Small Breed Puppy Help

[Ainsley]

Hi. My friend is bringing home a Lhasa Apso/Maltese cross (yes, don't let's get started on that one) on 14th Feb. She has not had a dog before and has done little research. The puppy will only be six weeks old. Is this normal for a small breed? I had to wait for my Lab to be 8 weeks before bringing him home. Also, because this little pup is from an accidental pregnancy (her brother's bitch) she will not have the benefit of all the information that a breeder passes on, like puppy diet, worming/vaccination schedule, toileting etc. My Lab is nearly four, so I have sort of forgotten how to "do" puppies, and my friend has no experience at all.

She is bringing the pup from 4 hours away. What is the best way to transfer her in the car? harness? pet carrier? I remember our breeder said a pet carrier could stress a little puppy to death and my daughter had to carry him in her lap. Should she stop every couple of hours for a toilet break? I suggested this, but my friend said she wants to drive all the way through, and was going to get some "puppy pads".

Any advice would be most appreciated. I am thinking of volunteering to go with her to help.

[huski]

Hi. My friend is bringing home a Lhasa Apso/Maltese cross (yes, don't let's get started on that one) on 14th Feb. She has not had a dog before and has done little research. The puppy will only be six weeks old. Is this normal for a small breed? I had to wait for my Lab to be 8 weeks before bringing him home. Also, because this little pup is from an accidental pregnancy (her brother's bitch) she will not have the benefit of all the information that a breeder passes on, like puppy diet, worming/vaccination schedule, toileting etc. My Lab is nearly four, so I have sort of forgotten how to "do" puppies, and my friend has no experience at all.

If it's the brothers dog can't she get him to hold on to the pup until its at least 8 weeks of age? No puppy no matter the breed (or cross) should leave the litter before its 8 weeks.

[poodlefan]

Get her to read the training material here

Travel the pup in a crate. If it's not been vaccinated, she shouldn't travel it anywhere.

It should stay with its littermates until 8 weeks.

Your friend has a steep learning curve to master without knowledgeable assistance. Best she start thinking now about how she's going to handle its coat too.

[Ainsley]

Best she start thinking now about how she's going to handle its coat too.

She plans to have the dog clipped by a professional groomer. I have read not to clip them before 8 - 10 months of age. Is this correct?

Edited January 31, 2009 by Ainsley

[megan_]

Best she start thinking now about how she's going to handle its coat too.

She plans to have the dog clipped by a professional groomer. I have read not to clip them before 8 - 10 months of age. Is this correct?

it needs to go to the groomers at about 14 weeks for a "puppy groom" which is basically just getting used to the groomers. If she doesn't do this, she could be in for a heap of trouble in the future. The critical socialisation period is 8 - 16 weeks and he needs to be (safely) introduced to new experiences at this time.

Also, the puppy should be with its littermates until it is 8 weeks old. The reason is that it learns social skills and bit inhibition from its littermates. If she needs convincing, tell her that she could have a real biter on her hands if she doesn't do this.

[poodlefan]

Best she start thinking now about how she's going to handle its coat too.

She plans to have the dog clipped by a professional groomer. I have read not to clip them before 8 - 10 months of age. Is this correct?

No. As Megan suggests, a pup needs to be accustomed to grooming. Personally, I'd have it professionally groomed every couple of months (even if it's just a shampoo/blow dry and nail trim) until it's an adult.

She is going to have to accustom the pup to regular brushing and combing at home. Such a crossbred is going to matt if she doesn't groom it regularly.

[MissAloof]

Hi. My friend is bringing home a Lhasa Apso/Maltese cross (yes, don't let's get started on that one) on 14th Feb. She has not had a dog before and has done little research. The puppy will only be six weeks old. Is this normal for a small breed? I had to wait for my Lab to be 8 weeks before bringing him home. Also, because this little pup is from an accidental pregnancy (her brother's bitch) she will not have the benefit of all the information that a breeder passes on, like puppy diet, worming/vaccination schedule, toileting etc. My Lab is nearly four, so I have sort of forgotten how to "do" puppies, and my friend has no experience at all.

