Meet Tucker and Melissa!

hello everyone! my names melissa and i just got my 3 month old puppy Tucker a week ago. I love him so much!!! i bought him at a kennel which i was a little nervous about doing because ive heard rumors, but i fell inlove with him and i couldnt not buy him! He seems to be doing great, but i have a question and im hoping someone can help me. The kennel that i bought him from told me he has to stay in his crate/playpen area for another month or more. They said that a puppy this age only needs food warmth and sleep. They said to not pick him up , and to not take him outside. However everyone ive talked to has had there puppies out as young as 4-8 weeks, he has all his shots and he never wants to stay in his crate and i feel terrible leaving him in there. Im thinking about ignoring what this lady told me but i dont want to hurt Tucker in anyway. any advice please!! Thank you!

In my non-professional opinion, I could not live without picking up my new puppy! Spencer has slept with me since the first night I brought him home (10 weeks) as has Izzy (12 weeks). I took them everywhere with me and immediately started potty training as soon as I got them (i.e. taking them outside).

I was careful about letting them around where other dogs have "been". But there is no way I could have left them crated all the time. The only time they were crated was when I was at work and not there to babysit them. That also helped with potty training.

In the end, you have to do what you think will be best for you and your little one, but by no means will you hurt him to pick him up and socialize him. Otherwise, how is he going to bond with you?

Welcome to the board and your puppy is a doll! :flwr:

Are you kidding?! :yikes No way could I have kept my hands off of mine for a month!! I was careful about where we went in public and kept him off public grounds. He needs food, warmth and sleep, yes, but he also needs to bond with you. Play with that precious little thing!

Thank you!

thats exactly what I thought, ive been picking him up of course cause i wouldnt be able to leave him in there all the time i was just nervous about taking him outside but i deffiantly think it will be okay thanks so much!!

The kennel that i bought him from told me he has to stay in his crate/playpen area for another month or more. They said that a puppy this age only needs food warmth and sleep. They said to not pick him up , and to not take him outside.

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Good god...that person is a COMPLETE IDIOT and shouldn't be allowed to breed or raise dogs. If you do what they suggest you'll end up with an unsocialized ill-behaved dog that has no idea how to act or how to please you. Puppies need tons of socialization and should be introduced to lots of people and should get lots of cuddle and play time every day!

The simplest thing to do is to read through posts on this forum, ask lots of questions like you're doing right now AND go get a couple books on raising a puppy.

Pups need structure and should be kept in an x-pen or a confined area like a kitchen when you can't pay 100% attention to them but otherwise they need as much playing and loving and gentle training as you can give them. They're very smart and very loving and sooooo much fun.

Best of luck to you and and we all look forward to hearing more about your little furbaby and as usual, WE WANT LOTS OF PICTURES!!!

-Monica & Chester

Hello and icon_welcome Mellissa and baby Tucker

Have you taken him to the vet to be checked over in case there might be a reason why those VERY STUPID PEOPLE told yoo to isolate this poor little chap???

Give him a big :hug: from me and once again, Welcome, you are amongst a great bunch of people -I love them !!!

:flwr: :flwr:

Melissa,

Sorry if I was a bit harsh, but those people are absolute idiots. Tucker is a SOCIAL, sweet, responsive, impressionable, loving little creature, NOT a house plant. I can not imagine why in the world that kennel would give you such horrible advice.

Anyway...you're in the absolute right place for advice and information about Cavaliers and raising them and I hope you stick around for a long time and enjoy our company here on the forum! Some of us are a bit emotional and a little kooky, but we are ALL Cavalier lovers and only want what's best for the best dogs in the world.

Play with your puppy Melissa.

And Welcome to the board!! icon_welcome

And I'd echo what Claire said - if you haven't already, I'd take the puppy to the vet for a check up just to make sure he's okay and nothing is wrong with him. You probably did that already, but it's a good idea to get a check up whenever you get a new pet, but I would think even more so given the advice they gave you on not taking him out or playing with him.

Your vet will also almost certainly tell you it is important to the puppies social development for you to spend time playing with him. He should also start meeting other puppies if he's fully vaccinated. 3 months is a critical time in his development. I remember reading some really good threads on here related to puppy development and socialization. you might want to search for those to get more info as well.

hi

icon_welcome tucker is beautiful ,give him lots of cuddles hes lovely

Welcome Melissa and little Tucker. Yes, the lady was right, they do need warmth, food and sleep but she left out one other and most important requirement LOVE!!! It is a known fact that cavaliers especially, like babies, can suffer from failure to thrive if they are not given love and contact. Your vet will probably also suggest that you attend puppy preschool with Tucker. This helps them to become less nervous around other dogs and people and helps to begin basic obedience. So pick up your little man, give him lots of cuddles (and one from me too ) and enjoy him.
Julie and the girls

Hi Mellisa and Tucker. My little guy is Tucker too, he's a 16 month old, black and tan that is the love of my life. I hope your Tucker brings you as much joy as my Tucker has me. (Great name by the way

Sorry to beat a dying & soon-to-bed dead horse, but :yikes

said to not pick him up , and to not take him outside

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I could not disagree with that statement more....play with your baby-that's what he's there for! Cuddle him, love him...take him outside.

Hi Melissa and welcome, like Claire I would suggest get a vet check and give lots of hugs and cuddles.

Here's one from me :hug:

Cuddle him, cuddle him, cuddle him, play with him, introduce him gently and safely to the world - people, children, ducks, grass, fields...make sure these are always a good experience for him, as far as possible!...also gradually get him used to traffic, lorries, buses passing as he walks on the pavement or you carry him.

Get him used to the vaccum cleaner, the washing maching, visitors to your house. I used to carry my 8 week old pups around while I vaccumed, just for a couple of minutes at first, singing daft songs to them to reassure them, and they got used to the noise within days. We carried them to the local pond, and to near the local school, and little trips in the car etc. Pups need to learn about the world while they are still young then they will not get nervous about things. Just do it in small gentle doses as it is all a lot to take in.

And in between your pup will sleep loads - "growing time". But they really need to socialise early on so they will grow to be confident dogs.

Well done for questioning the advice you were given. Your gut feelings were right. Don't be afraid to cuddle and love that little puppy. A baby needs love. xxxx to the little sweetheart.

I can only echo all of the above advice please pick him and, cuddle him, play games and love him. He will be missing out on so many important early experiences if you wait.

Tucker looks like such a cheeky little chap already how could anyone not give him a cuddle :yikes

I have only just seen this - and as per everyone else, get him to the vets to be checked that he has been wormed, had injections or due injections - and pick him up and cuddle him - let him investigate you and your home (make it puppy proof).

Did she give you any information or paperwork?

I just hope the person that sold him to you doesn't keep their kids this way.....