[Ladygrey]

Hi there 

I have never posted on the doggy side of this forum before

After a long time of planning and great research into what kind of dog and what lines/pedigrees of breed I am visiting 2 puppies on this sunday, if I feel one of them is right for me I will put down a deposit and then pick up puppy the following weekend Im SO SO EXCITED

However after great thought we decided to take on an older puppy not a 10 week old puppy for many reasons, so the puppies I am looking at on sunday are 5 months old

Puppies are apparently lead and house trained, KC registered rough collies, Sire and Dam are both hip scored CEA clear, parents are rough collies from american lines, american lined rough collies are bigger, not such a long coat and (I Think) a much more balanced traditional style collie.

I have no memory of what a puppy is like at 5 months of age?? are they chewy and into everything still? do they have all of thier adult teeth by now? Puppies are supposedly house trained and lead trained, However I have no idea what to expect from a 5 month old puppy!!! I am so excited!! 

Can anyone offer any advice?

Many thanks

Jess

[happygolucky]

WOw, something to look forward to and yes, chewy and into anything and everything, they usualy are good at recall at this age but then it all goes a bit pants when they get that little bit older, the teenage years, then back to good again, usualy!!
Watch out for them digging, carpets, plants and soft wood...not all pups are bad but some are.....my pup was born in Aug so 16 weeks and she is pretty good but has removed all my solar light fittings from the garden and loves trimming the trees and plants, she has also collected and destroyed a few slippers/Crocs, and is also very good on the lead.  Watch out for toilet accidents but they should be OK, although our pup has a room of her own with the older dogs and sometimes has a poo in a litter tray I put in there.
So yes they are destructive depending on temperament and breed, as ours are working dog strain Labs they tend to get board easily so chew more, just had my new magazine chewed up a min agao!! good luck! and they are soooooo much fun!

[Bionic]

How exciting. Yes, lots of chewing. Put everything portable out of reach i.e. Remote controls, slippers, underwear, socks, tea towels, pens, basically anything the puppy can get their teeth into.


Even though the pups are toilet trained don't be surprised if something is done in the house as the change of home and routine could throw it all out a bit.

[Garvie]

our puppy(now 9/10 month) was/is only distructive when bored so now we leave her with rope toys to play with while she is left untended, also make sure you have a distinctive bed for her as that is great for them to know where their space is and so they can go have time out as well when they are tired, all midge did as a youngster was run riot and sleep she is alot better not though she is a border terrier though. collies are very intelligent as you will know so keep them engaged and  thinking and you should be fine they sound fab though photos are a must

[Garvie]

along the house training thought, let out for pees after meals and when they wake up less likely to have accidents then

[Ladygrey]

Thankyou very much 

I suppose I didnt think about how chewy a puppy may still be at this age  may have to rearrange a bit in the house!

Will have to get a puppy bed but will only do that after I see how big puppy will be, his dad is pretty big so expecting him to grow well!

Thanks for the tips on house training what I may do is sort of start again and for the first few weeks take him out and praise him etc

My current dog Laddie is nearly 9 but still acts like a puppy, so hoping they will settle down after a while and be good freinds

I will take lots of photos of puppies and mum and dad to show you all

Although here is a link to who dad is anyway http://www.wicani.co.uk/robin.htm

I got puppy a got a kong already to try and steer him away from Laddie's toys but will probly have to get more than one toy... I have loads of tennis balls lying around!

[happygolucky]

Dads stunning and very fluffy!! Cables are also the thing our pups have always gone for......any loose fitting carpet may end up being pulled up. My daughter is having some toilet issues with her pup as she does not always get to see her pup ask to be let out, I say to all new pup/dog owners, limit the area they can free roam in when not watched and hope, unlike me, you do not have a house full of cream carpets....so hate the cleaning battle of muddy paw prints......Our pup loves the coal and every night she puts her toys infront of the open fire, its so cute!!  I have lost a few leads and collars as well.....that's been my fault leaving them around, one thing that I did not think of was some one left tablets in their dog walking coat and their pup got hold of them...it was OK but that's something I often have in my pockets due to back pain....any tablets need putting out the way and food that's not ment for them!!!  Like children and toddlers, you need to be a step ahead but we all continue to have them and why not? love having a pup around!!

[Ladygrey]

Thankyou

Ithink I have alot to sort out  my house is very tiny... but tonnes of outdoor space and I am outside for a good few hours a day with my dog, so I think the puppy could be restricted to the whole of downstairs (which is one big room) when left on his own (with other dog)

I dont have a sofa or telly so thats a coupld of things left to destroy 

I am away at most from 9 am to lunch time 2 days a week, rest of the week I am out for around 1-2 hours in the morning, I will have to think of what to do with the broadband cable 

On weekends when I may go to my parents its a big old farmhouse with 4 dogs so they arent going to notice one or two extra

[Ladygrey]

Thats also so cute how your dog arranges her toys by the fire

My carpets are a dark muddy brown colour and fortunatly not much shows up, my current dog will walk in the door, stand on the door matt and not move an inch until I have dried his feet, its great in the winter but when his feet are dry in the summer, I often will walk off and forget that he is waiting, I then have to go back and make a big show of pretending to dry his feet for him before he will walk off the matt!! 

[doganjo]

If you leave a pup that age for  4 hours you run the risk of a lot of damage. Use a cage.

[Ladygrey]

The puppy will only be left for that long from mid january so closer to 7 months of age,
this will be after he has lived with us for a while,
I was going to get a neighbor to look in on them at first on the day I am away for long but yes I do have a nice dog crate to use if puppy would be better off crated

[Old Shep]

ooo exciting time - new puppy!  Not had much to do with rough collies - the only one I know is extremely nervous.  What is the temperament like in this line?

[Mammyshaz]

An exciting weekend with lots of planning 
At 5 months they are still silly. Probably not mature until nearer 18 months. I'd expect mischief until then and the possibility of chewing things. The large canine teeth are still coming through at 6months and back teeth at 9ish months so lots of teething to come still.
Agree with Doganjo re cage. I shut my dogs in when they are alone until they are 18mth-2 years and more trustworthy.

[Ladygrey]

temperament in this line is very confident and very active, they are bred to be able to work even if they arent going to be used for working and they are chosen for a happy and forward going temperament

I know of a few rough collies and some are nervous, some are just reserved and some are bonkers!

My dog (shetland sheepdog) is reserved but nervous of men or people with hats on..

I never had to crate my current dog, and I suppose I feel bad about crating a puppy :s I have a few crates back home of various sizes so could use a big one if I had to

[happygolucky]

All our pups/dogs have magically improved and not chewed another thing when they reach 18mths...so a while to go!! I would recommend a cage if  you go out too!!! Put a special treat in the cage just for the pup and that way they know they get something nice in the cage!!