First Things First
Your puppy has been fed Taste of the Wild pacific stream puppy food. We believe in quality food for our dogs, and have found Taste of the Wild to be a great product. With that being said, there are a number of great dog foods out there, so if you choose to go another route make sure you start to mix the Taste of the Wild puppy food into the other puppy food slowly. Without doing this your puppy could get an upset stomach and start to vomit or have diarrhea. Dogs have sensitive stomachs and changing their food up to quick can cause those symptoms, which is no fun for anyone.
With smaller breed puppies it is good to offer them the recommended serving for their weight, according to their puppy food, three times a day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you do not feed them often enough their blood sugar will drop quick and you may notice them acting lethargic.
Also don’t be alarmed if your puppy isn’t eating very well for the first week. They are trying to adjust to the changes, and this can change their appetite for a little bit. If your puppy is rapidly losing weight take them to the vet.
We have found that Chewy.com is a great affordable, and quick service for all your puppy needs. Check them out!
Crating
We believe in kennel training our pups. This is a natural instinct for dogs to have a safe enclosed den, and with the right training your pup will come to love their crate.
When putting your pup in his or her crate they may cry and whine because things are different than what they are used to. It may help to give him a toy and his blanket with mom’s scent on it to help soothe him.
Some puppies can go the whole night without an accident while others…do not. This can be frustrating, but it’s important to not scold your puppy if you did not catch them in the act.
Our rule of thumb is to not feed or give them water 30 minutes before bed time. This helps eliminate the urge to potty in their crate. Some puppies will need to take a bathroom break in the middle of the night. This is normal, especially with smaller breeds. They have smaller bladders, and it is harder to go all night without a bathroom break.
Remember to reward your puppy for their good behavior!
If you are going to be gone for a long period of time, we suggest getting a puppy pen that you can attach to their crate, that way your pup can play and stretch their legs while you are gone.
Vet Check
We know that taking your puppy home is very exciting, but it’s important to take them to the vet 3-5 days after bringing them home for another check-up. While you’re there you can schedule their 12 and 14 week vaccination visits.
Please DO NOT take your puppy to dog parks, on walks…etc. until they have ALL their vaccinations. When you have an adorable puppy you want to show them off to the world, but it is so important NOT to do so. Parvo is a highly contagious virus for puppies and it can be fatal.
Some symptoms of Parvo are: bloody diarrhea, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, rapid weight loss and vomiting.
If your puppy shows any of these signs take them to the vet.
Other Info.
You have your puppy home and situated, now is the time to start training. Puppies are so smart and eager to please, start their training right away.
Potty training can be a hard road for most dog owners. It is crucial that you are CONSISTENT and take your puppy out every 30-45 minutes, and 15-20 minutes after every meal. Remember to praise them for their successes.
Along with potty training, and obedience training you are going to need to train your dog to be groomed. You should start brushing your puppy from the very beginning. Start touching their paws, ears and tail, and it would be wise to introduce them to a hairdryer slowly. This will help them with the stress of being groomed.
When it comes to chew toys or bones we suggest staying away from Nylon bones, as they can cause damage to their intestines because of how sharp the pieces can be. The same goes for cooked bones.
***We hope these tips will help you get started on your wonderful life with your new family member!***