She is bringing the pup from 4 hours away. What is the best way to transfer her in the car? harness? pet carrier? I remember our breeder said a pet carrier could stress a little puppy to death and my daughter had to carry him in her lap. Should she stop every couple of hours for a toilet break? I suggested this, but my friend said she wants to drive all the way through, and was going to get some "puppy pads".

Any advice would be most appreciated. I am thinking of volunteering to go with her to help.

I've got one of those. My girl was a little bit older when I got her, she'd been wormed, vaccinated, all of that. And not toilet trained. My SIL drove to pick my dog up, she was in a crate but scared stiff so softy me carried her on my lap back home and she was fine within minutes, shivering and stuff but started licking my hand quickly and settled. We got home to a bunch of human kids and an adult Shi Tzu, all were excited and happy, including puppy.

I fed her puppy kibble from the beginning but she liked getting into the "big" dog's food bowl too. I had to toilet train her quickly as there was a doggy door at my brother's (where we were staying in a spare room for a little while). I religiously took her outside often, repeated "toilet" over and over. If she didn't get the message I forced her butt down, spread her back legs and held her tail up. She started doing what I wanted before long, and now knows the word toilet. She also did copy the adult dog too, so that helped. And taught herself the doggy door one day when it started raining. She kept on excitement weeing too, when the kids got up in the morning, when I came home, but she finally worked it all out and has been great since aged about 5 months in our own house, was rather good before then but still prone to excitement accidents. (She also hates the crate and goes nuts if she is put in it).

I found it all a bit hard as all previous dogs had lived outside.

I took her for a vet check as soon as I could and they checked everything and booked her in for desexing when they felt she was old enough.

I'd advise the vet check, and would expect the vet can supply all the info needed about vaccinations, worming, feeding and all of that. You also have the net, and here, for more information.

I have to tell you, my girl has the sweetest disposition ever. She's a darling. Loves everybody and all other dogs. I'd also not forget the socialisation. And it will need regular clipping, my girl has soft curly silky hair and is getting quite hot while I have trouble getting a groomer to fit with my work hours.

[luvsdogs]

Get her to read the training material here

Travel the pup in a crate. If it's not been vaccinated, she shouldn't travel it anywhere.

It should stay with its littermates until 8 weeks.

Your friend has a steep learning curve to master without knowledgeable assistance. Best she start thinking now about how she's going to handle its coat too.

I strongly recommend this site to your friend. I hope you can get her to read it. My previous 2 dogs were just under 6 w/o & Tilba was just under 12 w/o when I got her. The difference was amazing. She had already learned bite inhibition & has a better personality than my previous border.

Is there any way your friend can talk her brother into keeping the pups for another couple of weeks?

[Gretel]

<I religiously took her outside often, repeated "toilet" over and over. If she didn't get the message I forced her butt down, spread her back legs and held her tail up. >

Many puppies would find this rather intimidating so I wouldn't recommend it.

[MissAloof]

<I religiously took her outside often, repeated "toilet" over and over. If she didn't get the message I forced her butt down, spread her back legs and held her tail up. >

Many puppies would find this rather intimidating so I wouldn't recommend it.

Maybe so, I just tried to read her body language and work out what suited her. She never backed off or shivered, the opposite actually, wanted cuddles which she also got and still does. I didn't have to squat her much really - taking her out and repeating the word was more of what I did a lot. She also got the message seeing the adult dog do things, I think.

On the other hand, trying to get her into the crate did upset her. She really does not like it.

[Ainsley]

Thanks all, especially for reasons on keeping puppies together until 8 weeks. It may be, though, that my friend's brother has organised for the other pups to go at 6 weeks. I will suggest she talks to him about it. I know one of the other pups is going to his girlfriend's mother.

I think we will be okay with the toilet training (my Lab wees & poos on command )

keep coming with the good advice, please.

Gretel, your Cavs are gorgeous!

ps. had a quick look at that site and it does look good. I had already thought of the turf toilet! Thought I might buy her a bag of premium puppy food as a gift.

Edited January 31, 2009 by Ainsley