We got a new puppy!!!

[MELISAZACK]

I finally gave in to the pressure just call me weak - I let my DH and DS8
get a puppy for his bday - which was 7/9....
we got a Lhasa-poo...9 wk old female - her name is ZOE!
years ago we had 2 larger dogs both huskie mixes so this new tiny lap dog thing is going to be a new adventure...
any advise or anyone have one of these dogs....How big do they tend to get and what are they truely like???? we did get her at a pet shop and not a breeder so I don't know anything about the parents.
We are currently trying to house break her and she does good at night in her crate she lets us know when she has to go - but during the day is another challenge - take it she hasn't learned her name yet either which doesn't help matters...long process I know - but any info on the breed would be helpful!

thanks!

 

[hiwaygal]

Not to be rude...but you didn't buy a breed, you bought a "designer dog" aka a mutt. Not that there is anything wrong with "mutts" (I have one myself ) but it is really not going to be easy to tell you specifics about this dog.

She is a mix of a Lhasa-Apso and a Poodle, so any combination of these two breeds is possible.

Knowing the parents will help you determine some qualities, especially temperament. In this case, you most likely bought a puppymill puppy and there is no way to tell if this dog will be sweet and loving or a terror with serious behavior issues.

I am sorry to be so blunt...and I really am not trying to be mean. Puppies are adorable, and saying no to them is nearly impossible.

How your puppy "turns out" will depend a great deal on you and your family. On your ability to provide consistent training and lots of love and guidance. But this is true of ANY breed!

You might want to see if there are any puppy training classes at your local Petsmart! Those are always a great way to start off on the right foot.

One of the best training methods is the "nothing in life is free" method. Here's some more information on that: http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/nilif.pdf

You might also want to "google" housebreaking and you will find lots of good tips for making this process easier.

Good luck with your new "family member"! I'm sure she is beautiful and will give you a lifetime of happiness, companionship, and love!

 

[Aimeedyan]

She's a mutt, so there is no way to say what size she'll be, what traits she'll have, what her temperment will be, her health risks, etc. What kind of testing was done on her parents before they were bred? What kind of certifications do they have? That will give you some peace that she is likely to be healthier.

Pick up some puppy training books, training treats, and google puppy potty training. It's a long hard road but worth it for those sweet little puppies =)

 

[MELISAZACK]

thanks for some of the information - the definition i found on "mutt" says 3 or more breeds combined- Crossbred - 2 or more breeds -- so I am going to say she is not a MUTT but a CROSS BREED...
but I do get what both of you are saying.....and yes I know she is not a pure breed but a "desinger dog" I had a pure breed chow growing up and didn't want another pure- it seems the mutts turn out to be nicer dogs some of the time --not as pissy or tempermental...or at least that has been my experience...
I realize it will be a long road ahead on the training....but we will get there we have in the past....she is just so tiny compared to my other dogs...so it is a little harder...
been to the vet she is good except for a umiblibal hernia which is very small and vet says it should fix itslef. we don't plan to breed her so no issues there.

if anyone else out there owns a desinger dog same breed let me know your thoughs and ideas.... thanks again everyone....

 

[Muziqal]

who the heck cares if she's a mutt, a cross-breed or a designer dog. A dog is a dog is a dog and should be loved and cared for the same no matter what they look like. They're not status symbols like cars...

 

[ohiominnie]

Housebreaking could be more difficult because she's from a pet shop. Those pups tend to just go where they feel like it. There hasn't been anyone there to take them outside or encourage them to go in a more appropriate place. So they tend to just stop and go. Lots of encouragement to go outside and treats when she does go outside. Since it's summer, try to spend a lot of time outside anyway, that way when she does go you're in an appropriate spot. Make sure you have treats ON YOU so as soon as she's done going you can praise and treat.

Do not make a big deal about accidents in the house. Just quietly clean them up without fanfare and NEVER scold the pup for going inside. If you catch her in the act, make a loud noise and they usually stop. Then immediately take her out and hopefully she'll continue there and you can praise and treat. ESPECIALLY don't scold if you don't see in her do it. After they've gone and have walked away, they really have no memory of doing it. So taking a dog and "rubbing their nose in it" really has NO meaning to them. My parents had a shelter dog who must have had owners who scolded a LOT during housebreaking b/c that dog would find the most remote places to do it's business in the house (closets, cubby holes, behind furniture, etc)

Also, because pet shop puppies are usually puppy mill puppies, the pup probably did not have a good example in the mom for going out and pottying outside. They are usually trapped in very small cages and just go there. Cages are usually stacked one on top of the other, so puppies on the bottom get, literally, dumped on from the puppies at the top. They really do not have a good example from the get go about keeping their area clean.

