[LovelyLorraine]

Hey this is my first post, and looking for any help out there, even if it may seem silly, I'm a first time dog owner!

After 16yrs of trying i have finally convinced my mom to let me have a dog! Of course I'm thrilled and i've had my little boy picked out for a few weeks now, and was delighted when i rang up the lady who owned the litter and he was still there! We are going to look at him and his parents before the final decision is made on him.

I am a little concerned however that he has only been wormed and flead and no puppy vacinations have been given yet. Is it still ok to give a puppy there shorts at 9/10 weeks? It wont have a terrible nock on affect later on in the pups life because the breeder has left it so long to administer?

He is a minature jack rustle smooth coat with short legs, any help on the matter would be brilliant! As well as potty training too! I'm blonde so break it down real simply lol.

Thanks!
Lo
xoxo

[Yogi]

In the states my pups get their first of 3 a week after they discontinue nursing then every 2 weeks after until all three are given. Rabies are given at 16 weeks. De-worming should be done at 2,4,6,8 and 10 weeks at the same time the dam should be de-wormed when the pups are. The breeder should have taken care of at least the first 2 shots and not let the pups even go until de-worming has been completed.

[cigwyllt]

Hi Lorraine, I'm from the UK too and the vaccination schedule is a little different here. It does vary from vet to vet depending on the brand of vaccine used but it is unusual for a pup to have injections before 8 weeks - 9 or 10 weeks for the first jab is common, then another fortnight for the second and a fortnight after that you can start to take the pup out walking.

Worming should be done by the breeder and you should make a note of the brand used. Usually it will be a wormer prescribed by the vet so you will be able to carry on with the same thing when you take your pup to the vet for his injections and first check up.

There are lots of ways to toilet train a pup but I'll tell you how I got on with mine - also a Jack Russell.

Manny was 8 weeks old when I brought him home (you shouldn't think of having a puppy younger than 8 weeks - 10 weeks is better but most UK breeders will plan to let the pups goo at 8 weeks) Remember that a puppy does not have the control or the mental capability to be toilet trained before 12 weeks - any success before then is entirely down to you because you have read your dog's body language correctly. Remember though that dogs are all individuals and some dogs may take a few weeks longer than others to grasp the whole concept.

Starting the moment you bring your pup home, take him to the spot in the garden that you wish him to use as a toilet. Try and restrict him to a small area in the garden if you can rather than letting him run and play all over. Watch him closely and when he goes to the toilet give it a name "busy" "quick" "pee" or whatever you want to say. When he has finished act like he has done the most amazing thing ever and maybe give him a tiny treat.

Back indoors there is simply no substitute for keeping a very close eye on him. Supervision is the key. It will help him bond to you and help you to read his body language. Anytime you see him start to circle around, sniffing the floor, looking distracted, take him outside to the toilet. You should take him out every time he wakes up from a nap, every time he finishes a meal and every time he stops playing with something. In between make sure you don't leave it more than an hour in between toilet breaks.

Be prepared for accidents - you won't get it right all the time and neither will he but please don't think about telling him off when these happen - that will only teach him that you get cross when he goes to the toilet, not that he shouldn't go in that particular room.

The most important thing, as with any dog training, is patience, patience, patience!