Lots Of Puppy Questions

[Kate39]

Ok...

perhaps you should have done all the research before you bought a pup- but it's good to see you looking to do things right

Any reason why you are not letting your pup be with you in the living areas? is it because you think she will not behave ,will jump on furniture,or perhaps be 'dirty'? If it is- then I will let you into a secret ...... these things are totally in your control

if not- if for allergy reasons or something.. then that's fine.

Here is some reading for you ...lots of hints,and explanations of behaviour,etc.

CLICK here

CLICK here

and

CLICK here

Thanks for the links, We just dont want the dog to dominate the living area as our little daughter (18 months) mainly plays in these area's. We are happy to let the dog in here and there, but she needs to have her space away from our toddler and vice versa. This morning my daughter was playing in her room with her dolls when the puppy came along and was tugging at the blanket she was wrapping her baby in. Indy (my daughter) started screaming and yelling and ended up in tears because of it. I know this is just something she'll have to get used to. I spose it's just more a behavioural thing we'll have to deal with, making sure she doesnt chew bubs toys and only chews her own (but they can be easilly confused as baby toys and dog toys are quiet simlar) I'll read a bit more of those links you sent me, they seem relaly helpful, perhaps we can find the right balance of inside outside for out dog o and as for the research before we got our puppy, we did alot of research but it was more on what breed we wanted and I suppose you dont' really think of these problems that will arise until they actually arise. Glad I found thsi forum you all seem very helpful :D

[Kate39]

For brekkie you could give her a chicken wing or neck perhaps? Is the meat you are feeding raw or cooked? Raw is better for them Although, it sounds like your pup wasn't weaned, and thats something I don't have experience with, as my pup was already on solid food when he came home.

She's not too little for chicken wings? she won't chock or not chew them? The meat I mix through the rice and gravey with vegies is raw The person we bought her from said that they were eating 3 meals a day, but as we went to pick up our puppy, I notice that all the dogs were hanging off mum feeding.. ? I dunno. Had made it hard for us, but we'll get there.

[persephone]

Kate-

if you CLICK HERE, you will find some very good information on kids & dogs/pups.

Your little girl will need to be taught that calm and quiet are what will help keep her from being scratched/chased/bounced upon

[Kate39]

edit to add- so this pup was still drinking from teh mother when you bought it? The breeder then did not wean the pups before sale .. and see that they were happily eating independently ? Makes more work for you-- as you have discovered- puppy doesn't really know what food IS .

Thanks you persephone, yeh she was drinking from mum but the breeder was kinda trying to hide it. I only noticed because when we picked her up I could see mum outside with the pups on her. Yes it has made more work for us. She did tell us they were all eating 3 meals a day fine, but hey, we're getting there with her, and she's starting to like her food more and more each day

[Kate39]

You'll get on better on this forum if you drop the english - the breeds are Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Stafford, SBT, Staffie/Staffy if you really have to) and American Staffordshire Terrier (Amstaff) Using ''english staffie'' is a hallmark of a BYB, which is not your fault but now you know better

Wow Sandra777 that was a long reply. But thank you for it. Thanks for the advice on the forum lingo. sorry not up to scratch with that yet, this is the first forum I've ever been apart of. I did research the breed before we decided to get her. I go walking morning and afternoon with my daughter every day so she is deffiently going to have the opportunity for exercise. She already has had alot of close companion ship with us since we've had her. My partner is able to take her to work with him so she's not going to be left at home by herself. And on the odd occasion where she will have to, I dont start work till midday and my partner is home by 3pm so she's not going to home alone for long. The main reason we want her to be an outside dog is because of our daughter, We are going to find the right balance of inside outside for her, but like I stated before the puppy needs a break from the toddler and toddler a break from the puppy. Since we've had her Ive kinda be alternating hours of when she's inside and when she's in the laundry/outside then she gets to come in while bubby's having a nap for some play time with me. I am happy for her to be with me providing either bub is asleep or they arnt annoying the hell out of one another (sometimes puppy wants to sleep and Indy wants to play with her, or Indy's playing by herself and puppy wants to play so I need to seperate them from one another, the puppy doesnt always like it, but if it's what I need to do for our pup to get some sleep then so be it)

i like your comment about the laundry and you'd be supprised how much time I do spend in there with my little girl in cloth nappies haha. I also wanted to add that in the mornings from 7-10.30 and then afternoons from 2.30-5 (then a walk usually about 1/2) we are outside in the yard. So we're not planning on abandoning our puppy outside by herself. Having a toddler that loves being outdoors she is gonna have plenty of time to follow us around. My bub has a sleep from 11- till 2, and during that time I do the chores inside then we're back out.

