NSBoyd
Lower Northern Michigan
JH
Posts:37
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| 12/13/2012 10:10 AM |
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When we brought Elsie, we just let her sit inbetween the two of us in the middle. She loves it and usually does pretty good in the truck. For the most part she just sleeps. If you feel more comfortable with a crate in your truck than do it! Also if you are worried about nails, see if your breeder will cut them for you before you leave.
As for a "bed", Elsie uses an old blanket for now but only at night time when she is in her crate. Puppies prefer to pee on soft things and when ever we had a bed (be it an old towel or the normal dog bed) avaliable for her she would run over to it and pee on it instead of laying on it.(luckily now she knows to goto the door if she has to go!) When she is ready and knows not to do that she can have a real bed.
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1216
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| 12/13/2012 11:00 AM |
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Will your gf be going with you to pick up your puppy? My husband and I went in the evening after we knew the pups would have been up for a while playing (you can discuss their schedule with the breeder). We stayed for about an additional hour playing with the pups and allowing Bella some time with her parents and sibs before separating them (the way her mother came up to me as I carried Bella out, sniffed Bella, and gave me a look of "please take care of her" still breaks my heart...even though I'm probably over humanizing her thoughts lol). We had a three hour drive home and she slept the entire way so we just held her (swapping drive shifts because we both wanted to hold her lol). I really wouldn't worry about how you let him come home carrying over into how he will always ride at this point. You can begin working with him on how you prefer for him to regularly travel in the car after he comes home and you begin daily obedience training with him. I started car manners immediately as I knew I wanted a well behaved traveler since I take her just about everywhere with me. I have leather seats, so I bought a tough canvas seat cover for my back seat where Bella rides. They are really great, and machine washable (the one I have is also waterproof as I deal with daily snowy feet). Highly recommend them. I do not have the hammock style that prevents the dog from coming up front (as Bella knows that is not allowed), but an additional perk to those is also for their safety should you ever have to stop abruptly (though doggy seat belts are also an option for uncrated travelers).
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3154
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| 12/13/2012 12:05 PM |
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| If you are alone I would say use the crate... but if someone is with then sitting on a lap is good... total free roam might not be good cuz there could be potty accidents... |
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NixiesMark
Texas
MH
Posts:125
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| 12/13/2012 3:36 PM |
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Congrats are in order for the engagement too! That's exciting! It definitely was an amazing season I certainly wasn't expecting. 
As for bringing the pup home, I didn't ask before but what I did was pretty funny. I took a laundry basket with an old towel in it but since my sister and mom came with I was able to hold her for the two hour drive. She was super calm and sleepy (probably just more afraid of the new surroundings and change) so no problems there. We stopped half way for a potty break.
For food, I feed Nixie Natures Recipe Puppy and it's pretty in between on price. I'll have to switch her here in a few months though.
Hope that helps! |
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ManzielsDad
Posts:17
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| 12/13/2012 4:26 PM |
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All great stuff. Thank you soooo much. So I just finished my first afternoon of puppy shopping.....OVERWHELMING!!!! Belle I didn't find the Purina Pro Performance at Petco but there was a Pro "Sport" for Performance that read the exact same. The lady told me that it was just a new bag labeling. However when I went to Petsmart, I found the exact bag you mentioned. Have you heard of the "Sport"? Same thing? So I got the bed, bowls, leash, collar, tags, grooming brush, teething bone, treats (is that ok right now for training?), and toys. My buddy offers his crate free of charge. Is that ok with scents and stuff?
A couple other things, how important is brand of teeth and ear cleaning stuff? Am I missing any first week essentials? Thanks. |
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ManzielsDad
Posts:17
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| 12/13/2012 6:35 PM |
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Right now I'm tryin NOT to let my gal go with me because I plan on asking her parents for their blessing while I'm close to her hometown where the breeder and I are meeting. She's insisting on going to see her parents every cance she gets but I am encouraging her to keep studying. She is a cadet in the Austin Fire Dept. it has really become a soap opera. I have the ring. I've arranged the meeting with the parents and now she HAS TO go. Ugh!! Ill work it out. So, besides teeth and ear cleaning suggestions, how about some shampoo and nail clipping advice. I read as long as i keep him active on pavement or concrete he may not need the trimming.
I have come to the conclusion that I am way over thinking this. BUT I really want to give Manziel the best chance to make me a good owner. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1216
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| 12/13/2012 7:04 PM |
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We all understand your covering all your bases. I was you this time last year  Bella has been such an amazing girl now I feel like a pro lol Let your girl go with if you can. We LOVE puppies. Meet with the parents first maybe take them to dinner. See if you can coordinate driving to the restaurant separately (your girl and her mom and you and her dad). Talk with her dad on the way. I'm originally a Southern girl and all that really mattered to me was that my man respect the blessing of my father...my mother was the easy one.
Toothpaste, get a soft bristle brush (I actually use a rubber finger thingie) and do not use human toothpaste. I purchased a vanilla mint paste from my vet but noticed it also at our local feed store (can check the brand if you like). Bella loves the taste and loves a brushing. Ear cleaner is the only upkeep thing that Bella hates. I also purchased cleaner from my vet. All reasonably priced as they really last quite some time.
