first time dog/cocker owner- what do I buy?

[hilhames]

Provided the breeder does not let me down, (first one did), I shall be the proud owner of a little girl cocker in just over a week.  I will ask specific questions in the appropriate places but this is just a first roll of the dice...I need to know what to buy and where from.
We have a Pets at Home so will pick up the obvious things there such as feeding equipment.  But the two things that I imagine are relatively expensive are toys and a crate.  Can I get starter packs of toys that are cheap but safe?!  And the crate- the breeder said 21-24 inches is that right?  I would like it to be plenty big enough to last as long as needed but it also will have to go in the car sometimes unless I get two sizes? We have a Ford Focus.
I presume I don't need a lead right away, just a collar.  Should I  get a lead or a harness?  Do they learn to walk to heel with a harness?
Anything else I need in the first few days?  I will have to get the puppy up to the vet asap for first vaccination as the breeder does not do them (she thinks wait till 10 weeks) but am keen to be able to do socialization and start puppy training sooner rather than later so would like to get the vaccinations started.  She says also not to chip till about 14 weeks as chip can move.
Thank you - I know that you will all be very helpful.
Apologies, this is in wrong place, should have put on puppy board, but cannot see how to move

[johndoran]

First port of call is the bank manager for the second mortgage you will need to keep the little one in the life style all cocker girlies have.
A lead straight away just for short little walks to get used to it.We got a small crate but now have a large one which is covered and is her little den. Beware of cheap soft toys as puppies can destroy them. They have very very sharp teef :lol:Nylobones and kongs are good.
Try to protect any cables that are withing chewing distance. Most of all be prepared,chilled out and do not panic when the wall of death starts 
Loads more advice will be along soon.

[8 Hairy Feet]

A lovely bottle of wine for
medicinal purposes

[rednblack]

Buy lots of kitchen roll (for mopping up accidents), and you'll find bio washing liquid very good for cleaning up (the enzymes in the bio sort destroy the smells which we can't smell but dogs can).
 
I started my pup in a shallow cardboard box for his bed - any bed will be chewed by a puppy, and a cardboard box can be thrown away and is easily replaceable.  If you have a puppy which chews soft cushiony dog beds, vetbed is very good and can be machine washed and tumble-dried.

[elaine.e]

Hello hilhames and welcome to COL

I'm sure you'll get lots of advice re. crates and crate sizes, but I'll start a list of other useful things you'll need to think about buying:

kitchen roll for clearing up the inevitable accidents
poo bags
disinfecting/deodorizing spray (dog specific one as normal bleach type sprays smell of ammonia and may actually encourage your puppy to pee in the same place again) or you can use a solution of biological laundry liquid, but test for colourfastness before using on carpets
puppy Kong for putting some of her kibble or some treats in to keep her occupied and can help to calm an overexcited puppy
cheap bedding that's easily washable and can be thrown away if too soiled or ripped to pieces by puppy teeth
cheap bed for same reasons as above
puppy shampoo
old towels

As for toys, real favourites often include cardboard loo roll tubes and empty Yakult and similar sized plastic bottles for tiny puppies because they can skittle them round a hard floor for ages.

I'm sure your list will be a mile long by the end of today

[caro]

As for toys, real favourites often include cardboard loo roll tubes and empty Yakult and similar sized plastic bottles for tiny puppies because they can skittle them round a hard floor for ages.

Fern is eight years old now and cardboard loo roll tubes are still her favourite thing in the world!  We have loads scattered about the house!

I wish you all the best - it is hard work when they are puppies, but totally worth it!

It might be an idea to get a toothbrush and paste (doggie sort not human!), and soft grooming brushes etc to get into good habits early!

[7733lily]

Hi and welcome
How exciting, a new puppy 
I would recommend getting a lead straight away so that she can get used to it in the garden etc before her first proper walk.  I actually had both a collar and harness when the boys were pups as their necks just looks so delicate so preferred the harness for a little while at first.   As for walking to heel better on a collar or harness?, mine still don't do that (5yrs, 4yrs and 3yrs) so I'm probably not qualified to answer 
With regard to injections (I think vets vary greatly) but my boys were vaccinated at 8 weeks and then again at 10 weeks and then allowed out on a walk one to two weeks after their last injection (so around 11/12 weeks).  They can of course socialise with healthy vaccinated dogs prior to this, but I would avoid letting her venture into a public place (certainly on foot, but you can always carry her to get her used to different sights/sounds/people) until after her last injection.  Vets do have different regimes though, so best to check with them
As for toys, I personally would not bother too much with bought toys, especially the ones sold "for puppies", as in my experience they do not last very long at all with those needle teeth.  The boys always preferred a ball or plastic bottle in a sock or as others have suggested cardboard boxes and toilet roll tubes
Good luck with your new arrival.
Look forward to seeing her first pictures 

[BobnDot]

Welcome to COL, a new puppy, great .  Just a few things you may want to consider.....
A crate is almost a must and you can go for a larger size, suitable for a full grown cocker, but cut down the available space at first with a divider or a cardboard box within the crate  .
Kitchen roll in large quantities, keep a minimum stock of a dozen at least  , saving the cardboard tubes as toys.
A plastic or stainless spatula for dealing with the inevitable Oops  .
An account with your local wine merchant, preferably one that does home deliveries 24/7  ...Helps with sanity preservation.
Arrange pet insurance ASAP and you may want to look at a health check plan if your vet offers one (Helps spread the costs  )
Check with your household insurers that your policy covers both "new for old" and "accidental damage" .
Check your garden fences, gates etc. to make sure they're cocker puppy proof. Be aware that all cockers are part garden rotovator/escape artist  .
Make sure that a digital camera is always within reach, batteries charged and plenty of memory space. (The best photos MUST be posted on COL  )
A harness to start off with, progressing to a collar as she grows older. (Don't forget the collar tags). A long training lead can be handy as well.
A torch for the night time essential trips outside. New towels so that the old ones can be used for the puppy.
Puppy walking boots, shoes, wellingtons, jackets, leggings, fleeces, handbags, jewellery, hats, gloves etc., etc., etc.
An adjustment of your Credit Card limit upwards  .
Drop hints to friends and family about cocker puppy related presents  .
Give up all thoughts of a social life for the next few months and prepare for the most wonderful experience of all....A new cocker puppy
The very best of luck with your little girl 

Bob.