Thank you for your feeding guide this is very help ful

i'm not sure is crying is a breed thing or not, I just made this assumsion from friends dogs that are staffies they all seem to cry alot when there owners are out as they are just such people dogs. I understand that she is just a baby and I dont blame her for not being happy i wouldnt be happy if I was taken away from everything I've ever known to some strange house with no other pups to snuggle up to. I dont like the comment u made about solitary confinement, her living conditions here are hardly anything like that. Yes she does have alot of toys plenty of them soft, lots of blankets and a beautiful nice warm bed thatn I would almost be temped to curl up in. I understand that she is baby and I do remember what it was like when we bought out baby home. The first week we all sleep in the same room together snuggled close. And the first 2 nights we had her home my softie of a husband camped out in the lounge room with her, he told me "I'll make sure she stays in her bed" but when I went out in the morning off course she was snuggled under the blankets with him. You kind of make us sound like horrible people that have no idea what we've gotten ourselves into. I feel that we are going to give this dog a great quality of life and look forward to spending many happy years with her.

And to anyone else that replied to things such as having her outside, not researching the breed and al those other questions/remarks, please just read this reply because I dont wanna write replies this long to everyone. lol

Thank you all for your advice and opinions, all is greatly appreciated :D

[Kate39]

Kate-

if you CLICK HERE, you will find some very good information on kids & dogs/pups.

Your little girl will need to be taught that calm and quiet are what will help keep her from being scratched/chased/bounced upon

Thank you this is great my daughters quiet clever im sure she'll pick up on this quickly, she's already worked out how to stop Laycie from jumping up on her lol

[Kate39]

..also- what vaccinations has your puppy had ?Did the breeder advise you on a vaccination schedule..and how to avoid your puppy picking up possibly fatal diseases while vulnerable?

One thing I will suggest is that you take her to your selected vet ASAP and get her thoroughly checked/have any vacc's done if needed, and , if the breeder has not done so- get some worming tablets into her ,and make sure her eyes/mouth/feet are all normal for her age/breed.

Thanks, she's had her first one, and she's booked in for the vet early next week for a check up on everything. We were advice on a vaccination schedule and about keeping her athome, away from beaches, public populated dog areas ect.

[Kate39]

I'll confess I find it somewhat troubling that you got a pup that wasn't fully weaned. How old is the pup now?

She's 9 weeks now. Or thats what they told us, and yeh I found it odd that they wernt weaned too. She never told us this, but I saw the pups sucking on mum

[Kate39]

Also with the puppy milk we thought it would be good seeing as the pups were still feeding from their mum when we brought her, and this seems to calm her when she's a bit upset.

The breeder only told us that she was feeding them a mixture of vegies and rice and stuff, I forgot to ask what she said for brekky and no we didnt get a care sheet on what to feed her.

I just find this so very very sad. Badly raised puppy sold to an unprepared person with no help or advice given.

Kate - good on you for trying to find the information you need, sounds like you want to be the best dog owner you can be despite starting in the wrong place! Wish more people cared enough to go looking for help

Thank you I'm feeling very overwhelmed coming home from work to all these replies on here. I do want the best for her and am trying very hard to get the information that is going to help me do this. I am trying my best and am sure that there are alot worse off dogs out there then our georgous little pup. Today I bought her a puppy dry good called "my dog" is this okay to give her? the packet sounds good and soudns like it's got all the right things in it for her

[MissCheevius]

Hi Kate39.

My partner and I picked up our lil Staffy just before Xmas. He is about 10 weeks now, and Im sooo glad we have him, he has really made our new home complete.

We continued feeding Blitz the same kibble (dry food) that the breeder was feeding (Science diet) although we have slowly began titrating him onto Supercoat over the last few days as its much easier to get, not to mention cheaper.

We did give him 2 teaspoons of puppy food from a can, but he had messy poos, so we gave up on that idea. Blitz had 2 chicken necks after his breakfast today, little piglet, but he thoroughly enjoyed them.

