Getting Ready for your Springer puppy
- Lori Lynch
- May 18, 2023
- 4 min read
Getting ready for your puppy is so exciting but it can also feel overwhelming.
Below are some recommendations that you may find useful.
In no particular order, you need to think about how you contain your puppy, a safe place to sleep and rest, food and water, exercise and places to poop!
A safe place to sleep, eat, exercise and poop!
CONTAIN
Fenced yard or dog run
A fully fenced yard is ideal! Springers are so active and will benefit from lots of outdoor play and exploration. It’s nice to not always have to have them play unleashed.
Alternatively, if you have only a little space, you pay want to consider a dog run where your puppy can exercise, and poop and pee.
Dog pens
I can’t recommend these enough for when a puppy is small. Investing in a small dog pen or fencing system can make sure your puppy is happy while you do other things. As much as we’d like to be with them 24x 7, we need to shower. Having a small pen means your puppy can play in a contained safe environment (inside or outside) and you can feel comfortable that they won’t escape or get into anything unsafe. You can buy indoor pens or more sturdy outdoor pens. I have one like this that I use in the yard and in my garage/home.
Crate
You will need a 36 inch crate for your full grown English Springer Spaniel. They prefer to feel snug and safe. If you’ve never used a crate before, I can’t recommend it enough. They love it. Amazon has many to choose from. I bought one with a fabric cover to minimize stimulation from outside the crate which helps puppy sleep.
I got this nice crate cover but there are lots to choose from. Or just use a regular old blanket!
REST
Bed
For the crate, choose something flat and washable, preferably with a removable cover. Nothing to puffy or it won’t fit well. Dimensions should fit the crate (36 x 23 inches)
It’s nice to have another bed or blanket for your puppy in the main area of your home as well. Whatever you buy, make sure it’s washable!
FOOD AND WATER
Water bowl
At first they will need something a little smaller and shorter. I bought 2 medium sized stainless bowls from the pet shop.
Food bowl
Something small and not too deep at first. It needs to hold about 50 grams of food per meal until they are about 3 months old when they will move up to a medium sized bowl. I recommend basic stainless steel bowls like these.
EXERCISE
Leash
At first you may want to pick out a leash that is lightweight and comfortable for you to hold. From 8 weeks to about 3 or 4 months they will use that one and then you will likely want to findeed a bigger collar and leash. English Springer Spaniels usually fit medium sized things across the board.
Collar
Puppies will go home with a collar that fits and is adjustable and that will be fine for quite a while but they grow quickly! Take your puppy to the pet store to make sure the size is right. By the time they are 6 months they will wear a collar that is medium sized at 36-46cm (14-18 inches).
ID tags
Your puppy will come to you microchipped but I also recommend investing in ID tags in case they are ever lost. Your local municipality will require you to license your dog. You can just use those. Make sure you squeeze them onto the collar ring tightly. You can buy personalized tags that have your phone number. Some folks recommend not putting their name on the tag in case of dog theft. But I think that if someone is going to steal your pet, the name on the tag makes no difference.
No pull harness
I recommend PetSafe Easy Walk harnesses. Other harnesses only make it easier for the puppy to pull you along. This design is different. It gently pulls back on the top of the legs rather than the chest. Game changer!
Toys
For comfort and play. Every puppy is different but they all like to chew and chase and play. Provide a selection of ‘indestructible’ toys for them to play with.
Avoid fabric and plush toys,fabric tennis balls and regular grade plastics - they’ll destroy them!
Kong also make some strong toys
When they are older:
Treats
You will have to experiment with treats that your dog likes, especially if you are using treats for training. You want to find something irresistible for their reward.
I have found dehydrated beef lung/organs to be the best. I buy Beef Tendersticks from Costco but they are widely available.
And for chewing, try Yummies brand beef chew sticks (also Costco, I think Canadian Tire too).
Food
I will send you home with some of the food that your puppy has already been eating to help with the transition. You can keep feeding the same stuff or change food. Make sure to slowly transition them to any new diet as their tummies are so sensitive at this age.
I have been feeding Royal Canin Puppy Food for Medium dog breeds.
If you are undecided, I recommend talking to Paige at Woofys in Courtenay and she can help you select something suitable. The dog food bag will have advice right on the bag about how much to feed your puppy at different stages. I will let you know how often and how much food I have been feeding when you pick up your puppy too.
Warning: any change in diet will likely cause short term diarrhea and in some cases vomiting. Don’t be alarmed. Just introduce the food slowly by mixing with the food they are used to.
Other stuff
Poop bags and sometimes(depending on where you live, a poop bin - to get rid of waste.
Pee pads/accident pads - when they first come home they may not yet be potty trained and they won’t know where to go at their new home. Some disposable pee pads might be useful.
Blankets or covers for furniture - you may be like me and want your dog on your furniture, so invest in a few blankets or covers to protect your furniture from wet/muddy paws and fur. And if you are also like me, and decide to train your dog to stay off the furniture later because you got new sofas, then you’ DEFINITELY need blankets or covers to protect your furniture while you retrain them.
Contact us if you have any other questions.
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