Surprise Puppy!

[Rin]

Only not quite. Just... arrived.... way earlier than expected. He is a Feist and Chihuahua mix. He is only about 6 weeks (born on New years eve) and is a very plump but noisy boy. I've had him only two nights now and he slept through last night fine(but undoubtedly cried all night the first night). My question is mostly, is he too young to actually control his bowels and bladder enough to be potty trained? I tried looking this up but information is very conflicting here. One person says you can start as soon as 3 weeks - while they are still with siblings and parents while another says they can't control it at all until at least 8 weeks(which is when I was supposed to get him X3 oops).

Which is it?

I'm also not sure when to take him for his shots, I want to have him checked up as soon as possible but.. shots? More conflicting information there. When I look it up they say the chance of it "taking" this young are slim enough you want to repeat them about three times until a certain age just to be sure you're covered? He's not exposed to any dogs but Farrah and Farrah is completely up to date on everything, even heart worm. I know he'll need all these things eventually but wouldn't it be better to wait until he's at an age it has at least a 50% of doing anything? What are your thoughts on this? Please don't flame me. I intend to have them done at some point I just don't understand why I should spend so much extra and put him through the stress of added vet visits and shots THAT many times when the chance of it doing anything at this age is 20%?

Am I researching this right? What did YOU do with your puppy with regard to this?

EDIT: oh yes and I'll get a picture of him once he wakes up from his nap. XD

 

[Crazyland]

Yes, 6 weeks is to young to be taken, but that is over and done with.
Take him in now to start shots and deworming. Do not get the rabies at the same time as the other shots. It is safer this way.
Potty training can be started but won't be completed until an older age, being as he is a small dog I would say 5-6 months and maybe older. Big dogs tend to develop earlier and small dogs later.
But you can still begin with the basics now. Sit, stay and down.

As far as what I did, crate training for a year.

I wanted both my house and my dogs to not be demolished.

 

[RiverOtter]

He is old enough to begin to understand to not soil his nest, and old enough to begin to understand that you have a Really Big Nest that he is not to soil, but to small to have the physical control to hold it for any amount of time.

He is an infant. Just like a 2 year old can begin to understand to go on the potty, but doesn't always recognize the urge, feel it in time to get there, has the ability to hold it till he gets to the proper place, etc. He has to grow into the control. Time, patience and white vinegar for the misses.

Can't help you with the shots, I do all my own except for rabies, I just do a well puppy check around 10 weeks and the rabies then.

 

[thebritt]

I've always started potty training as soon as the pup comes to our house. You can count on a baby "going" every time it wakes up from a nap, immediately after eating, and every 2 hours in between until they develope the muscles to hold it in. The every 2 hour thing is a good reason to crate train - for when you can't be there every 2 hours. I always take the pup out at these times and give a command (whatever you decide, just be consistant, such as "Go potty"), then praise enthusiastically the SECOND the pup is done.
As for vaccines, keep the pup away from all public places until it's had the series of 3 pavo/distemper vaccines. May be best to wait til 8 weeks old, but you should call and ask the vet. It will get its 1st rabies vac at 4 mos, with a follow-up at 1 year, and then at 3 years and every 3 yrs thereafter.
Hope that's helpful...HAVE FUN!
Where's the picture?

 

[greyhorsewoman]

You can start housebreaking 'patterning' but they do not get complete bladder control till after 3 months. So, as mentioned before, they will go after napping, eating, and hard playing. Being ready to take them 'potty' regularly starts the patterning, but while praising for going where you want is great, you cannot punish for mistakes at this young age.

Was the mother up to date on her shots? Your puppy will retain a certain residue effect from her for a couple of weeks. He should get his first shots at about 8 weeks, then 12, then 16 to 20 weeks. Rabies at 3-6 months old, depending on vet recommendations. Worm check every visit (may be more important than the shots ... puppy are very prone to worm infestation and it can be deadly, especially in small breeds). Something warm and fuzzy may help him sleep better through the night at this young age.

Good luck with your new fellow.

 

[Rin]

Thank you all and I got some good ones I just kept having trouble with them, turned out the lock accidentally flipped down on the memory card.

Posing Pretty

He's not biting me, he's just sorta sucking on me if that makes sense?

He also still hasn't a name. By the way, he did most of his business outside today

Only one poo and pee inside. I'd say for a guy that small and young he did a very very good job so far.

Edit: Hang on XD trying to find a different host
BIG PICTURES by the way.

 

[Terri O]

Well with one THAT tiny there could hardly have been too much to clean up! Congrats on the new addition! Terri O

 

[Rin]

Quote:
Nope, not much to clean up at all and thankfully when it comes to #2 he gets a little gassy /just/ as he realizes he really needs to go so I can smell it before it actually happens but it gives me a split second window to scoop his precious rump up and put it outside. :B

 

[Crazyland]

Wow is he tiny!

This means he needs a BIG name!

Yes I am bad with that...

Titan
Hercules
Goliath
Evander
Argos
Napoleon

 

[Rin]

Quote:
Mmmm, I'm actually very fond of most of those names and also all are at least double-syllable. They say give dogs a double-syllable name as it's easier for them to learn it as being different from commands such as sit, down, wait, no, etc - He moved a lil in his sleep at Goliath but I'm not sure I quite like that one myself. I'm getting nothing out of the rest from him even though I'm very keen on Evander. I got him the day before Valentines day so have been stuck on names like Valentine all day - which is too much for me to say when I'm calling him. XD Evander though feels much easier to say on the fly but still I'm not sure I'm pronouncing that right. Great names though, keep um coming. He's definitely big for his size and feels to me like he was the top pup of his litter. Like, often tries his luck pinning Ferrah... who is like.. at least 5 times his size - much to her dismay. Poor girl keeps looking at me with a face like, "What the hell are you doing to me?"