Blitz really likes his puppy kong toy, and the advanced puzzle ball. The ball has a maze inside it, which we fill with about 25gm kibble, and he plays with it and the food comes out. He also had a pigs ear from a xmas pack which was chewed for a few days before he finished it off.

Blitz is an inside dog, but i have found that letting him loose for a few hours in the morning to burn off his energy saves both our sanities. It means i can sit in the yard with a book and chill, while he goes skitz. (Im a shiftworker, so sleep is precious, and im still getting back to a routine after getting up through the night initially for the puppy, and then night shift, my partner seems to sleep just fine tho, lol).

We also have been feeding Blitz 3 times a day, at times that will work relatively well on shifts. Fortunately, this month, my partners roster and mine work out that puppy is only really 'home alone' once in 28 days. We noticed that Blitz is full of energy for about an hour after his last meal, so we always feed him at roughly the same time so that he can toilet and run around without it being a ridiculous time for us all to get to sleep.

The other main things are that worming must be done 2 weekly until the puppy is 12 weeks, which is also the age my council requires the puppy to be registered by.

Blitz also requires another vaccine as his breeder seemt to have missed one... Grrr. He will be getting microchipped at his final vaccine too.

We have been training Blitz a few things at home. He knows his name (when he isnt playing the selective hearing game), Sit, Drop and occassionally roll-over. He isnt good on the leash, but we havent been going further than the front lawn since he is still awaiting his final vaccine. He also knows to 'wee' when he goes outside straigh away, whereas the other toilet function only comes after he is outside a fair bit longer.

Blitz has been enrolled into puppy class, which starts in about 2 weeks. He hs however been socialised to all the dogs in both our families, and a puppy of my friends. I really recommend socialising Laycie if ya can, Blitz got taken down a notch by the puppy (7months old Kelpie x Border Collie), previously he was bossing them all around.

Its been a very new learning experience for me, Ive nevr had a Staffy before, although my parter would only agree to a Staffy. I was also a bit too little to remember having a puppy when we had one when i lived with my parents.

Take STACKS of photos. Blitz seems massive since we brought him home. I call him (affectionately) my little fat man.

Not sure if i can think of anything else that I wished i had known a few weeks ago. Hopefully we can switch Staffy puppy stories! I adore my little man!

Im sure Laycie will bring you much joy!

[Kate39]

Forgot to say - welcome to the forum.. a lot of puppy owners have found plenty of good advice here in the past.

But there is a price for this advice - puppy photos!!!

Thank you for the warm welcome I'll have to sus out how to post pics lol

[Kate39]

Hi Kate39.

My partner and I picked up our lil Staffy just before Xmas. He is about 10 weeks now, and Im sooo glad we have him, he has really made our new home complete.

We continued feeding Blitz the same kibble (dry food) that the breeder was feeding (Science diet) although we have slowly began titrating him onto Supercoat over the last few days as its much easier to get, not to mention cheaper.

We did give him 2 teaspoons of puppy food from a can, but he had messy poos, so we gave up on that idea. Blitz had 2 chicken necks after his breakfast today, little piglet, but he thoroughly enjoyed them.

Blitz really likes his puppy kong toy, and the advanced puzzle ball. The ball has a maze inside it, which we fill with about 25gm kibble, and he plays with it and the food comes out. He also had a pigs ear from a xmas pack which was chewed for a few days before he finished it off.

Blitz is an inside dog, but i have found that letting him loose for a few hours in the morning to burn off his energy saves both our sanities. It means i can sit in the yard with a book and chill, while he goes skitz. (Im a shiftworker, so sleep is precious, and im still getting back to a routine after getting up through the night initially for the puppy, and then night shift, my partner seems to sleep just fine tho, lol).

We also have been feeding Blitz 3 times a day, at times that will work relatively well on shifts. Fortunately, this month, my partners roster and mine work out that puppy is only really 'home alone' once in 28 days. We noticed that Blitz is full of energy for about an hour after his last meal, so we always feed him at roughly the same time so that he can toilet and run around without it being a ridiculous time for us all to get to sleep.

The other main things are that worming must be done 2 weekly until the puppy is 12 weeks, which is also the age my council requires the puppy to be registered by.

Blitz also requires another vaccine as his breeder seemt to have missed one... Grrr. He will be getting microchipped at his final vaccine too.

