New puppy arriving soon - all tips welcome!

[Candapack]

We are collecting an 8 week old Border Terrier on 8th March. On 10th April, we are off in MH to Mull and then Ardnamurchan for at least a couple of weeks. Then doing a few more shortish Scottish trips until mid August, when we'll be taking van abroad for maybe 8 t0 10 weeks.
All info/tips/pitfalls etc gratefully received.
Thanks,

 

[big bertha]

Sorry can't help with taking dogs abroad, but you've chosen a superb breed, is it a boy or girl?
My sis used to breed borders in Fife.

 

[Reallyretired]

Get a cage. It is his own private space which he will appreciate. And with a smallish dog like yours can come with you on your travels. Meg is nearly 4 now but loves her cage, we don't shut the door of course but did when she was a pup if we wanted some peace. When you first get him you can put his bed in half the cage and some newspaper in the rest in case he needs a pee in the middle of the night, sort of doggie en suite. When he's bigger his bed can occupy the whole area

 

[EssexBoy]

If you want to take him/her abroad I would get the pet passport process underway ASAP. One of my dogs injections didn't work first time and had to have a second dose meaning quite a delay....

 

[Fragle]

Great choice. Ruby thinks so as well

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[Deleted member 29692]

Your new employer will inform you of your duties in due course

 

[golly]

Love Borders, had two a few years ago, as said previously a cage is a good idea. To keep them looking smart, keep their coats stripped out regularly.

 

[Candapack]

Sorry can't help with taking dogs abroad, but you've chosen a superb breed, is it a boy or girl?
My sis used to breed borders in Fife.

A girl. Getting her from a breeder near Kippen.

 

[big bertha]

[QUOTE="Candapack, post: 1324236, member: 33848]A girl. Getting her from a breeder near Kippen.[/QUOTE]
I have a little girl border at the moment, she is 13 and still acts like a puppy. Must agree a cage is the way to go at the puppy stage. My 3 dogs all travel on the dinette bed with harnesses.

 

[Madwife]

Congrats on the new puppy! Once you get him/her make sure it is seen and examined by a vet within few days to check on health. Ask their advice on pet passport and when optimum time for rabies jab, microchip etc. although recommendation and soon law that all puppies must be microchipped before they are sold, the manufacturer of the chips does not recommend chipping before 12 weeks due to the high possibility of it migrating about the pups body. Get its inoculations completed asap so that it's not at risk of common diseases. Remember it's advised that until its inoculations are completed you don't walk your puppy outside other than in your own garden so as to reduce risk of it picking up disease.

I can't remember offhand the age puppies can start their rabies jabs but no need for blood tests now to check immunity

As others have said a cage/crate which is their 'cave' is a good idea for the puppy. Ours travel on harnesses clipped into the seat belts and I would advise that you use similar in the MH as a loose puppy or dog is a danger when moving. A good supply of puppy training pads never goes amiss either! I found the best value were on line on Amazon and still have some in the MH from when our pups were small.

Introduce the puppy to the MH asap so that it is familiar to it before your travels. Our four love travelling and regard the MH as home! Have a feeding and seperate water bowl stored permanently in the MH along with his food. We have several 'road refresher' non spill water bowls in the MH and they are really great. Although expensive they don't spill and worth every penny. Again Amazon sell them and the small size is more than ample for a small terrier

Happy travels

Kath

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[daveandsan]

Can not add anything to all the sound advice already given. Enjoy!

 

[Hollyberry]

I would definitely get an unchewable crate. My daughters dog ate it's way out of a fabric one on first night ----£50 they'll never see again! Your pup will be teething for a while and could do a fair bit of damage to a motorhome.
A Kong toy with a bit of food or peanut butter in it will keep her occupied and help her teeth.
Puppy pads ( Poundland, 99p shops) are useful for base of crate as long as she doesn't rip them up. Eaten filling could be dangerous.
You'll still be "toilet training" her so a cat litter tray in your shower tray might help at night. Or just put newspaper in the shower tray but you'll need a supply of paper!
As long as you've got the injections/chip/ passport sorted you just need to check for ticks daily.
Also try to take supply of food for her as having to change is likely to cause upset tummy.

 

[MJG1959]

If you want to take him/her abroad I would get the pet passport process underway ASAP. One of my dogs injections didn't work first time and had to have a second dose meaning quite a delay....

When you say it's injection didn't work first time can you clarify what you mean please.

Nowadays they just get a rabies vac. but there is no requirement to check if it has 'worked'. The requirement for this was relaxed when it was discovered in the vast majority of cases the need to confirm the vaccine had been effective was unessaessary.

I'm guessing you are talking about rabies vacs given and pet passports issued some considerable time ago.

As long as the vaccine is given at least a full 21 clear days before you travel it is fine nowadays. Of course the dog has to be chipped and the chip details recorded before the vaccine is given.

 

[Brian_K]

A Savic crate is the one to go for, cheaper ones are rubbish and to some extent potentially dangerous to a pup IMHO.

A plastic dog bed is also a wise investment, something like this: http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product_group.asp?dept_id=135&pg_id=3136

Brian

 

[laneside]

if you do nothing else teach it to sit on command, there is nothing worse than a doggy without a set of brakes

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[Candapack]

Thanks all - good stuff. Keep it coming.

 

[TheBig1]

socialise, socialise and socialise. most people love a friendly well socialised dog

 

[EssexBoy]

When you say it's injection didn't work first time can you clarify what you mean please.

Nowadays they just get a rabies vac. but there is no requirement to check if it has 'worked'. The requirement for this was relaxed when it was discovered in the vast majority of cases the need to confirm the vaccine had been effective was unessaessary.

