Preparing for Sheltie pup

roguskie

roguskie

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Hi Everyone,
I have recently been in touch with a sheltie breeder and have a pup lined up. I am just wondering what gear and brands you would all recommend for when my pup is old enough to bring home? I already have a crate for an inside safe space.

Thanks in advance.
 
Hello and welcome to SN. :smile2:

Sheltie puppies are energetic! So ... get some sleep while you still can. :wink2:

You've got a crate ... that's good. You might also want to consider a gate or an x-pen to restrict access in the house during the "messy period". You'll need a collar and lead, but don't get anything too extravagant as they will grow out of it VERY quickly ... and initially, it's just to get them used to it.

You'll also need lots of paper towels and something to clean up "accidents". There are a lot of enzymatic products that will remove the scent, but we've always had great success with plain old white vinegar. Just don't ever use a product with ammonia in it since that smells like pee to a dog and they will think it's the potty. :cool:

For bedding, we used some old bath towels. They are soft enough and easily washed ... and no big expense when they got chewed up. The comfy dog beds and crate pads were only safe after 9 months or so.

Get some of the food the breeder is using, even if you are going to change. You'll need to switch over gradually or you'll have a sick little puppy and extra messes. And of course chew toys. I wouldn't give them rawhide that early. Our pups would chew for hours on sticks from the yard over any store bought toys, so don't go overboard there either.

Anything else will really depend on what you and your pup will be doing. Showing, agility, or just plain house pet will all have a little different requirements.

Any pictures yet?
 
Let me add lots of squeeky toys. Kongs are also good. You can stuff them with peanut butter or some of the cheese that Kong sells. Balls of different sizes are good too.
 
Hi guys, thanks for all the advice. No pics yet as pup isn't due till 5th of november but I'm one of those people who likes to be fully prepared. I'm super excited and will look into the book :)
 
Something to heard. Odin uses a soccer ball. He'll spend a good half hour trying to get it to go where he wants. It burns energy and directs his instincts to inanimate objects rather than my children or myself. When he/she is ready to walk I really like and recommend the puppia brand harness. Odin walks very wel in it and they come in attractive colors.
As far as sleep I must be lucky. My little guy sleeps through the night and is generally pretty trouble free so long as he gets an hour or two of playtime.
Good luck with your new baby! Can't wait to see pics
 
Best thing I ever did for Callan was his pen...

Soft crate with a padded, waterproof floor within an xpen. As a tiny pupy I closed his crate. As he grew older, I would let him into the xpen instead and have access to water and toys when I was home, then back into his crate when I was away and betime Then when he got older still, I know just keep him in his xpen when I'm not at home. I still feed him there though. And he still sleeps there at night.

The floor is made of interlock cushioned rubber that you would use in a kids playroom.

Best thing I ever did.

I'd like to repost the photo but my thumbnails are maxed out. I did post it on a previous thread somewhere. Just can't find the darn photo! And I did not keep a copy of it. I know Chris will find it....LOL!
 
puppies are such fun

roguskie said:
Hi guys, thanks for all the advice. No pics yet as pup isn't due till 5th of november but I'm one of those people who likes to be fully prepared. I'm super excited and will look into the book :)
Click to expand...

I got Kaleigh this spring-hadn't had a puppy in 17 yrs (previous one passed 1-29) I got the crate, had an enclosed area, went to the natural pet store and got several twisty chews from various animals-which she loved. My vet recommended knuckle bones-also a hit. Oh and I got a hoof, I think it is a sheep hoof, small sort of thing that she used as a toy, chew, and likes it in her crate, sometimes I put peanut butter or spreads in it...it smells gross to me, but she LOVES the thing. She chewed until her adult teeth came in, now she rarely chews.

Bought kongs (which she didn't seem thrilled with :confused2: she preferred the hoof) squeaky toys-which she sorta liked. They have sprongs which are a soft flexi-type toy that bounces and has a squeaky inside-they come in various shapes, the one she likes looks like an ice cream cone. Balls weren't of interest. But there was this rope toy that is a circle, covered with nylon material to look sorta like a frisbee though has cut outs-maybe 5 inches in diameter, that was a hit, it doubles as a tug of war toy. I got it at the dollar store, best investment in entertainment for her. She likes fuzzy stuffed toys to sleep with, but not really play with. My friend made a square fleece blanket that was a favorite, still is. Every morning I put her small treats in toilet paper rolls, or small boxes, or paper cups, all bent to contain the treat and she tears into those while I drink my morning coffee, and that is an activity that gives me sometime to wake up, and keeps her busy. Right now with the elections going on, I am getting the flyers/postcards of heavy paper which fold up nicely for this, and I like that she is destroying the mean mud slinging stuff, ha.

I get puppy #2 on 11/4, weather permitting, and I am SO excited. Kaleigh will have a playmate. So two lil monsters for me. Kaleigh and I both picked her out from the same breeder...so getting to do the whole process one more time.

The only phase I didn't relish was the teething...I was SO glad when her teeth came in, even with EVERY chew thing known, she preferred gnawing on me, I felt like all I did was exchange toys for me constantly, so be prepared for that.

Kaleigh is 9 mths now, and has become such a delight, so HANG in THERE, remind yourself time goes QUICK, so enjoy all the goofy stuff they do as puppies. Shelties are INCREDIBLE dogs, that need lots of love, understanding and plenty of exercise.

Good LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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