if we go camping.
Age at Pickup/Camping Plans
We can pick up our puppy anytime between July 17-August 7, when she will 8-11 weeks old and she is about 4 hours away from us so we have to schedule a travel day to pick her up. Here are a couple notes.. we had previously scheduled a camping trip in our trailer for the weekend of July 28-31. This would be at an established and paved campground. I am wondering if it would be a better idea to get the pup after this trip, around August 1 when she is 10 weeks old or if there is really no reason to not get her before the trip and take her with us. I am most concerned with her not having all her vaccinations and the possibility of bugs/ticks, etc. We go to this campground every year and generally we are the only other people with a dog while there but I do imagine other dogs frequent the campground as they are allowed. What would you do? When would you pick her up?
Crate Training/ExPen
We are lucky enough to only have to leave our pup home alone one day a week from 9:00-5:15 on Tuesday’s, otherwise I or my husband will be home with her for the most part and taking her with us. Our senior Min Pin sleeps in her crate in our office and has done that her whole life. So here are our thoughts on the pup… We will be crate training her until she is potty-trained. We were thinking of getting a large crate with a divider and having her be in it at night in our bedroom and while we are away on Tuesday’s. We are also lucky enough to live next door to my parents, so until she is a little older, one of my parents would be able to let her out a few times a day until we are home in the evening. We were also thinking of getting a ExPen for the kitchen area for her to be in while we are home but occupied, until she is potty-trained. Eventually we would like her to have full access of the house and be able to sleep on the floor on a dog bed in our bedroom. So the question is, would you attach the crate to the ExPen for more room on the Tuesday’s away or, since we have someone to let her out, just use the crate without the ExPen and avoid dealing with messes?
Socialization Classes/Puppy Classes/General Socialization
We have found an obedience center that we are excited to try out. They offer free weekly Pack to Basics socialization groups at their facility. They are about 30-45 minutes long and usually has anywhere from 30-60+ dogs per class. This would be an off leash no touch, talk or eye contact with any of the dogs, including your own. New attendees are required to have their dog evaluated and approved by staff. Any thoughts on if this would be a good thing and also, what age would be safe to take her? They allow 8 weeks old and up.
I am also considering signing up for a private puppy course. It consists of 3 sessions that are 2 hours each session and spaced 4 weeks apart. Another course they offer is a group obedience class which is 6-8 weeks long, classes 1-2 hours and 5-10 dogs per class. Thoughts on doing any or all of these and again, what age would be best to start?
We are planning on taking her with us everywhere… outdoor malls, home depot, hiking, walks… are all these places safe as soon as we get her? And maybe Petsmart if she stays in the cart…
I have also been watching Michael Ellis’ videos on YouTube and am considering the DVD “How to Train Your Dog with Food”. Would this be helpful in addition to the classes I want to do or a waste of money?
That’s all for now, but I am sure more will come up. But any thoughts or advice would be great! I look forward to being a part of this wonderful online community and can’t wait to get our pup!
Vaccinations
The breeder told me that she will be vaccinated at 5 weeks and 8 weeks. Does that seem right? I am not a necessarily pro-vaccine, but I do believe a puppy needs some of the vaccines. If that is correct, at what age would she need her next dose and with the 2 doses she is getting from the breeder, is it safe to take her out of the house when we pick her up or do we need to wait?
Also, how concerned should I be about our senior Min Pin not being fully vaccinated with the new puppy coming? She is 12 years old, has Cushing’s and had her full schedule of puppy vaccinations and after that I don’t recall where we are at with her besides getting a rabies shot in the last few years. She is an indoor dog and is even litter boxed trained. She doesn’t spend a lot of time outside anymore except our backyard or if we go camping.
Age at Pickup/Camping Plans
We can pick up our puppy anytime between July 17-August 7, when she will 8-11 weeks old and she is about 4 hours away from us so we have to schedule a travel day to pick her up. Here are a couple notes.. we had previously scheduled a camping trip in our trailer for the weekend of July 28-31. This would be at an established and paved campground. I am wondering if it would be a better idea to get the pup after this trip, around August 1 when she is 10 weeks old or if there is really no reason to not get her before the trip and take her with us. I am most concerned with her not having all her vaccinations and the possibility of bugs/ticks, etc. We go to this campground every year and generally we are the only other people with a dog while there but I do imagine other dogs frequent the campground as they are allowed. What would you do? When would you pick her up?
Crate Training/ExPen
We are lucky enough to only have to leave our pup home alone one day a week from 9:00-5:15 on Tuesday’s, otherwise I or my husband will be home with her for the most part and taking her with us. Our senior Min Pin sleeps in her crate in our office and has done that her whole life. So here are our thoughts on the pup… We will be crate training her until she is potty-trained. We were thinking of getting a large crate with a divider and having her be in it at night in our bedroom and while we are away on Tuesday’s. We are also lucky enough to live next door to my parents, so until she is a little older, one of my parents would be able to let her out a few times a day until we are home in the evening. We were also thinking of getting a ExPen for the kitchen area for her to be in while we are home but occupied, until she is potty-trained. Eventually we would like her to have full access of the house and be able to sleep on the floor on a dog bed in our bedroom. So the question is, would you attach the crate to the ExPen for more room on the Tuesday’s away or, since we have someone to let her out, just use the crate without the ExPen and avoid dealing with messes?
Socialization Classes/Puppy Classes/General Socialization
We have found an obedience center that we are excited to try out. They offer free weekly Pack to Basics socialization groups at their facility. They are about 30-45 minutes long and usually has anywhere from 30-60+ dogs per class. This would be an off leash no touch, talk or eye contact with any of the dogs, including your own. New attendees are required to have their dog evaluated and approved by staff. Any thoughts on if this would be a good thing and also, what age would be safe to take her? They allow 8 weeks old and up.
I am also considering signing up for a private puppy course. It consists of 3 sessions that are 2 hours each session and spaced 4 weeks apart. Another course they offer is a group obedience class which is 6-8 weeks long, classes 1-2 hours and 5-10 dogs per class. Thoughts on doing any or all of these and again, what age would be best to start?
We are planning on taking her with us everywhere… outdoor malls, home depot, hiking, walks… are all these places safe as soon as we get her? And maybe Petsmart if she stays in the cart…
I have also been watching Michael Ellis’ videos on YouTube and am considering the DVD “How to Train Your Dog with Food”. Would this be helpful in addition to the classes I want to do or a waste of money?
That’s all for now, but I am sure more will come up. But any thoughts or advice would be great! I look forward to being a part of this wonderful online community and can’t wait to get our pup!