I'm guessing you are talking about rabies vacs given and pet passports issued some considerable time ago.

As long as the vaccine is given at least a full 21 clear days before you travel it is fine nowadays. Of course the dog has to be chipped and the chip details recorded before the vaccine is given.

Wow!!!! I didn't realise you now only have to wait 21 days after the jab. When we got ours done it was jab/3 months/blood test.
As I say, one of ours failed first time & and had to have a second jab along with the associated wait and retest...
Thanks for putting me straight...
As an owner with direct experience of a failed vaccination, I'm not sure I agree with the new rule though !!!

 

[mitzimad]

take air freshener

 

[Kevinthecat]

Well having a pup for 6 weeks now , for what it's worth here's my two penny worth. Mine loved the motorhome the minute she set foot in it , we used the bathroom as a toilet area for her , we used pads and she has never peed anywhere but there . At night we put her in our cat box and and she still uses it . In the early days she would whimper when she wanted to go , which was every two hours now she sleeps through the night. Once she could go out we take her out five times a day , currently she empties her bowels outside and has the occasional pee on the pads.
I must say it has been hard work with a puppy but after six weeks she has become a pleasure . She is so loving and intelligent.
Good luck .

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[MJG1959]

Wow!!!! I didn't realise you now only have to wait 21 days after the jab. When we got ours done it was jab/3 months/blood test.
As I say, one of ours failed first time & and had to have a second jab along with the associated wait and retest...
Thanks for putting me straight...
As an owner with direct experience of a failed vaccination, I'm not sure I agree with the new rule though !!!

It's all set out on the Defra /you gov web site, and it's not quite new, it's been in place a while now with AFAIK no serious consequences.

 

[TheBig1]

Well having a pup for 6 weeks now , for what it's worth here's my two penny worth. Mine loved the motorhome the minute she set foot in it , we used the bathroom as a toilet area for her , we used pads and she has never peed anywhere but there . At night we put her in our cat box and and she still uses it . In the early days she would whimper when she wanted to go , which was every two hours now she sleeps through the night. Once she could go out we take her out five times a day , currently she empties her bowels outside and has the occasional pee on the pads.
I must say it has been hard work with a puppy but after six weeks she has become a pleasure . She is so loving and intelligent.
Good luck .

it would be brilliant if you could get her to still accept having a wee in the shower still as the early morning and late night visits when raining are not the most pleasant parts of motorhoming. just so much easier to quickly rinse down with the shower straight into the waste tank

 

[Cal54]

Had my pup 3 weeks now, and the toilet training is getting there slowly. My problem is I live in a first floor flat and Dillon was 5 months when I got him and had never lived inside. Pads are working though which is a great help - pooing sorted (4 times a day!), just the peeing to master. Having said that he can hold it as there are no deposits overnight when I go to let hm out of the kitchen. Just a battle of wills I think!

 

[Kevinthecat]

Another issue which I found difficult with my puppy was leaving her in the kitchen when time out was required . She would scream the place down turning the scream into a howl. I found a firm NO! Cured her of this and now she can go into the kitchen and sleep /play happily. I wouldn't want a screaming/howling dog in the next van to me. If you can understand why they do certain things helps, the screaming/howling is because they feel abandoned and want to be back with the pack.
It does get easier , mine is a very happy loving dog who currently thinks everyone she passes on her walks should be petting her. ( most do)
My beautiful Laika is currently asleep on my arm as a type this.
We have just returned from an early morning walk along the Thames , we were able to go onto the waters edge opposite St Paul's were there is sand, she had great fun digging sand holes, hence her sleeping now .

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

We've two borders. Ruby 16 and buster 6.
Get a crate. We've a metal for home and car. A fabric one for the MH.
Ruby A little border , was attacked by a golden retriever and black Labrador whilst being walked on the lead by our then 2 year old Daughter ( we were all out as a family !) in the fields at the back of our house. She was only a year old. It spoilt her , and she became aggressive if ran at by other dogs when on her lead. Can't blame her as one had her neck the other her rump. Their owner , complete with cocked gun , said they must have thought she was a rabbit !
She's totally senile now bless her , but for the past couple of years she's forgotten that she used to be the proverbial bitch ! And loved all dogs !
Buster is a big border boy. Playful boystrous loyal , sat at my feet as I type now.
The one thing I say is do the vaccination for life scheme at vets for pets. Join the puppy classes included. That way you can socialise with other dogs before you are actually meant to. Buster is great with other dogs. He's Very submissive but won't take any sh!t and will stand up for himself if threatened. Get them used to loud noises. Traffic sirens , drills , hovers, everything you hear dogs are scared of.

If you don't want a yappy little " thing" Don't let it bark. When it does tell it off. Or you'll end up with one of those annoying " babies" you see in motorhomes yapping away , running over the seat backs and dash board barking away, whilst it's owners sit there reading, oblivious. Both of ours were red with black mussle and ears when pups , Ruby 16 years top pic this new year in Moffat. Buster same place 6 years. Both with a fluffy coat, that's even thicker now. I won't strip them till the weather warms up a bit.

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[MJG1959]

Two excellent pictures...

 

[big bertha]

I love these pictures everytime I see them Bev. My border bitch was the same on the lead but ok off it, I think I used to tense up when she was on the lead expecting her to create and she sensed it.

 

[Candapack]

Once again, thanks for all the info and tips.

 

[Brian_K]

Picture of my boy's first trip in the van. He was good as gold, still want's to run up to everyone and be their mate when he's on the lead, need to work on that.

Brian

 

[bernardfeay]

In my experience all dogs dump on the floor/carpet for the first 6 months, then a miracle occurs and they stop. I agree with the cage idea, they don't like to be close to their mess and it motivates them to be let out and do it outside.

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