A Good Puppy Care Book For Someone New?

[Gerda the Schnauzer]

Hi there,

We are after a good book (or two) on how to care for a puppy. At the moment we have our hearts set on a Standard Schnauzer and met some breeders yesterday (which was great) - should a book be specific to the breed o puppy?

I have no experience in caring for a puppy, and as we have a little time before we get one I wanted to read up BEFORE getting one . I also want to train her highly, with small children I think obedience will be key. Maybe I need an extra book for my daughter (3.5years) to give her some basics with pictures etc. too. Any ideas??

Thanks a lot,

anna

[Guest Tess32]

I can't speak for every breed but I think you'll find that most of the breed specific books you'll find at the pet shop are very outdated and just full of generalised info anyway.

You can get "Before and After you get your Puppy" by Ian Dunbar.

[Cockerlover]

good luck ;have a look on line re the breed you are considering ;a good book to read in general is the dog whisperer not sure of the author ask @your local book store

[trishalouise]

I can't speak for every breed but I think you'll find that most of the breed specific books you'll find at the pet shop are very outdated and just full of generalised info anyway.

You can get "Before and After you get your Puppy" by Ian Dunbar.

Yep - definately these 2. You can download "Before You Get Your Puppy" for free. It will give you some great info and really help to prepare you for when the puppy comes.

Good Luck,

Trish

ETA Link for Before You Get Your Puppy Download here

Edited December 30, 2007 by trishalouise

[Dogsfevr]

Also the schanuzer club of america will have alot of breed related tips.Std schnauzers MUST be obedience trained.They are highly intelligient & being a working breed(herding) need to learn where they fit in the household early on otherwise an untrained std is a powerful ,unenjoyable pet.

As for breed books i wouldnt bother ,with any dog commensense is a must but most of all making sure the breed is the right one for the family.

As a mini breeder we find many people presume the 3 sizes have the same nature & needs but its far from wrong.

Minis are companian dogs & the Std/Giants are working dogs & need to be respecetd for that & trained appropriately to there needs

[Gerda the Schnauzer]

Thank you all so much, this is very helpful. I think I will order some of these books today. Do they all use 'crate training'? I'm new to the concept and I don't think we will do it... but will use some of the principles.

We researched far and wide for the right dog... I'll give you my reasons and feel free to offer an opinion! My husband would like a dog (mostly to run with, so it needs to be big enough to cope with that) but is concerned that he may not always have time to run every day without fail - so I need to be able to be responsible for two walks a day myself (with children and pram, hence training the dog well!). I have a 3.5 year old daughter, and a 3 month old son... and I was hoping to get this puppy/baby stage all done in one go (haha) while I am at home the most often.

The most I will go out to work in the future is a few hours a day, or work from home, so that should suit most dogs. We don't like tiny 'toy' sized dogs personally, and couldn't cope with a huge dog, so we were looking at medium sizes. DH also wants it to come inside, so I don't want huge wagging tails (like his previous retriever) or shedding madly type hair. He doesn't like Staffies (unfortunately!) which maybe would have been my choice, or a poodle, which he also doesn't think is manly enough LOL. You can see this has been a tricky decision! We considered the labradoodles etc for a wee while - but not for long LOL.

The minatures I am tempted by, mostly for the size being a bit smaller than the male standard Sch. but I am concerned about the extra health concerns they have (from what I have heard) - not that they have a lot though! Female schnauzers are the perfect size for me though. Ther herding temperament suits me, I would want the dog to look out for the children at the beach, for example (obvioulsy not left alone or anything). We have a puppy school over the road, and a good vet there too, and a few dogs in the street to play with for socialising on a daily basis. We have a big yard, and a big house, so space isn't a problem.

Am I on the right track? Its hard to get info from the breeders sometimes because of course they love their breed...

anna

[The Spotted Devil]

Hi Redmum

I'm not experienced with the lovely Schnauzers but just remember that, sometimes, having a puppy is like living with a toddler.....in my case for 12 months IMO having an inside dog is wonderful...don't discount the Standard Poodle either - ripper dogs, smart, energetic and athletic - they look fabulous in a good pet clip too. Whatever breed you end up choosing, it is vitally important that larger breeds (in particular) are not over-exercised in the first 18 months as it can be very damaging to hips and joints. As for crate training, this is the first time I've used it (been a while since I'd had a pup) and, to be honest, I cannot recommend it highly enough I was a little hesitant to begin with so had an open crate (old solid airline type) in the laundry for Ziggy. He just loves it...it helps that he always gets his puppy kong with a few biscuits or a chicken wing at bedtime! I also purchased a soft crate for showing/traveling and that is now set up in the lounge room. If I can't watch him for 5 minutes or the cats need a break then I can just pop him in the crate to keep him out of mischief. If it's a cooler day he will often snuggle in there of his own accord and it has been fabulous when we have been away from home.

