Please help me decide about taking this puppy home....

My son's co-worker just got a 5 month old miniature Maltese puppy from her friend one week ago. Her landlord won't let her keep it and my son wants to bring it to me. I don't know why the friend gave it up.

It's not house trained at all and we know nothing about pets, let alone dogs. I've always said I would like to get a puppy some day, but this would be immediately. I've been on the internet for hours and have learned some things but not nearly enough.
You girls have always been generous with your advice and assistance. I thought I'd ask you a few questions before making a decision.

How does one even prepare for a small puppy in the house?

How do I decide if I want to paper train it or have it go outside? What's better for a tiny dog like this? I'm home during the day til 2 or 3 and then return after 9 in the evening.

What kind of crate or pen are small puppies kept in while the owner is out?

Would I need to find a vet immediately or is it enough to go to a good pet store and get their advice for food, care, etc.?

We are trying to get the breeder's name and hopefully some information, but is 5 months too old to train how we would want it? It bothers me that he hasn't been trained at all up til now. I have wood floors with good rugs in my house, not to mention white sofas and lots of wood tables.

Any suggestions would really be appreciated.
Thanks so much.

The puppy sounds adorable!!!
I couldn't resist my little guy, but I'll be honest, it's a TON of work in the beginning- he's a little dog too.
My vet said it takes small dogs around 6 months to housetrain. My dog is now 5 months, he's about 99% housetrained.

Sounds like you're gone for about 6 hours a day, that seems ok.

I keep my puppy in a smaller room with a baby gate on the doorway, this is his 'playroom'. I make sure there are no wires, etc... that he can get into & get hurt.

Get a Vet IMMEDIATELY & get the dog checked out- very inportant. He/She needs to be vaccinated & spayed/neutered (that's after 6 months).

I know you said you have nice floors, BUT there will be accidents! So be patient.

Really think about this. This pup will be with you for many years, it's a big responsibility, but he/she will bring you much joy!!!
Good Luck whatever you choose!

It is a big commitment having a puppy and training him. But to me in the end it is all worth it. The are loving and very loyal. My MIL has 2 and they ar awsome pets. They are paper trained, but it did take some time.

Congrats on whatever decision you make.

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Posted by jenny2penny
But you have to be there to catch them in the act and teach them.

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This is the part that scares me, we will ge gone during those house in the day. And what if he doesn't sleep at night? Do they cry? I pretty much decided I want it. I am approaching an empty nest in Nov. and after raising 4 children, it's a lonely prospect for me. My husband says I can do as I wish.

Thanks for your responses. I think I'm going to visit a good pet store and start with a book or two, some toys and a crate or something to keep him safe in.

I'd still appreciate further advice from anyone.
Thanks.

I have a Maltese. She was actually a stray and we decided to keep her and it was the best decision we ever made. She is great and was easy to train. We are gone all day long and we generally don't leave her in a crate. She usually doesn't have accidents but if she does then the next day we keep her in the mud room with her crate. I used to feel really bad about leaving her all day but Maltese dogs sleep alot! My SIL has two and she said they sleep all day!

EDT: Also feed them one a day and during a time when you will be home to take her for a walk. They are so small that they only eat about a cup of food and my dog usually poops right away. This helps alot with controling accidents.

I just got a puppy a few months ago- a chihuahua- my baby is now 6 months... my comments are below.

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Posted by LImom

My son's co-worker just got a 5 month old miniature Maltese puppy from her friend one week ago. Her landlord won't let her keep it and my son wants to bring it to me. I don't know why the friend gave it up.

It's not house trained at all and we know nothing about pets, let alone dogs. I've always said I would like to get a puppy some day, but this would be immediately. I've been on the internet for hours and have learned some things but not nearly enough.
You girls have always been generous with your advice and assistance. I thought I'd ask you a few questions before making a decision.

How does one even prepare for a small puppy in the house?

If you decide to take the puppy you need to make an area for it just like you would a baby. Items you need would be a small crate (i use a cat carrier) and an X Pen. Food (wet & dry- I prefer Wellness Brand) Vitamins (Pet Tab), Teething toys (at 5 months- s/he probably hasn't lost the milk (baby) teeth yet), brush, leash & harness (mini Maltese can't walk from a collar- you'll need a harness so you don't break its neck).