We have been training Blitz a few things at home. He knows his name (when he isnt playing the selective hearing game), Sit, Drop and occassionally roll-over. He isnt good on the leash, but we havent been going further than the front lawn since he is still awaiting his final vaccine. He also knows to 'wee' when he goes outside straigh away, whereas the other toilet function only comes after he is outside a fair bit longer.

Blitz has been enrolled into puppy class, which starts in about 2 weeks. He hs however been socialised to all the dogs in both our families, and a puppy of my friends. I really recommend socialising Laycie if ya can, Blitz got taken down a notch by the puppy (7months old Kelpie x Border Collie), previously he was bossing them all around.

Its been a very new learning experience for me, Ive nevr had a Staffy before, although my parter would only agree to a Staffy. I was also a bit too little to remember having a puppy when we had one when i lived with my parents.

Take STACKS of photos. Blitz seems massive since we brought him home. I call him (affectionately) my little fat man.

Not sure if i can think of anything else that I wished i had known a few weeks ago. Hopefully we can switch Staffy puppy stories! I adore my little man!

Im sure Laycie will bring you much joy!

Thank you MissCheevius for your reply thats very lovely. Laycie has one of those kong toys too, but she doesnt seem interested in it.. probs because of her constant allowance to food lol woops my bad. Hopefully this wil change. Her favourite toy is a tenis ball on a rope, she loves this, throws it up in the air and pounces on it. She's more like a kitten then a dog haha. yeh the breeder insists they were wormed at 8 weeks when we got her, and therefore she's due again in a week We are also getting her microchipped when she goes in for her next vacination too We have been trying to socialise her as much as possible with other dogs. My aunty is baby sitting sat night as we have a 21st to go to she has a jack russel, so we'll see how she goes lol. We also have 2 friends with staffies, and lots of friends with dogs, so she's going to be well socialised with dogs. It deffiently is a learning experience, and this is why i wanted to come onto a forum to get some advice, I really appreciate all the advice, but I hate that people jump to conclusions, I couldnt defend myself as I was as work, and everyone kinda went on after one another about leaving her outside, and not around us and evrything. spose I just gotta take it like a grain of salt and not think to much about it. :D

[persephone]

You will find , that on here we can only initially react to what you write So - if you write

We went her to be an outside dog, but are happy for her to come inside (the laundry/back room) to sleep at night

Then I guess assumptions are made

Good for you in coming here- surviving your first day (your 'initiation'..:D ) and being open to suggestion . Laycie will benefit, your little daughter will benefit, and I look forward to all the stories !

[parrotpea]

Congratulations on your little stafford pup and welcome to the forum Kate. Dogs and littlies is a tricky one - we will be bringing home our 8 week old stafford pup tomorrow evening and I am planning on coping(I have a 3.5 yr old and a 17 mth old) by using a puppy playpen and crate training. I highly recommend you look into it because if the pup is happy to sleep in the crate and spend time chewing on chew toys either in crate or in playpen it means that he can be closer to you and will therefore be happier(and less disruptive!) overall. That is what I am hoping anyway!

What have you been stuffing your kongs with? (Always curious for new ideas:))

And Misscheevius - where did you get your advanced puzzle ball?

Edited January 6, 2011 by parrotpea

[meluchja]

Hi and welcome, staffys are just the cutest. I have a curly haired poodle mix variety for my husbands allergies but absolutely love staffys. Your family is going to cherish her for many years to come.

Some advice you receive on this site will be a little overwhelming, most of the time I find people mean well, and then sometimes I think they don't. I hope you try and see through these type of comments, as this site is very helpful and full of some lovely people with great advice as you have read.

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Fresh meat, bones, veges and oils and when she is ready some offal is a great start if you choose to feed raw. Some people on here also choose to feed a combination of raw and kibble (either it be supermarket or super premium). And some choose to feed 100% kibble.

My little guy is now 11 months old, and I have just recently put him back onto a 100% kibble diet, after trying bart patties, bones canned etc. He just become to fussy, and I was throwing out way too much food, as there is only so many times you can re-offer fresh food. Now he gets 1/4 of his kibble in the morning, given 15 minutes to eat, then what is left I put into his kong toy for play during the day. Then the remainder he gets at dinner, which he normally eats most of, but sometimes doesn't, I have learnt not to worry.

Feeding can be fustrating if you don't have a food motivated dog. But from what I have read and been told you won't have that problem

Did the breeder suggest any info on heart worming, intestional worming etc? There are plenty of options out there. But I'm sure your vet will discuss this with you soon.

