I am getting a puppy in 4 weeks! What do i do to prepare,what will i have to do to take care of it?

Question

I am only 14, i really wanted a dog, now my parents have finally let me, we have had a breeder set a dog aside. Now, my parents own hotels so they are always busy. And probably wont be at home 24/7. And i have school. Is it okay if the puppy is left alone during the day, for 8 hours? And i have never had a dog before so what will i have to do with the dog?..Tell me everything, because i seriously dont know what to do with a puppy?...What shots to get it at the vet?.....

Answer 1

Get some puppy potty pads, a crate or a baby gate so you can have a place to keep it. Consider hiring a pet sitter to come in once a day to take the puppy out for a walk mid-day. Be consistant with it's training, like taking it outside to go to the bathroom every few hours. Give it a treat when you bring it in only if it goes. Make sure you socialize it with humans and with other pets. This way it will get along with everyone. When it's eating, put your hand in the food so it won't become food protective. Buy it chew toys because it will be chewing on everything! Puppy-proof your house. Put up anything you don't want the puppy to chew on or destroy. Consider obedience classes.

What kind of dog are you getting?

The vet will know all about the vaccines and when you'll need to bring your puppy in for shots and stuff.

ENJOY and have fun!

Answer 2

You should NOT be getting a puppy right now. What's going to happen to the poor dog when you go away to college? Your parents certainly aren't going to be around to take care of him/her. At 14, you're probably busy with school as well. I don't really think this is the best time to be getting a dog. It doesn't seem as if you've done much research on dogs either, to be honest.

Puppies should not be left alone for 8 hours. They need constant attention and care, not to mention the fact that puppies need to be taken outside every few hours to potty (they can't hold their bladders for very long when they're young). Puppies need socialization with both humand and other dogs, and they need training as well. Leaving him alone for 8 hours a day will result in behavioral problems and unhappy parents/dog.

If you really want a dog, I strongly suggest getting an ADULT dog. They require less attention (but attention nonetheless) and are usually already pottytrained. Many adoption agencies have great adult dogs in serious need of homes.

I really hope you rethink this.

EDIT
The person below me said that puppies can go home after 6 weeks. This is not true. Puppies need to stay with their mom/litter for at least 8 weeks before going home. Those two weeks are crucial for proper puppy "growth". Your puppy will learn from its mom/litter what is appropriate and inappropriate, such as nipping and biting.

Answer 3

Puppies generally 'go home' when they are six weeks old and eight hours a day is too long for them to be left unattended.
Maybe you and your parents can arrange with the breeder for him/her to keep the puppy until it is older? Or maybe they can arrange for one of them to come home every few hours (2-3 hours) to check on the puppy.
I am sure there are a lot of people that leave their young puppies alone for that long, but ideally, this is not a good idea. You are going to have a lot of issues with "potty training" if your puppy is left alone for that long b/c there is no way that a six week old puppy has 8 hours of bladder control. Plus he/she is going to develop a lot of bad habits b/c of no supervision and general boredom.
Is taking the puppy to work an option for your parents? That may be an avenue to discuss.

Check out this site:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1648&articleid=960

Towards the bottom there is a vaccination schedule. You should talk to the breeder and find out what vet he/she is using and maybe make an appointment to have the puppy checked out within a day or so after you get the puppy home.
If the breeder is reputable, you should have some sort of health garuntee for at least the first 24 hours (the puppy isn't coming home to you with any illnesses or diseases).
Puppies are a huge responsibility and it is quite expensive! Make sure you get the same kind of food the breeder is feeding so you don't upset the puppy's digestive system (you can gradually switch if you want to). Ask for something (a blanket or toy) from the litter box so it smells like home to the puppy at your house and be prepared for a couple of rough nights! The puppy will have separation anxiety for a few nights and you will have to get up and take him outside to potty at least every two hours.
Good luck!

Answer 4

No it is not ok to leave a puppy alone for 8 hrs. Try to get someone to look in on the pup during the day. Pay them if you have to. It is too young to be left alone for that long a time.
Go to the library and get the book "Puppy Pre School" by john ross
It is full of good advice on what to do with your pup.
The breeder should give you a puppy packet with information on shots and food.

All the above with a lot of love and you will do just fine and so will your pup.

Answer 5

No puppies should go to the bathroom at least every 4 hours. It is not really fair to the puppy to leave it in the cage for that long. See if someone in your neighborhood is willing to stop in to be with your puppy everyday. Better yet wait till summer when you are off so you can potty train your dog and give him enough time.

Answer 6

My dear..
It is not okay to leave a puppy at home for eight hours all alone. And if you don't know what you're going to do with it, why are you getting one?
Maybe you should rethink this.
In the least, wait until summer time when you're out of school and can be home with it almost all day.
It would benefit you both.

Answer 7

You're 14. Ask your parents. They know. And they will be the ones paying for it.