How do I decide if I want to paper train it or have it go outside? What's better for a tiny dog like this? I'm home during the day til 2 or 3 and then return after 9 in the evening.

My dog is both paper & outdoor trained. Because I take my dog to work, it just isn't realistic for me to walk her 4 or 5 times a day.. so he goes on the paper (as does her office mate, Max the Yorkie). Small dogs don't make much of a mess- so I personally don't mind it- and in the winter, your dog would probably be too small to walk in snow/sleet/rain- she/he'd freeze! Check out [email protected] for very inexpensive pads $30.00 for 100

What kind of crate or pen are small puppies kept in while the owner is out?

I am now able to trust my baby to be home alone- but in the beginning I put mine in a cat carrier- you could also get an X Pen. the X Pen is good if you have a large house- that way you can confine her to an area and you don't have to follow her throughout the house non stop.

Would I need to find a vet immediately or is it enough to go to a good pet store and get their advice for food, care, etc.?

I would take her to the vet and make sure you get ALL of the Vet information to make sure the baby is up to date on its shots.

We are trying to get the breeder's name and hopefully some information, but is 5 months too old to train how we would want it? It bothers me that he hasn't been trained at all up til now. I have wood floors with good rugs in my house, not to mention white sofas and lots of wood tables.

5 months is certainly NOT too old to train... dogs are pretty smart- with a lot of attention your dog should be potty trained rather quickly. But it is a LOT of work to socialize and train yoru dog- so be prepared.

Any suggestions would really be appreciated.
Thanks so much.

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Posted by LImom

How does one even prepare for a small puppy in the house?

How do I decide if I want to paper train it or have it go outside? What's better for a tiny dog like this? I'm home during the day til 2 or 3 and then return after 9 in the evening.

What kind of crate or pen are small puppies kept in while the owner is out?

Would I need to find a vet immediately or is it enough to go to a good pet store and get their advice for food, care, etc.?

We are trying to get the breeder's name and hopefully some information, but is 5 months too old to train how we would want it? It bothers me that he hasn't been trained at all up til now. I have wood floors with good rugs in my house, not to mention white sofas and lots of wood tables.

Any suggestions would really be appreciated.
Thanks so much.

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Prepare by removing any small or breakable items from harm's way (just like babyproofing a house). I would definately consider removing the rugs from any are that he will be, or get a 'tension gate' to restrict him from going into those areas of the house.....I think I git my tension gates at babies r us...

If the dog does have an accident, there is a really good product called Nature's Miracle...it removes the dtain & the scent, so that the dog does not return to that spot to 'spray'. You can find that in any pet store & even some grocery stores.

You should paper train it & then eventually move the paper toward the door that you will use to walk him/her and then eventually put the paper outside....the dog will scratch t the door to get to the paper & then will let you know whn it's time to 'go'.

Make sure that the crate has smaller spaces between that bars, just like a baby's crib. You can also line the cratre with the paper (or wewe pads)

All training is about repetition, so it is a bit of a lablour of love at first. I got my mother a small dog for her 50th b-day & he was already 7 1/2 months old...we had him house broken & 'bark' trained within 2 weeks.

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Posted by LImom

This is the part that scares me, we will ge gone during those house in the day. And what if he doesn't sleep at night? Do they cry? I pretty much decided I want it. I am approaching an empty nest in Nov. and after raising 4 children, it's a lonely prospect for me. My husband says I can do as I wish.

Thanks for your responses. I think I'm going to visit a good pet store and start with a book or two, some toys and a crate or something to keep him safe in.

I'd still appreciate further advice from anyone.
Thanks.

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he may stay awake at night in the beginning, but it is usually because the surroundings are unfamiliar. They may also cry, but when you trian them with positive reinforcement, they usually break those habits very quickly. Also it is also helpful later on down the road to have the dog fixed at 7 months.... this helps with their behaviour.


Here is a link from 'Animal Planet's' Breed all about it... it is a pretty compehensive blurb... I hope it helps....


Maltese Dog Info