Good luck with your newborn.

Edited January 6, 2011 by meluchja

[Kate39]

You will find , that on here we can only initially react to what you write So - if you write

We went her to be an outside dog, but are happy for her to come inside (the laundry/back room) to sleep at night

Then I guess assumptions are made

Good for you in coming here- surviving your first day (your 'initiation'..:D ) and being open to suggestion . Laycie will benefit, your little daughter will benefit, and I look forward to all the stories !

thanks, I'm a pretty open minded person, and spose I just assumed (ironic) that others would remain open minded too. Maybe consider I do walk alot and wil be giving this dog plenty of exercise, how much time I spend outdoors, how often we're home, and how long the dog will be left at home alone for etc. but hey like you said, I've survived my first day, havnt scared me off so yeh, look forward to working out how to put pics up on here and showing you all my beautiful baby girl Laycie

p.s just put puppy to bed, after snuggles on the lounge... left the kitchen door open (partner usually closes it) she cried so loud she woke the baby (who just cried for a min and now is back asleep) so I went and shut the kitchen door, turned all but 1 light off for her, but her in bed and said good night, and she didnt cry at all ... how strange....metal note.. she likes the lights off and door shut to go to bed... lol

[Kate39]

Hi and welcome, staffys are just the cutest. I have a curly haired poodle mix variety for my husbands allergies but absolutely love staffys. Your family is going to cherish her for many years to come.

Some advice you receive on this site will be a little overwhelming, most of the time I find people mean well, and then sometimes I think they don't. I hope you try and see through these type of comments, as this site is very helpful and full of some lovely people with great advice as you have read.

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Fresh meat, bones, veges and oils and when she is ready some offal is a great start if you choose to feed raw. Some people on here also choose to feed a combination of raw and kibble (either it be supermarket or super premium). And some choose to feed 100% kibble.

My little guy is now 11 months old, and I have just recently put him back onto a 100% kibble diet, after trying bart patties, bones canned etc. He just become to fussy, and I was throwing out way too much food, as there is only so many times you can re-offer fresh food. Now he gets 1/4 of his kibble in the morning, given 15 minutes to eat, then what is left I put into his kong toy for play during the day. Then the remainder he gets at dinner, which he normally eats most of, but sometimes doesn't, I have learnt not to worry.

Feeding can be fustrating if you don't have a food motivated dog. But from what I have read and been told you won't have that problem

Did the breeder suggest any info on heart worming, intestional worming etc? There are plenty of options out there. But I'm sure your vet will discuss this with you soon.

Good luck with your newborn.

Hey and thank you, This does seem like a good group with lots of great people with great advice. I think on all forum's (gotta love the confidence u can have online) can have people that are mean, and people that mean well.. i am also apart of a parenting forum and i am a young mum (had my daughter when I was 18) and being young and a mother on a forum you find more judgmental people on there then there are on here. (just wanna add that I'm a great mum if i do say so myself haha) Thanks for the warm welcome look forward to increasing my knowledge about dogs and dog related things

[meluchja]

Hi and welcome, staffys are just the cutest. I have a curly haired poodle mix variety for my husbands allergies but absolutely love staffys. Your family is going to cherish her for many years to come.

Some advice you receive on this site will be a little overwhelming, most of the time I find people mean well, and then sometimes I think they don't. I hope you try and see through these type of comments, as this site is very helpful and full of some lovely people with great advice as you have read.

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Fresh meat, bones, veges and oils and when she is ready some offal is a great start if you choose to feed raw. Some people on here also choose to feed a combination of raw and kibble (either it be supermarket or super premium). And some choose to feed 100% kibble.

My little guy is now 11 months old, and I have just recently put him back onto a 100% kibble diet, after trying bart patties, bones canned etc. He just become to fussy, and I was throwing out way too much food, as there is only so many times you can re-offer fresh food. Now he gets 1/4 of his kibble in the morning, given 15 minutes to eat, then what is left I put into his kong toy for play during the day. Then the remainder he gets at dinner, which he normally eats most of, but sometimes doesn't, I have learnt not to worry.

Feeding can be fustrating if you don't have a food motivated dog. But from what I have read and been told you won't have that problem

Did the breeder suggest any info on heart worming, intestional worming etc? There are plenty of options out there. But I'm sure your vet will discuss this with you soon.

