new 5 month old coming home - Q's re walks and sleeping

[VickyG]

Hi all,
Henry is now 2 years old (we got him at 8 weeks old) and on Friday we will be collecting our new cocker puppy - Holly, she is 5 months old and is his half sister (same daddy) and all black like Henry  Just got a couple of questions -

* It seems ages since Henry was a baba and I can't remember the walking times for youngsters.  How many minutes of walking is it for a 5 month old?  Is it the same times for on lead aswell as off lead?  We plan to let her off lead straight away (well within reason and in a controlled way  )

* Also how long does she have 3 meals for?  Henry is now on morning and early evening feeds.

* Henry sleeps in his crate at night with the door closed and has right from the start (we used a baby monitor and I got up to let him out for toilet a few times a night but after about 2 weeks he was totally toilet trained).  We plan to have Holly sleeping in her own crate next to Henry, and want to try and do the same in order to get her settled in as soon as possible - she hasn't slept in a crate before so any ideas as to how I can do this - how can I get her to know that bed time means toilet outside then crate for sleepy's - shall I clicker her wee's/poo's and get up during the night like I did with Henry to put her outside?

any advice, it just seems so long since Henry was a baba I've forgotton how to be a good baby cocker mum 

[Emma xx]

Oooh exciting

Its generally 5 mintues per month of age for the walks, and yep on lead is the same as off lead. So about 25 mins 2 or 3 times a day for the little one. Totally recommend letting her off lead straight away, we did with Alfie and he has been great ever since (obviously still puts the deaf-ear on at times but generally very good)

Alfie was on 3 meals until he was about 5.5 months. We did this as he was showing a bit less interest in the middle meal, so we changed to two, which is easier as Meg is fed at the same time. I would keep her on the 3 meals until she starts to show less interest in one of the meals.

The crate training sounds great, more or less the same as we did, just no baby moniter for us, we just woke him up in the middle of the night for the first couple of days. He has never messed in his crate and was toilet trained very soon.


Good luck and dont forget to put some photos up xxx

[Chedi]

We went for the 5mins of age per month too - so we'd suggest 25mins few times a day, off or on lead.

Dylan is still on 3 meals a day - but only because he was getting really skinny - but didnt want to eat any more on his two meals a day. So we feed a cup full at 10am, 5pm, and then half a cup before bed which is usually any time after 9pm in the crate. We cant feed him any earlier than 10am as he wont eat it. He's an odd dog. We've cut down to two meals a day at about 7 months - and went back to 3 when he was 8.5months and on adult food. Once he starts filling out a bit we'll cut down again.

For crates, we didnt crate train Dylan until he was about 5 to 6 months, mainly because he was getting separation anxiety quite bad around then. He adjusted to it sooo well and because we kept the same bedding for a good month he knew it was his bed - and we also kept all his toys and his food and water bowls in it so its his little den. I personally think she could last the night without getting up. Dylan was pretty good by christmas, getting up at about 6-7am after bed at 9pm and he was only 4 months then. When it comes to bed time for Dylan, we feed him his final half cup, let him out for a pee, he never poos then, and he'll have his little wonder about and come straight back in - and he then goes straight into his crate. His crate is in the corner, and we have a fleece/blanket that covers the top and the longest side, and when thats folded down he knows its time to sleep - which works well when we pop out for a bit.

Hope that helps you out a bit! I bet Henry cant wait to meet his new puppy pal!