dogon

Yes, I totally agree. With a new cocker pup purchase on the horizon for me I would be very interested.

Hang on, Whoa! Are you talking to me or Mohican? :D I haven't belittled or disregarded any advice yet; I haven't even got the pup! Come on....I can read between the lines of Mohican's advice and I'm sure that they do not advocate dehydrating a dog...go easy on this member. I have seen no evidence of abuse from this person, nor have I detected arrogance, so let's all just relax. I have been getting so much excellent advice and I am more than capable of choosing what best suits our situation and dog's needs. Thank you so much for your time guys. I have plenty more questions too...but maybe I should start a new thread

5 months :D But, I guess in a way I've been waiting nearly a year since the decision to buy a pup came but then came the realisation that I needed long holidays which for me, being a teacher, comes Dec/Jan. However it wasn't really until I began the process of deciding on a breed and then contacting breeders that the excitement really set in. LOL-I have totally exhausted my option to talk with friends about puppy stuff.... having dangerously approached the glazed eyes stage with most of them :shakehead: hmmmm... would a little golden coloured stuffed dog help me get through this waiting thing?

Ok.... so, would that be the toy that whines and howls all night or the one that wees and poos continuously

I can just see my OH face when I set up puppy's play pen and crate complete with toys etc next to our bed. Our Pup is six weeks from arriving! great fuel for the claim that I've finally lost it .....but yes, Odin-Genie, I can't wait to hold him on that special ride home

It's the OPer here. Well it's been a long wait for my new pup. He wont be arriving until late December now but I guess that means I have a while to read,learn and prepare! Just the other day I went to pets paradise to purchase some bird treats etc when one of the assistants approached me. I was looking at the crates and thought I might ask the price. I was told that crate training is a waste of time and that the puppy pads would be so much more effective for the new pup who should be placed in the bathroom or laundry over night - it will cry initially but will then settle! She had tried crate training with her pup but it cried the whole time and it 'broke her heart'. Now, I have to wonder, if she got her pup from PP then I would expect it to cry in a crate having been locked in a glass cage for who knows how long, forced to wee and poo in it's own bed. I do wonder if those pups come to their owners completely traumatised by enclosed spaces. Anyway, just thought I'd mention it as an interesting encounter in that big wide world of puppy advice. I will still crate train. On the bright side I did buy a great little book called the 'Ultimate Puppy Tool kit' So far it's worth the buy. Oh, and do people have any time passing suggestions for an impatient soon to be puppy owner? I don't know how long I can wait without bursting from excitement

I think I will use the training pads at night and then place them in his pen during the day. I will gradually inroduce the outside toilet routine as he gets settled in with us. Does this sound like a good idea? My hubby will be taking the pup to work (crated) so I think he will be fine for 2 weeks.

Thank you, thank you guys. All of that makes perfect sense. I think I will definately crate for bed and toilet training. The rewards should come later when he's an obedient doggie who will then earn the privilege to share our doona! Also: specially thanks to Luke W. - for your time and advice. Your little Barkly is so georgeous (was reading your other threads in the name of education!) Do you clicker train btw?

Yep I agree! it's just that others in my house don't but that's ok, i'll get my way in the end mwahmwahmwahhahahahah!

Thanks all. Sorry for that confusion - essentially our pup will be alone during the day for the first 2 weeks until I start holdidays. I will be on holidays for six weeks approx. I have been waiting to purchase a pup all year but wanted to wait until the xmas holidays to when I knew I would have a longer break. Hubby thinks he may be able to take the pup to work (if crated) as he works in a very laid back office with people who would love to have a pup about. I think I may have persuaded hubby to accept a crate (for the pup that is ) Toohey: I've wondered about that point you make; that puppies need to have experience of you not being there. So I'm glad that you said that. I'm not one to fuss but on the other hand I do want a well adjusted dog so don't want to set up any kind of separation anxiety by just leaving him alone for 2 weeks straight. I'm off to meet the breeder and the pup very soon but in my communications with them and the info they have provided me with, it seems like this pup is going to have a lovely temperament with some champion qualities too! Luke w: You've scared the beejezuz outta me :rofl: Sounds like I'm letting the creature from the black lagoon into my house (maybe I am ) I did have a look at Ian Dunbars book and I have to say I don't warm to his position on dog training etc. He seems very unforgiving of any kind of mistake (either by the owner or the pup) and suggest that this could set up a problem for life in which you'll be playing catch up for a long time when trying to correct. That sounds kinda stressful and harsh to me. I have been reading the 'perfect puppy' instead and while it gives you an idea of what you'll be in for, it still makes it seem fun and very rewarding. But yes, I agree, I've made a good choice with this breed...i've owned one before when I was a kid and know how lovely they can be so thanks for your advice. Now...all I have to do is try to talk hubby out of having the dog in our bed! .....but is it really so bad? can anyone tell me why dogs in bed are a bad idea?

Hi all. I've been doing a lot of reading since we have decided to purchase a cocker pup. All I'm doing now is thinking of ways to set up for him and be the most prepared I can be. He will be 8 weeks when we get him and I will be on 6 weeks holidays when he is 10 weeks so that means 2 weeks of home alone (but hubby can come home and spend his lunch with him) we will set him up in our bathroom with bed, toys and newspaper and will obviously resign ourselves to cleaning up each afternoon. When on holidays I will start the whole toilet training thing in earnest and also obedience training. We will probably let him sleep on our bed at night though (hubby's call not mine ) and may or may not use a crate for time out - short trips to shop etc. He will definitely be an inside dog - a doggy door will be installed at a later date for him to choose as he gets older. Do we sound on track? Am I in for a horror if I'm not with him for 2 weeks at first? Of course I will spend as much time with him when I'm home etc (training and playing) Also; when I do go back to work the pup will be four months old. From what I understand at this age they begin to really teeth. At this stage I'm hoping that he will know his area - either a penned area or a closed off room with all chewable things removed save for chew toys etc. Is there anything else people could recommend that we do here? Anything I can work on in my six week break to prepare him for our return to work. I know puppy's are hard work, I know they chew so I'm under no illusion here I have been reading through these forums and have a fair idea of what we're in for but I'm still very excited. Maybe people with cockers can give me some specialised tips too. Thanks guys.