I hope that helps

ETA: Where are you located? It may well be worth your while getting out to a few dog shows - it's a wonderful way to see breeds of dogs, meet the breeders and get a feel for temperament and health. My best advice is to not be in a hurry - I don't expect anyone to wait as long as I did (2 years!) but it was worth it 100%.

Edited December 30, 2007 by The Spotted Devil

[Dogsfevr]

Herding doesnt mean they will look out it means they may be prone to herding up & nipping.

Stds will protect there families till the end & that is why obedience training for a good 12 months is a must especially once they go through there testing stage.

The thing with stdsis there just like owning a Rotti/Dobe super breeds when respected for what they are .

so I don't want huge wagging tails "

The std do have good whipping tails now they must remain long,obviously the breeders have also told you abot the grooming & clipping every 8 weeks($55 upwards)

The breeders should be very open & honest about the pros/cons if they want there pups to go into the right homes & for the owners to be sure the breed is what they where led to believe.

The minis do have health issues but so can the stds & as many dont health test there stds no one is aware of what is about.

Edited December 30, 2007 by settrlvr

[alanglen]

Anyone else think it not appropriate to be getting a pup when a toddler is only 3 months old? Personally at least 2 years old for the toddler before I would bring a pup into the household. please do lots of reading before booking a pup.

Regards

Alanglen

PS this is meant with all the best intentions, I just think a baby pup and a child baby, regardless of the breed, will cause trouble!

[Poodle wrangler]

I looked into getting a schnauzer- a standard was what I thought of, but decided against as I didn't want a dog with a more dominant temperament (individual differences aside). A standard might not be a good choice for a novice dog owner or a real "softie"? No need for harshness- but strict consistency needed.

A good breeder will be an ongoing resource person for you.

Often they have "puppy packs" which will detail breed specific diet, grooming, toilet training basics etc.

As for the 3.5 year old, you may have an uphill battle getting a dog with a more dominant temperament to listen to her. Not necessarily, but CAN be the case.

Children are small with high pitched voices and jerkier movements than adults which don't send leadership signals to the dog. I have one dog that will only ever do as Miss 3 asks when food is in her hand and highly visible.

Sorry, I don't have a book for kids, but there's an Australian one by David Weston- quite a few photos with kids involved in training http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...type=osi_widget.

Regardless, it's important that you are respected by pup as the leader.

It's about building a good relationship with the pup- no harshness involved!

Training a pup should involve games and only very short sessions. All good things should come from you.

You can start Triangle of Temptation right away- http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=64101.

I can't advise specifically about standard schnauzers, but puppies of any breed should not be overexercised for the first 12 months---- i.e. running for >20 minutes with the husband is probably out! Is a definite no-no for large breeds- more prone to bone and joint problems- but maybe a schnauzer person can say as they are also working dogs :rolleyes:

[Gerda the Schnauzer]

Thanks again everyone, this is really helping me.

Spotted Devil - So the crates aren't like cages then? Just sounded awful when I first read it.. But not the way you describe it. I am in QLD, I looked at the shows lists and couldn't find one on soon.. but one will come up no doubt. 2 years! No... the timing would just be all wrong for the dog's life span etc too, but I can wait till May/July if I have to LOL.

Poodle Wrangler, That book looks great, and is cheap LOL, the pictures will help. The triangle program looks very effective, and logical too.

Thanks for explaining 'herding' too - not what I thought at all :rolleyes: . And exercise - its great that there shouldn't be too much too soon! I'm not ready for long walks yet myself!

I am very interested - settrlvr - in what you think... I am going to look into finding a local mini breeder too, to have a talk/look.

About the baby... (he will be 7 months in May, when we are thinking a littler will be ready), I know, it isn't ideal at all, but I think otherwise I won't have the time to dedicate to a puppy. By the time I need to leave the house for a few hours at a time on a regular basis I wanted the dog to be feeling safe at home and be mostly grown, if that makes sense. My daughter is very strict and stern (amazingly so), which I think will for once work in our favour. She will also be starting school in a year, so I want her to have her last year at home full time with a dog here too. I am not a softie - at all - LOL, used to teach, and do youth work, you get good at dishing out the orders in a nuetral but effective way! So I am confident about training. I plan on being the #1 in this pack, as I will be the primary carer it makes sense too.

