Lots of toys, old shoes/slippers/cardboard boxes/plastic bottles (tops removed) - no need to buy anything - they will soon shred everything you give them. Later - they will have one or 2 treasured items but not at this age. Not wise to leave them unsupervised - they can swallow something - remove buttons, studs, anything metal or hard, eyes in old teddies need watching, plastics after a bit of play - edges can cut delicate puppy mouths. Don't leave them with chews (preferably never give them any) - big hard marrowbones are great but never leave them alone with them. Socks can be dangerous - wet socks get stuck in little throats. Puppies need watching!

So you are getting ready for a new puppy to come into the home. Unlike the woman in my last post you know that it will take some time to TRAIN the puppy. If you just let it run all over the house, do not take the time to put it out and encourage it to do the right thing, then get ready for all that woman's complaints now and don't lose your cool because you weren't prepared.  The best possible advice is to get or make an indoor kennel. Look for ads for second-hand ones - they will be quite adequate for a short time or an old flight kennel cleaned out and padded up is ideal as it will have a lockable door and proper ventilation as well as a secure place to fix water bowls. Be careful to use breathable bedding materials but not chewable and swallowable stuff.  Large inco. pads are useful if you can get them but be prepared for them to be shredded so put under a warm washable topping. Old towels from charity shops or markets can do the same job if you have an hygienic way of washing them frequently. If you have other dogs or pets in the house put the cage near so they have the company but will not be able to bother them. If the puppy is very young introduce slowly to the older ones, Use leads/leashes to control older ones at early meet-ups and NEVER leave a young puppy unsupervised with older pets in the early days/weeks. Let the puppy out to play and they will do what they need to do outside and will get sleepy naturally, Time for one of the meals? - then a sleep in the cage. No need for a puppy to run all over the house - use or improvise a child gate to stop it running up and down the stairs . Slowly, slowly, lot of vigilance and patience and you should be able to just enjoy your new bundle of fun. Food and other tips next time. If you know all this and have something to add that's useful - please do post, especially if you have a sighthound - but all dog lovers are very welcome......

A woman posted on Facebook complaining about her puppy peeing in the house at night - when I replied giving a few tips but assuring her that with a bit of effort the puppy would soon grow out of that stage - I received a nasty reply saying her house 'stank' and she couldn't put up with it.  She was pregnant so I supposed expected sympathy. I didn't answer. For a start - if she was planning a pregnancy it was not an ideal time to get a puppy, second she should have asked about puppy behaviour before getting one, thirdly she would soon be up at night with the baby so could easily let the dog out frequently but most of all - puppies require attention just like babies. You know babies are going to take time with nappies (diapers) and toilet training and you will make the effort. Puppies take a lot less time to grow up so a little effort now will pay off very soon - if you didn't know that puppies are babies too and need training and cleaning up after for a bit - you really definitely SHOULD NOT HAVE ONE!  My tips on how to deal with that stage starting tomorrow. Breeding puppies will be later as I assume most breeders know full well how to deal with that - so it it will be the last in the series

Problem with video ?- view on FB timeline - will try again to correct soon.

Aliki broke her leg very badly at 5 months old - one vet told us she would always have a limp and probably never run again - I will write up about the treatment and surgery over the weekend but sh was severely restricted in movement for weeks and our brilliant Cypriot vet told us she should not have free exercise for many more - we tried! - she was up and running in no time and moved here to Tuscany and the huge woodland garden where she ran, and still runs, every day....more details shortly.....

Another scare last Sunday night. In lockdown we don't get to see many people or other dogs. Sunday afternoon was different. A beautiful Tuscan winter's afternoon and all the world seemed to be walking their dogs down this little road. My lot went crazy and as if that wasn't enough the goatherd and his family, friends, dog and new puppy came over to pick the late fruit off the trees in the garden area next to me. Mad hour and Sharav just deeply upset and barking all the time. He gets more troubled if I shut him in so there was nothing to be done and he seemed ok at feeding time and throughout the evening but he came ustairs to ge me in the night, shaking, looing very sick, wandering about house and garden completely out of it, coughing with fluid coming up - very bad. I thought it was the end - nothing I could do - just make comfortable and sit with him and pray. Slowly, slowly he improved - I suspect congestive heart failure but to get to a vet or call one in is virtually impossible. He probably need Fortekor - a medication that has eased and prolonged several of my dog's lives over the years - the active drug (an ACE inhibitor) can be obtained in milder form from pharmacies (if certain that is what is needed)- if only I can get to one or get someone to go - or, better still to ty and get Michael and a car here.......he is ill and still stuck in Cyprus,,,,,,keep praying.