I very rarely have to clip Bella's back paws, but I do her fronts to keep them short and to keep the quick short. Get your puppy used to having his feet handled and you shouldn't have problems. I have never used the drimmel style tools, I use the scissor type clippers (not the blade style that you have to stick the nail through the opening). I also file lightly after to buff the sharp edge. |
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nursewhitt
Posts:1
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| 12/14/2012 8:03 PM |
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| So glad I came across this thread! I am a first time GSP owner as well! We have a lab already but thought we would get her a companion! We are getting her tonight and are so excited! |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1216
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| 12/14/2012 10:58 PM |
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| congrats to you too, nursewhitt! You'll love having a GSP as an addition! |
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ManzielsDad
Posts:17
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| 12/15/2012 10:23 AM |
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| Yeah. Congrats nursewhitt. Maybe we can jump on this forum and compare notes. Goin to get manziel tomorrow morning. I can't wait!!! |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7921
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ManzielsDad
Posts:17
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| 12/17/2012 9:29 AM |
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I got him. Yesterday was an adventure. I picked up Manziel yesterday morning and brought him back to Kyle. After a little whimpering, I stuck my fingers in his cage and tickled him a little and he stayed calm. We played all afternoon, the neighbors came out, one of the neighbors pups was introduced, and played sit and stay and "go get it". We only left him for a little over a hour for church, and boy he yelped as far as we could hear to the car. I hope it didnt last. So we repeated all that all night long. He only pee'd once right before bed when I set him on my bed. My bad, I shoulda taken him out. So, we put him in the cage in my room and covered it with a sheet. I was unsure of the protocol on these first several puppy nights. Lights, crate, fan????? He yeeeeeelped for about 10 minutes and finally stopped. We were really worried it was gonna be an hour long or more. Any advice on this? Continue to crate at night? Will he get used to eat? Lastly, found me a vet, Plum Creek Veterinarian, referred to by a friend, and also because the owner is the wife of a cop I know. Neighborhood folks. First available opening with her was Friday AM. I figured that was OK since Manziel has his first round of shots. Gonna look at obedience classes today and just keep googling all my questions.
Oh and I took him for a walk to go get coffee this morning and he whimpered most of the time. Any reasons for this?? PICTURES LOADING NOW!!! |
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ManzielsDad
Posts:17
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| 12/17/2012 9:38 AM |
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| Its not working. It keeps reverting to my old avatar and profile pic. |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3154
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| 12/17/2012 9:42 AM |
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Sounds like things are going very well!
The crate at night is really up to you... I would either crate at night or have them in bed with you, in bed with out just so you can feel if they get up, then you can rush them out to potty... we did crate at night with our first and had the crate by our bed not covered so he saw us... I would put the reading light on and read and he would just fall asleep... our new pup is in bed with my son because our older one is in bed with our other son...
our new pup is actually a doxie and is 2 1/2 months old... the first morning she went in the crate when I went to work and kids went to school (my husband in bed sleeping from working nights) she cried the entire 3 hours he tried sleeping... when he woke up and she saw him she stopped so he started coffee and got his breakfast ready and then he went and took her out and brought her out to potty... the next day she didn't cry at all... just the other day was the first day she had to be in the crate all day (7:30am-3pm) and she didn't potty or poop in her crate... she has gone most nights all night long without waking up to go potty but sometimes she does wake up and we take her out and then right back to bed...
As for the walk in the morning, at this young age it just isn't something they enjoy much... when our first was a pup we lived at my parents on 5 acres mostly fenced in so we could just walk around the property without a lease and he enjoyed that... with our doxie pup when we get in the car she does get nervous and shake a bit till she settles... we took her to my parents house and when she first went in she was nervous and jumpy but we didn't baby her, we just ignored her and she got comfortable and ran around like a crazy girl in no time flat... we have not put a leash on her yet.... |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3154
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| 12/17/2012 9:43 AM |
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| you need to load them to somewhere like photobucket and then use the IMG link photobucket gives you and just paste that into this "area" where you type... |
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ManzielsDad
Posts:17
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| 12/17/2012 9:55 AM |
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| Awesome Splat. Very reassuring on all that. I take it easy on the morning walks and maybe do like you said and play in the back yard with no leash. Only problem is that I have a 6 month old lab puppy and two wiener dogs next door that bark nonstop. Will that have any negative effects on Manziel? I did leash him immediately. I read it was good to get him used to it. Thanks a ton. Photobucket bound. |
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ManzielsDad
Posts:17
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| 12/17/2012 10:15 AM |
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ManzielsDad
Posts:17
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| 12/17/2012 10:30 AM |
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http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u584/aggiebryant/IMG_2417_zps21ab6110.jpg
http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u584/aggiebryant/IMG_2427_zpsd9e67db0.jpg
http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u584/aggiebryant/IMG_2413_zpsfbaf07ae.jpg
http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u584/aggiebryant/IMG_2431_zps22f4b9a2.jpg
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7921
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| 12/17/2012 10:50 AM |
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He is a cutie and I can tell from the pictures that mom and dad are pretty happy too. How did he do on the way home? I had to laugh, that tag is almost as big as he is, but then he will grow into it.
As for the dogs barking next door. He might be a bit scared at first, but he will make friends with them. I wouldn't make a big deal about it. If you do, he is apt to think he is supposed to be scared. Also, at this point the more you can socialize him and get him into new situations the better. Just don't take him to dog parks are places that have lots of dogs until he gets all his shots. If he does happen to react to something in a scared way just pretend it is no big deal and keep doing whatever it is you were doing. He will take his cue from you.
Are you planning on hunting with him? If so, there is a good way to introduce puppies to birds and guns and a bad way. I will go into more details if you are planning on hunting him. Also, let me know if you are interested in hunt tests as there are some coming up in the area in the March time frame. He won't be old enough this year, but next year you could run him for his Junior Hunter. It's allot of fun and the JH is pretty easy. Let me know if you are interested. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3154
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| 12/17/2012 11:15 AM |
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| it is good to get them used to the leash but for now you can just let them drag it around and get used to the feel that way... he is so adorable!!! |
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