Good luck.

 

[hiwaygal]

umbilical hernias don't always close themselves, these articles have some tips on things to watch for in case your pups doesn't close:

http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/umbilical.html

http://www.thepetprofessor.com/articles/article.aspx?id=201

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/umbilical-hernia-in-dogs/page1.aspx#

 

[ohiominnie]

thanks for some of the information - the definition i found on "mutt" says 3 or more breeds combined- Crossbred - 2 or more breeds -- so I am going to say she is not a MUTT but a CROSS BREED...
(snip)
it seems the mutts turn out to be nicer dogs some of the time

Ok, I REALLY am not trying to be too sarcastic, but I just chuckled when I read this post again....

You aren't willing to call your dog a MUTT b/c it's a CROSSBREED, but then tell us that "mutts turn out to be nicer dogs some of the time"

Then maybe you shouldn't have gotten a CROSSBREED, but should have looked for a genuine MUTT (woulda been a lot cheaper anyway!)

 

[Jockaroo]

Congratulations on your new family member. It may be difficult to determine the size this dog will be due to the variety of sizes for poodles--standard, miniature and toy. The Lhasa part you can pin down easier. Since you have no way of knowing which size poodle is the parent, be prepared for anything size-wise.

Go to PetSmart or PetCo and get the "Simple Solution" in the gallon size. This will help with accident cleanups and keep your home smelling fresh. Trust me, you will be needing this. Also, if the dog is returning to the same spot to urinate, you can get waterproof baby crib pads or changing pads to put down in the favorite spots. It is easier to throw these in the wash with a little bleach, than to constantly clean carpet.

Do frequent walks. Walk after eating, play, or naps. Make a BIG deal of her going in the yard where you want her to. Give her a special treat reserved for "potty time." We used Snausages for Mac and were very successful, but he was 15 weeks old when we got him. My female is a rescue and had lost her house training, so we did the treat method with her as well. She will actually urinate on command. You can train your dog for this. When you take her out, and see that she is about to go, say, "Zoe--pee-pee," or "Zoe--potty." Then, when she does, praise her and give the treat. Once she gets the hang of it, cut back on treats but still give praise. She is a young dog and it will take several weeks (or months) for her to gain full control of her bladder.

You might want to think about grooming as well. It sounds like your dog may have hair issues. She may be curly and bushy, or soft and silky. She sounds like a dog that will need regular brushings and trims.

I hope your family has a long, happy life with Zoe and that you avoid the health and behavior issues that may be present with some pets purchased at a pet store. I don't want to give you grief over where you got your dog--what is done, is done. Just love her and give her a wonderful life.

 

[Markiesgirl]

Congrats on your new puppy! I have a Lhasa-poo named Darby who is just shy of 2yrs old. She's been the perfect family dog for us and we all love her to pieces. She is 11lbs and we know that dad was a 9lb mini poodle and mom was a 15lb Lhasa.
Darby is very smart and was easy to teach commands. Housebreaking was about 6months before I felt like I could trust her completely. She is very much MY dog and follows me if I leave the room. She is great with our kids (10, 8 and 5) but is freaked out by crying babies. She is a chewer and my boys have quite a few action figures with missing limbs. She's doing better with that since she's growing out of the puppy stage and we have stocked up on dog toys she is allowed to chew. She can shred tissue/toilet paper like I've never seen! LOL

She thinks she is a watch dog and barks when the door bell rings or the mailman/school bus/trash man stops in front of the house.

She does require grooming every 6-8 weeks. I spend $44 each time. Ouch! It is really worth it for all they do. Her coat is not curly at all but she does have a slight wave. We keep her ears and tail longer and a shorter cut on the body. She can mat very easy so a good brushing is a must every couple days.

I don't know if that helps at all. Enjoy your new baby, we think our little "mutt" is the greatest!