Good luck with your newborn.

Hey and thank you, This does seem like a good group with lots of great people with great advice. I think on all forum's (gotta love the confidence u can have online) can have people that are mean, and people that mean well.. i am also apart of a parenting forum and i am a young mum (had my daughter when I was 18) and being young and a mother on a forum you find more judgmental people on there then there are on here. (just wanna add that I'm a great mum if i do say so myself haha) Thanks for the warm welcome look forward to increasing my knowledge about dogs and dog related things

I used to visit a parenting forum to (BB). My 2 are 3 & 4 now, so haven't been on there for a long time. But definitely agree, more claws do come out on a parenting forum that's for sure

Edited January 6, 2011 by meluchja

[Sandra777]

Thanks for the advice on the forum lingo. sorry not up to scratch with that yet

Not forum lingo - telling you the name of the breed you have bought.

I did research the breed before we decided to get her.

Sorry, then I would have assumed you would have known the NAME of the breed you had been researching and would have not started your search for knowledge with the statement that you intended for your person orientated dog to be an outside dog!

Can only offer advice from the information given, so sorry I'm not doing mind reading today

I must say I envy your life if you spend 6 hours a day every single day outside while you are at home ;)

Hubby taking puppy to work sounds great, they (dogs, not necessarily hubbies) love that life!

And the first 2 nights we had her home my softie of a husband camped out in the lounge room with her, he told me "I'll make sure she stays in her bed" but when I went out in the morning off course she was snuggled under the blankets with him.

:D ;) big softy.

You kind of make us sound like horrible people that have no idea what we've gotten ourselves into. I feel that we are going to give this dog a great quality of life and look forward to spending many happy years with her.

Sorry you feel like that.

You stated you had an 8 week old puppy bought from someone who didn't feed or wean her properly and gave you no information about how to feed or raise her, you have locked her in the laundry and want to know when you can lock her outside. Not really sure how else I was meant to take that information except you didn't know what you were getting yourself into and were showing the good sense and smarts to find out what you needed to do - which isn't actually something a horrible person would bother to do.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I have just gone through the first 12 months with a pup. Before her I adopted a much older dog, and it was all so easy!!! But a pup - different kettle of fish. Has been one of the best learning experiences I've had and there are a few things I've learnt along the way that I don't know why I thought differently before!

Agree with pretty much what everyone has said here regarding feeding times and lengths, my Kenzie learnt quickly that if you didn't eat dinner when it was put down it went away and didn't come back for quite some time. A benefit with this (which I'm not sure if others mentioned) that I found was that when it came to training and dog school she was much better prepared/focussed (my dog club is a +ve reinforcement club and we use food as rewards) and food worked for us.

Definitely look ito the best dog foods you can afford, I've been using Nutro recently and it has been going well originally she was on ProPlan I think andd she also had Eukanuba for a while. They may look more expensive, but I find that the cost works out similar to the cheaper ones as you don't have to feed them as much as it is higher quality food. Just remember that if you are changing foods don't change 100% overnight do it gradually.

I also question the why you want an outside dog (yes I did read the things you wrote). But say this in terms of seriously look into crate training. My old girl came to me crate trained (I later found out that she was a show dog, so had learnt early what a crate was then when I got her as a 9YO she quickly remembered the system when I neededd to use it at dog club), and I didn't realise what was involved in the training aspect. But with young Kenzie I started her pretty early, made some mistakes (know better for next time), but now have a dog who is happy in a crate. Good things with this... she was able to sleep in my room in her crate (she's happy in her house, I know she's not wandering), when I have visitors over she can sit with us in the living room without causing hassle because she's happily sitting in her house, when I go to other people's places I usually have the crate in the car (if she gets unhappy or mischievous then we can put her house up where we are and she can sit happily in it), etc, etc. Before my little trouble maker I wasn't really sold on the idea of crates, I am now convinced that for me this is an essential part of dog ownership (just in terms of being able to keep my dog happy and my environment manageable). If you are interested in it I'm sure there are plenty of people here who can give good advice and you can pick up a crate relatively cheaply on ebay (and I also made one from materials from Bunnings).

Good luck with your little munchkin and enjoy her, just remember it's a massive learning curve for everyone and you'll make mistakes but it will all be alright because you're trying to find out as much as you can and do the right thing by her!!!