I would consider a grown dog to side step some of these problems, but other people don't seem so enthusiastic, what is the general opinion on here??

anna

Edit to add: looking at the minis..... so they aren't as dominant? How else do they differ? They might be a better choice for us... I'm trying to get an idea of the size from the pictures... the head comes up as high as your knee? (Sorry to be so clueless, I really want to get this right though).

Edited December 30, 2007 by Redmum

[Dogsfevr]

For size comparison we usually say to people its like a Labrador v Beagle.

Minis height ideally 13 inch female/14 for male

I would also suggest ringing some grooming salons to see what they charge for a groom of both sizes.

All sizes of the schnauzers lmake great pets but there not all the same in regards to what there bred for & there general manners.

This is what the US std schnauzer clubs uses

Sociable... Alert... Comedian... Guard... Companion...

The Standard Schnauzer is a handsome, robust, squarely built, medium sized dog with aristocratic bearing. The original of the 3 sizes of Schnauzers, he is pepper and salt or solid black in color with a wiry minimal-shedding coat. Standard Schnauzers are noted for guarding the home and for their affectionate devotion.

Known as excellent family companions, the Standard Schnauzer also is outstanding as a working dog excelling in conformation, obedience, agility, tracking, herding and therapy. Please explore our site and see our Standard Schnauzers at work and play.

THE STANDARD SCHNAUZER is a squarely-built, very energetic, medium-sized dog with a stiff, wiry coat. It is a robust and sturdy working dog, yet small enough in stature not to be overwhelming. These traits, combined with a coat which has minimal shedding and "doggy" odor, would lead some to believe this is the ideal dog. However, it is what is on the inside of this extremely agile body that has intrigued fanciers for centuries. This sometimes mischievous, quick and active dog is in reality a reliable working dog with a superbly intelligent mind. This is the dog that is often called "the dog with the human brain".

A FAMILY DOG that thrives best on close interaction with his human family, it needs the proper outlet for its above-average intelligence that only living as a family dog can provide. The Standard Schnauzer possesses a very clever, inquisitive, creative and sometimes stubbornly determined mind along with a great sense of self-dignity. Properly and carefully raised, they make an affectionate friend and confidante for the children of the immediate family.

HOME GUARDIAN is the Standard Schnauzer's middle name. It is very territorial, and the family home is its castle. The arrival of each new stranger is announced with a deep bark that belies its mid-sized stature. Properly introduced, the Standard Schnauzer will accept close family friends into the home but warn away strangers with a deep bark and strong vigor that inspires respect from all.

MEDIUM-SIZED in stature, males ideally are 18-20 inches high at the shoulders and weigh 35-50 pounds. The females ideally are 17-19 inches high at the shoulders and generally weigh 30-45 pounds.

LEARNING VERY QUICKLY, the Standard Schnauzer can ideally excel in all performance dog sports. Like a mischievous and very bright child, they need consistent rules and a firm, but not rough, hand. They will get away with whatever they can and will "rule the roost" before you know it, if allowed. One cannot ever forget there is a Standard Schnauzer in the house.

All 3 sizes where breed to catch vermin but the std/giant where also used for many other jobs for which they excel at as those sizes thrive on being mentally challenged.

Minis are also territorial & will alert you to any noises/strangers but once the door is opened will happily great any visitor.

I guess the key is whilst any dog should have training the minis dont require the same diligence that the std/giants need.

I would certainly suggest seeing both sizes to simply appreciate which one will best suit your family.

What state are you in ??

[The Spotted Devil]

Spotted Devil - So the crates aren't like cages then? Just sounded awful when I first read it.. But not the way you describe it. I am in QLD, I looked at the shows lists and couldn't find one on soon.. but one will come up no doubt. 2 years! No... the timing would just be all wrong for the dog's life span etc too, but I can wait till May/July if I have to LOL.

Just to reply to this part of your question....no - crates are definitely not like cages although it does seem a bit odd at first glance. The idea is that they are like a lovely dark, safe den - I place a sheet over the top of Zig's crate to keep it dark and cosy. They are not designed to leave the dog in all day of course but I quite happily leave Ziggy in his open crate in the laundry (and he doesn't leave it despite the open door once he's gone to bed) for 4 hours if I'm going to Uni or overnight. I can't trust Zig on his own in the house or the yard for more than about 2 minutes so it's a wonderful way to keep him calmly out of mischief if I can't supervise.

