Is it Thursday yet?!

[powergc]

Well, it is an exciting week for me... my Cane Corso puppy will be arriving this Thursday! I am beyond excited to meet the little guy and watch him grow and learn!

So far, I have:

• Taken Friday off, so we can have an extra day to get to know each other.
• Set up his crate in my bedroom.
• Bought him a few toys & treats.
• Bought him a new collar and leash.
• Bought some of the food that the breeder is currently feeding him & a container to store it in.
• Picked up all cords, etc from the floor.
• Asked the breeder to bring a blanket/toy with his mom & littermates scent on it.
• Made him a vet appointment for the Saturday after he arrives.
• Warned the family to start putting their shoes in the closet.

I've never had a puppy before, all of my dogs have been adopted as adults, so if there is anything that I am doing wrong, please feel free to mention, as I am always open to constructive criticism!!

Is there anything else that I haven't listed, that I should do in preparation for his arrival? I will be enrolling him in puppy classes, but want to wait until he has all of his needles.

Thanks!!

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Sounds like you have got everything pretty much covered. A ticking clock and hot water bottle may go on your future shopping list if the little wont settle after a couple of nights, but dont rush to get one now. Remember the pup wont sleep for the first few nights, just keep at it, taking him out every couple of hours for potty breaks and putting him back to bed quietly. It will help if he can see you from his crate as well so he knows his new family are there keeping him safe.

 

[Smokeycat]

I used a large toy in the crate so that they had something to cuddle with.

 

[Skiner]

Sounds Like you and your new adition are going to be great togeather! Only thing i would add is Patience! Having a puppy will test yours sometimes...But it will be well worth it! Congrates to you. (And let's see some pics when he gets home..)

 

[DennasMom]

Looks like a great list!
And, yep, be ready for sleeping in 2-hour blocks for a week or two. It could be less, but if you're ready for it to be longer, you won't be disappointed!

Denna loved sleeping in her crate (with her sibling blanket, one of our bed pillows and a plush toy), and anytime she whined it was to go out and potty. We carried her out, let her do her thing, praised her for a "good potty" then carried her right back to the crate, where she was calmly put back to bed... and we all went back to sleep for another 2 hours.

In addition to patience, try to stay calm. If you get excited, puppy will get excited (you probably saw this at work with your adult dogs, too). If you calm down, puppy will (eventually) also calm down. We used the Monks of New Skete method to help the calming process... you have the puppy sit, then give them a hug from behind and rub their chest. It's a confining stance (which may take a little while for your puppy to relax into), but for us it was very effective - even getting her to calm down in puppy classes when we were listening to the instructor and all the puppies just wanted to play.

Thursday will be here soon!! Please come back with some pictures!!

 

[CeeCee]

I've never had a puppy, puppy, but it sounds like you are on your game! Congrats! Remember to share pictures.

 

[coreyc]

Sounds like your off to a good start cant wait to see him take lots of pic's for us

 

[powergc]

Thanks for all of the tips, everyone! It is always good to hear that I'm on the right track!

I just wish it was already Thursday so he would be here already!! I can't wait!!

Oh, don't worry... there will be pictures! I am sure I will want to show him off!

 

[coreyc]

I bet you will not be getting much sleep Wednesday night waiting for the day to come seems to take for ever I'm in the same boat I have to wait 12 more days to see my Judah again but the wait is all most over

 

[powergc]

I hope these pictures work!! The breeder sent them to me last night. She said the brindle is hard to make out in the pictures on grey puppies so it might not be apparent in the pictures, but he is definitely starting to brindle.

I cannot wait to meet him tonight!!!

Eeeek!

I just wanted to show him off

 

[NeSaxena]

Oh wow! Take a lot of pics while he's like this, those blue eyes won't last too long...

 

[Rugers-Kris]

Sounds like you have covered all of your bases to me. The wait is the hardest part! Congrats on your new addition and I look forward to lots of puppy pictures.

 

[Cody]

Congrats on your baby. Is he from Black Shadow Cane Corso?

 

[powergc]

Thanks everyone! I am sooo excited to meet him, I can barely think straight. I'm sure everyone in my life wants me to shut up, but I just can't help talking about him!

Yes, Cody... he is from Black Shadow Cane Corso! He is from their Danae/Dorian litter!!

 

[Iymala]

Congrats! My puppy comes home next Weds and I am beside myself with anticipation.

 

[powergc]

I picked up my boy at 5 am this morning! He had a pee, explored the house a little, met the part of the family that is awake, and is now having a little power nap!

He is such a little sweetie! He hasn't made a peep since we picked him up, just laid his head on my hand and licked it & then slept in the car. Peed in the yard when we got home. Whenever I sit on the floor, he curls up on my lap. I just loveee him so much already. He loves to cuddle!

I can't believe how tiny he is!

Iymala, the wait is the hardest part! But totally worth it!

 

[Rugers-Kris]

Aw, absolutely adorable!!!

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

awwww!!! he is gorgeous!

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Looks like a great list!
And, yep, be ready for sleeping in 2-hour blocks for a week or two. It could be less, but if you're ready for it to be longer, you won't be disappointed!

Denna loved sleeping in her crate (with her sibling blanket, one of our bed pillows and a plush toy), and anytime she whined it was to go out and potty. We carried her out, let her do her thing, praised her for a "good potty" then carried her right back to the crate, where she was calmly put back to bed... and we all went back to sleep for another 2 hours.

In addition to patience, try to stay calm. If you get excited, puppy will get excited (you probably saw this at work with your adult dogs, too). If you calm down, puppy will (eventually) also calm down. We used the Monks of New Skete method to help the calming process... you have the puppy sit, then give them a hug from behind and rub their chest. It's a confining stance (which may take a little while for your puppy to relax into), but for us it was very effective - even getting her to calm down in puppy classes when we were listening to the instructor and all the puppies just wanted to play.

Denna - i didnt know there was a name for the chest rub thing...i do this with Bear all the time and he LOVES IT. Every day, morning and night, he will come and sit in front of me with his back to me so i can rub his chest and kiss the top of his head. From day one I have always given my two a chest massage 'just because'...and now I know why they love it so much.

 

[jersey girl]

You might be doing this already, but don't let him have full access to the whole crate. Section it off, he only needs enough room to sleep at first. If he has access to the whole crate he can pee and poop on one side of the crate and sleep on the other, and you don't want that. He is a cutie for sure...best of luck