Please help us prepare!

[Okie103]

Hello all, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a 10 week old rescue puppy. He is listed as a part Shepard/ lab mix. What do I need to have on hand when he arrives? Also not sure what to do about food as not sure what he is now eating. ANY advice is welcome. Thank-you

[McMegan]

Congratulations on your new puppy! If he is a rescue, are you in contact with the rescue organization? Undoubtedly they will have resources available to help you get started with your new boy.

Re food: The rescue group will be able to tell you what type of food he is eating and may even be able to provide you with a bag to get you started, if it is not a readily-available brand in your area. Even if this is not the brand of food you intend to keep him on, insofar as it is possible, you must start out with the exact same food he is used to and very slowly wean him from one type to the other. This takes some time and patience but if you rush to change his food too quickly, you will have a very sick, poopy puppy on your hands. Your vet will be able to talk you through the food-change process and give you an appropriate timeline. Your vet may also have food recommendations if you do not wish to continue using the type of food that puppy is used to.

Things to have on hand:

The basic basics:
-Food (see above)
-Food & water bowls
-Lots of extra towels - little guys are messy!
-In advance, determine things like his sleeping place. Will you use a crate? It is a great option for housetraining! If so, get a crate. As Bill has mentioned many times in other posts, make sure the crate is only large enough for the dog to stand and turn around - this will help to discourage him from soiling it. You will have to replace the crate with a larger one as he grows, or purchase a larger crate and partition it off using a partition or box or something.

Although he is not big enough for long walks yet and, depending on whether he has had all his shots it may be to early to walk him in public, it's never to early to get started with the basics of collars, harnesses, leashes and walking politely - merely introducing him to all these new concepts in the safety of your own living room is huge. You will need:
-Quick-release collar for his tags. These are safer in case puppy gets caught on something, but you cannot attach a leash to it (due to the quick-release part). Adjustable, but you'll have to replace as he grows.
-A harness that will fit him, for walking and leash work. You'll also have to replace this a few times as he grows. A harness is a good, safe choice for walking and leash work because puppies throats and necks can be damaged by walking on a collar (if he bolts to chase something and gets jerked back unexpectedly, etc). A Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness would be a good choice - look for a harness where the leash attaches at the front of the chest, NOT between the shoulders, as the latter will actually encourage pulling and straining (this is what sled dogs use to pull a sled, it's not designed for polite walking).
-Leash. Premier makes a nice Bungee leash that allows for a little "give" while still keeping you in control (unlike retractable leashes, which are useless). Also pick up a plain nylon leash or a tether so that you can control puppy's movements around the house - tether him to you or close by you so you can keep an eye on him when he is out of his crate - invaluable in potty training.
-Acceptable toys. Puppies need to chew, so start there. You can even create a simple teething toy by freezing a damp washcloth and letting him gnaw on that - it will be very soothing to his gums.

Some non-physical items to have prepared:
-Plan in advance any house rules so that the entire family can be consistent in his training. Puppies are constantly learning, even if you don't think you're doing any "formal" training and consistency is extremely important. Make sure everyone is aware of the rules and the appropriate methods of discipline.
-Have a vet picked out, and also know of an emergency 24-hour vet nearby you. Have the numbers, addresses and directions readily available - you never know when you'll need it!
-Finally, look into puppy kindergarten classes near you. Specially designed for younger dogs who may not have completed their vacinnes, these are great opportunities for socialization (extremely important during this time, before the onset of the fear/shyness period that starts around 12-16 weeks) and as a precursor to formal training (really, you can never start too early)!

And lastly, some pre-reading:
Check out a few pamphlets from my personal favorite behaviorist, Patricia McConnell:
-"How to be the Leader of the Pack...And have Your Dog Love You For It": This one is only about 14 pages long but it is almost literally everying I wish someone had told me for the first two weeks of owning my (first) dog.
-"The Puppy Primer"
-"Family Friendly Dog Training: A Six Week Program for You and Your Dog"
-"Way to Go! How to Housetrain a Dog of Any Age"

You may also wish to check out literature and/or DVDs by Paul Owens, Jean Donaldson, Turid Rugaas and/or the Monks of New Skete.

Good luck and keep us up to date in the forums!