If I go to Uni in the morning, I make sure that Zig has had at least 2 hours of awake time - this might include a free run at the beach and then some down time. Just before I leave, he gets half his breakfast, the rest when he goes to his crate (his eyes are generally hanging out of his head by then ) and sleeps very soundly until I come home. Usually he stumbles out of bed all toasty warm, so I know he hasn't suffered! In addition, when he was younger he found it very difficult to sleep in the loungeroom because there were so many distractions (cats etc). He would get ratty like a tired toddler so I'd put him in his crate every few hours for a nap. Very funny

Even today, we were pulling the Christmas tree apart and Zig kept trying to pinch and eat the pine needles :rolleyes: so I just put him in his soft crate for 10 minutes (he can still see what is going on) - he curled up in a ball and went to sleep It can also be very helpful when toilet training as puppies/dogs generally tend not to soil their sleeping area. Plus, if you've got a couple of youngsters already you don't want to be leaving puppy or dog unsupervised with the kids so it's an excellent management tool.

Do a search on crate training - you'll find lots of tips....but I recommend food as a wonderful inducement. Zig only has to hear me fill his puppy kong with biscuits now and he's in his crate before I can say "Time for bye byes!"

Edited December 30, 2007 by The Spotted Devil

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

Redmum here is a link to the show schedules for QLD http://www.cccq.org.au/shows.html

[trishalouise]

Crates are FANTASTIC! The dogs love them (if introduced properly) - they see it as their den. I too have had dogs who voluntarily go to their crate to sleep and stay in there with the door open. We are getting our next puppy in just under 5 weeks and I have already bought the crate!!! Makes toilet training so much easier and I have a nearly 3 year old child so will make management of a puppy, a Greyhound and a daughter that much easier!!

[Gerda the Schnauzer]

Crates sound like a great idea, a den, a comforting smaller space for them etc. Our house is very open plan and echoey (is that a word?) so a private space sounds good. I Googled them... soft or carrier type?? LOL, I will have to start another thread soon for all the off topic questions.

I had read the American site's descriptions.. they all just start to sound the same though, minis and stds, just because I have been reading so much about them all. I think I need to just meet some, its a much faster way to learn and understand their nature. The Stds that we met were so calm and mellow, after the initial barking when we arrived, they were so good with my daughter (who isn't rough, and just quietly patted them). The breeder said that is why they keep breeding them, their nature is so good even if the salt and pepper male didn't have the most amazing coat (compared to the black they had). Sorry, rambling now.

I did read that they don't want clipping, but 'plucking' - does this mean that I can't do it on my own? I was hoping to learn how to clip to save on the costs in the long run (and I do hair quite well LOL).

Hesapandabear - thanks for the link, that is the one I looked at. Will they all most likely have schnauzers there though? I haven't been to one before!

anna

[Dogsfevr]

The Stds that we met were so calm and mellow, after the initial barking when we arrived, they were so good with my daughter (who isn't rough, and just quietly patted them). The breeder said that is why they keep breeding them, their nature is so good even if the salt and pepper male didn't have the most amazing coat (compared to the black they had). Sorry, rambling now.

Although you can get bad coats a breeder should still be breeding for quality of coat not just the temp.its the whole schnauzer package.A poor coat often means you cant handtrip it although for pets we clip

The reaction you got was typical schnauzer BUT i dare say the owners have a good grasp of the breed & have them well trained to now when to finish which is the key element in a std.

Unfortunately when it comes to shows & schnauzers its a tricky one.Because the breed needs to be handstripped there not always in coat for set shows ,the bigger the show the better the chance.

You may also want to join the yahoo grp QLDschnauzer.It has breeders/pet owners of all sizes on there & they hold picnic days where they all get together & may have an idea of when the best turnout of schnauzers will.

Also contact the schnauzer club of QLD they do have a website(The link can be obtained from the breed pages below)

As for crate traing i highly recommend it especially with young children around

Edited December 31, 2007 by settrlvr

[The Spotted Devil]

Redmum, with regards to the type of crate.....I wouldn't trust a young pup in a soft crate (bearing in mind I have a Dally!) - they'd probably rip it up :cool: Perhaps look at getting a solid crate to start with and then, down the track, if you want to take your dog on holidays with you a soft crate is a fabulous investment

[sidoney]

ETA Link for Before You Get Your Puppy Download here

I've just been reading this and while it has some useful information it also has things that I totally and completely disagree with, such as this:

Beware of breeders who want to decide for you whether to

raise your pup for conformation shows or have him neutered.

Remember, the puppy is coming to live with you. Raising the

pup is your responsibility, and decisions regarding his show

career and reproductive status are yours to make.

No, no, no, no, no. This is irresponsible and could lead to unsuitable dogs being bred. Also, as a breeder, if I evaluated a puppy as not show quality, I would not want to see it in a show ring.

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

Redmum this is an all breeds show http://www.cccq.org.au/documents/January%2...nd%20Trials.pdf

Otherwise they will be advertised as e.g. Shetland Sheepdog Show.