My husband and I acquired two little 7 week old terrier mix puppies three weeks ago. We are calling them Charlie Brown and Sally. Life hasn’t been the same, but it was a long awaited anticipated change. I was hoping for milder weather for the potty training, but maybe October’s monsoons wouldn’t have been better.
Worms happen. Mine had a good case of hookworms and roundworms. They were very potbellied and occasionally passing roundworms. 2 doses of dewormer solved that.
Potty training can be easy IF you go outside with them, every time, right after eating, and praise them. It’s quite pleasant when it is 60 or 70 degrees on a sunny afternoon, but not so much in the dark and freezing predawn morning. I actually FEED the puppies outside since they were pooping within 2 minutes of eating. Plus is helps that they are with me at work too, and I have a helpful staff. It takes a village…..
Crating compliments potty training and controls the puppy destruction. So far (knock on wood), they haven’t messed in their crate and they sleep 10pm to 6:30 am. They like going in their crate when they are tired. I have even seen them go into on their own when tired. It isn’t a jail. I haven’t used it for timeout.
Feeding multiple dogs has been a challenge. The 11 year old Sheltie doesn’t want to share his old man food and nipped Chuck the first week when he got too close. Now they give him a wide berth when eating. Keeping Sarge from eating the puppy food is harder, but since I watch the puppies eat, I pick it up as soon as they are finished.
Jingle bells on collars has been the greatest thing since sliced bread. I can keep track audibly of these two terrifying terriers as they race around the den, backyard, animal hospital, or the ranch by the shop. Too bad Sarge is getting very deaf and can’t hear them run up from behind.
Portable exercise pens are darn handy. At first I used them when outside, to keep them corralled, and Sarge away from their food while eating. I could track their pooping easier. Then I discovered they didn’t want to poop near where they ate, so I had to open it up. It has been great at the ranch and especially at the animal hospital so they can stretch their legs. The portable puppy playpen should come in handy over the holiday season as we visit friends and family who want to see the puppies, but don’t want these two hoodlums running loose on their carpets and around Christmas trees and packages.
Puppy proofing the house is easier said than done. Each week they find more ways to jump higher, and knock down barricades. I am saying “no” a lot when I catch them.
Puppy proofing the yard is a safety issue. I thought I had all the holes in the fence fixed, and all the plant hazards removed. Sally found a small hole one sunny afternoon when unsupervised, and I found her on the driveway, the little dickens.
Puppies need socializing to lots of people and pets. This is something I talk a lot to clients about, and it has been pretty easy since they come to work with me every day. And they travel with me on weekends. Plus most of my clients are happy to help “socialize” two adorable puppies after their visit.
Those are the big take away lessons so far. They are things I try to say to all new puppy owners, but having two of my own has really brought it literally “home.” It has been a lot of work so far, but I am in love with these two terrorizing terriers.
The next step is training to commands like sit, come, and walking on a leash.
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