 

[hilhames]

ok, so what size is a full size cocker crate? Where do I get it - Pets at Home as good as anywhere
Harness fine, I agree, but, if I have to take the dog oout in the night doesn't it take a while to get a harness on?  Or do you have a lead for this? Do they have a collar with a harness?
We go to our childrens a lot and involves journeys.  Could be just me and dog.  So do I need a separate smaller crate for car?  I think they can go on back seat with a harness but obviously this wont happen until fully trained.
Keep all the info coming, am getting slightly less desperate but only slightly. You are all lovely helpful people

[lisalh]

I have no idea what size a cocker crate should be as the one I use for my pair is definitely waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too big. I picked mine up pretty cheap on ebay and it is often worth checking out gumtree/freecycle as crates seem to be one of those items that crop up regular basis. I Had a pet carrier on the back seat of the car for the first couple of journeys and did have a crate in the boot for a while but I now have a dog guard and the dogs have the run of the book ot are in their car harnesses and on the back seat. There may be someone that is willing to lend you a small crate until your pup outgrows it.

I also used a puppy pen in the house to segregate a corner of the kitchen where puppy went for time out/sleep/feeding, Fred loved his little den and it took several months for him to figure out how to escape it?!?!

No matter how prepared you think you are there will be more things you will think of as your pup settles in, I had forgotten grooming equipment , puppies can be quite 'tough' on their toys so it is not worth spending a lot of money on them, cardboard tubes are great. Check out your local charity shop for towels and blankets for dog bedding, and one of my best buys was a bag to wash them in with stopped dog hairs clogging up my washing machine.


Cannot wait to hear all about your new addition- you are making me feel very nostalgic and puppy broody

[abkb]

ok, so what size is a full size cocker crate? Where do I get it - Pets at Home as good as anywhere
Harness fine, I agree, but, if I have to take the dog oout in the night doesn't it take a while to get a harness on?  Or do you have a lead for this? Do they have a collar with a harness?
We go to our childrens a lot and involves journeys.  Could be just me and dog.  So do I need a separate smaller crate for car?  I think they can go on back seat with a harness but obviously this wont happen until fully trained.
Keep all the info coming, am getting slightly less desperate but only slightly. You are all lovely helpful people

I originally had a 30inch crate for Molly, but when we got our pup Finley I bought them both a 36inch crate and they both have loads of room in them. They take up a lot of space though, so we are getting rid of them. Don't buy from pets at home they are a rip off; we got ours from a seller on ebay (new) but also try petplanet, pet supermarket and zoo plus.

I never put a collar, harness or lead on my dogs in the garden at any point. When I had to let them out in the night for a wee they always stayed close. I wouldn't have had time to put a collar etc on, they would have wee'd by then!

When walking, our two wear a collar (with ID tag) and ezydog harness, with lead attached to the harness. This is also the harness that they travel in as it comes with a seatbelt attachment and is crash tested (many aren't). We originally tried Molly in a crate in the car but we didn't like it, so she has used a harness with attachment since about 5 months. Finley has used his harness in the car since 9 weeks, which I checked with ezydog was safe to do so. I started him with a XS harness, and have now just moved up to a small which is what Molly has now at 2 years old.

[Emilyoliver]

I bought a soft crate for the car for puppy.  It is now too small and the zip is broken, but it's done it's job and Pip still likes to get in it  .  Soft crate has been great as easy to dismantle and store when not in use.  Pip is now fine in the car on a harness.

[7733lily]

Harness fine, I agree, but, if I have to take the dog oout in the night doesn't it take a while to get a harness on?  Or do you have a lead for this? Do they have a collar with a harness?

Sorry, perhaps I didn't make myself clear.  The collar/harness and lead for the garden was just to have a little practice before going out on proper walks and get them used to it.  I wouldn't both to faff about with all that just to let them out for a wee   

[hilhames]

so does the crate double as a play pen - I presume not. The crate is really just for rest and relaxation.  Have people found a play pen a good idea?  Am thinking, if I have to go out and leave her, shopping and whatnot, the crate could go inside a playpen and the puppy would have access to both?  Otherwise, how long could you put them in their crate for - do they tend to automatically sleep as obviously no room to play etc.  Am hoping that eventually could leave puppy for up to three hours maximum, but wouldn't want to  give her the run of the house.  And if they are left in one room eg kitchen then chair legs etc will get chewed?

[rednblack]

Playpen is great for popping puppy into while you get on with things that need two hands and no little people underfoot.  Up to 3 hours in the crate, with something safe to chew on  (and preferably after a vigorous game and a wee-break) should be ok.  You can get little dishes to hang or fix in the crate (small ones are often sold for parrots) so you can put some water in and it's off the floor.
 
You can save your chair legs by getting some plumbing pipe of the right diameter, cutting it to the appropriate length and putting on the chair legs.