Hi all

We are (hopefully) getting a dog in a month or so and as I'm obsessed with researching things, I was just looking for advice as to the "best" book to get to prevent me buying (and spending) too much. We are first time dog owners and literally clueless, questions, eg:

1. What is frontline?? Is this applied every single month as standard??
2. Re. worming, how is this done and how often??
3. Does microchipping hurt and when should I get it done??
4. Am I correct in thinking injection at 8 weeks, another at 10 and then they can go out at 12 weeks or is this completely incorrect?
5. How much should we feed said dog (medium labradoodle)
6. Should we leave puppy to cry in the night (as told to by well meaning friends??)

I need a book that covers all this and more! A doggy bible so to speak! Recommendations?? The one with the most votes wins!

Cheers me dears.

xx

Erm i could answer number1. We use frontline on our cats and its applied once every month.
He will need to be over the age of 8weeks though!

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1. What is frontline?? Is this applied every single month as standard??

It tells you on the packet how often you need to apply it, I think its about every 2/3 months or something, not 100% as I write it on the calendar but don't know how far apart they are without looking! The breeder had him started off with fleaing/worming and we just continued with what she had been using when she said he was due.

2. Re. worming, how is this done and how often??

Roo gets done the same time period as the front line, I think I do him every 2 months frontline and 2 months worming, so every month he gets one of them, I alternate it as you aren't meant to do them at the same time. His is just tablet form, one tablet = 10kg sort of thing, and he is 33kgs Being a GR, he just gobels it down like a treat! I think some types you can crumble into their food though.

3. Does microchipping hurt and when should I get it done??

It depends what dog you get as to when, because some vets want them to be big enough that it will be easier on them. Roo is a GR (golden retriever) and he was done at about 13 weeks, the vet felt at 11 weeks that he was too small to have it done. It is quite a big needle and so can hurt a little bit, but they live in the moment and forget very quickly. It might bleed a little bit but Roo was fine after.

4. Am I correct in thinking injection at 8 weeks, another at 10 and then they can go out at 12 weeks or is this completely incorrect?

It depends when you get them done. Some pups come with one injection, Roo didn't as the breeder said some vets use different brands and offer packs where you can get free bits and bobs if you pay together for them. Roo had his first at about 8.5 weeks, his second at 10.5 weeks, and he could go out at 12.5 weeks. Some vets say different things, some say they can go out in your garden immediately etc. My vet said one week after his first jab he could go out in our garden as it is enclosed and we get nothing in it. He could go for walkies properly just before he turned 13 weeks, so it literally depends on what your vet says and when you have him/her booked to be jabbed.

5. How much should we feed said dog (medium labradoodle)

The breeder should be able to tell you what she or he has been feeding at the moment, and you should buy that brand of food and continue your dog on that one for now. It will probably be chicken/rice flavoured stuff or something easy to digest. Red meat flavoured foods are steered clear of too early on as they are quite strong for them to digest (as my breeder said, and it did give him the runs a few times when he tried it). It will give you a guideline on the food you buy, as to how much they can eat but its not always right for every dog, you can probably ask on here and people can give you an idea anyway

6. Should we leave puppy to cry in the night (as told to by well meaning friends??

IMO, yes. If you put puppy to bed and know he/she is well fed, has a bed etc, then they should be left. By all means if you are worried, go in and check they are OK, they may have toileted on their bed and be trying to tell you etc, just make sure if that happens you go in, clear it up and try NOT to give the puppy attention as then it might cry for you to come in. Are you planning on getting up in the night for him/her?

As for a book, I had this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Pupp...6368835&sr=1-1

its really nice and has very pretty pictures in it

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Just want to add that microchipping shouldn't hurt them and even if it does it's minimal. A labradoodle should be fine being done at the same time as 1st or 2nd vaccination, whichever your vet prefers.

I can recommend You and Your Dog by David Taylor. I've researched a lot this year on Border Terriers and dogs in general and I was impressed by this book.

Good luck!

The Perfect Puppy by Gwen bailey is a great puppy book if you are getting a puppy.

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"I am not perfect and i don't have to be, before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean" - Bob Marley

https://sites.google.com/site/blisschalet/

I love this book too, I bought a copy when I got my first dog then another copy when I bought Henrick last year. brilliant book.

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Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey gets my vote too

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Yes I agree 'The Perfect Puppy' is brilliant.

For once I picked a good book then (this is the one I have), I still use it now

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