 

[LK03]

I have a lhasa so I will try to give some insight from my perspective. It took him about a week to quit pooping in the house. It took a little longer with peeing. We used Nature's Miracle and by god does it work. If he ever pees in the house it's never the same spot. It's taken him about 7 months to finally "get it," and he will now wait for us to go outside and can hold his bladder all day while at work. He needs to be brushed every few days and groomed about every 2 months. He can get matts like no other and get those stickers in his little paw pads so that you can't even see them. I learned from a friend to start brushing early and to help calm them down, let them smell the brush and then hold a treat in your hand so they have to nibble at it while you brush, keeping them distracted. The breeder I got him from said he'll be about 20 lbs full grown, because she fed her female a vitamin while she was pregnant and that tended to make the pups a little bigger. I'd highly suggest a puppy class at Petsmart. We finished our pup's class over a month ago and he learned so much. He can do all sorts of tricks as well as basic commands.

 

[Disney-Kim]

We have a Malti-poo and he was 4 lbs when he was a puppy. He is now full grown at 12 lbs.
the main advice I would give you (our breeder gave us) is to make sure their bloodsugar doesn't drop. We gave our baby this vitamin stuff in a tube about 3 times a day. We squeezed some in his mouth and held it shut..he would swallow it. and...another breeder tip...we fed him Gerbers baby food, turkey I believe, for the first couple of months.
This all helped to keep him healthy and keep his bloodsugar from dropping and causing seizures.
potty training went pretty well for #2 but it took a while for him to be able to hold it longer for #1. we used puppy pads but he ate more of them than he pee'd on.
Good luck !!

 

[RNMOM]

Congratulations on your furry little bundle of joy. She is special to you and your family no matter who/what her parentage. Believe me, purebred dogs aren't any better than the next one.

Housebreaking was our only issue with our Irish Setter pup (see below). He is a great dog and very cooperative/obedient. It wasn't until I got to chasing him around the dining room table screaming like a maniac then put him in the garage that he quit. Just up and quit. I had just let him in and he squated behind me and peed. Man. It wasn't until I had a melt down that he figured it out. Now this dog is mamma's boy through and through. He is always at my feet and I have to put his food dish beside me to get him to eat sometimes. The vet said setters often are indifferent about food. True but watch out if you have popcorn! Anyway. One of the first things is learning she is not the alpha in the house. Your son and any other children in the home should also do the exercises to teach the dog to obey them. That is something puppy classes can help with. Good luck and give you new baby a hug for me.

 

[PixieDust32]

OMG! We do too. A pomarian (sp?) he's 5 weeks old.

 

[justmestace]

We inherited our daughter's Lhasa-poo. He weighs, at the most, 12 pounds. When we got him, he was almost 2 yrs old and had never been housebroken. It took me about two months, and I finally got smart and installed a doggy door. Since the 2nd day it was installed, he's never had another accident in the house.
We'd always had big dogs, so yes, having a little guy is totally different. He does have to be brushed and trimmed, and his tummy is more sensitive than a big dog...but he's really smart.
He hears me get his bedtime treat, and heads straight for his bed.
After we lost our last big dog, I didn't want another...but this little guy has really wiggled his way into my heart.

And he matches my floor tile!!!

 

[MELISAZACK]

WOW! Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! I am seeing some similarity with things- my zoe is doing what a lot of others are experiencing....like chewing the wee wee pads instead of going on them...or attacking paper or tissues...she to has a wavy coat instead of a curly one. and after 10 wks is still under 4 lbs so I am hoping that is a good sign she will stay small...
she loves to play and chew on hands and her toys along with fringe on a rug which we ar working on stoping... We have complete 1 wk with her living with us and she sort of gets the potty thing - we are still having accidents though and I am taking the approach of not saying anything to her if it happens in the house and just put her outside....I did however give her some praise when she did go on the pad....(which is what they are for). i will be happy when she if finaly getting the idea and going outside all the time.
Right now over the weekend she developed a cough so I think I will have to call the vet today to see about getting her back in there...it is weird though cause we thought kennel cough but she doesn't do it all day but around 8 pm it starts and goes all night- we may here 1 or 2 cougs during the day and that is max...so off to the vet we go unless she will just let me pkup the meds since she was just there mid week...wish me luck.